"I'll Ask the Questions Here"
What if you went into a job interview and asked all the questions?
The web is rife with tips on how to interview successfully. You can find them here, and here, and here. (For the contrarians among you, there are even tips on interviewing unsuccessfully.)
The tipsters all emphasize being prepared, which is unassailably sound advice, as any Boy Scout could tell you, but they don't point out something that might make you rethink your entire approach to interviewing: Interviewers are often unprepared!
While some companies have thoroughly developed and well-defined processes for interviewing people (and will even provide you with a detailed overview of said processes beforehand), many companies don't. In fact, as these tips for interviewers from Monster imply, the interviewing process puts them under a lot of stress.
So what does this mean to you, marketing professional approaching an upcoming interview? It should encourage you to take an active role in the interviewing process and work hard to make it a conversation rather than an interrogation. Don't be afraid to take the lead and start off by asking questions, especially, thoughtful, well-crafted questions that demonstrate your knowledge and experience while simultaneously conveying your interest in the position. (As a kind of test, ask yourself, Could I get a job offer based solely on the questions I asked?
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Asking questions, especially from the outset, will take some pressure off the interviewer and, ideally, provide you with insights that will allow you to present your own qualifications in the context of the role. This is key, for while the interviewer will inevitably ask you what you have done for others, she is most interested in discovering what you will do for her, her team, and her organization. There is no better way to do that then by framing any discussion of your talents and triumphs with references to the challenges she is currently facing.
Ultimately, by engaging in a conversation about the role, rather than submitting to an interview for it, you will accomplish two things. First, you will more readily be seen as a colleague or a peer than a candidate. In a sense, you will already have entered the interviewer's world. Secondly, and most importantly, if in this conversation you can project a sincere eagerness to learn and contribute to the success of the enterprise, you will send the message that every interviewer wants to hear: I really want this job right now!
Comments
This advice makes a lot of sense and clearly articulates the strategic advantages of avoiding a passive approach to the interview process. Psychologically insightful, thanks!
Posted by: Daniel Potter @ Nov 7, 2006
It's also interesting to approach the interview as if it were your first day on the job. What information do you need to know to be successful in meeting the role's objectives and also to achieve your personal objectives in the role? Not only will you uncover a lot of valuable information to determine if this is the right role for you, you'll also help the interviewer envision you in the role and make forward progress in actually getting all of the ducks in a row for you to start the job before you get there. And if it isn't the right job, you'll know way before you make the leap.
Posted by: Drea Silva @ Nov 7, 2006