3 little interview questions

I have talked a lot about the need to be creative, and focus your presentation on the skills that hiring companies are looking for.  Of course, everyone has a unique skill set to bring to the table, so I don't suggest you homogenize yourself to appear the same as everyone else; you definitely need to showcase some of what makes you special too!

One of my favorite Strategic Hiring Managers (who I would consider an excellent interviewer and people reader), once told me that he looked for 3 things in an interview which would compel him to hire the person (once he had determined whether the person could DO the job):

1. Do I like this person?  Would I /the team want to be social with them?
2. Does this person bring a skill set to our team/company - that we don't already have?
3. Where do I see this person going next in our company; Is this person promotable?

As you can see, none of these are easy to pin point down into one single answer.  To impress this particular interviewer, you would have to have displayed these qualities throughout the course of the interview.

How do you prepare for this?  You are essentially preparing to present something you should know really well - YOURSELF.  Some may think that they can wing it.  We do know that being over rehearsed can seem unnatural, so you don't want to overdo it.  

You spend more time at work than you do with your family/friends at home.    

So it's understandable why interviewers try to ensure that they also enjoy the people they work with!  We go through long courting periods with people who we date, before we marry them; months, even years before we decide if it's a good long term fit.  We spend more awake time in our jobs, with our co-workers, so how can we possibly choose the right fit of a person in a 1-5 hour interview process?  Well, it's a risk, and I guess why companies have "probationary periods".... but you can make sure that you put your best foot forward, and be likable in the interview!  Easiest technique... 

SMILE, and be engaged in the process, like you're actually happy to be there, and looking forward to the job!

Next - pick 2-3 core values / skill sets you feel are you best,  and really try to make sure that they come across in the interview.  No matter how stock standard the Q&A is,  you have the opportunity to inject your style into your answers, and ensure your core traits are demonstrated.  (2-3 is a good number to focus on - otherwise you could try to over-do it.)  Do your research on the company, and see if you can find out what qualities the business usually looks for in new hires.

Project the desire to be more, and your desire to progress in your career.  Career being the operative word here.  You don't want to scare a company, by having them believe you are already looking towards your next position in their company; most companies have a 2 year (minimum) plan for you to be in the role you are interviewing for in order for them to get the best performance / return on training investment from their employees:

Having a vision of growth in your roles over time is good to display to your future employer too - but just don't appear impatient.  Very few people want to hire someone into their business who is hoping to be stagnant.  

Even if you find yourself sitting across from the most novice interviewer, this prep will do you no harm!