By Kelly Cline, Search Consultant
If you feel nervous at the thought of a job interview, you’re not alone. Even as a recruitment professional, the prospect of having to explain my experience and persuade someone to hire me makes me anxious, worrying that I won’t get it “right.”
I know I’m not looking for a candidate to give a perfect interview, but I also don’t expect the conversation to be overly challenging. Sometimes, these conversations can feel like pulling teeth, as if the candidate is sharing everything except what I actually want to know.
The reality is that the easier the conversation, the more likable you will seem to the recruiter, which hopefully allows you to progress to the next round.
How can you ensure that the conversation flows as smoothly as possible?
Here are some insights from a recruitment professional to help you make your next interview as straightforward as possible—for everyone involved.
1. Listen to the Question
This sounds like obvious advice, but I often notice candidates jumping into answers without taking the time to listen to what has been asked.
It’s easy to get excited and start sharing all the things that you think will sell you for the role, yet I typically ask questions to determine whether the candidate possesses the required qualifications and experience.
Example: If the interviewer asks you to describe how you managed an underperforming employee, they want to know how you tackled the challenge, not just to hear you complain about your difficult staff members.
Guide them through the situation but concentrate on how you acted and the positive results you achieved.
2. Stay on Topic
Tangents often derail an interview completely. They can confuse the interviewer and make you appear disorganized.
Additionally, they consume valuable time that could be better spent promoting yourself.
Example: If you are asked why you left your last job, indicate whether you were laid off or resigned, and provide a positive and professional response instead of listing your complaints about the organization.
3. Be Clear About Your Qualifications
At this stage in your career, you’ve accomplished a lot, but as recruiters, we don’t like to assume that you are qualified for the job.
Clearly outline your years of experience, the industries you’ve worked in, your specific job responsibilities, the size of the teams you’ve led, and more.
Don’t expect them to assume you are qualified for the role. Keep in mind that recruiters compare notes from interviews.
If an individual clearly states that they led a team of 15 and was responsible for a budget of $30 million, it becomes easier to assess their qualifications compared to someone who is less direct.
Example: Rather than stating, “I oversaw customer service,” say, “I managed a call centre with 20 staff responsible for handling complaint calls, addressing billing issues, and ensuring customer retention.”
Be specific and help them visualize you performing your job.
4. Share Real, Specific Examples
As a recruiter, I’m not only looking for you to express your belief that you can do the job but also for evidence of how you have performed similar work in the past.
It’s not enough to say that you handle pressure well; support it with specific examples.
Even better if you can provide specific numbers to help quantify your results.
Example: If I ask about your sales experience, I’m not looking for you to brag about being a great salesperson, instead share quantifiable results, such as bringing in $10k worth of business or increasing sales by 20% during a one-year period.
Show that you have made an actual impact with measurable results.
5. Know When to Stop Talking
Often, you might feel the urge to keep talking to ensure the interviewer receives a complete answer.
However, remember that more isn’t always better; it can actually make your response feel less impactful.
Spending too much time on your answers may detract from other important questions, limiting the opportunity to fully assess your qualifications.
Example: When asked to demonstrate how you handle conflict, avoid simply stating that you do it frequently or that you excel in that area.
Instead, provide a relatable example that illustrates how you managed a difficult situation and the positive outcome.
A strong response might begin with, “I had two employees who were constantly clashing with one another. I spoke with both of them separately to understand their perspectives and realized that they shared a passion for green initiatives. I had them co-chair the sustainability committee and giving them both a chance to work together on a shared initiative helped them develop a much-improved relationship.”
In conclusion, interviews aren’t about perfection, and they don’t need to be complicated.
From a recruiter’s perspective, the best candidates are those who simplify the process by listening and answering my questions, staying on topic, providing clear examples, and not derailing the conversation.
Keep it simple and focus on allowing your experience to truly speak for itself.
So, just remember: listen, stay focused, and be yourself – these will help you land the job you want. Good luck!