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1. You Talk Too Much. Whether you are seeking a job or the job is seeking you, the tension and pressure can make you talk too much. If you want people to listen to you, you must be brief, answer the questions asked and include the listener in your response.
To prevent motor-mouth:
- Practice interviews and phone interviews. Record them and revise until your answers are only three sentences long. End with a question where possible.
- Watch the listener’s eyes for interest. When they wander, ask a question.
- Practice responding to difficult questions in three sentences.
- Become familiar with your vocational assets and accomplishments as they apply to the job so you can answer any question with confidence.
- Focus on the objective for the interview. The interviewer hopes to establish a bond, not hear an autobiography.
2. You Misunderstand the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question. Most people answer this question starting with their education and then a list of all their previous jobs. It is the wrong place to start. This is your opportunity to target the company needs and demonstrate how your experience is relevant to the job.
The better answer:
- Come prepared with a solid pitch about what part of your background makes you a good fit for the job.
- Tell why you selected this company as a prospective employer.
- Practice with a video camera or tape recorder. Your response to this question can be a deal killer or a chance to shine.
3. You offered a solution when they really didn’t want one. You are asked your opinion on challenges facing the employer. It is easy to assume they want you to offer a solution. They don’t. This question is a way for the company to see how you solve problems.
The key - Ask, don’t tell:
- Ask what has been tried to date and the results.
- Ask what outcome they would like to see and discuss in detail.
- Ask why it did or did not work and what resources are currently available.
- List what you would need to know before you could have a comprehensive solution.
- Tell them about another experience where you solved a similar problem and acknowledge the situations are no doubt different.
- Tell them what resources you used, the solution and the results. Make certain the employer understands you know you don’t have enough detail to say this will be an appropriate solution for them.
4. Your references did not shine. Employers tend to place a high value on references. Just because your former employers liked you doesn’t mean they have the right patter to communicate your qualifications.
Worse yet, just because they liked you doesn't mean they will give you a good reference. HR professionals often hear "Are you certain she gave you my name as a reference?" and "I don't know what he has been up to lately, but when he worked for me, he wasn't management material" and other deal-killer comments.
Prepared references are good references:
- Make sure the contact information is current.
- Your references want to help you. Communicate the specific needs of the employer, the position and the qualities the employer is looking for.
- Fill your references in on what you have been doing so they are knowledgeable about your latest accomplishments.
Finally, to conduct your best interview, put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. They have an opening in the company that needs to be filled. Believe it or not, they are actually looking for a reason to hire you.
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