There’s so much interview advice out there for job seekers. They are told to dress appropriately, be well prepared, master the most common questions, show they’re team players, be humble yet confident, and have the qualifications for the job.
Pity the poor candidate trying to follow all this advice at once. Of course, it’s not bad advice—I’ve shared some of it myself. It’s just that there is so much of it!
To simplify things, try focusing on the one thing that is likely to assure you success: authenticity. Every interviewer wants to really get to know you. So let them in on who you are. Here are seven ways to make sure your authentic self comes across the next time you speak with a hiring manager:
1. SHARE YOUR PRESENCE
The starting point of being authentic is to be present—really, really there. When answering a question, look the interviewer in the eye, pause before answering, and when you answer, hold eye contact with the interviewer. Eye contact is a powerful way of saying you are fully present. Keep a warm expression on your face. Smile, but not all the time. Show enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
Position yourself so you are physically aligned with the interviewer. Don’t turn away even slightly, don’t slouch, and don’t close off your body by folding your arms or hands and creating a barrier. If you are in a virtual setting, don’t sit back farther than you would in a normal conversation.
2. SHARE YOUR IDEAS
Second, share your thinking. Don’t parrot answers you’ve read or regurgitate what you think the interviewer wants to hear.
Bring forward original, bold ideas that come from within your being. Show that you have strong convictions about work, leading teams, creating solutions, overcoming challenges, and meeting the requirements of the new job.
The interviewer wants to hear words like, “I’m a firm believer in,” or “I’m deeply committed to,” or “My idea of a good leader is . . .” or “Here’s my vision of what success in this new role will look like.”
3. SHARE YOUR VALUES
Authenticity means not being afraid to come forward with your beliefs about culture and work environment. Smart job seekers apply only to those companies that share their values. So study the company before the interview. If you feel there’s a good fit, show that in the interview. Tell the recruiter, “I love the fact that this is a company that has a Chief Diversity Officer and a team that supports this agenda. I am a strong believer in diversity and inclusion.”
If you haven’t been able to determine the company’s values, ask about them, and be open in sharing your beliefs about what you need, how you like to work, and how your values align with the hiring company’s.
4. SHARE YOUR FEELINGS
Another thing you need to accomplish in an interview is to convey your feelings. Show your passion for your work, your accomplishments, the teams you’ve led or been part of, and the new role you’re applying for.
Language that conveys feelings sounds like this: “I have loved . . .” “I’m passionate about,” “I live for,” or “these things inspire me.” You might say: “I love the fact that you want to hire someone who can instill passion in employees. That’s exactly what I believe I can do, because I feel passionate about your company and its culture.”
Of course, you won’t want to share negative feelings about companies you’ve worked for, people you’ve reported to, or opportunities that did not come about. Save that for more intimate conversations.
5. SHARE YOUR STRENGTHS
Part of succeeding in a job interview is to opening up and share what you feel are your strengths. In preparing for the interview, write down your strong points, and make sure they are relevant to the job you’re interviewing for. Create one bold statement about yourself: for example: “I am a strong coder and have won numerous awards for my work.” Or “Creating successful HR programs is my superpower.”
Once you decide on this main message, create a set of supporting messages. If you’ve created HR programs, describe each one, and discuss the programs you might develop in the new role. Showing pride in your accomplishments will help you nail the job.
6. SHARE YOUR GOALS
Make sure you share your career goals and discuss how you might achieve them in the new role. The most important factor in getting a hiring company to say “yes” to you, is, according to one expert, explaining why you want to work for that particular company. So outline your goals and why they can best be met in the company you’re interviewing with.
You might say that this role will enable you to fulfill your goal of overseeing a world-class sales team. Or you’ve always admired Bank XYZ and it would be a dream come true to work in its Treasury department.
7. SHARE YOUR STORIES
A final way of bringing forward your authentic self is through storytelling.
My forthcoming book, The Job Seeker’s Script: Tell Your Story and Land Your Dream Position, explains that in a job interview, you need an overarching story about yourself, as well as some smaller stories illustrating that you’ve done something exceptional. These compressed stories can describe something you’ve done in college, in a job, or in your life outside of work.
Be sure to write out and rehearse these stories before the interview, so you’ll be confident and clear in delivering them. By rehearsing, you can carve them out with just the right details, and your interviewer will be impressed.
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