Posted under Interviewing on July 16th, 2007
Here’s a little-known fact about job interviews that, properly understood, can give you an advantage in the interview: Many interviewers/hiring managers are not trained or experienced in the process of conducting interviews. In fact, some hiring managers may even be as nervous as the person they’re interviewing.
Hard to believe? Think about what’s at stake for them. They have to fill a position in a certain timeframe so that the company can stay on track or get back on track in accomplishing its goals. They have to keep to a budget. And they have to select someone who fits in well with the culture of the organization. Making the wrong hire reflects badly on their own reputation and leaves the company off course. In fact, making the wrong hire may literally mean letting the best candidate for the job get away – possibly to the competition.
Why is this an advantage for you? By understanding what’s on the line for the hiring manager, you can actually help the interview along with well prepared answers that demonstrate the value you bring to the company and the impact you will have – your ability to “hit the ground running.” Knowing that the hiring manager may not know how to formulate the best questions to extract the important information, you can be prepared to provide the information that the interviewer should be asking about.
To do this, decide ahead of time what three key points you want the employer to know about you, and then look for opportunities in your interview to deliver that message. When you do that, you’ve put the hiring manager at ease and given yourself a real advantage.
Posted by Wendy Gelberg
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