Many people tell me they are great interviewers once they get in front of the hiring manager. And while you might be relaxed and a great conversationalist during the interview process, are you truly prepared for the interview or just turning on the charm and “winging” it? Here are five tips for acing the interview.
- Be able to articulate your value proposition to an employer from a 40,000 foot view. Focus on three key strengths that are relevant to the employer and prove those strengths by sharing a story of success that demonstrates each of these key competencies. Most employers believe past performance is a good indicator of future success so this is a very effective strategy for building trust with the hiring manager.
- Be specific. When answering questions, point to specific situations rather than general information about your abilities. For example, if you are asked about your communication skills, don’t just state that you have strong written and oral skills; instead showcase an example of when you used these skills to articulate your vision or persuade your audience.
- Be quantitative. Whenever possible, point to a specific measurement to prove how you have done things smarter, faster or more efficiently. For example, rather than saying you cut costs, improved sales, or streamlined a process, discuss the before and after and associated metrics such as cut costs by 30% in 18 months, grew sales 10% year over year for 5 consecutive years or eliminated hundreds of man hours by retooling a cumbersome process.
- Be authentic. Don’t spin a weakness into a strength; if asked if you have ever made a mistake or failed at something, showcase a genuine story that acknowledges a mistake, points to what you learned from the experience and references how you would do things differently if you were hired by this employer.
- Be proactive. Before the end of the interview, ask what the next steps in the hiring process are and reiterate your interest in the positions and the reasons you believe you are a good fit.
