By: Beth LaGuardia Cooper
Vice President, Marketing at American Public University System
If the thought of interviewing makes you break out in hives, you’re not alone.
What makes me qualified to help?
I have interviewed hundreds, if not thousands, of job candidates during my twenty years in the professional workforce. (Early in my career I was a recruiter for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, so that’s how I get to the “thousands” if that sounded at all suspicious.) Before I met my husband, I also went on lots of first dates experience one can draw upon for a number of life lessons, interview tips included! Finally, I am a marketing professional. I spend my life finding ways to get people to do what I want them to do, i.e. “pick me” however defined by the brand I am representing.
So what can I offer? Five tips to start:
#1 Research the opportunity thoroughly. In today’s world, there is no excuse for not knowing about the organization, your interviewers, and how the organization is positioned in the market. Find out who your interviewers will be when the meeting is set so you can easily find them in social media. Draw upon this information during the interview by creating talking points that connect you to the interviewer and show that you have done your homework. You are not only demonstrating your desire for the job and your engagement in the process, but you are also creating that all-important connection with the interviewer.
#2 Know (and strategically develop) your online brand presence. Make sure your social media profiles are up to date and reflective of what you want interviewers to see. Assume they will Google you for any mentions and view your LinkedIn profile before the interview. If anything is there that you need to explain, get it removed or have a good explanation ready.
#3 Prepare your pitch. Identify core messages that get to the heart of what you offer as a candidate, and create an opportunity to share them along with examples that demonstrate results you have achieved. To close the interview, I suggest you find an opportunity to reinforce your strengths and your interest in the position. Be sure you show passion for the job and the organization.
#4 Be authentic. It’s tempting to project yourself as the ideal candidate, even if you’re not. OK, so make sure you put your absolute best foot forward, but don’t overstep and promise something you can’t deliver. Taking it a step further, do not ever represent yourself dishonestly.
#5 Ask intelligent questions. Think about who you are talking to, and how the questions you ask will resonate. If you are applying for a position that requires strategic thinking and decision-making, don’t focus your questions on what attire is appropriate or whether you can telecommute. Ask questions that reflect your knowledge of the business and interviewer and your engagement in its future success. People do not do a good job with this in general, so this is your chance to knock the interviewer’s socks off.
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