The Good News About Interviews – Tip 5 of 10
Going to an interview can seem a daunting prospect, so here is this week’s tip that you can take to improve the probability of your career success.
Tip 5 of 10: Interview – Managing the Process – Dealing with a Real Problem
They would not be recruiting if they did not have a real task for you to do, so think about how you can make a start on that task right there in the interview. Either cite instances where you’ve done it in the past or, if possible, by tackling some aspect of it there and then in the interview.
Don’t come up with pat solutions: they may well already have been tried. Talk about things you’ve done before. Show your working and your thought processes, show your knowledge of the subject and of dealing with people. Some elements are standard almost whatever the situation: gathering information, identifying options, consultation.
Be as specific as you can; what actions would you take, who would you involve, how would you monitor progress, what resources would you need? Give some thought to figures. Show how your actions would lead to the required result. Show how the manager would be involved; use his/her skills.
Show enthusiasm. Involve the manager in the discussion (‘Do you think that if we did xyz it would assist in abc?’ ‘Has such and such been investigated yet? What was the result?’). When you work together, this is what you will be doing; do it now.
You’ve planned ahead, know what the likely problems are and have gathered some thoughts and ideas, your own and other people’s. But don’t be fazed if a different issue emerges during the discussion, a lot of what you have gathered, for example the cost base or the organisation and its reporting structure will still be relevant. Ask for feedback. Will your strategy work? What were the strengths and weaknesses of your approach?
Show the capabilities you lay claim to in the interview; use your interpersonal skills, your strong communication, your influencing ability.
So, performing well in the interview might not be as daunting as you first thought and may not require anything more than a fresh perspective and way of looking at it. It sounds simple and it is, it’s just not always easy, especially when trying to do it alone.
For practical advice on how to make the change without being overwhelmed contact us to discuss how we can help.