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You brought the interviewer right into the heart of the issue — the reason he got approval to hire a new person in the first place. Now he cares about your conversation. You might have some nuggets of wisdom for him, and even if you don't it's calming to talk through your problems with another person.
You cannot be passive in a job interview if you want to be memorable and significant to the person who may well become your new boss.
Here are ten ways to make sure you and your interview are not forgotten the minute you walk out the door.
1. As you start the interview, don't sit down passively and prepare to answer questions. That is a fine approach if you are interviewing for your first full-time job, but it's not a good strategy at any point after that. Instead of slipping easily into the Good Little Job Seeker role, ask your interviewer a question as the conversation begins, like "Which departments are based in this facility?" or "I saw your fantastic new ad campaign — how is it performing for you so far?"
2. When appropriate — and it is more often appropriate than not — answer the interviewer's question with a question. This only works when you are interviewing with your department manager. Don't answer a question with a question when you're meeting with an HR screener or anyone who doesn't really know the job description. Here's how to do it:
Hiring Manager: So, how long have you been using SplitFrame Systems?
You: About a year, mostly creating presentation graphs — how do you use SplitFrame tools here?
3. Your principal job on the interview is not to crow about your accomplishments because honestly, your manager can't care about your triumphs unless they look and sound like solutions to their problems. Rather, your job is to get your manager talking about their Business Pain. That's why you have to walk into the interview already having done enough research to have formulated a Pain Hypothesis.
4. You're not going to startle the manager with your Pain Hypothesis, a la "Here's what I think your problem is!" This is a terrible idea because it creates tension when what you want is empathy and understanding. You want your manager to know that you understand their problems, as any sensitive person would.
5. As tempting as it is to tell your manager exactly how to solve their problem, you're not going to do that either. If your do, your ideas will be the star of the show and you'll be forgotten the minute the interview is over. Rather than lay out "Here's what I would do to solve your problem" you will tell a story about a time when you solved a similar problem for an employer or client. If they ask you "How would you solve my problem?" tell them the process you would follow to arrive at the right answer.
6. Even if it takes all your strength, resist the urge to trumpet your fabulousness at the interview. Hiring managers are not impressed by people who see themselves as impressive. The only person who would hire you for your sterling credentials is a fearful manager who thinks your fantastic resume will make them feel less helpless and alone. Instead of crowing about your accomplishments, empathize with your manager and keep the focus on them -- and their most vexing issues.
7. Don't be afraid to be human — to tell a joke [an appropriate one, of course], share a vulnerability of yours ("You're looking at my LinkedIn profile? Oh no, it's out of date — I have to update that thing!") or mention something human and ordinary like the fact that you've got to leave promptly at five so you can get to your kid's softball practice. You don't have to be stiff and formal just because you're in a job interview. If the manager can't deal with your human qualities, do you really want to work for them?
8. You will be more solid and significant in the interview when you feel prepared. Don't skimp on your pre-interview research, which might take one to three hours depending on how deeply you want to dig. You're not researching the firm so you can answer questions you might be asked at the interview — that's how grade school kids are taught to study. The purpose of your research is to give you a fuller picture of the organization, the industry and even this manager. Your research will give you ideas for questions to ask at the interview — to learn what this company is up to and where they're struggling.
9. The more you can think and speak like a consultant during your interview, the better. Consultants know that they are credible when they sit firmly in the chair. After a while good consultants stop caring whether they get a particular engagement or not. They have enough confidence in themselves to know the right clients will hire them and the wrong ones won't. It's exactly the same for you as a job seeker!
10. Finally, remember that a job interview is a two-way street. They are checking you out and you are checking them out, too. You can't afford to waste your time and talent working for just any company or just any manager. You have standards at least as high as their standards. Stay cool, keep breathing during the interview and remember: only the people who get you, deserve you!