| So, you have finally moved beyond the prescreening | | | | 2) Add some detail to describe the specific task or |
| phase and have landed the job interview! Your | | | | role you were assigned to deal with the situation: "I |
| resume set the stage to get you in the door, and | | | | was responsible for dealing directly with our |
| now here is your chance to ice the cake. The | | | | department's major clients and so, I was charged |
| interview, as you are well aware, is what will either | | | | with turning the situation around for this unhappy |
| move you towards completion of your goal - or it will | | | | customer." |
| be the last step in a lengthy series of steps you | | | | 3) Provide one or two key action steps you took to |
| have already undertaken. Question: how can you | | | | handle the situation: "I contacted the customer |
| succeed within the interview? | | | | directly and requested feedback. I authorized a |
| Assuming that you have appropriately prepared | | | | refund or future discounts to this particular |
| yourself for the interview, then the interview should | | | | customer." |
| be easy. However, despite all of the preparation, | | | | 4) As a RESULT of your action steps, what |
| even the best falter when sitting down face to face | | | | happened? "As a result of the refund and discount, |
| with a hiring manager or human resources staff. It is | | | | the customer increased their orders by 25%." |
| one thing to outline who you are on a piece of paper | | | | The four steps may be interchangeable - - you |
| (the resume), it is something else to actually explain | | | | describe step 4 (the results) prior to step 1 (the |
| who you are in person and face-to-face with another | | | | situation), however, the key is to be able to list |
| person. The one question most of us dread having to | | | | specific results that were gained. Most importantly, |
| answer is: "Tell me about yourself." Do they want to | | | | the results have to be tied directly to your action |
| know where you previously worked? Or, where you | | | | steps. Interviewers are looking for RESULTS, not |
| were born? I mean, there are just so many ways to | | | | just generalities ("I think I would make a good |
| go with that unbelievably dreaded question. Here is a | | | | employee for your company"; or worse yet, "I am |
| quick tip: the "tell me about yourself question" is | | | | good with clients because I enjoy relating to others."). |
| simply asking you to "tell me why you are sitting | | | | They need hard facts, verifiable data. And you are |
| here, today, interviewing for this specific job?" That | | | | the most qualified candidate who is prepared to give |
| is it, nothing more. | | | | it to them. |
| So, what are the 4 steps to succeed within a job | | | | A bit of caution: please do not create a script to |
| interview? The best career advice, as it relates to | | | | memorize these 4 steps. Ok, if it makes you feel |
| job interviews, career development, etc., is one that | | | | comfortable, and better prepared, then you can |
| encourages the candidate to creatively customize the | | | | write specific responses to the typical interview |
| steps. So the following steps below apply regardless | | | | questions and follow the 4 steps above. Review it, |
| if you are seeking a position as an educator or a | | | | then throw the script away. What is important is that |
| computer programmer, a manager or a salesclerk. | | | | you remember the 4 steps and can apply them to |
| The most important thing to remember is that every | | | | your own career success stories. |
| interviewer has a particular goal in mind. If you use | | | | The best type of job interview is one that unfolds |
| these 4 steps, then you are likely to cover all the | | | | into a content-rich discussion of how your specific |
| bases. | | | | qualifications match the needs of the company. It is |
| The four steps specifically deal with how you | | | | important for the interviewer to be able to see how |
| manage your response to the interviewer's questions. | | | | you fit within the company environment and culture. |
| Did you catch the word "manage" as it was used in | | | | Of course, one interview may not provide all of this |
| the previous sentence? Yes, I am talking about how | | | | detail - - but you want to give yourself a good head |
| you manage the process - - take control of the | | | | start. Succeeding within the interview requires |
| interview - -. So, when the interviewer asks you a | | | | extensive preparation, an understanding of how to |
| question (i.e., tell me how you handle an angry | | | | tailor your capabilities within the scope of the |
| customer) here are the four steps, as promised: | | | | company's needs, and your ability to provide details |
| 1) Provide a brief description of the situation: "One of | | | | related to how you can provide desired results as a |
| my customers was unhappy with our XYZ widgets." | | | | future employee. |