How Not to Sell Yourself During the Interview
Interviews are NOT Selling Events
Common interviewing advice recommends you sell yourself during
a job interview. Interviews are often called selling events,
but this is not true. Job interviews are just like playing darts
blindfolded.
Playing Darts Blindfolded
Interviews are exactly like playing darts. The target is the mental
criteria each interviewer is measuring you against. Each dart
represents a dimension of your many talents. You have many darts
of talent you could throw at the target, but you can only throw
three of them. To win this interviewing dart game you have to
locate the target and decide which three talent darts you will
throw. Remember also that each interviewer has a different target
that you must locate.
You have one additional challenge. You're blindfolded and cannot
see the target. To win the job interview dart game you must ask questions
to illuminate the target. Asking the right questions will help you
locate the target and tell you which three talent-darts to present
to your interviewer.
Find the Target & Select Your Darts
An effective opening question will provide you with the critical
information you need to locate each interviewer's target.
- What are the key skills you feel are required for success in
this position?
- What parts of my background are you most interested in learning
about?
- What did you see in my resume that created your interest in
my background?
Asking one of these opening questions at the start of each interview
will help you locate the interviewer's target or mental criteria
they are using to evaluate you. I've asked an opening question every
time I've been interviewed. Each time the interviewer answered clearly
and I immediately knew how to handle that particular interview.
An opening question also tells you which three talent-darts this
interviewer is most interested in. Hence, with one opening question,
you have found the target and know which of your talent-darts to
use with this interviewer.
Did you Hit the Target?
Remember, in this game you are blindfolded. You'll need to check
if you hit the target. After you present each talent-dart, check
to see if you hit the target by asking a follow-up question.
The intention of your follow-up question is to make sure your
answer was understood accurately.
- Did I give you enough detail?
- Does that make sense?
- Was I clear on that?
These are a few examples of follow-up questions that will solicit
interviewer feedback on the effectiveness of your answers. Asking
follow-up questions will also influence the course of the interview
and help you perform at your best when it matters most in your job
search.
Job interviewers are just like playing darts blindfolded. If you
do not ask questions you'll be in the dark, miss the target and loose
the game. Ask opening and follow-up questions to win this dart game
andsecure the job offer. You'll find many additional interviewing
tips at www.interviewmastery.com
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