Interview Q&A Sessions – Part 1: Your Objectives
The heart of any interview is of course the Q&A Session in which the interviewer asks about your experience and gives you a chance to ask about the job or the company. In a one hour interview, this stage of the process usually takes between 30 & 50 minutes. It is by far the most focused part of the interview and is your best chance to shine. To ace the Q&A Session follow these simple tips:
Stay on task: Remember, the whole interview has led to this point. Your purpose for being here is to sell this person on the simple fact that you are the best candidate for the job. The clock is ticking, so you have to answer every question with three thoughts in mind. I want this position. I can do the job. You can count on me.
I want this position: Remember to stay enthusiastic. You are answering these questions because you want this job. Not just that you want a job, but you really want this job in particular. Demonstrate this by staying enthusiastic. Make small comments about how cool or neat the things they are working on are. When asked about tasks or jobs you have held in the past that are similar to this one, don’t be afraid to express how much you liked that role or that kind of work.
For instance if you used to drive a dump truck and are applying for a job driving a delivery truck, you will likely be asked about that experience. A good way to illustrate that you want this job might sound like: “I really enjoyed driving that truck. This sounds like a similar job”
I can do the job: The best way to tell if a person can do the job at hand is by looking at their past accomplishments. When asked about jobs that are similar to the one you’re applying for make sure to mention the relevance and how you succeeded.
Building on our analogy a good answer may be something like: “I really enjoyed driving that truck. Your routes sound similar to the one I used to run, that will make this job much easier since I already know the area.”
You can count on me: Hiring managers don’t typically enjoy filling the same role over and over again because people fail or hop jobs. In the Q&A session they want to hear that this job is something you will enjoy doing for a long time. Even if you have aspirations to move up in the company, they still want to hear that you’re not a risk by the way you answer questions.
Building on our analogy again a good answer may be something like: “For the past X years I have really enjoyed driving trucks like that. Your routes sound similar to the ones I’ve run for my last two employers. After several years working with the same two companies I’ve really gotten to know the area and the vehicle which will make it easier to meet customer needs on your routes.”
For more interview prep stay tuned for Part 2 of this series…
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