Episode 20

Incredible Interviewing

Published on: 6th June, 2024

Find out what makes interviewing today WAY different than interviewing a few years ago (and why that's a good thing), the 7 most important things to keep in mind as you prepare for and conduct your interview, what to do if the interview starts to go a little bit off the rails, and how to conduct yourself in the eventual follow-up interview (because you're for sure gonna crush the first one.)

Discover what sets ThinkingAhead apart, hear stories from recruiters, and browse opportunities by clicking here.

Transcript
Stephanie Maas:

Hi, this is Stephanie Maas, partner with Thinking Ahead Search, and welcome to the Talent Tree.

Stephanie Maas:

Today I want to talk to you a little bit about interviewing and today's climate.

Stephanie Maas:

Interviewing today is dramatically different than it has ever been.

Stephanie Maas:

So interviewing today, it's super wonky.

Stephanie Maas:

A couple things though, that make it great.

Stephanie Maas:

Number one, because so many of the interviews are happening either via phone call or zoom call or something else, The appetite for hiring managers to spend time with a potential candidate has gone way up.

Stephanie Maas:

They don't have to drive 45 minutes there.

Stephanie Maas:

They don't have to commit to being there for an hour and a half, then drive another 45 minutes back.

Stephanie Maas:

It's literally, all right, give me two minutes to dials up zoom.

Stephanie Maas:

We're on the call 30, 45 minutes later, I hang up, I can move on to the next thing.

Stephanie Maas:

So the appetite has gone up considerably.

Stephanie Maas:

Another good thing is again, even though the zoom and, and some of that.

Stephanie Maas:

isn't as good as the face to face.

Stephanie Maas:

If you do it right and with a lot of patience and practice, it can really, you get to know an organization at a slightly different level.

Stephanie Maas:

Watch how well they're adapting to all of these changes.

Stephanie Maas:

It's a great indicator of how they handle change, the way they embrace it and what kind of technologies they're ultimately interested in investing in when it's necessary.

Stephanie Maas:

Again, today's environment is different.

Stephanie Maas:

Zoom is different.

Stephanie Maas:

I think by now everybody's got at least five to eight outfits that from the waist up look professional.

Stephanie Maas:

Waist down, shorts, yoga pants, whatever it wants to be.

Stephanie Maas:

It's definitely different, but let me assure you, it's not.

Stephanie Maas:

It's still very effective.

Stephanie Maas:

Now here's some very basic interview etiquette, super simple, and yet it's amazing to me how often folks forget these basic things.

Stephanie Maas:

And by the way, this is etiquette for both hiring managers and folks being interviewed.

Stephanie Maas:

Now let me be clear.

Stephanie Maas:

I'm not a career counselor.

Stephanie Maas:

I'm not a career coach.

Stephanie Maas:

I am an executive recruiter.

Stephanie Maas:

I get paid to bring the right people to the right organizations at the right time.

Stephanie Maas:

That is my job.

Stephanie Maas:

However, a big part of that is working with folks because most of the folks that I work with don't interview all the time.

Stephanie Maas:

It's to coach, train, and teach them how to execute an effective interview.

Stephanie Maas:

So here they are.

Stephanie Maas:

Six simple things to remember.

Stephanie Maas:

First and foremost, be on time.

Stephanie Maas:

Of course, the right answer is be there early, but be there on time.

Stephanie Maas:

It is just simply a sign and a show of respect.

Stephanie Maas:

Number two, be well dressed.

Stephanie Maas:

Now, look, if you're interviewing for a job that it would be super weird for you to be in a suit that don't wear a suit, but you know what well dressed looks like, whether we like it or not, first impressions make a difference.

Stephanie Maas:

So you got to be well dressed.

Stephanie Maas:

Number three, be prepared.

Stephanie Maas:

Show that you've done some homework.

Stephanie Maas:

On the company and who you're going to be talking with have to be prepared.

Stephanie Maas:

You just do.

Stephanie Maas:

And the way that you prepare is you go through the background information you need on who you're going to meet with the company, the position, educate yourself.

Stephanie Maas:

And then the way you show the interviewer that you're prepared is by forming strategic and thoughtful questions around the research that you've done prior to being there.

Stephanie Maas:

Another way to be prepared is knowing answers to common interview questions.

Stephanie Maas:

Let's face it.

Stephanie Maas:

Most interviews, absolutely.

Stephanie Maas:

You may get a curve ball here and there, but most of the time we kind of know what we're going to be asked.

Stephanie Maas:

So have you thought through a clear, concise way to answer those questions?

Stephanie Maas:

Number four, Ask thoughtful questions, not just the standard interview questions.

Stephanie Maas:

And again, this is for candidates and for clients.

Stephanie Maas:

Ask good, thoughtful questions.

Stephanie Maas:

Five, be clear with your interest.

Stephanie Maas:

If you are interested in learning more, be clear.

Stephanie Maas:

Hi, I'm interested in learning more.

Stephanie Maas:

Thank you for your time.

Stephanie Maas:

I'd like to learn more.

Stephanie Maas:

Simple as that.

Stephanie Maas:

If you're not interested, just as simple, thank you for your time.

Stephanie Maas:

You've given me a lot to think about.

Stephanie Maas:

And then lastly, close for the next step.

Stephanie Maas:

Hey, thank you so much for your time.

Stephanie Maas:

I am absolutely interested in learning more.

Stephanie Maas:

What's the next step?

Stephanie Maas:

Where do we go from here?

Stephanie Maas:

Close.

Stephanie Maas:

In some ways, interviewing is kind of like dating.

Stephanie Maas:

There's some psychology around it that mirrors those two things.

Stephanie Maas:

People want to hire people.

Stephanie Maas:

That want the job.

Stephanie Maas:

Don't get me wrong.

Stephanie Maas:

There's a time and a place to play hard to get.

Stephanie Maas:

If you're my daughter, it's going to be for a very long time.

Stephanie Maas:

Otherwise, we need to make sure that as the interview comes to a close, that you take the lead and express your interests directly and clearly.

Stephanie Maas:

Hey, Tom, thank you so much for your time today.

Stephanie Maas:

I have certainly learned a lot in talking with you and based on what you shared with me where your critical needs in your next hire, I hope I've outlined how I could meet those needs.

Stephanie Maas:

I absolutely look forward to the next step in the process.

Stephanie Maas:

By the way, what would that be?

Stephanie Maas:

That's a super easy, super direct, super clear way to close an interview, but maybe above all, listen.

Stephanie Maas:

Listen, most interviewers will tell you what they want, how they want it, what it's going to take if you listen to their answers to your thoughtful, strategic questions.

Stephanie Maas:

Now, look, I will be honest.

Stephanie Maas:

I haven't been on a job interview in literally years.

Stephanie Maas:

I hope I never have to go on one ever again.

Stephanie Maas:

And I know if I do.

Stephanie Maas:

I'm going to be nervous.

Stephanie Maas:

Even doing this as a professional career for almost 20 years, I'd be nervous.

Stephanie Maas:

I totally get it.

Stephanie Maas:

When we're nervous, it's hard for us to be good listeners, but you've got to find a way to get there anyway.

Stephanie Maas:

When you really can listen, feel free to take notes.

Stephanie Maas:

But when you are very tuned in to what the other person is saying, nine times out of ten, it's going to give you the answers that you need to help decide if you're the right fit.

Stephanie Maas:

And it's also going to give you the ammunition you need to convince that person that you're the right fit.

Stephanie Maas:

These are all very basic things that everyone should know, and yet, let's be honest, we don't interview full time for a living, so they're easy to forget.

Stephanie Maas:

Now, on occasion, things can go off the rails.

Stephanie Maas:

Every now and then, we hear from candidates who go into a situation where they're so excited, Almost filters into nervousness or the same way the clients are so excited about the candidate that they're getting ready to meet that their nervousness comes out instead of excitement.

Stephanie Maas:

And sometimes it can happen where the interview gets a little sidetracked.

Stephanie Maas:

So here's what you do in that situation to pull it back on the rails.

Stephanie Maas:

A couple of thoughts, and these are critically important.

Stephanie Maas:

You have to remember the folks you're talking with.

Stephanie Maas:

They're just human, too.

Stephanie Maas:

I've actually had candidates say, and this was brilliant, the hiring manager loved it, hang on hiring manager, let me slow down for a second.

Stephanie Maas:

I'm very excited to meet with you and I'm very excited of this opportunity and I think some of my excitement has made me a little nervous.

Stephanie Maas:

Can we start over?

Stephanie Maas:

It's that simple.

Stephanie Maas:

He just said, Hey, I'm nervous cause I'm excited.

Stephanie Maas:

Can we start over?

Stephanie Maas:

The hiring manager loved it.

Stephanie Maas:

He loved that he could own that, admit it.

Stephanie Maas:

And they did needless to say, fast forward, dot, dot, dot.

Stephanie Maas:

They got the job.

Stephanie Maas:

They're there.

Stephanie Maas:

They're happy clients.

Stephanie Maas:

I actually, I had this happen where I had a client was so excited to meet with a banker.

Stephanie Maas:

They met for lunch and he actually had.

Stephanie Maas:

I'm going to be talking about how to make several martinis over lunch because he was so nervous and excited to be meeting with this person.

Stephanie Maas:

Thankfully, after about the two thirds of the way through the second one, I think their conscious kicked in and they realize, Oh, this is probably not the impression I want to be making.

Stephanie Maas:

And they did something very similar.

Stephanie Maas:

Hey, you know what?

Stephanie Maas:

Let me push my drink to the side.

Stephanie Maas:

Obviously, we're very excited that you're interested in our organization.

Stephanie Maas:

Let me start over on a couple different things.

Stephanie Maas:

It's very simple.

Stephanie Maas:

It's very easy.

Stephanie Maas:

When you do just kind of open it up and say, Hey, let's just start over.

Stephanie Maas:

It really lets the other person's guard down.

Stephanie Maas:

And even though some people say like, Oh, you can never take away a first impression, I don't necessarily buy into that.

Stephanie Maas:

I think it can be difficult to overcome a first impression and people will look for evidence to enforce that first impression.

Stephanie Maas:

But when you bring humanity to it, most people let their guard down.

Stephanie Maas:

And instead of looking for reasons to enforce the first impression, they will actually look for reasons to see you as you truly want to be represented.

Stephanie Maas:

Now, so far we've only been talking about a first interview, but what if you get another?

Stephanie Maas:

Let's talk about some key steps in a second interview.

Stephanie Maas:

This is of course what takes place after you've had your initial interview.

Stephanie Maas:

Now you're coming back for a second one.

Stephanie Maas:

Usually it's a little bit deeper dive.

Stephanie Maas:

It can be a little bit less formal because it's, it's kind of like your second date.

Stephanie Maas:

So here are a couple of things that are critical during that time.

Stephanie Maas:

First and foremost, if you are meeting with anybody you have not already met with, even though it's your second interview, It's their first interview.

Stephanie Maas:

So you need to be very smart and mindful of treating it like it's a first interview.

Stephanie Maas:

They don't know you.

Stephanie Maas:

They've obviously are probably heard good things.

Stephanie Maas:

They know you're interested and they are interested in you, but be smart.

Stephanie Maas:

You need to make a very strong first impression with them.

Stephanie Maas:

And I think it's also okay to ask some of the same questions you asked in the first interview.

Stephanie Maas:

Hey, I was talking with some such last week.

Stephanie Maas:

He mentioned this.

Stephanie Maas:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

Stephanie Maas:

This is actually going to serve you incredibly well because you'll be able to see, Hey, is there consistency in the organization with their answers or are there some discrepancies to which you'd want to find out for sure?

Stephanie Maas:

Now, let's say you're actually meeting with the same person and it truly is a second interview.

Stephanie Maas:

While usually this can be a little bit more of an informal meeting, this is where oftentimes I see candidates get a little bit.

Stephanie Maas:

I'll use a dating analogy, second date, you guys had a good first date, second date comes up, you want to be smart, you still want to play the part to a certain degree, if you will, the second date isn't where you reveal.

Stephanie Maas:

Oh, hey, by the way, I'm so glad we're meeting again.

Stephanie Maas:

Here's all my baggage.

Stephanie Maas:

It's just not going to work.

Stephanie Maas:

You want to be smart, but again, it is the time when you can kind of be a little bit more relaxed.

Stephanie Maas:

What is critical is that you ask good questions that show you heard what was said in the first one and you're following up.

Stephanie Maas:

Hope this helps and good luck on your interview.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Talent Trade

About the Podcast

The Talent Trade
Presented by ThinkingAhead Executive Search
The Talent Trade is all about finding the right person, for the right opportunity, at the right time. But how exactly do you do that the "right" way? Executive Search Partner and Top Biller Stephanie Maas shares more than 25 years of experience about what it takes to be a top recruiter in today's "talent trade" market, using ThinkingAhead’s four-prong system focused on recruiting, business development, planning, and managing your mindset. It’s real, honest information about how to build your desk, perfect your niche, and stand out among the crowd in your search career.



Southwestern/Great American, Inc., dba Southwestern Family of Companies, for itself and its related entities and their assigns, reserves and retains all rights to their copyrighted materials and trademarks contained in this podcast.
Support This Show