A formal job interview is an unnatural environment for everyone, regardless of what side of the table or screen they’re on. This is an opportunity for the candidate to sell themselves and validate their progression to this stage, and equally a chance for employers to see beyond the resume and get a sense of how the candidate will perform.
The good news is that whether you’re applying for your dream job or simply chasing a paycheck, having a formal interview is at or near the end of the line – preparing for the interview is your ticket across that line. Here’s some strategies to dodge common traps and stand out from the herd when you find yourself up against some common questions.
“Tell me about yourself.”
This opener is simple, but is a trap that many have been snared in. It’s common for the unprepared to wander into an unorganized, rambling dialogue that’s both irrelevant and disastrous to any consideration. Instead, tell a story – a brief story – in three parts: where you were, what you are, and what’s next. Just like a resume, this can and should be tailored to the opportunity at hand.
It’s important to frame up a response that outlines your relevant skills and experience, salted with your personality. Employers will have already reviewed your CV, after all, and have advanced to this stage to meet you – let ‘em.
The best advice I can share for this question is threefold: prepare, prepare, and prepare. Create a conversational, confident response without sounding like a LinkedIn post.
“Tell me about a time you faced a challenge at work and how you handled it.”
It’s time to regale your interviewers with a war story that paints you as the hero. Take the time to identify a situation from your past versus scrambling to invent or recall something when asked, both of which can find yourself rambling your way out of a job.
To win, focus on the solution and how you arrived there – leave the drama out of it. Respond with where you found yourself; what you needed to do to; how you did it; and what happened – the often-quoted STAR method (Situation; Task; Action; Result). Remember, this is your story.
The Weakness Crucible
Employers will regularly ask you about a time you made a poor decision, what your greatest weakness is, or some variation of how you’ve failed or what you lack. This isn’t as much of a psychological ambush as it sounds, but a test of self-reflection, growth, and humility. This inquiry presents you with an opportunity to demonstrate how honest and coachable you are, as well as striving to improve from the flawed human being you were.
Here's an example that outlines a strong response:
“I’ve struggled with delegating tasks, because I wanted to make sure everything met my standards.”
Sounds bad, right? Independently, this statement doesn’t do you any favours but is a common challenge for anyone with reports, and a springboard for you to illustrate how you’ve grown professionally and add value to the organization peripherally of individual development.
“Over time I’ve learned to trust my team and invest time in mentoring and developing them, and it’s improved overall project outcomes and let me focus on my role.”
However you phrase a response, ensure that you’re demonstrating success and growth while overcoming a past shortfall.
“Do you have any questions for us?”
The dance isn’t over until you take the lead. Throwing some questions back at your interview shows engagement, interest, and lets you gather some information. Here’s some suggestions to make your own:
- “What does success look like in this role in six months?”
- “What are things that I could do to stand out in this role?”
- “How would you describe the team dynamics?”
Avoid any questions that can be easily googled and keep questions in good taste – I wouldn’t suggest asking when you’ll get a raise but asking what the next stage and timeline of the hiring process will be are fair game.
Employers are looking to find a SWAN in the person they’re interviewing – someone who’s Smart, Works Hard, is Ambitious, and Nice (or not an [expletive], depending on whom you ask). By investing the time to prepare you’ll be able to illustrate at least the first two of those, and by applying for the position you’ve arguably covered the third. The final point, however, is up to you.
If you’re prepared, you’ll be confident. If you’re confident, you’re likely to be more relaxed, and this will improve the quality of your responses and interaction with the interviewer. You’re worth their time to interview, and you’re worth the time it takes to prepare.
