Five Tips For Delivering Job-clinching Interview Performance

Posted by in Career Advice


Poor interviewing skills are to be blamed when an otherwise promising candidate loses a job offer. Fortunately, interviewing skills, like many life skills, can be perfected with preparation, practice, and persistence. The first step, however, is to understand how employers make hiring decisions. Many companies use behavioral interviewing -- a technique that allows them to gauge an employee's potential on the basis of past performance -- as a key decision-making tool. Successful candidates are normally ones who can demonstrate how their past experience prepares them for the future position. Consider the following tips: 1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. During my coaching practice, I come across many candidates who just show up at interviews without any preparation whatsoever. Considering the stakes, preparation is not an option. Preparing for an interview is a multi-dimensional effort covering multiple areas -- company, candidate (you), and culture (the three C's of interview preparation). The company: Research everything you possibly can about the company and the position. Analyze the job posting, review the company's website, know their products, read press releases, browse through newspapers and periodicals, study competitors, speak to stakeholders (clients, vendors, employees, etc.) and read whatever you can find about the organization. The candidate: Conduct an honest assessment and develop several stories about your past experiences and accomplishments. Prepare scripts for commonly asked interview questions and a list of convincing reasons for "why should we hire you?" type of questions. The culture: You must know the cultural norms of the company. From interview responses to your attire, knowledge of a company's culture can play a crucial role in the interview process. 2. Take the interrogation out of the meeting It is a very common misperception that an interview is an interrogation session. Hiring decisions are as much about you as about them and an interview is the best time to understand the company, its cultural norms, and other details. Be prepared to ask intelligent, but relevant, questions that will transform the meeting into a collaborative discussion as opposed to an intelligence gathering effort. 3. Talk about results and experiences Based on your preparation, you should come up with plenty of examples demonstrating how you benefited your past employers. The key is to tie these results and experiences to the question being asked. Example: Interview question: Are you able to lead teams? Sample interview response: I am a gifted leader who has fortunately had the opportunity to lead many cross-functional, cross-cultural teams globally. In fact, in my recent position I had to lead a team of 80 employees who were dispersed across 22 countries. Although, the distance was a challenge, I leveraged my team leadership skills to motivate these geographically-dispersed teams through weekly phone conferences and daily e-mails. My constant communication and employee-focused leadership style resulted in 100% team performance consistently. Our teams are recognized across the company. In fact, we won 14 awards last year. 4. Demonstrate interest In addition to your skills and talents, employers would be very interested in determining your level of interest in both the company and the position. Through your responses, you must be able to convince the employer about your serious interest in the position. 5. Follow-up Write an offer-clinching thank you note to every interviewer. The letter must be a very powerful piece and must be written to impress the hiring team. Briefly, but politely, summarize a list of reasons why you would be the ideal candidate for the position and touch upon issues discussed during the meeting. If done right, this letter (or follow-up phone call) could be your ticket to the new job.
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  • Michael L G
    Michael L G
    These are all great points to remember!  Your letter makes it clear that preparation is the key to a successful interview!
  • Adelee A
    Adelee A
    Great tips for interview. Thanks again.
  • Sherice B
    Sherice B
    Thanks for the advise, I wish I could have seen an example of each tip.
  • Kimberly B
    Kimberly B
    Great Information to use for an Interview
  • Lisa N
    Lisa N
    Wow!  This is going to be real helpful.  I actively looking for employment.  I have an interview on Tuesday June 11, 2013 and I will do my best to take evey suggestion and use them to the best of my ability.
  • Malcolm M
    Malcolm M
    Very relevant interviewing tips. Thanks
  • Blanca R
    Blanca R
    These is great advise Thank u
  • Ochuko I
    Ochuko I
    Excellent and great information! Base on this five tips Delivery job- Clinching interview, i would be well prepared for any interview i attained. Thank you so very much.
  • Marilyn R
    Marilyn R
    It would be nice for once if the sample answers were for a warehouse or manufacturing position. why do you assume everyone works in an office?? I get asked these questions too
  • Mary D
    Mary D
    I learned some interesting information that I can use in the future!
  • Brian W
    Brian W
    Great information, will be using this on my next interviews
  • Evelyn S
    Evelyn S
    It's very helpful in preparing me for any future interviews.  The technique and the interview style hasn't really changed much over the past years. Email me some sample answers to these questions. Thank you!
  • Debra A
    Debra A
    Excellent advice and information. I will remember preparation, practice and especially persistance. Thank you so much!
  • FrederickO
    FrederickO
    Great advice. Now I know I need to do more research on the company and their products. I should  also make it a habit to always send a thank you note even if I don't feel good about my performance at the interview.
  • STEPHEN A
    STEPHEN A
    Thanks for such a kind and educative information. The piece has added value to my personality as I read through it severally. I have also made a hardcopy of it as a companion in any public presentations.  Thanks.
  •  Marie C
    Marie C
    Great Information
  • CaroleB
    CaroleB
    I think this is good advice.
  • Rodney P
    Rodney P
    I have been interviewing now since Nov. 2012 and even though I came prepared for the interview I made several mistakes listed in this article.  I have an important Interview this Friday, I will be prepared now.
  • Rosemary H
    Rosemary H
    This is a good article which will help me in a coming interview I would have. I apply to a job inside the company I currently work and this helps me a lot the day of the interview
  • Lisa S
    Lisa S
    Good info - not enough examples.
  • MaraleW
    MaraleW
    Outstanding and valuable information.
  • Christopher M
    Christopher M
    it does motivate me to work harder with skills I don't have, like interview culture and how to be a good salesman of my own true values. thanks for those comments.
  • Maria C
    Maria C
     Thanks, This was helpful, reminder of what to do before the interveiw. mc
  •  Venessa B
    Venessa B
    The information provided was very helpful.
  • Pauline E
    Pauline E
    Thanks for your information it will certainly help me to prepare for an interview.

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