The most common interview mistake.

Ron, in the next 100 blogs we are going to examine all the details surrounding the job hunter's world.  However, to get our readers started, what is the most common interview mistake?

First off… at least 70% of the job candidates when the interviewer asks, “Tell me about yourself?,” the candidate  doesn't tell the interviewer a thing about the job that they're interviewing for. They talk about themselves; which is what the interviewer asked, but that’s not really what the interviewer is looking for. 

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The interviewer does not want to know about that 454 lb. marlin I caught off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, unless it is relevant to the job. The interviewer wants to know what skills and talents from your experience, you bring to the job. Tell your story, but make it relevant to the job you are interviewing for.

I explain this common question in my training sessions and I will be talking more about it in my future blogs. I have reviewed this question with two-star generals and welding foreman. It is basic, but important. You’ve only a short window to bring home your story; and your story, your response to interview questions,  must be focused on what value you bring to that company. 

You want to stay in control of the interview and be in a position where you can say yes or no to the offer.  Never eliminate yourself from the job. For example, if I would ask one of your sons if they want to relocate, they might reply no. Their family’s here, they don’t want to go anywhere, they like it here. With that answer, they may have taken themselves off the job short list. The company may want to relocate them to Colorado and pay them three times more than they're worth. It's an interview you can be agreeable to hypothetical questions. I will explain in later blogs several great responses to these type of "What if" questions.

Ron, so the first element of the … the first mistake that most candidates seem to make from your experience is that when asked the question, “Tell me about yourself,” they take the question literally instead of what’s behind the question which is “Tell me about yourself in terms that are relevant to what this company needs in the job.” 

Ron, how would you summarize the skills and things you’ve learned from all your interview experience? 

Well what I have found is that most people do not know how to interview. And that includes the hiring authority, the HR person, the interviewer.  The hiring authority doesn’t really know the questions to ask. And the candidate really doesn’t know how to interview. And so if you can train these people in the interviewing skills and show them some techniques, they have a much better job, much better shot of getting the job. 

Remember, Bob, the person that’s going to get the job is not necessarily the best person for the job. It’s the one that interviews the best. The resume gets you the interview. The interview gets you the job.