YES! You just got the call and the interview is scheduled for tomorrow.  This is what you have been waiting for.  But, are you ready?  The most successful job seekers, the ones who find the best jobs the fastest, know three things.  (1)  They know exactly what they want in their next job.  (2)  They know what they have to offer the employer that differentiates them from the competition.  (3)  They know their value.  Preparation is the key to a successful interview.  When you are prepared, you will be confident and self-assured, which makes you very appealing to the interviewer.  Here is a list of questions to help you prepare.  If you have clear, strong answers to these questions, you are well on your way to acing the interview.

1. Do you know exactly what type of job is right for you? If they ask you, what will you say?

2. What do you have to offer the company that is uniquely you and that is different from your competitors?

3. What is your branding statement and how will you use it during the interview?

4. What is your value proposition and how will you incorporate it into the interview?

5. What are the three to five attributes you bring to the job that you will emphasize throughout the interview?

6. Do you have accomplishment stories for each of the attributes you identified in Question No. 5?

7. Have you prepared answers for the most commonly asked interview questions?

a. Are your prepared answers each 60 seconds or less?

b. Are your answers succinct and to the point?

c. Do they incorporate your three to five attributes?

d. Do you include stories?

8. Are you prepared to answer any questions that might be raised from your resume?

9. Have you thoroughly researched the company?

10. Have you researched the hiring manager and others in the company?

11. Do you have a list of questions you want to ask during the interview?

a. Do those questions show your curiosity and interest in ensuring the company, the job, and the manager are the right fit for you?

b. If asked, can you explain why you are asking each question and what answer you are looking for? For example, if you ask about the company culture, can you explain what type of culture you prefer?

12. Are you comfortable with silence?

13. Can you stay on message and not say more than necessary?

14. Do you have the proper clothes ready?

15. Will you remember to sit up straight, lean forward to show interest, maintain good eye contact, and smile?

16. Will you remember to listen carefully to what they tell you they are looking for and incorporate their description into your answers?

17. Can you keep the interview conversational, asking the interviewer(s) questions as you go along?

18. Do you have your research documentation, additional copies of your resume, your reference letters, your portfolio, and anything else you want to take with you to the interview neatly organized and ready to go?

19. Is there any reason they wouldn’t hire you? If so, resolve the issue and overcome any objections.

Now, you’re ready. Best of luck!

One of the most frequently asked interview questions, and often the first question asked, is “Tell me about yourself.” What a gift this question is!  This is your opportunity to set the tone for the entire interview and lead the interviewer to playing in your court.  Unfortunately, most applicants answer this question by simply reiterating what is contained in their résumé or they get into personal information that is totally irrelevant.  Before I tell you how to take full advantage of this question, let me explain from a scientific perspective how this can work for you.

Psychologists have identified a phenomenon they refer to as “priming.”  Priming is when exposure to a stimulus influences the subsequent response.  There are numerous studies that support the effects of priming, but I would like to share one of the more amusing studies with you.  Researchers brought college student participants into the lab.  One group received a list of words to review that were consistent with the stereotype of an elderly person.  The control group reviewed a list of random words.  As the participants left the laboratory, researchers measured how fast they walked to the elevator.  Participants who had reviewed the elderly stereotype words walked significantly more slowly to the elevator than the control group participants.  Thus, providing support for the effects of priming.

How can you take advantage of priming?  When the interviewer asks, “Tell me about yourself,” you respond with your carefully-prepared-but-natural-sounding marketing message that describes the benefits you have to offer.  Follow these tips when preparing your answer:

1.    Be brief (about 60 seconds).
2.    Use keywords from the job description or from your research on the company.
3.    Describe your top three strengths that are most pertinent to the needs of the company (needs discovered during your research).
4.    Include a description of an accomplishment or two as an illustration of your strengths and how they will benefit the company (your value proposition).
5.    Keep your message consistent with the branding message you have used in your résumé, cover letter, and social media profiles (consistency makes you memorable).
6.    Let your passion for the work show through.
7.    Use a story (stories are memorable).

When you bring together the employer’s keywords with your talents and value proposition and put it into a story, you will capture the interviewer’s attention and prime a framework for the interview around your personal brand.  Be sure to thoroughly prepare so you can stay on message throughout the questioning and maintain the priming and your advantage.

Here is an example of how an engineer might answer the question from the book 60 Seconds & You’re Hired! By Robin Ryan:

“For my last employer I implemented a new quality-assurance program for seven plants over a four-year period.  We received the Q 1 Award for our efforts.  Along the way, I’ve learned to effectively deal with employee resistance to quality improvements through training, selling teamwork concepts, and utilizing a personal empowerment approach.  I have evaluated 37 suppliers during on-site inspections to improve the quality of their product—parts that will ultimately become pieces of my company’s final product.  My five years in design engineering and my strong communication skills have aided me in my ability to work with a diverse population and solve technical problems.  These are the reasons I feel I would make a valuable contribution to your company.”

A reader writes:

I was recently contacted by an out of state recruiter about my resume for a position. We had a great phone conversation and they said they are sending my information to the next level for review. Are there any tips you can give to help make it to an in person interview when a recruiter passes your resume to the next level?

My reply:

There are a few different things you can do.  Recruiters look good when they present top-quality candidates.  To help your recruiter advocate on your behalf, you might want to send him/her some additional information that demonstrates your fit for the position.  For example, from your research or your conversation with the recruiter, you may have identified a particular need that you can address with an accomplishment story from your past experience.  You can write up your story and email it to the recruiter.  You can ask the recruiter if there is anything else you can provide to help him/her “sell” you to the hiring manager.

Another way to increase the likelihood of an interview is to find someone internally that can refer you to the hiring manager.  This technique always increases your chances of an interview.  You may have to get creative about finding internal contacts.  Use the Internet and social media to find people who work for the company and then look for a common connection, such as college, shared membership in an organization, a LinkedIn connection, etc.  Find an email address and ask them some questions about the company to establish a relationship, and then ask if they would be willing to pass along your résumé.

The third suggestion is to contact the hiring manager directly.  Again, you may have to get creative with your detective work to identify the hiring manager, but it can be done.  It may be a simple as calling the company and asking who is hiring for the position, or you may have to dig further.  Best of luck!

Other suggestions?