Mastering the Job Interview Presented by Publisher of HigherEdCareerCoach.Com & HigherEdLifeCoach.com Coaching Solutions for Higher Education
About Sean Cook Former Higher Ed Administrator Certified Life Purpose & Career Coach (through the Life Purpose Institute) 15+ years working in student affairs Various positions in Residence Life and Working with Student Organizations Certificates from Penn State's Mastering Supervision and Management Institute
Congratulations! You've been offered an interview! It's your opportunity to shine. But...
If you're not prepared......you might go down in flames!
Your Resume Won't Get You Hired Think of your resume as a ticket. It gets you in the door, but if you want to be invited up on stage or to hang out with the band, you have to make an impression. Resumes are used by employers for screening candidates, but interviews are used for selecting the best qualified person for the job. And there is one qualification you can't put on a resume...
It's called Fit It may seem nebulous, but only because it is. Every institution or business has a culture of its own, and each culture has its history, traditions, ways of being and ways of doing. Many factors are at play, including industry, region, staff, functional roles, competitive environment and even the economy. The big question you have to answer... Will you fit?
More About Fit Your job in the interview is to not just communicate, but to radiate, a sense that you are the best qualified candidate for the job. To do this, you will need to address every question and every interaction on the basis of fit Does your experience fit their needs? How will you integrate into their team? Are you coachable?
Cherish Your Doubts (But Perish Theirs) By the time you make it to the interview stage, you have been identified as someone who may be a good fit for their needs, so it's important to remember that. But let's not get all cocky about it. You can still blow this. Cherish Your Doubts Approach your qualifications with a skeptical eye Look for solid clues for what they want in a new employee Relate your experience to their needs in every way possible
Experience Counts! But only if you can relate it to... The functional role you will play Your ability to solve problems Being a team player How you handle conflict Whether you can work independently Your willingness to take direction and feedback
If you can't explain your experience, you don't have the right experience! Have Specific Examples Details Matter Own Your Story: The Quentin Tarantino Guide to Creating Killer Content by Sean Platt on CopyBlogger Choose an example that is specific, shows P-A-R (Problem-Action-Result) If you don't, it's boring or just trivia
Master the Interview Before the Interview Ask yourself some tough questions before you apply What does the employer need? (Minimum qualifications) What does the employer really want? (Preferred qualifications) How do you meet their preferred qualifications? Your resume will need to address both the minimum and preferred qualifications. Your interview will be almost exclusively about whether you meet their preferred qualifications.
Knowing What An Employer Needs In most cases, it's not a deep, dark secret. It's in the job posting. If the job posting is vague, ask if you can get a copy of the position description, in the interest of making sure you are a viable candidate. If you can't get a copy of the job description, this is a red flag issue. Be sure you ask plenty of questions before, during and after the interview. While your needs are important, they are beside the point. Approach everything from the employer's point of view.
Assessing Your Possible Fit Get out a copy of the job posting and/or position description, a copy of your resume, and a highlighter. Highlight important keywords that stand out in the position descriptions Highlight keywords and phrases on your resume Compare the two lists.
Assessing Your Resume When you make the comparison, what stands out? Are there matches between how they have phrased their needs and how you have phrased your qualifications? Pay attention to how they seem to have ranked or prioritized their needs. Can you honestly rephrase your descriptions to match?
MIND THE GAP There are no perfect candidates. (Not even you!) But one candidate will emerge as the best among available options. If you want to make your best argument, you'll need to recognize the gap between your qualifications and those of the ideal candidate, and be ready to discuss ways that you will work to close the gaps, or to overcome any perceived weaknesses. Glossing over the differences will make you seem inexperienced and unready.
Do Your Homework Visit the Employer's Website Read mission & vision statements, annual reports, org. charts Read anything you find on trends and outlook. Google the Employer (And Bing, Yahoo, Etc.) Read all recent news (last quarter especially) Find out who their competitors are Study the industry
Connect the Dots Leverage your personal and professional networks to get information about the company and industry Use LinkedIn, BrazenCareerist, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to find out who you know. Join chats, forums and discussions about the industry. Visit blogs that cover the industry. Read and comment. Go in as an active learner, NOT a hardcore networker/schmoozer. Give to get. (And you will get.)
Do Your Housekeeping Set Your Social Networking Profiles to Private. Google yourself and if you find information that may concern an employer...take it down if it's within your control, be ready to explain it honestly if you cannot get it taken down. Consider running a credit check or background check on yourself (and make efforts to dispute incorrect information.)
It's On! Tips for Interview Day Get a good night's sleep. Eat something for breakfast. You'll need the energy. Plan your travel so that you arrive on-site 15-20 minutes ahead of time, and are able to find the interview location with about 10-15 minutes to spare. Walk with a sense of purpose. Stand up straight and don't meander. Give a firm handshake to each person you meet, make eye contact, and be gracious and polite to everyone you encounter. Turn off your cell phone and/or any other items that might distract you or take you away from the interview.
The Interview is a Balancing Act You must: Answer questions honestly and completely but be succinct and targeted Take control of the flow of the interview, without stepping on the interviewers toes Be friendly without being chummy or overfamiliar
Some Ways to Stay Balanced You must: Practice interview. You'll feel more ready. Get together a list of common interview questions from a job search site Review the job description and brainstorm questions you might be asked. Answer all questions in ways that relate your experience and interest toward your potential fit in the position.
It's a Presentation About You Your comments and your questions need to convey: A sense of purpose Passion for the employer and the opportunity Your goals Your accomplishments Your interests Your willingness to learn But don't look or act like a know-it-all like this guy. Sheesh!
Control the Flow of the Interview You must: Write down the high points of each question before you answer it and refer to this as you answer the question If you don't understand the question, ask for clarification If you need a second to get your thoughts together, ask for it.
Covering Your Most Important Talking Points Be sure you've covered your talking points: Memorize the points, but keep them as points Practice using models like P-A-R to answer questions using your education and experience to explain how you took action. Rein in your storyteller instincts as much as possible so that you don't miss covering points Answer the question being asked, and then stop talking, so the interviewer(s) can follow up and ask the next questions.
Covering Your Most Important Talking Points Be sure you've covered your talking points: Refer to your resume only when necessary. If the interviewer(s) want more detail, they should ask. Ask the interviewer if you answered his or her question in enough detail. If you get stuck on a question, ask if you can come back to it later, in the interest of moving on and covering as much important information as possible.
Mind Your Manners There's little point in attending an interview if you are going to be rude. Some basic interview etiquette: Come prepared. Have a pen or pencil (or a few) on hand, as well as a notebook. Take a few notes, but only to keep track of the flow of the interview or to allow you to refer back to something later. Bring extra copies of your resume and offer them to each person on the other team, but only if they ask for them. Don't tell jokes. Some people might not get them or may not appreciate them, so it's a risky gamble. Be light-hearted in your back and forth, but don't come with jokes. Don't fidget, flirt, or fuss with your hair, nails, etc. Don't badmouth your boss, company, competition or anyone else. It's bad form and people will wonder what you are likely to say about them when they are not around.
Keep it Professional But Make It Seem Personal Some tricks to help set yourself and your interviewers at ease: Find out if you have mutual friends or experiences (LinkedIn, and Twitter are good but tools like Gist can give you deeper intelligence-it assembles a dossier for your contacts.) If given a schedule with names of the interview team on it, make a quick note or two about each person after you meet, and where they are sitting. This will help you address people by name, or at least remember who asked what. Make note of, and ask questions about, ideas, themes, and projects that come up during the interview. Ask questions about these. It conveys interest. Always ask questions that allow interviewers to be real people with you. (For example, what do you like best about working here? What's kept you engaged in your work? )
Plan Your Next Steps Get a mentor, a coach, or both: Find someone outside your reporting chain. An objective observer can help you sort out situations without the noise from their work, goals, relationships, etc. Contact sean@higheredcareercoach.com to schedule a free consultation Attend more professional development events Visit HigherEdCareerCoach.Com for upcoming webinars, chats, and live events, or to sign up for our free newsletter/mailing list.
Speaking of Next Steps: Let's Meet!: Schedule a meeting with me for career coaching Contact sean@higheredcareercoach.com or visit my public calendar at tungle.me/seancook to suggest available times. Initial consultations are free and usually last about 45 minutes. Attend more professional development events Visit HigherEdCareerCoach.Com for upcoming webinars, chats, and live events, or to sign up for our free newsletter/mailing list.
Speaking of Next Steps: Let's Meet!: Schedule a meeting with me for a free career coaching consultation. Contact sean@higheredcareercoach.com or call (706) 363-0539 Attend more professional development events Sign up for our free newsletter/mailing list and get the action worksheet for this webinar. Visit HigherEdCareerCoach.Com for upcoming webinars, chats, and live events.