Performing at job interviews is what does it. I conducted many interviews and noticed that people make two simple mistakes.
First, they impress the interviewers by obviously talking themselves up. Not impressive: employers are not interested in how great you are; they are interested in how well you could do the job.
Second, most people, given the opportunity, ask about pay. What you need to clarify is why you would wish to work for this employer. Being employed is like being married – it is a two way thing. It is also one of the most important relationships in your life.
I agree – a two-way street. You are interviewing them as well as the other way around. I once interviewed for a Director who had a reputation for being a bit of a nightmare to work for.
They put us through hurdles and hoops – finally they “graciously” offered me the job and I “graciously” declined. They were stunned. I pointed out that I was a “Professional Production Manager” who loved working in my speciality. My research of HIM showed that my “job” was more likely to be about “fire-fighting” his personality conflicts with Producers, staff, crew and cast. Simply his culture didn’t fit with where I wanted to be.
“No – Ta!!! I’m going to do Pantomime instead”
Funnily enough I had my pick of jobs after that when word got around that I held myself in enough esteem to want ot work with great people in great cultures.
@Elaine: Good example, Elaine. And you are right – more offers come your way once you have reputation for integrity and send the message that you are a partner; not a beggar.
very well said. It’s been so long for me I would probably make those 2 mistakes talking about how great I am and how much do you want to pay me for my greatness. 🙂
@Jai: You are so great, Jai, that you never need to tell anyone agian that you are (this is the game of mediocre people). As to paying for your gretaness – just wait and see.
I have conducted some interviews too (I haven’t done enough though). I agree with with the pay situation. However, I do think, in my more limited experience, you do need to sale yourself. If you don’t who will? If you do the process right, you will talk yourself up in such a way that shows that you can do the job well.
You can “talk up your skill-set” without it sounding like arrogance though.That is where the skill lies.
Show me how you are as a person, but show me mostly how you will add value to MY business ………… mind you I admit it is a fine line to tread.
Interviewing is a challenge on both ends. When one has skills that are obvious, the confidence should shine. Walking that fine line between over confidence and being great like Jai can be tough.
I agree. The balance can be really tough. You need to show you know what you are doing and feel good about it but you don’t want to sound like a know it all.
Great points – and I agree with Elaine’s example. More people should think like this. When I’m interviewing candidates it is very rare that they ask questions, and if they do, they are ones designed to show how great they are (usually with some industry jargon in there that they may or may not have got right) and not to find out more about the role or the organisation and whether it is somewhere they would like to work.
@Victoria: Did I tell you what Ewan did at his interview? I preped him a bit, of course, but then when they asked whether he would like to ask something he said: ‘What do you think are the three best things about the …’. And the manager interviewing him was very impressed (well, Ewan got the job).
Very true about the pay thing. It’s a turn-off to interviewers if that’s what’s on your mind before they’ve selected you as a final candidate. It says, I’m shopping for a paycheck.
@Shaun: Agree! It also says ‘I have no imagination and have no idea how organisations work’. Minor point, really 🙄 .
I say never bring up pay unless the employer breaches the topic first. You should also already know the pay-range for the job before interviewing. Why waste you time?
@YFS: It is also a great loss of opportunity to establish connection.
Try to guess, is it positive or negative point?
“He is always trying to be on time.”
Waiting for your answers:)
@Alexander: Negative. With time, people don’t try; they do (well, I am having my Yoda suit on tonight).