Hi Sue,

I was wondering if you could send a few interview tips for me.  The interview for the XYZ position is tomorrow morning; I didn't think they would call this quickly, but they did and it's making me nervous. I have another interview Monday morning at a dream job.

I'm feeling a bit nervous, especially for tomorrow.  Hoped you might send over a few encouraging and confidence reinforcing interview tips?

It’s exciting you’re getting these interviews! Yeah you! We haven’t had a chance to connect today, so I do want to send a few thoughts in no particular order:

1. Perhaps the biggest one: The first company gets a LOT of applications. You have something they are interested in or they wouldn’t be talking to you. Also, they are known for being particularly interested in engaging with their local community. You have certainly demonstrated your commitment to working in building relationships. Your prior accomplishments help you here.

2. The opening “phase” of an interview is to establish connection and rapport. You’re good at this. Make eye contact and just respond as you normally would to whatever they say. If you notice something interesting about them or their surroundings – a cool painting on the conference room wall, for instance – say what you think is cool about it, and ask a question. For example: I love the colors in that painting. Was it painted by someone associated with the company?

3. They may use a structured interview process.  If so, you are all set. Just answer their questions based on your experience using the PAR method. We used this to develop your resume. What was the Problem (or opportunity)? What was the Action that you took specifically?  And what was the Result.  You have all these numbers.  Please remember you’re a leader. You were not supposed to execute every last detail so you may not remember them all.

   1. Use your List of 120. This answers the questions

• What are your strengths?

•  Why do you think you’re a good fit for this position?

•  What are you looking for in the ideal job

• How would you approach the role? (Even though you don’t know about it yet, I bet your approach is in your list – collaboration, etc.)

• What are your weaknesses is also in your list – They’re the couple of things you want to have staff to do, that you know are hugely important to be successful, but you’ve learned to let experts be experts – finding fixes for your computer and data bases, for instance.

2. The answer to any question you’re not sure of is one of your three best strengths.

3. Have a few questions ready to ask them. You are a leader. This company has a reputation for sometimes not completely respecting candidates.  If you feel like this at the time, please know it’s in their training and not in relation to you. YOU are still a LEADER. You are known in the community, a LOT of people respect and like you and regard you as one of the leaders deserving respect.

4. You will want to ask strategic questions

1. What specifically prompted them to contact you?

2. What is the most important qualification of the successful candidate?

3. What are the most important KPIs of the role?

4. What are they looking for the preferred candidate to do to help the organization and their customers? What are the major goals?

5. How established is the project you’ll be working with? 

6. What have been the toughest challenges? What have they done to answer them?

7. What concerns do they have about your candidacy? (This is so you can answer them either on the spot or in your follow up letter.)

8. How long has the position been open? Why is it available? Are there internal candidates?

9. In general, what is the funding like for this project or program? Are there financial constraints or priorities you should be aware of? What is or was the biggest hurdle your predecessor faced to accomplishing all he or she wanted to get done?

5. On the other hand, they may show you that they really do like you.  This company has a reputation for taking their time in hiring. 

6. If they ask you anything about salary, you can try deferring until you know more about the position. If they push, you can say, “Without knowing more about the role, I’m not sure how I would answer that for sure, but so far I’m looking at positions in the range of x to y.  X should not be lower than you would go and y is reasonable for someone in your role with your experience in the kind and size of company you’re applying to, in this region of the country….   Aim high; they’re going to hear the lower number.

7. If you can’t answer or don’t know something, you can either respond with strategy – how you would go about finding out what to do (Who would you talk to, for instance?), or you can say you’ll look into it and get back to them.

8. You want to ask what is their expected selection process and time frame.  DO NOT ASK if you can stay in touch with them. You’ll do so anyway. Please say you want the job or the next step in their process, whichever is truer.  This is because a long time ago someone wrote an article saying if a candidate wants a job, they will ask for it and if they don’t ask, they don’t want it.  It’s become a game; play it.

9. The close is just what you do normally – say you enjoyed meeting them. If there was something in particular you liked, you can say that. 

4. If you can get names, spellings and business cards that’s great. If not, you can always get back to the scheduler for them. Do you have business cards of your own?  Don’t worry tomorrow if you don’t. Maybe you can get some for Monday. You never know whom you’re going to meet in addition to the interviewer you’re expecting.

You’re really good at what you do. You move mountains. You’re creative, responsive, inclusive, collaborative and really smart.  Their decision on whether or not to continue your candidacy is no reflection on you or your career. There are lots of reasons candidates are chosen – not to mention the Universe seems to express its opinion from time to time. 

I’m celebrating over here!  The interviews have started! Let the games begin!  Yeah, team!!!