Five Things Hiring Managers Want You to Know!

Career advice – it’s plentiful and often repetitive regarding the basics of the “ABC’s” of interviewing, (arriving early, being prepared and communication skills).

There is more to an interview besides the fundamentals and these points are important to know before the big day arrives.

1. Your interviewer is truly hoping that you will be the candidate they are seeking, that you’ll be “the one”. The posting you responded to represents a vacancy in the department, creating a pile-up of work and missed deadlines, which equates to mounting pressure on everyone.  Maintaining your professionalism and interest all the way through, from the doors you enter in and exit out of, will be remembered and noted.
2. As the interview progresses and you like what you’re hearing, speak out if the position truly interests you. If you think the company and position might be a match, letting your interviewer know at the end of the interview or during the parting handshake can be a welcome gesture. Often, the interviewer has no way of gauging the interviewer’s interest if the tone and responses are neutral throughout the interview.
3. Sometimes verbalizing that you are nervous is better than not acknowledging the elephant in the room. If nerves are taking over, (if you find yourself avoiding eye contact, tapping your foot rapidly or are having difficulty recalling applicable experience), confessing that you are nervous can often be an icebreaker.  Most interviewers usually understand and offer reassurance, giving you time to breathe and regroup.
4. Give the interviewers a glimpse into who you are. Although most interview formats call for a more formal interaction and environment, your interviewers are still looking to see a more informal part of your personality.  If there is an opportunity to joke back or (if appropriate), sharing a short story within the context – it helps in knowing how you’ll fit in. Warming up a bit shows confidence and also invites the interviewers insight into your softer skills that are just as important as the qualifications they are seeking to perform the role.
5. Don’t make the interviewer work harder than you are. The candidate has one purpose, to verbally provide examples of experience and ability to illustrate competence for the open position, currently and long-term.  This means that responses to questions, aren’t just responses, they are an opportunity weave in your strengths and examples of past successes. To the interviewer’s dismay, interviews can often seem like a physical struggle-having to pull information out of the candidate just to get through the interview.  The candidate seat should not be a complacent role.  Preparing thoroughly means going through your resume and current experience to remember and identify successful projects and outcomes with applicable detail, (how many, what percentage, how many total, what year?) You will reap the benefits of preparation allowing you to drive your portion of the interview, by giving responses that are enthusiastic, prompt and filled with detailed applicable content.