The three Cs of interviewing

If you want to ace your job interview, pay attention to the 3 Cs: Confidence, Content and Conversation.

Confidence: It’s OK to have “interview butterflies;” it’s not OK to show them. How do you come across as confident when your stomach churns with each question asked? Rehearse. Actors rehearse their lines so dialogue comes across as unrehearsed. Similarly, job seekers need to rehearse their answers.

How do you rehearse when you don’t know what questions you’ll be asked? Any book on interviewing provides the standard interview questions, the reason behind each question and suggested ways to answer them. Don’t study from the book. Instead, create your list of “interview lines” by writing out 10 questions from the book and YOUR answers. Writing

Jim Pawlak them down is important because it increases retention. In addition to this list, write out 10 questions based upon your résumé’s content and your answers. Practice your 20 answers until you can deliver them without looking at your list.

Next is your dress rehearsal — the mock interview. Enlist a friend’s help. Have your friend ask you the 20 questions in random order so you won’t know what’s coming. Ideally, you should video your mock interview so you can hear both how you look and how you sound. After a few times through the mock process, you’ll be ready to take center stage.

When you get to that stage, own it. Owning the spotlight starts with making your first impression. Dress to impress. Wear a suit even if the company’s dress code is business casual, or if you’re applying for a blue-collar job. Keep perfume/after shave and jewelry to a minimum and don’t show up smelling like a cigarette. No dead-fish handshakes either.

Don’t let stage fright take hold when the questions start. Maintain eye contact throughout the interview. Don’t slouch. Smile. Lean forward a bit. Nod your head up and down to show understanding and agreement. Fidgeting when answering and delivering your answers in a monotone or soft voice betrays a lack of confidence. Eliminate fidgeting during the interview by taking notes — it’s virtually impossible to fidget when your legs are crossed and one hand is steadying the notepad while the other holds the pen.

Content: The interview is a screening process that you control. Interviewers only know what you tell them, so think before you speak. Doing so decreases the chances of “foot in mouth” disease.

Know your résumé inside out. Why? Since it’s the only source of information the interviewer has about you, it’s the starting point for his/ her questions. You should be able to provide solid answers based upon your confidence-building exercise.

Interviewers ask mostly open-ended questions (i.e. Tell me about a situation …?; Can you give me an example of … ?). Make sure your answers are on point. Most job seekers tend to provide too much information as they try to impress the interviewer. Information overload makes it difficult for an interviewer to separate the steak from the sizzle.

NEVER say anything bad about the company for which you work, former employers, your bosses and your co-workers. To an interviewer, negativity waves a huge red flag. It’s the sign of a potential complainer.

Conversation — There are three reasons why you must turn an interview into a conversation: 1. When the interviewer responds to your questions and comments, you’ll be less nervous. 2. You’ll find cues to her/his hot buttons. 3. You need to find out whether the job and the company are a good fit for you.

How do you shift an interview into conversation mode? Ask questions (avoid compensation and benefits during an initial interview) about the company and the job. Relative to company-related questions, you’ll have to spend time surfing the company’s website and the Internet. Look for articles in the local newspaper, too. Job-related questions should focus on major duties and interaction with colleagues and other departments.

Content: The interview is a screening process that you control. Interviewers only know what you tell them, so think before you speak. Doing so decreases the chances of ‘foot in mouth’ disease.