A Guide to Making the Most of Your Job Interviews

A Guide to Making the Most of Your Job Interviews

Nearly four years ago, a friend confided in me that she was seeking reassurance before an upcoming interview because, like most people, she was quite anxious about the whole thing. In reflecting on my career thus far, I have come to the realization that out of the nine years I have worked, I have attended thirteen interviews and, most crucially, I have been offered a position at each of them. 

I didn't take every job offer, but the important thing is that I never went on an interview without receiving some kind of employment offer. I have gone on six more interviews in the last four years, but I have only received rejection letters for two of them. During one of these interviews, I discovered that the position was completely out of my niche, despite the fact that my friend had set it up since he "wanted" me to work for Volkswagen. I had a fundamental disagreement with the interviewer on the second one, and it was a telephone interview my least favorite kind of interview. Two days after my interview, I began working for the same company. I had an interview with another boss a few weeks after that.

Even though I am not a magical technological genius that any employer would be enamored with upon first glance, I have received job offers from seventeen out of nineteen interviews. Even though I work as a computer programmer, I know that there are plenty of my peers who are more technically proficient.

I think self-assurance is key. Having faith in yourself isn't enough; you must also inspire faith in the interviewer. Sydney, Australia, was the site of a lengthy interview I had once. 

I had never imagined an interview for such a prestigious position could last so long until then. Picture this: you're sitting through a four and a half-hour interview, and you still don't like them. Anyway, I was informed by the interviewer midway through the process that he is evaluating two or three other candidates for the post, but he has a "warm and fuzzy feeling" about me. I didn't want to hear that from a man, but it was then that I knew the job was mine.

So, you want to make your interviewer feel all "warm and fuzzy" inside.

Prior to an interview, I always try to put myself in the other person's shoes and imagine what qualities I would look for if I were interviewing them for the same job. Even at the managerial level, computer programming is seen as a technically-oriented job. However, in my experience, the technical aspects of a computer programming interview have rarely been the determining factor. This is usually due to the interviewer's lack of experience or strong people skills. If someone has any level of expertise, they will likely be more intrigued by your character than your technical skills. Naturally, I am presuming that you are submitting applications for positions for which you possess some qualifications. Therefore, what personality qualities should you strive to exhibit, and how can you concentrate on developing them? Please allow me to illustrate what I think is crucial during an interview with a few instances.

Though I haven't heard them in a while, there are two terrible questions that were common in all interviews a few years ago. On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your strengths and weaknesses? I used to begin my responses to the first of these two inquiries with phrases like "Yes, I knew this was coming, so I thought about it last night," whenever I encountered it.

It doesn't make sense because the point of those questions is to gauge your self-awareness. It says nothing about your self-awareness if you have to give it some thought the night before. But I do it nevertheless for two reasons. My first priority is being forthright with them. You should, like everyone else, get ready for an interview. I simply want to demonstrate that I am not an expert and that I am a real person. Additionally, it helps to alleviate stress. In order to divert the interviewer's attention from their "prepared" questions, a seasoned interviewer would often make a remark about how you need to prepare your responses ahead of time. You have a better chance of revealing your true nature to the interviewer if you can talk to them freely rather than in response to questions. While they wait, they can avoid making the interview "long enough" by asking pointless technical questions.

Remember that no one is supposed to know everything. Like I mentioned before, I am not a computer programming guru, so it is not uncommon for me to fail to answer a question or know anything about a subject in an interview. This is when I stop trying to appear knowledgeable or as if I already know the answer. To put it plainly, I am clueless. But how you express your lack of knowledge is what matters. "I don't know" may be all the words that come out of your mouth, but the way you act should convey that it's alright that they are unsure. 

Put simply, express yourself with assurance and dignity. Simply state, "I don't know because I've never needed to use that in the past" or "I normally use such and such instead," and if you can, explain why you prefer your backup plan. Make an effort to explain how you would acquire this knowledge for your new role if it were necessary. This accomplishes two goals once more. Both your problem-solving skills and your ability to express yourself freely are showcased. Last but not least, if you are completely confused, politely request that they elaborate or provide an example. Speaking openly and honestly again demonstrates to them that you are comfortable with them and want to learn from them.

Having the ability to think independently and express one's own views is, in my opinion, a crucial quality in an interview candidate. Stay away from yes-or-no responses! You should regard each question posed by the interviewer as a chance to express yourself, rather than a barrier that you must overcome in a flash. Of course, you don't want them to think you're attempting to sidestep the issue, so keep talking about the same thing. But you should do your best to explain things further and provide examples to demonstrate that you grasp the subject. Make sure to highlight your personality rather than your technical abilities throughout the interview; this will help overcome any concerns about a lack of work experience, especially if this is your first interview. I still answer interview questions with a lot of personal anecdotes and examples (brief tales, remain on subject) from my life, even though I've been in the profession for 13 years.

I think that's the crux of it all this "speaking freely" that I've brought up so many times. Keep in mind that the individual across the table from you is simply that another human being. To give myself a break from the rush-hour traffic, I always aim to be early for interviews. As I puff away on my cigarette in the last few minutes, a scene plays out in my head that I'd rather not describe. In any case, all it comes down to is me striking up a small talk with the interviewer and letting them know that I understand their position. We're all simply attempting to make the most of our limited time here on Earth. I am aware that it sounds foolish. But it just serves to reinforce in my mind that the individual I'm going to speak to is no different from anyone else, and I should handle them accordingly.

Alright, I'll sum everything up. Emphasize your character traits rather than your technical skills. Unless you happen to be the top dog in your field in which case I'm addressing the other 99.89 percent of your peers. Keep in mind that the interviewer is just a human being like you, and talk to them like you would a long-time friend. Only in this way will you be able to influence the course of the discussion to some extent. Be yourself and say what's on your mind, but remember that this is still their interview and that they should have the last say. Lastly, have integrity.