If you’re up for a professional job, you have to show that you can think and anticipate. Think about what it takes to be successful and integrate into the culture, Anticipate what you need to learn, who you need to engage, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
And show you can get along – in the culture, with clients, stakeholders and supporters, with co-workers.
It isn’t enough to be able to do the job well. You have to prove your worth … Show me how you are going to attract new clients, tell me where you think there are new opportunities, convince me that you can help us address this challenge that’s costing us money and time.
If you think the job market has gotten more competitive, you’re right. Because employers want to know you’re hungry, they want to see how you work under pressure, and they want you to dig deep so they can see how you differ from the competition.
Interviews are getting harder. Employers want to separate the good from the excellent. That’s why they’re asking behavioral questions so you can show how you approach problems and resolve conflicts. These questions get at your ability to think, analyze, anticipate and be strategic.
Interviews are performances. You’re asked to present lesson plans, you’re asked to pitch new strategies and you’re asked to show how you think describing the scaffolding behind the things you’ve designed and built.
All this while being calm, centered, confident and engaging! And genuine!!
Right!?
The good news is that behavioral interviews are also forgiving. Yes they are! Because they’re about thinking and testing out ideas and explaining things well, not in having a perfect answer. You are showing how you approach problems, your willingness to take risks, your ability to research … and how you think.
What does the new interview style mean for you? That you have to get thinking and get prepared for your interview.
How to get started: Breathe and get focused. Then take a good careful look at the job description and think about what it takes to do the job well. Note where you’ve got skills and strengths that are a match and what you may need to work on. Next, look at the organization and ask, where have they been successful, who are their allies, what do they value. Third, talk to some people in the industry to find out what they think it takes to be successful and where they think the company stands out.
Then talk everything out loud in the company of a good listener (who might be a coach) so that you both can listen and tune into what you notice about where there’s a fit, where there are things to learn, what’s b.s. and what is genuine.
To learn more, come to the Interview Club on September 22. We’ll be doing lots of mock interviews and prepping for behavioral questions. And keep reading this blog in the interview section.