INTERVIEW TIPS - Do these 3 things to stand out in a job interview
Posted 27th September 2022 • Written by Scott Schoeneberger on fastcompany.com • • • • •
1. GIVE SPECIFIC ANSWERS AND EXAMPLES TO BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
Behavioural interview questions are quickly becoming the norm. Even Google has been moving away from its traditional brainteaser questions to those in the Behavioural category, as it gives the company a better sense of how candidates will approach given situations in the workplace. Behavioural questions tend to be customized to specific job functions, and interviewers often use it as a way to dive deeper into your adaptability, ingenuity, and ability to solve problems.
Listen carefully to the question and understand that the interviewer wants to hear about past behaviour. Not offering an example is a missed opportunity to demonstrate your skills and abilities. If you need to pause to gather your thoughts, do so. Repeat the question back if you need clarification.
If, for example, the interviewer asks you to talk about a time you developed a new skill, start by potentially positioning it as a problem. Perhaps you had difficulty wrapping your head around writing marketing emails. Because you knew it was a valuable skill, you spent time studying the practice, reviewing different styles, and experimenting with the process. Your hard work eventually paid off, and now you feel comfortable and confident in your ability. Finish off the example by sharing the response rates associated with your efforts.
2. DEMONSTRATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE COMPANY
It’s surprising how many people still arrive for an interview without reviewing the company website: 47% of candidates get cut from the interview process because they fail to familiarize themselves with the business they’re interviewing for, according to the legal recruitment platform LegalJobs. Do the necessary legwork and get to know the company’s history, customer base, mission, vision, and other aspects of the business.
Understanding what the company does provides a foundation for asking relevant questions during the interview, which showcases your genuine interest in the job and helps you determine if the company is the right place for you. Why do you want the job? What makes the company and its culture a good fit? What about the company’s goals and values align with your career goals and aspirations?
Familiarizing yourself with the company can also give you a better idea of the behavioural questions that the hiring manager might ask during your interview. You can then think through what you might do in specific scenarios, such as dealing with difficult clients or unexpected changes to projects.
3. PREPARE TO ASK SOME SMART QUESTIONS
Obviously, you’ll ask questions about the role during the interview. But if you want to convey your trainability or flexibility–without simply saying as much–think beyond the standard inquiries. Interviewers can learn a lot about you based on your questions, and posing “hows” and “whys” often shows a desire to learn.
You can also display your curiosity by asking questions about the people interviewing you. If you can find out who will conduct the interview, check the person’s LinkedIn profile to get a read on their background. While you don’t want to come off like a stalker, you want to understand someone’s background so you can ask informed questions about what drew them to the company. Getting people to talk about themselves can do wonders for increasing their engagement with you.
With any job, there will always be non-negotiable core competencies. But when companies have a choice between two candidates, employers don’t always go with the person who merely checks each skill box. They want employability skills such as trainability, agility, and innovation.
That’s why it’s essential to highlight them on your application and find ways to convey them articulately during the interview process. Put your best foot forward from start to finish, and you’ll be one step closer to landing the job you want.
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