Shine in a Job Interview | The Harvard Business Review Guide

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0:51Amy Gallo:Let's say you've landed a job interview for a position you really want. Well done. Congratulations. But when it's time for the interview, you might get a lot of conflicting advice. Be yourself. Whatever you do, don't be yourself. Take charge of the interview. Let the interviewer be in charge. Confusing, right? Well, I'm here to help. In this video, I've culled advice from top experts in the field and want to share strategic tips on how best to prepare, what to do, and what to say so that you can make a great impression in your next interview.

1:33Amy Gallo:First, do your homework. Let's be honest, your primary job in the interview is to dazzle them with the fact that you're perfectly suited for the role. But before you can do that, you need to invest time in learning about the organization and the job. So find out as much as you can about how the organization is structured, its culture, and relevant industry trends. If possible, see what you can find out about the people conducting the interview. There may be valuable professional or personal points of connection that could help make your interview more relatable and memorable. Lastly, research the requirements and challenges of the particular position you're applying for and the qualities of a successful candidate based on that information.

2:18Amy Gallo:Ask yourself questions like, what technical skills are essential to perform this job? What kinds of people skills would I need to succeed? What do I need to prove I already know how to do or that I'm willing to learn in order to be successful? Being well-prepared will boost your confidence and give you a better chance of acing the interview. And all of this information is key to your success in the next tip, crafting your stories. That's right, it's story time. And these stories are all about why you are the perfect person for the job. As author Claudio Fernandez Arauz reminds us, people buy into stories far more than they do evidence or data.

3:00Amy Gallo:A good story can also stir up empathy and boost your likability. If you give them a chance to relate to you as a real person, you might just set yourself apart from the competition. Remember how you just researched the skills required for the job and what's important to the organization? Well, now you get to tell powerful personal stories that connect each of those to your own experiences, values, and achievements in both your work and personal life. Pick three or four main messages you want to convey and craft your narratives accordingly. The goal is to have these in your back pocket so you can smoothly trot them out as answers to relevant interview questions.

3:40Amy Gallo:Author Vicki Oliver writes that a compelling story has a great beginning, riveting middle, and an end that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job. Have a good opening line, such as, Let me tell you about a time I rescued the organization. Then tell them about any obstacles or issues that arose and how you overcame them. Keep the story short, but interesting and impactful. An important note, not all stories have to show total perfection. You will make a real impression and seem more relatable if you can share stories of challenges and even mistakes, as long as you remember to show what you learned from them.

4:20Amy Gallo:Practice, practice, practice. Once you select your stories, you need to rehearse. Just like an actor prepares for the stage or screen, you are preparing a character, a confident, competent, likable, flexible version of yourself to perform in the interview. I'm not saying you should be inauthentic or over-exaggerate your experiences or skills, but author and coach Kathy Salat writes, you are literally auditioning for a new role. You are presenting the best possible version. When you need to build up your team to handle the growing chaos at work, use Indeed Sponsored Jobs. It gives your job post the boost it needs to be seen and helps reach people with the right skills, certifications, and more.

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6:31Amy Gallo:...version of yourself. And since you've done your homework, you know what parts of your personality and experience to emphasize for each position. So what exactly should you practice? Well, for one, practice your opening. First impressions really matter here. In fact, research shows that people form opinions about your personality and intelligence in the first 30 seconds of the interview. 30 seconds! So, in front of a mirror, pretend you are introducing yourself and assess things like your posture, tone, and body language. You want to communicate a balance of ease, clarity, and confidence. The most important thing is to practice telling your stories with energy and enthusiasm.

7:14Amy Gallo:You want to be ready to share them as confident, clear, and straightforward responses to relevant interview questions. You can even practice in front of a friend or record yourself on video. You can then use the feedback to make any necessary adjustments to your appearance or your delivery before the actual interview. Have a great conversation. Once you're comfortable telling your stories, Kathy Salad has another unique piece of advice. Instead of performing as someone who is trying really hard to get the job, perform as someone who wants to have a great conversation with the person across from you.

7:52Amy Gallo:First, be curious, or at least perform curiosity if you need to. Ask open-ended questions connected to what you've heard. This will allow the conversation to unfold more naturally. Side note, if you need some ideas, check out the links for another HBR video on 38 Smart Questions to Ask in an Interview. you. Be ready to improvise. I know I've just told you to prepare and rehearse your stories, but they aren't just talking points to be rattled off. You also need to listen attentively and be ready to accept every conversational opening with the classic improv phrase, yes and, as a way to build upon the conversation.

8:32Amy Gallo:Also, as author John Lees reminds us, be flexible. Read the room and adjust accordingly. If your radar is telling you that your stories aren't working, you may need to supply different answers, adjust your tone, or stop speaking altogether because, well, some interviewers just love to hear themselves talk. Pay attention and change course as needed. When things go wrong. Despite your best efforts to prepare, interviews don't always go as planned. Here are some potential pitfalls and what you can do about them. Lack of direct experience. If there are areas where your past achievements don't directly correlate to the job, redirect the focus away from where your experience might fall short and towards an emphasis on your potential and overall competence.

9:21Amy Gallo:If you can demonstrate your ability to learn a skill or adapt to a situation, this could convince an interviewer to ignore any potential holes in your CV. One side note, taking charge of the interview in this way can help steer interviewers away from unconscious biases that favor experience over competence. Tough questions about your resume. If there are some less than perfect situations on your CV, like a long pause in your work history or a short stay at a recent job, John Lee's recommends preparing multiple ways to reply so that you aren't left struggling for an answer. First, prepare a simple, straightforward response that doesn't go into too much detail.

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