If you are fresh out of college and do not have top class grades from a first class institution of higher learning, you are part of the crowd that is queuing up to get into the ‘best parties’ … I mean the best organizations! You get a huge advantage (and I mean really huge and I am seriously not kidding with you!), if you have strong academic credentials from a top institution because you make the hiring manager’s job easy. If you don’t its OK here are some tips to get you into this party.
Understand the role – Understand the organization – Show them what you Have – Ask smart questions
You are showing up at the interview session to demonstrate your fit for the role and the organization, right? Do your homework … make sure you understand the role very well – recruitment firms or job listings provide detailed information regarding the attributes and traits needed for the positions that they advertise for. I would also ask you to map your experience and accomplishments to every attribute and trait listed for the position or for as many as possible. Your examples should have quantifiable proof points as much as possible. Show the hiring manager what you can do for him … three examples are ideal, have five ready. He will be satiated and tired by then!
Having done this … wait a minute! You are at the meeting to also test the organization and the role’s fit for you, aren’t you? Again, prepare a list of questions regarding the organization, its performance, brand, competitors, share etc. etc. List them out and pop them when the interviewer gives you an opportunity to do so, which is normally the case. If not, politely ask him to give you an opportunity to do so. Your questions should be appropriate and well researched.
Articulate your current Organization – Have the Organizational facts handy
Just like I am asking you to research your prospective employer, do research on your own organization inside and out at all times. If your organization is not publicly traded demonstrate inquisitiveness regarding business & operational performance as a part of your daily routine at work, attend all town hall meetings hosted by senior executives to narrate the state of affairs in the company, irrespective of your function. Your ability to fairly articulate how your current organization is doing and relate the performance to your circumstances for seeking change does more than merely explain the justification for your departure. It demonstrates your maturity regarding the overall business which is an asset that every hiring manager and organization wants within their teams.
On the contrary, I have been severely unimpressed when individuals are unaware of revenue, market share or basic financial metrics related to their organization despite holding mid to upper level positions. I cannot fathom their mindset nor their ability if they do not feel the need to be aware of the basic benchmarks on which their organizations are measured. To top it all, they receive stock options and restricted stock units as a part of their compensation that they proudly document in their resumes!! I have also seen candidates thumping their chest and proclaiming Profit & Loss (P&L) ownership as an ultimate bastion of corporate recognition! When I then proceed to ask them questions related to Operating Margins, Internal Rate of Return (IRR), etc, they stammer, babble and try to smart talk their way out of the situation while making themselves look completely inadequate! This awareness will not only help you understand your role and how it relates to other organizational functions but will help you understand and articulate your organization’s business better. You know what that means .. the best dressed and the most attractive elements have the best chance of entry while queuing to get into that ‘hot party’. It hardly matters where in the queue they stand and you are being naive if you think otherwise .. seriously!
Spice up the conversation … tell a Story!
Here’s another secret for you … most of the people who will interview you are bored! Everyone loves a story … regale them with an ‘appropriate story’ that is relevant to the conversation, preferably involves you and highlights a key capability or achievement of yours. It could be about a deal that you cracked, a glacier you trekked to or a herd of cannibals you got away from! It will provide the interviewer a reason to remember you for beside the resume!
If your life is a boring mess as well, this is your chance to straighten things out by first reading and then doing. Tell stories about yourselves or other to exemplify a point that you are making! Sites like Virtual Tourist (www.virtualtourist.com) and Lonely Planet: The Thorn Tree (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com) either helps you learn from other people’s experiences or motivates and guides you to new experiences. Share these aptly in any social or professional settings including interview chats and I assure you that you will blow your audience away and stamp your ‘Uniqueness’.
So … whether in a night club party queue, in a crowded entrance of a popular restaurant or in an interview room of a corporation, some people seemingly get the unfair advantage! Seemingly unfair to the uninitiated … however for the people who are getting the advantage, there is always a plan, an execution strategy and a predictable result. Make this work for you, if you are not already doing so!
