5 Steps to Outshine Your Competition In a Job Interview

An interview is a business transaction in which the purpose of the hiring manager (the person who has the authority to hire) is to make a selection among job candidates called for an interview. The candidate has two challenges: first, to convince the hiring manager that he or she is the ideal candidate for the position, and second, to outperform others (ie, the competition for the job). Below are some suggestions.

Firstprepare for the interview by working with an experienced interview coach. An interview coach can practice some mock interview techniques with you, helping you not only answer difficult interview questions, but also recognize pitfalls and avoid saying the wrong things. As an interview coach, I need no less than five hours to prepare someone for the big test. If the result is getting a job, then the fee paid for such a service is just a drop in the bucket.

Secondlyprepare your SARBs: situation/action/outcome/benefit. These are short vignettes about your experience that describe to the interviewer how you solved problems in the workplace and the results and benefits to employers. They are the tools you bring with you to the interview. If presented well, examples will convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job.

Thirdresearch the company. Spend some time at the public library researching as much as you can about the company. You can’t overestimate this aspect of the job search, and you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of showing the interviewer that you understand both the macro and micro issues facing the company. Knowing details about the company improves the ‘cultural fit factor’.

fourth, use your personal connections through LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to find as much information as possible about the people you are going to interview. While doing this, try to find something in common with them. This is very important because people are known to hire candidates they can relate to even during the interview.

And fifth And last but not least, make sure the position you’re interviewing for matches your own needs and desires. Consider your skills, attributes and qualities. Evaluate the organization’s work environment, traffic, compensation, and benefits. Pay attention to your gut feeling. If it’s good, make sure you clearly show your enthusiasm. This is what the hiring manager wants to “buy”.

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