The Winning Interview

Interviewing is described as an “art”, a technique, a series of successful strategies – we believe it includes all of the above and more.
The following is a list of ideas that will help in developing your style for “The Winning Interview.” When you work through BurnsSearch,
we will more fully develop these points to give you the most positive competitive edge we can.

Does the most qualified candidate get the job? Not Always! Many variables are involved in deciding on the “best” Candidate for the job. Employers often find attributes, in less qualified candidates that offset the lack of “perfect qualifications.” The following are ideas and tested strategies that may help you in your interviewing efforts.
Where do we begin for the interview? Successful interviews start long before the appointment day. Proper preparation is fundamental. Let’s start at the beginning.

 Key Fundamentals:

Know your potential employer Research the web site; ask questions of your recruiter. Employers often remark after interviews, “that candidate had no clue what we do!” Your recruiting company has a responsibility here, but so do you as a candidate. Do your homework!!
Understand the Position Your BurnsSearch recruiter will make you aware of key aspects of the position; the skills and qualifications required. Again, ask probing questions to fully understand the opportunity. Knowledge is power, have as much information as possible to understand what is involved and what is expected.

If, after following the above two steps, you are still interested, you must prepare yourself and give yourself the competitive edge. You will be competing with many other candidates who have similar skills and qualifications.

How do you set yourself apart?

Presentation The old sales adage “sell yourself” is true. It is up to you to become totally aware of every aspect of your presentation. This is NOT about skills and qualifications; it’s about how you are perceived by your interviewer. Understanding your best attributes, knowing your strengths and areas of improvement and communicating them in a confident, professional manner is paramount to success.
Attire Trendy, flashy clothes are not for interviews, regardless of company culture. Always err on the conservative side – a suit is always appropriate, a fresh, crisp, clean approach is always a winner. Remember, you will meet many different people from various departments, and they do notice details!
Communication Think about how you come across – use language the interviewer understands in terms of technical skills and don’t use excessive or “high brow” terms that may get lost in the translation. Communication means to “exchange information clearly.” We communicate verbally, physically and emotionally, be aware of your words, body language, expressions and reactions.
Who Leads the Interview? Clearly, the interviewer should lead the conversation. Allow free, clear conversation, answer questions with enough information to address questions without engaging in a dissertation. If the interviewer(s) wants more details, they will ask. Avoid the impulse to talk about everything you know with respect to the questions, remember, take your lead from the interviewer(s). I can assure you, they will ask for more information if they want it.
Courtesy This may seem like an unnecessary comment, but common courtesy goes a long way. A pleasant smile, a firm handshake, good eye contact, and not displaying displeasure if you have to wait longer than anticipated, all work in your favor. Remember, everyone is looking – you may not feel your interviewer pays a lot of attention to certain aspects of your behavior and demeanor, but I can promise you, others do, and they will comment!
Follow Up An appropriate email or thank you card that basically expresses appreciation for the interview and your continued interest in the position is never out of fashion. Whether you get the offer or not, you want to leave the most positive impression on all those you meet.

The above information is provided as a basic outline to approach the interview and is by no means intended to be exhaustive.
BurnsSearch staff will provide more indepth assistance with specific suggestions and recommendations related to difficult questions,
behavioral questions and other issues involved with specific client companies. The best prepared candidates are definitely the most
successful.

Remember the keys: confidence and attitude – the winning combination!!

  

  

Created by Blue Lantern, Inc.