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English Interview Strategy Mini-Course
Part 1
Preparation & Approach Part 2
Your Minimal Objectives Part 3
Your Optimal Objectives Part 4
Structuring Your Answers
Preparation & Approach Part 2
Your Minimal Objectives Part 3
Your Optimal Objectives Part 4
Structuring Your Answers
Part 1: How to Approach the Interview Process
1.1
What Are Your Objectives?
What You Need to Show in Your Interview
#1
You need to show your value in terms of the Job
You need to show your value in terms of the Job
AND
the Company!
#2
There are some things you will need to show in your interview that are ESSENTIAL for your success.
There are some things you will need to show in your interview that are ESSENTIAL for your success.
These are your MINIMAL objectives.
#3
There are some things that you should aim to show in your interview that are really going to help your success.
There are some things that you should aim to show in your interview that are really going to help your success.
These are your OPTIMAL objectives.
So there are 4 elements to consider:
- Job
- Company
- Minimal Objectives
- Optimal Objectives
And we can put these 4 elements together and create a matrix:
So you have 4 objectives:
- Show your Skills Fit
- Show your Culture Fit
- Be a potential Job Hero
- Be a potential Company Hero
And what do these 4 objectives actually mean?
What does...
SKILLS FIT
...mean?
SKILLS FIT means that you have shown your potential employer that you have the minimum level of skills to do the job for their company (as a NEW employee).
Different employers will have a different idea about how 'ready and able' a new employee needs to be. Some companies and jobs will expect a candidate to be fully productive from day one. Other companies will imagine a period of 'on the job' learning before you are fully productive.
Knowing what the employer expects, or doesn't expect, from you on "Day One" can be critical in showing you have a Skills Fit.
Basically (in terms of their company): You have shown that you are a 'risk free choice' to do the job at a technical / competency level.
What does...
CULTURE FIT
...mean?
CULTURE FIT means that you are able to integrate your style of work and personality into the company without causing problems. Culture Fit is a minimum requirement for the employer to feel happy about hiring you.
The feeling you want the company staff to have about you is that "You are one of us". Additionally, the feeling you want your potential boss to specifically feel is that "I can manage you."
Basically (in terms of their company): You have shown that you are a 'risk free choice' to become a productive, conforming and amiable part of the team & company.
What does...
JOB HERO
...mean?
JOB HERO means that you have shown yourself to be a potential 'game-changer' in the role, team and department. In the interview process it would be an optimal impression to create with a potential employer. They would feel they "need" you.
You have shown that as a potential Job Hero your placement in the role would have a positive impact on many people around you. This could be in terms of quantity of work, quality of work, helping others, speed of work, hitting team budgets etc. It is far more than simply showing you have Skills Fit - which is the minimum requirement for the job role. Your impact goes beyond your direct responsibilities.
Basically (in terms of their company): You have shown that you are a potentially 'must have' choice to fill the job role and activity. They feel that the people working around you would benefit greatly by you getting the job.
What does...
COMPANY HERO
...mean?
COMPANY HERO means that you have shown yourself to be a potentially great asset to the company in general. It would be an optimal impression to create with a potential employer during the interview process.
You have shown that as a potential Company Hero your placement in the role would have a positive impact far greater than in your job and direct team. It would mean that you have shown yourself to be able to directly help the company, department or team's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - such as making money or saving money.
Basically (in terms of their company): You have shown that you are a potentially 'must have' choice to be part of the company. They feel that hiring you would directly benefit the company as a whole.
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Darnell Clarke
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
There is much more to the job interview than simply 'Can you do this job?'
1.2
Types of Interviews
Think About Your Audience
There are 4 Types of Interviewer Roles
- SCREENING / TECHNICAL: This interview is to ensure that you meet the basic requirements for the job, this could comprise of a technical skills element and even case studies (to show thought processes). It is fundamentally a Skills Fit interview, although some Culture Fit screening might take place too.
- LINE MANAGEMENT: This is the key interview, it will probably cover Skills Fit but will really focus on Culture Fit. This would be a great opportunity to show that you could be a Job Hero, or even a Company Hero.
- SENIOR MANAGEMENT: Here there is a real focus on what are the skills you can bring to the company as a whole. To see if you might be a star at your role in particular - a Job Hero - but if senior management are interviewing you then they are curious if you might be a potential Company Hero.
- TEAM MEMBER: Here there is a real focus on culture. But also your level of competence, Skills Fit, especially if this skill (or lack of) would have a positive (or negative) impact on their work activity. So here is your chance to show you might be a Job Hero and that you have Culture Fit.
How to approach...
SCREENING / TECHNICAL
...interviews?
The real focus here is on your skills as compared to the job specifications. The Skills Fit element. Make sure you clearly show you have enough (if not all) of the job requirements. For some jobs there may be a technical interview too.
It is quite a 'defensive' interview, in the sense you have more to lose than gain here, the objective is just to pass it - not necessarily impress the employer, although that would obviously be great!
How to approach...
LINE MANAGEMENT
...interviews?
This is the main interview. The person interviewing you is probably the key decision maker regarding who gets recruited for this role. The two elements that most concern them, in this interview, are Culture Fit (a minimum requirement) and Job Hero (an ideal solution). Some elements of Skills Fit might also be addressed if they are difficult for Human Resources to screen for.
For senior roles the ideal impression would include elements of you presenting yourself as a potential Company Hero. Be aware that other strong candidates may be creating exactly this impression of themselves as potential Company Hero!
For junior roles it is difficult to show yourself as a potential Company Hero because your impact on the company is often limited. However, if you were to show that you would positively influence any company Key Performance Indicator (eg increased sales, reduced costs etc) your potential line manager would be very interested - you would make them the Company Hero! So for junior roles often focusing on showing yourself as a Job Hero is VERY interesting for a line manager!
How to approach...
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
...interviews?
The real focus here is on your value to the company. There is much less interest in your job specifically but more about your approach. The focus is on you in terms of Culture Fit and the potential that you might be a Company Hero for them. As the role being hired for gets more and more senior, then being seen as a Company Hero moves from being an Optimal Impression to being a Minimal Rquirement in the interview process.
In order to come across as a Company Hero, look beyond the relationship between you and senior management and start to appreciate what demands there are on them from the level above them - the board of directors? or the stakeholders? etc. If you can help them with their responsibilities, then they will see you as a Company Hero.
How to approach...
TEAM MEMBER
...interviews?
Here the real focus, officially, is on your ability to fit into the culture. Culture Fit. But there is also the opportunity to impress them as a Job Hero. Could you help them do their job better, easier, faster etc.
It is quite a 'defensive' interview and difficult to gauge how you should behave - for example you want to be a potential Job Hero but not come across as arrogant or too assertive. You are basically looking to 'be nice and friendly' here and be aware that the other team members want someone who has the right skills to help the team as a whole.
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Texas A&M Career Center
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
There are many different possible interview formats - you should be prepared for each one and treat each one as important as the others.
1.3
Understand THEIR Fears
My Fears are More Important than Your Advantages.
Why is...
Loss versus Gain
...important?
As humans, we are risk averse more than gains driven. We worry more about losing what we have than gaining what we want.
In an interview you must calm ANY fears (however irrational) they may have about you.
Remember that fears are rarely verbalised but the more you understand the interviewer, the role and the company, the more you will be able to estimate or to predict their fears.
Some FEARS include:
- fiber_manual_recordThis candidate looks lazy
- fiber_manual_record This candidate is going to need a lot of help and supervision
- fiber_manual_record This candidate doesn't look motivated
- fiber_manual_record This candidate talks too much, this is bad for meetings!!
- fiber_manual_record This candidate might want to start a family soon... oh no...maternal/paternity leave risk... they will not want long working hours, or anti-social hours... etc etc
- NOTE THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY DISCRIMINATORY and ILLEGAL in many countries - BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS STILL A FEAR THAT IDEALLY YOU SHOULD ADDRESS, AT LEAST IN SOME INDIRECT WAY.
- fiber_manual_record This candidate is too good, they might leave or get bored
- fiber_manual_record This candidate might not really want this career and we are about to spend thousands on their training!
- fiber_manual_record Hmm this is the best candidate so far, but what is the opportunity cost of hiring them, maybe next month someone better will come along
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Richard McMunn
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
You really need to see the filtering and final choosing of candidtes from the perspective of the employer.
1.4
Have One Conversation
Talking to Someone who Knows More than You is a "Gamechanger"!
How can...
an Informational Interview
...help me?
Your success is going to depend on you really understanding what the needs and fears of your potential boss are. But there is only so much we can read or imagine about a job. If you haven't done it, the next best thing is to speak to someone who has!
Get netowrking, approach people via LinkedIn or other sites. Start by writing a short email/message: ask to speak to them for only 10/15 minutes (and stick to it), send them the exact BASIC questions you want to cover.
Remember: dont treat the conversation as a way to get a job interview. It is just a conversation to help you understand aspects of the work and/or company. Perhaps with your thank you note you might ask them if they have any contacts specifically for networking and work opportunities.
Types of Informational Interview:
- JOB ACTIVITY: Talking with someone and getting information about the actual job: about the realities of what makes the job hard and why some people fail or suceed. Finding out what difficulties that only those who have done it will know about.
- COMPANY: Talk to someone who already works at the organization, or has recently left, this is especially fantastic because you can learn about the work culture which is very important!
- JOB LEVEL: Talk to someone who is doing a job at a similar level in a similar sized team or company. Example question topics include: What are the problems they face, what things did they wish they knew before hand etc... This is really about learning about the skills and experience that you don't even know you don't have!
6 Great Questions for an Informational Interview
- fiber_manual_recordWhat is one thing you think I should know about this [JOB / COMPANY / LEVEL]?
- fiber_manual_recordWhat surprised you the most about this [JOB / COMPANY / LEVEL] when you first started?
- fiber_manual_recordWhat is the key business consideration / KPI for this [JOB / COMPANY / LEVEL]?
- fiber_manual_recordWhat do your bosses most want from your work? What interests them most about your performance?
- fiber_manual_recordWhat is the most difficult thing about this [JOB / COMPANY / LEVEL]?
- fiber_manual_recordWhat aspects about this [JOB / COMPANY / LEVEL] do people not realise from outside?
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Cassandra Thompson
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
This is a great chance to do some REAL networking (connecting with people!) in a chosen field or industry
1.5
Prepare Information
Have ALL the Possible Information Prepared
Key Areas:
- Their Organization: Research all you can about their business, their products, their history etc.
- Your History: Don't be vague about your history, know your product [YOU] inside and out.
- Your Past Companies: Be very clear about the businesses you have worked for, be prepared to be clear about what you did and what the company did.
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Jason Gordon
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
If you have researched an organization well, you will be able to ask some great questions that show you have already researched their company AND that you seem genuinely interested in the company and the job.
1.6
Prepare Yourself
Mentally Prepare Yourself to Perform Well
Key Elements:
- Look the Part: Present yourself as if you having a meeting FOR the company with their clients.
- Talk the Part: In the whole interview process, use the same language and the same terms and 'jargon' as they do for this role and industry.
- Be the Part: Present yourself and your career in the same style that you would present their company to others. Make it easy for them to visualize how you would represent this company whenever you speak to external people (customers, suppliers, shareholders etc).
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Bill Todd
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
Get someone to listen to you and your answers and listen to their feedback!
1.7
Practice Your Answers
Effective Communication is FUNDAMENTAL!
NativeListener.com gives feedback in 3 key areas:
- Use of Language: We check that your language is clear and correct.
- Clear Pronunciation: We check that you are saying words clearly.
- Effective Communication: We check that your message is clear and effective.
Here is a video I recommend!
Another Expert's View:
Andrew LaCivita
Top Tip: Put on the subtitles! closed_caption
Key Takeaway:
People are employed because of how effectively they communicate that they meet the company's needs.
NativemicListener
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English Interview Strategy Mini-Course
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