Ace that dreaded interview

Gene Mage

Congratulations. Your resume, cover letter, and networking efforts have paid off with a job interview. You did your homework, brushed up on your interviewing skills, and are ready for the big day. It is natural to be a little anxious because how you handle yourself in the job interview conversation will make the difference between a job offer and another tiresome rejection letter.

You are on a mission. You will use your communications skills to persuade the interviewer that you are superbly qualified for the job and a good fit with the organizational culture. Here are five topics you will want to talk about:

1. Qualifications. While technical credentials and academic certifications are pretty cut and dry, more subtle qualifications come into play in professional jobs. Leadership positions emphasize interpersonal and communications skills over technical prowess. Since there are no formal credentials for being a good communicator, you must demonstrate your skills in the actual interview.
   
   As actress Lisa Kirk (The Producers) once noted, “A gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.” Listen well to the questions. Give concise answers. Ask thoughtful questions of the interviewer as well. When you allow the interviewer to talk, you will be remembered for your great communications skills.
   
   
2. Experience. Everybody has experience. Few learn from it. Talk not just about incidents and accomplishments, but also how those experiences molded you into a better person. Crisply share the circumstances around each key experience on your resume, what decisions you made, and what resulted from your choices.
   
   Also use this approach to handle the dreaded “what is your biggest weakness” question. Simply talk about a time when you needed to transcend a weakness in order to overcome a challenge.
   
   But also discuss what you were thinking and feeling at the time. Help the interviewer see that you are a clear thinker, emotionally self-controlled, and make sound decisions. Then relate the learning you acquired from that experience to the qualities sought for the particular job, qualities you identified in your pre-interview research.
   
   
3. Character. In today’s skeptical business environment integrity counts more than ever. Integrity means that you do what you say you will do, whether anyone is looking or not. People with integrity avoid putting on masks to impress others. And, most importantly, they follow sound ethical guidelines. They tell the truth, show up on time, and keep their commitments.
   
   When asked a difficult question about your background, demonstrate integrity by answering honestly and sincerely. While you should avoid self-condemnation, or revealing every tawdry detail of your past, sincerely admitting a mistake can be refreshingly endearing. If your resume is complete and accurate, all you have to do is tell the truth.
   
   
4. Values. How you behave reveals what is really important to you, or what you “value”. If relationships are a strong value to you, you probably invest time and effort in keeping them vibrant. If accuracy is important to you, you probably exercise care and attention to detail in completing your work.
   
   Talk about incidents when you expressed your most deeply-held values. But also take time to explore the organization’s values by asking questions. An interview is a process of mutual exploration. You want to make sure the culture you are joining fits your values before you say “yes”.
   
   
5. Attitude and interpersonal skills. Do you radiate a positive, upbeat “can-do” attitude? Standing up straight, making eye-contact, and smiling all communicate a positive outlook on life.
   
   Remember to treat everybody you meet on the interview, including the receptionist, workers in the lunchroom, and the guy who waters the plants, as if they owned the company. Everybody is nice to the hiring manager. Real winners treat every person with respect.

Got in interesting idea for a Making it Work column? Contact Syndicated Columnist Gene C. Mage at www.makingitwork.com.