Following are some interview strategies that you may find helpful:
Successfully Meeting Tough Interview Questions and Challenges
A wise proverb reminds us to be ready to own what we know as well as what we do not know!
He that knows not, and knows that he knows not, he is simple – teach him.
He that knows not, and knows not that he knows not, he is a fool – shun him.
He that knows and knows not that he knows, he is asleep – wake him.
He that knows and knows that he knows – he is wise – follow him!
Tips for the Power Interview
Do…
- Have phrases in mind that will work comfortably for you.
- Prepare to think on your feet and practice responses to the questions interviewers may ask.
- Anticipate negative aspects and prepare responses that will not discredit you.
- Keep your motivation and positive attitude level high.
- Know something about a company before you interview.
- Emphasize what you can bring to a company, not what you want from a company.
- Dress professionally, check company dress codes and do not over or under dress.
- Risk being assertive and ask questions.
- Prepare for your interview by anticipating questions and answers to potentially negative situations.
- Practice to present yourself well, understanding that interviewing is sales and you are the product.
- Answer the question, “Why should I hire you?”
- Show confidence. Give the irresistible message that every employer wants to hear. “I can do it! I can get the job done!”
- Redirect the interview when appropriate by introducing relevant experience the interviewer has not yet explored: “Would it be helpful if I shared an example of how I handled a similar challenge?”
- Establish checkpoints in the interview to let yourself know how you are doing.
- Use questions such as, “Have I acquainted you with any areas about myself that fit what you are looking for?”
- Establish rapport by adapting thoughtfully to the interviewer’s communication style and pace.
- Bring a professional portfolio or digital copies of relevant accomplishments, licenses, certifications, or work samples.
- Prepare concise accomplishment stories that demonstrate how you handled challenges, took action, and achieved results.
- Send a prompt thank-you email or follow-up message after your interview.
Don’t…
- Verbalize your fears or insecurity with things like, “In time, I think I could learn to do this job well.”
- Lead with negatives to get them “out of the way”.
- Convey the unspoken message, “I need a job.”
- Be overly-casual or excessively familiar.
- Wear jeans, evening, or suggestive attire.
What are your salary expectations?
Salary discussions are generally best approached in relation to the responsibilities and market value of the position rather than simply anchoring compensation to prior earnings. Before interviewing, research an appropriate salary range for the role. If asked about expectations before you have enough information, you might say, “I’m open to discussing a fair range once I understand the responsibilities and overall compensation package. What range has been established for the position?” If pressed for a figure, offer a researched range rather than a single number. Salary-history laws also vary by location, and in some jurisdictions employers may be restricted from asking about prior compensation.
What did you dislike most about your last employer?
Avoid criticizing a former employer or becoming drawn into personal complaints. Focus instead on what you learned and what you are looking for next. For example: “There were aspects of the environment that were not the best fit for me, but I learned a great deal from the experience and it helped clarify the kind of organization in which I can contribute most effectively.”
What is your biggest professional drawback?
Choose a genuine professional limitation that does not undermine your ability to perform the essential job, then explain how you have worked to improve it. The goal is to demonstrate self-awareness, judgment, and growth—not to disguise a strength as a weakness.
Why should I hire you for this position?
If you’ve done your resume with Professional Profiles by Nadine, you have already toughed your way through this question and you know every possible advantage that you have to offer. Believe in yourself. Know what you have to offer and present it with confidence and people will have confidence in you. We need to know that we know! We don’t pretend to be things we aren’t but we must reflect certainty about what we do have to offer.
Is my age a disadvantage?
I have clients that think they are disadvantaged because they are too young–others because they are too old–and still others because they feel caught in the middle. Nonetheless, each age places us at a different vantage point with respective positions of strength to draw from. If we are young, we have rapid learning capabilities, and are more easily amenable to employer preferences. If we are older, we bring depth, wisdom, and experience to a company. If we are somewhere in between, perhaps we have a measure of both to offer. But most important is our ability to assess and present what we do have to offer. Remember, we buy advantages–not disadvantages, so we don’t say things like, “I’m older but”, or “I have no experience but”—. We lead with the positive and that sells convincingly in any marketplace!
What if you’ve worked in the same place for 20 years?
Some people feel that working in the same place has somehow locked them into a position that precludes growth or change. The fact is that most people who have remained in a company for a number of years have advanced through multiple positions and interfaced on many levels inside and outside of the company. The important consideration here is to tap into your track record for positive progression, career growth, and stability.
How can you defend yourself if you have changed jobs every two years?
I think we can safely say that the gold watch era has dissipated into the sea of international mobility, technological advancement, and expanding opportunity. Experts have forecasted that the average young professional will job or career shift at least 7 times in his or her professional life. Given this new cultural backdrop, job change may no longer signal irresponsibility, but instead reflect gravitation toward increasing challenge, adaptability, flexibility, versatility, and an ever growing experiential base. So don’t allow outdated voices to superimpose rules of past generations on your professional self-image. Chart a new path that flows with the ever changing marketplace.
What do you as a young person fresh out of school have to offer an employer?
You may feel you have nothing to offer because you are just beginning your professional journey, but think about it. You have a marvelous education and a sparkling new approach to bring to your professional world. You are very comfortable with learning new things because you have been in a constant learning posture for the last 16 years! You bring energy, vitality, and creativity to an employer. Youth is on your side! Present this as your high card. It is indeed a tremendous advantage and asset.
How can I change my career direction without looking like I don’t know what I want?
Very often while my clients feel that they are taking a diametric 360 degree turn in their professional life, I find that they are merely zeroing in on a familiar thread that has been running through the backdrop of their professional life in some way. The fun is finding and weaving that thread into your career history to make a transition appear more like a change of emphasis, than a whimsical shift to totally foreign territory. When we recognize that people have a variety of gifts and enjoy expanding their professional horizons to embrace the whole constellation of their experience, we understand that they do this not because they are indecisive, but because they are growing professionally, and wish to increase their career satisfaction and fulfillment. So why should we imagine for even one moment that creative and multi-talented people are poor professional risks? The trick is not to assume a defensive stance about our professional evolution and progression.
What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
I have a constant desire to continually do my best and reach beyond my limits personally and professionally. I hope to be working for your company and reaching for even further advancement.
Don’t forget that you are interviewing them too!
So as you develop your ability to transform negatives into positives, you will find that you are able to improve your interviewing skills and give employers honest and thought-provoking answers to tough interview questions. But never forget that you are an interviewer too! You also have the right to evaluate a company, your employer, and those you would work with to see if you would enjoy working for them. Shoot from the heart, be yourself, and you will find the position that is right for you.
