Interviewing 101 Collegiate Career Builder

Interviewing 101

Whether you’re 22 or 52 this short article will help you in your next interview.

Having spent a number of years in the recruitment field I conducted my fair share of interviews and also helped prep many more for interviews. Now if you are reading this article to help prep for your next big interview, rest assure the hard part is done…you landed a job interview. The easy part should be nailing the interview.

1) Know your Brand: Have your elevator pitch down cold

Every person who enters an interview should have a 30-60 second spiel on what they have accomplished. Meaning in those first 30-60 seconds you need to tell the interviewer what you have accomplished and what separates you from the other applicants.

2) Control the Interview

An interview can take one of two forms: linear or circular. Linear meaning: there is a clear interview format that is set in place where the two people involved flow from one subject to the next seamlessly and effortlessly. Circular meaning: there is no clear start or end to the interview rather a group of random questions. I encourage people to keep a linear format so you are less likely to get caught off guard by a random question.

After you have done your 30-60 second pitch, turn the conversation back over to the interview.

“So Mr. Smith, clearly there are similarities between my background and the job description, but in your own words what are you looking for in the role?”

This will simply allow you to better sell yourself into the role. If you know the interviews “hot buttons” or “key points” you will better prepared to tailor your pitch.

3) Don’t be afraid to keep notes

Remember eye contact is key, but don’t be afraid to jot down a few notes about the role. This will help you later when you are trying to cover all of your selling points.

4) Loss of words/Break in the conversation

People love to talk about themselves, even more so when some asks. Don’t be afraid to ask the person across from you about their background.

5) Strong Close/Assumptive close

So you’ve made it through 45 minutes of an interview and the time is winding down. It is imperative to end with a strong close that gives the interviewer one more chance to ask a question. This also gives you one more chance to sell yourself.

“Mr. Smith, I know we’ve covered quite a bit today, but is there anything else about my background I can help you better understand?” 9 out of 10 times the person will say no, but it’s a great way to wrap up an interview and also shows maturity.

Follow the last part with the assumptive close: “I look forward to meeting the other members of your team in the next round”.

3 Tips to Remember

I. Be Prepared. Do as much research on the company/person you are interviewing with. Bring prepared questions about the company, group, and/or role.

II. Mimic their demeanor/attitude. If you’re a driver and just had your 3rd shot of espresso in the morning you may overwhelm an interview that is quiet or laid back. Take a step back from the situation and slow it down a bit. If the person you are interviewing with has equally high energy and enthusiasm, crank it up to level 10. Just be sure not to compete for control when conversing

III. Building rapport. It’s great to have similar interests as the person you are interviewing with, but remember you’re there to land a job, not find a new skiing buddy. Stay on point, but be personable.