Winning Your Dream Job
I have interviewed many people in my years of management and a lot has changed over the years. Resumes have evolved offering thousands of templates and styles. The way we actually apply for a job or seek out new hires has certainly changed. Now websites and algorithms determine if our resume even gets to the decision maker. Resumes should mirror the keywords in the job posting to create a better ‘match’ before we even get in front of them.
With everything being so automated, it is more important than ever to really be prepared if we do get a chance to have a face to face interview. While video conference interviews may become the norm, particularly if we are a remote worker, we have to capitalize on those as if we were sitting in the room. So whether we are being interviewed or the interviewer, it means doing more up front homework.
Do your research
If we are video interviewing, we can’t look around their office and see they are an alum of the same school or notice clues about their interests. Now we have to cyber stalk them by Googling their name and checking all of their social media profiles. And just know they are doing the same thing to us. It also means doing a deep dive on the company. If we are being interviewed via video conference, make sure the background and your outfit is professional and the setting quiet.
Even if we are not seeking new employment, it is important to keep our LinkedIn profile not only up to date, but interview ready. We never know when a new opportunity might present itself, and the first thing they are going to do is do an online search about us. And most often what pops up first are our social media profiles.
Know your digital footprint
Do you ever Google your name? I actually have a Google Alert set up on my name so I will be notified if I am in the news. I highly recommend it. It’s important to know what a prospective client or employer might see when they search us.
Having a good reputation and knowing a lot of people goes a long way, but our digital footprint is what reinforces what may be generally known about us in our industry of choice. That includes personal Facebook pages that are public facing. And even if they aren’t public, just know that anything we put in social media or online, is subject to find its way into a public forum.
Tell them a story
Help them understand why you are the best person for the job. But that’s not where it ends. When talking about the job in the part where they ask us if we have any questions, make sure and tie past successes into why you think you are the right person for this job and this company. Let them know that as a professional, you know how to run a business and that you understand the importance focusing on the things that drive the business and will benefit their company. ‘At that job, I did that. And because of that, I feel I can take it further and do this in this role’.
The key to landing the job is to be:
Prepared
On Time (early)
Enthusiastic
Inquisitive
Confident
Competent
Likable
Industrious
Respectful
Passionate
Open Minded
Team Player
Business Minded
Professional
Trustworthy
Conscientious
Grateful
A Good Storyteller
A Cultural Fit
That’s a lot to convey in an interview. But by telling a success story, they are more likely to remember us and set us apart from other candidates. A story that reveals the above attributes in a real life scenario is so much better than just saying that we have those attributes. Even if the story reveals a vulnerability, that’s fine as long as it ends with a winning resolution and shows growth.
Sometimes interviews are a series of meetings with multiple stakeholders and panel evaluations. It might also involve a personality/behavior analysis test. I completely understand why companies do that. Some interviewers are great at identifying who might be right for the job, some just determine if they like the person. It really needs to be a combination of factors. There are just some things we can’t uncover in an interview, which is why credible references and multiple perspectives are also important contributing factors.
When seeking out the next phase in your personal growth plan, make sure you truly feel a passion for the mission ahead of you. They will feel your enthusiasm as long as you have done your homework and tell them a story that is so compelling they can’t do anything but hire you.
“A job interview is a two-way communication to probe for cultural and team fit. No matter which side of the table you sit, you should be asking questions that are important to you without fear.” ~Salil Jha, author, adventurer, coach
