Don't treat the interview as an interview. Act like you
have the job. Go to the interview as though it's your first day on the job.
When you go after any job, apply the four questions:
1. Make sure you understand it
2. Demonstrate that you can do it
3. Show that you can do it the way the employer wants
it done
4. Prove that you can do it profitably for the
employer and for you
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for how to do the job at interview
Here
are the most important attributes that you as a job candidate need to
demonstrate and communicate in an interview before the employer will extend
an offer to you. You should not memorize these concepts in any particular
way. What matters is that you understand them and be able to apply them when
you think and talk about your work. You must clearly convey to the employer
that:
1. You
understand the work he needs to have done. If the employer is not convinced
you understand the work to be done, you will not be hired.
If you don't
understand it, you must ask more questions until you do. Then you must
repeat it back, so that the employer is satisfied you understand it.
2. You can do
the job. That is, you possess the skills necessary to do the work the way
the employer wants the work to be done.
Ask the
employer whether you have demonstrated this to his satisfaction. If not, ask
him what you failed to demonstrate, and then demonstrate it. If it turns out
you really can't do the job the way the employer wants it done, it's really
best not to accept the job offer as you will almost certainly end up wishing
you hadn't.
3. You can do
the job profitably for the company.
If you don't
see the connection between this job and the company's profitability, ask the
interviewer for help. How does he think the job you've applied for could be
done more profitably? How does the job fit into his long term profitability
goals? The best approach is to think these questions through for yourself
before you go to the interview. Consider issues that affect the company and
explore how they might affect the company's profitability. It is important
to understand how the job you're interviewing for fits into that analysis.
4. You are
motivated to do the work, and you are enthusiastic about doing it.
5. You are
interested in the work and the people on the team. One of the very important
requests you can make, at a comfortable time during your interview, is to
meet other members of the manager's team. You can also ask what other
departments the position would have to interact with and request to meet the
managers of those teams. Don't overdo this, but try to meet at least a
couple of your future coworkers.
6. You can work
well with the manager.
You listen well
and you understand; you are capable of anticipating some of the group's
technical problems; you can effectively communicate your suggestions in a
useful form; and you can work well in a group environment.
7. You can make
a significant contribution to the company.
Your
contribution can take the form of high-quality work that indirectly reduces
costs, or it might directly improve the company's bottom line. Your work
might also contribute to other aspects of success, such as the development
of new products or the creation of new ways of doing business. What
constitutes a significant contribution will depend on the company and on the
nature of the work. Just remember: there's a big difference between agreeing
to show up for work each day and enlisting in the effort to make the company
more successful. '
8. You want the
job.
We can't tell
you how many times we have seen a company jump over a highly qualified
candidate and hire one who was a little less qualified but who clearly
wanted the job and clearly wanted to work on the manager's team.
This is not
a "wish list." You already possess these attributes in one form or another;
however, just having them isn't enough. You must thoughtfully approach the
interview intending to communicate these attributes to the interviewer.
