Really?
Hundreds of blogs and articles share tips on how to succeed in an interview. But often times they’re from the job searchers perspective and not the hiring manager’s point of view. When you ask what the best answer for a question is, what you are really asking is how not to come off sounding ill prepared, unqualified or even worse annoying.
Now one of the things I really like to do is balance the interaction between both interviewer and interviewees. I guess it’s the mediator in me, but I realize that many people are frustrated, worn down or even incensed about today’s hiring process.
I ask you this, would it be more beneficial to understand a company’s mind-set or for them to understand yours? I’m an advocate for both, but keep in mind the bottom line; employers are in the position to put money in your pocket, well before you put a cent in theirs. So don’t blow it when you’re talented enough to get the job and are in the ideal situation to negotiate an attractive starting salary.
Here a few ways that you can really annoy an interviewer…
1. Arrive too early
It is an unwritten courtesy to arrive at least 15 minutes early. However, it is unsettling if you arrive an hour or forty-five minutes ahead of schedule. It may seem favorable for you, but it can cause an awkward tone to emerge if you bump into your competition. Many employers go to great lengths to stagger their appointments to prevent interactions between candidates, wind down from daily operations, prep before the meeting, and debrief after each interview.
Interviews are based on a give and take system. Give your potential employer time by respecting the arrival window and take a few minutes to gather yourself before walking into your next job opportunity.
2. Arrive to an interview sick or semi-contagious
I remember sitting on an interview panel and a person was visibly sick. Sniffing, huffing and puffing into our sympathies. Basically she looked like she had the Cooties. Between her apologies and inability to recall information, she struggled to answer questions.
Initially, we were compassionate but after a few more coughs and sneezes, we wanted to do a swan dive into vat of liquid hand sanitizer. Her symptoms became so disruptive that she eventually ran out of the conference room, across the building and violently threw up in the ladies room. The likelihood of saving face from that scene is near to impossible.
Plain and simple it was better to reschedule by sending a 5 PM email of regret. Stay at home instead of bulldozing your way into the interview when you’re not at your best.
3. Don’t know what’s on your resume
I am a big fan of bringing resume copies to an interview however I’m not so much of a fan of not knowing what’s on it. Most interviews pull information from an application and or resume submission. Hopefully the resume is a concise document that narrows down your transferable skill sets, expertise and most importantly personality.
But what I find most troubling is when people come to interviews and they get a “deer caught in headlights” look on their face when asked questions like, “Can you share more insight as to how you generated $10 million in sales for your previous company? What were the challenges and how did you exceed them? Now everyone gets the benefit of the doubt for having bouts of nervousness, but normally it’s not your first question and a major accomplishment should not be hard to recall.
When we update resumes using our Resume Branding Strategy™ at Persona Affairs, we make sure our clients can answer a series of interview questions based on market research. This discovery process gives us a broader understanding of their actual abilities, and talents. Then and only then do we translate our findings into an “employer friendly” Resume Branding Matrix format where and it’s easy to scan in 10 seconds or less.
If you have invested little to nothing in updating your resume or you are still pushing a cookie-cutter template with copied text that does not directly relate to your work experience, then you are in for a long job search. Increase your interview performance by getting acquainted with who you are on paper and brand it. Your resume should read like a brand story. It should tell exactly what you can do, exactly what you’ve done and how you are the best candidate for specific role. Yes, a resume should be customized and branded for each job you apply to. If it doesn’t then all you have is a cute document that wastes everyone’s time.
4. Get caught in a lie
I must admit this one gets most people an express ticket out the door. Remember a job interview is based on what is listed on a resume. Ultimately the ball is in your court, because only you have the background information to support the document. Practice how to be tastefully honest on sticky questions like… Why did you leave your last position?
I beg you not to become so desperate and eager to get any job that you’re willing to lie to get it. In most cases you will get caught. And I would hate that you would survive the job search process, land the job, get comfortable, start paying your bills and then get terminated because of fraudulent information.
One of the easiest ways people exaggerate their ability in and the computer knowledge section. They will lump their familiarity with software into a Microsoft Office Suite classification. When I see this on a resume I automatically get a red flag. Which software? Do you know at Access? Tell me a time when and where you used PowerPoint?
If you do not know all Microsoft programs or applications, then do not attempt to camouflage your experience. This is a trigger question of the whether are not you were trying to merge one or two skills to appear proficient and trump the being selection process. (No pun intended) In resume branding we include all software application and systems that you know. No more. No less.
Do not let desperation trick you into lying to get a job. I would hate for anyone to regain employment for a mere few months and get fired because their story did not pain out in the end. Invest in interview coaching which will give you tools and confidence to navigate through phone and in-person interviews.
There are more productive ways to be ready for the next opportunity, put your best foot forward, know your brand and speak your truth. Just embrace your ability and your dream job is waiting for the real you to show up and claim it.
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