By JOHN DAVID JOLLEY IILos Alamos
You applied for a Job and were called to come in for an interview, what do you do now?
Relax, as an experienced hiring manager, I can help you get through this and leave a good impression about yourself. First, the hiring manager will tell you about their company and the job they are trying to fill. Take mental notes to answer questions geared to what they mention in this part of the interview. Second, you need to know that the hiring manager(s) is trying to answer three questions they will never ask you directly.
- Can you do the job? For example, can you wash windows? Yes.
- Will you do the job? No, I will not wash windows. You need to be able to say yes to both of these questions through the two styles of interview questions shown below.
- Do you get along with my team? Team includes co-workers and your prospective boss. This is the one question that is out of your control in selling your work abilities to the hiring manager.
You may do the best interview yet not get hired, because the hiring manager knows their team and themselves, and they may not think your personality is a fit with their team.
Take heart, doing well at a job interview takes lots of practice. So if you are not hired even though you did well in the interview, chalk it up to practice so that next interview you will do even better.
There are two styles of questions you will be asked, direct questions about you as a person; and questions I call Situation, Behavior, and Outcome (SBO).
Always answer these questions concisely in two minutes or less, if you need time to think, repeat the question back to them while coming up with an answer.
Direct questions are so the hiring manager gets to know your capability in doing the work. Tell me about yourself.
If hired, where do you envision yourself in this company in five years? What are your strengths, and what are your weaknesses? Etc. When telling the hiring manager about yourself always answer with items related to the job you are interviewing for, work experience, system knowledge, etc. Do not tell about your personal life, it is irrelevant to the job needs that the hiring manager is trying to fill. On future career goals tell them that you want to spend time in their organization becoming proficient in their job needs.
The hiring manager(s) does not want someone that plans to be here today, gone tomorrow. On strengths and weakness relate the answer to the job description you were told in the beginning.
For example, I can handle a lot of stress in an uncertain environment; I am great at prioritizing, yet very flexible. As to weaknesses I don’t know the computer system you currently use yet I am a fast on-the- job learner and can come quickly up to speed. Always answer weakness proactively on how you will address that weakness and turn it into strength.
For more about how to succeed at a job interview, see Part II to be published soon.
