5 Steps to Interview Success, Every Time
Everyone has their go-to strategy for interview preparation. Mine has a success rate of 100%. That’s right. Every time I have interviewed for a job, I’ve gotten an offer. Want to know how I do it?
1. Research. While you may not know the exact questions that will be asked during an interview, you can get an idea from the job posting, conversations with recruiters, or your own connections in the industry what the typical concerns are for the type of position you are aiming for, then shape your answers to fit accordingly. The more you know about the position and the company, the better you can present yourself as a solution for them. A little research can make the difference between a well-organized interview and, well, a hot mess.
2. Write the Script. Communications pros know that every press interview is an opportunity to get across certain key messages, and they use a written briefing document to prepare the spokesperson for the reporter’s questions. Likewise, a job interview is your chance to reinforce the points where you are the strongest, address any weaknesses on your own terms and set the stage for an offer. Create your own briefing document, basically a script outline of what you want to say, that speaks to your own key messages. Not sure what your messages are? Look at your resume — what skills did your previous positions require? What questions might an employer have about your work? Where do you want your career to go from here? What do you bring to the table that is valuable to the employer? Your key messages should all point to you being the right person for this job, and creating a script that reinforces those messages will help the employer believe it, too.
3. Dress It Up. You now have a basic outline of the topics you should cover in your interview responses. Take some time to craft an anecdote or pinpoint the metrics that can strengthen each point. Got a great example of your leadership skills? Jot the story down in a few lines, so you have it top-of-mind during the interview. Did site traffic double after your recent blog post? Get the exact numbers to showcase the impact you might have on your potential employer’s business. By supporting your key messages with anecdotes and data, you’re repeating and reinforcing your overarching message that you are the right person for this position.
4. Practice. Now, you’ve got a script that outlines a few key messages, supported by anecdotes and data that reinforce those messages. Most of the time, you don’t have the luxury of having the script in front of you during the actual interview (nor would you want to be perceived as “reading” your responses), so give yourself some time with the material. Practice telling your stories out loud. Repeat the data points multiple times. Ask a friend to grill you on the “hard” questions until you can answer them without breaking a sweat. Once you have your key messages and supporting points comfortably memorized, you should be ready to handle almost anything an interviewer throws at you.
5. Go Live. You’ve researched the position, prepared the script, and committed it to memory. But here’s where the fun begins: the interviewer doesn’t have your script. You may not have accurately pinpointed exactly what they wanted from this conversation, and the questions may come fast and furious and may be not at all what you expected. In the live interview, you’ve got to take those key messages and look for opportunities to weave them into the conversation you are actually having. Stay in the moment and respond to the questions that you are asked, while keeping one finger on the pulse of your script. Most of the time, you’ll find that the comments, anecdotes and metrics you’ve prepared fit nicely into the questions the interviewer is asking. Get those key messages across, and you’ll own the interview.
This isn’t to say that I haven’t had bad interviews. Believe me–I had one that was so awful (and frazzled me so badly) that afterwards I left my portfolio and resume copies on the roof of my car. I didn’t even notice until I drove away and got on the highway. (To anyone who ended up with copies of my resume wooshing past your windshield, I’m terribly sorry!) But, less than 48 hours later, the CEO called to offer me a job. When I asked him why he thought I was a good fit for the position, he repeated back to me 3 of the 4 key messages I had shared during the interview.
And the best part of having a successful interview? It puts you in the enviable position of choosing what jobs you want–and not the other way around.
So, what’s your go-to interview style? How do you best prepare? Do you think my 5 Steps would work for you?
Erica Benton brings nearly a decade of experience as a small business owner and freelancer to her position as the editor-in-chief of the oDesk Blog.
This post is spot on. As a creative professional who has to present my portfolio for new clients on a weekly basis, I go through all of these steps before the interview. (Step 1) Researching is easy. Just spend 15 minutes on their website to find out what they do, who they reach, and read the “about us” page. (Step 2) Based on what I learn of the company, I then organize my work to show only the projects that are relevant to their business. I want them to think I’m tailor fit for their position. (Step 3) Their are a host of stories that I tell my mates over a beer about past projects. These tend to be the most interesting and engaging anecdotes and I pick a few of these out on the fly during the interview. It helps me relate on a more human level. (Step 4) Running through the past work and making sure I can explain anything I show is crucial, you don’t want to scratch your head on a question you’re the expert on. But the best practice of all has to be past interviews. The more you mess up, the better you get. (Step 5) When I go in to an interview, I’m on. Everything is live and you’ve got to be focused. I’ve found that acting like you are already a member of their team can help seal the deal. I even pay attention to the small details such as accenting your outfit with the company colors.
This is a very usefull post.
Can we also have some tips from the auther and other readers on how to manage stress interviews, where the candidate is systematically provoked through sarcasm or criticism?
Satyasish, I’d have to agree with Juliette on this. Unless the position is one in which you will be expected to respond directly to criticism, sarcasm and antagonistic provocation (working in account collections, certain customer support roles, and blogging are some that come to mind), that type of behavior from an interviewer indicates that you may want to consider whether they would create a productive work relationship with you, or if you would simply be a conduit for their abuse. There is a world of work opportunities out there, from employers representing a wide range of personalities. You needn’t tolerate that type of bad behavior from an employer during an interview.
how I can impress my employers via online. by messaging it’s hard to understand the total want of the employer. please give me some suggestion.
Shihan, if you are uncertain what the employer is really looking for, prepare for the interview by writing down clarifying questions that will help the employer complete the picture for you. Make sure they are questions that look for a descriptive answer, not just a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Something like: “Can you tell me more about how you see this role interacting with your existing team?” “Your job posting mentioned needing someone with social media skills, can you explain a bit more what your goals are for this assignment?”
In preparing yourself for the interview (without much guidance from the job posting or the employer beforehand), focus on your strongest skills and the assets you bring to the table. What have previous employers said about you? What did they appreciate about working with you? These are likely things that future employers would also find valuable. Good luck!
>Can we also have some tips from the auther and >other readers on how to manage stress interviews, >where the candidate is systematically provoked >through sarcasm or criticism?
I personally would not want to work for a company that interviewed me in this manner. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Do you want to work for a place that treats people that way? I had an abusive job once, only once. Never again. The interview can give great clues as to what kind of people you are going to potentially be working for or with.
I read your post with amusement. Odesk, like so many other sites supposedly dedicated to the advancement of freelance graphic artist, is, at best, a joke. It isn’t how well you do in the “interview” (give me a break) it’s about the bottom line–how low you’re willing to prostitute your services in order to get the job. Just read some of the names to your blog response and I believe you’ll get the picture. Odesk doesn’t allow for a level playing field. Legitimate artists in Europe and America can’t compete with some of the ridiculous wages being proffered in countries like Croatia and India, just to name a few. If this is the best a Global Economy has to offer, it’s a sad day indeed for our profession.
Tracey, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen oDesk described as “dedicated to the advancement of the freelance graphic artist”– you might be mistaking us for a work auction or design competition site (of which there are plenty). oDesk is a global employment platform, committed to providing opportunities and guaranteed payment for workers, no matter where in the world they are. The names in my blog response are the names of real people, real human beings, with feelings, and hopes, and dreams, and ambitions — just like you. They have just as much right as you do to find work, earn money and support their families. Please do not assume that seeing an unfamiliar name in the blog comments means anything deeper than the fact that you haven’t met them yet.
I’m going to have to disagree with your comment about the “level playing field”. Wage is just one part of a complicated equation that most employers consider when hiring from a global talent pool, which is why oDesk profiles include portfolios of previous work, feedback from previous employers, scores from skill tests and certifications…. and we strongly encourage employers to interview their top candidates. The goal is to give workers ways to market themselves effectively, showcase their skills and present a strong argument beyond “I live in ______” to justify their desired rates. It’s simply a more global playing field than most people are used to, and it does require that workers make every effort to highlight a specialized skillset, show value to employers, and prove that they are worth wage they are asking.
Are there employers out there who put cost above all else? Of course. But, they typically get what they pay for–if quality of work doesn’t enter their hiring equation, they’re likely to suffer sub-standard results. But, if their goal is VALUE (and most employers do rank ‘value’ above absolute ‘cost’), then all the factors I mentioned above come into play, and you’re positioned only as well as you market yourself (and as well as you perform on the interview) to earn the money you want to make.
I’ve lived by these strategies and others for years and they are often very effective … but not always.
One of the most effective strategies I’ve used that you left out here is to find people who work closely with the open position and meet with them to understand more of the responsibilities, so that I can tailor my portion of the job interview to the specific responsibilities for the job. I’ve never had anyone deny me a meeting with them to do this. Some don’t mind just talking over the phone to provide more details. Job postings often leave out vital information regarding the position, so this fills in the blanks for prospective candidates.
Another strategy is to find out the exact responsibilities, goals, mission statement, etc. of the work group to which the position will report. This arms you with how you will fit into the group’s vision and what future goals you may have working in the group — interviewers typically ask how you see yourself fitting into the group and what your future goals would be if you were the candidate chosen for the position. Okay, I’ve been a seasoned manager, interviewed numerous individuals and have a degree in HR, so I know little bit about interviewing and interviewing techniques.
Another thing interviewees need to be armed with is knowledge of behavioral interviewing techniques. This is all the rage — or was the last time I did extensive interviewing. You must be prepared to carefully navigate through open-ended questions, because that is the focus of this type of technique. It requires you to elaborate on past positive and negative job experiences and can create pitfalls for the interviewee. If job lookers use the techniques you outlined but remain cognizant to avoid anything negative while elaborating, then they will be fine. For example, I worked in a group where Legal managed contract language for products for which my group rolled out. The attorney inserted language that I had yet to approve into standard contracts for the entire enterprise. As the project manager, I was blamed for that major faux pas.
And the thing is, you’re not always going to be THE person they want for the job. That’s a reality check. In the past, 99% of the time I got every position for which I interviewed for in person. As a freelance writer, though, not as much. Out of ALL the positions for which I’ve applied and been hired, only one in the past five years asked for a phone interview — none were local positions. Having worked in this industry for this long, it’s really, really hard for me to believe that you get every job you apply for, unless you just don’t apply for any, you haven’t applied for many in the past several years, or you apply for very, very low paying positions — I get hired for those all the time, but don’t accept them. Due to the tremendous number of layoffs, the freelance writing/editing market is flooded with people looking for writing/editing positions to survive. No one is the perfect candidate for every job, but everyone is the perfect candidate for some job or jobs out there.
Some tips I’ve found very effective from a freelance/remote worker perspective is to create a standard email I modify for each prospective job I apply. I tailor each job to which I respond with applicable experience. I also saved different versions of my resume to address different types of jobs. That way it takes me a relatively short amount of time to respond to new job ads.
There are lots of other things I do to make my response stand out from the others, but I don’t get every job for which I apply and I apply for many when work is slow.
I hope this information helps some of the oDesk-ers out there needing more strategy on how to apply for work going forward!
Sherry, great advice! I think you raised a good point, about *selecting the jobs you apply to*. It’s actually part of my application process, that helps me make sure I’m positioned for success on the interview, and one that I neglected to highlight in this post. You’re right that no one is the best fit for 99.9% of jobs out there. So, the best way to increase your success rate is to detail out the work that you can not only do, but that you can excel at and truly stand out in. Then commit to applying to the 0.1% of jobs that fit that sweet spot, and paint a bulls-eye target on them, and do everything you can to prove that you are the top candidate for them. For instance, as a writer, you may find that you are amazing at creating site content. Your previous employers have told you that your content has helped them raise sales by 45% over their previous site. You’ve also found that your work is more fun, easier to do and more successful for your clients when you work for tech startups. Your sweet spot just become “Creating site content for tech startups”, and you’re more likely to find yourself landing the job when you apply to those positions.
It’s true, my method has you applying for far fewer jobs than you otherwise would. But, it also has you earning more positions, and dedicating your time and energy on work that truly excites you and speaks to your core skills.
In terms of volume, and responding quickly to job opportunities as they come up, your idea of having a standard cover letter that speaks to your primary skillset that you then customize for each position is a great jumping off point. I should cover the application process in more detail again soon!
Thanks!
When giving this example, I forgot to elaborate that you don’t want to mention this type of thing in an interview –
“For example, I worked in a group where Legal managed contract language for products for which my group rolled out. The attorney inserted language that I had yet to approve into standard contracts for the entire enterprise. As the project manager, I was blamed for that major faux pas.”
I DO NOT share this in interviews. You don’t want any prospective employer thinking you cannot manage your responsibilities effectively.
Be prepared to share something more innocuous that won’t throw up a red flag for the interviewer, since they usually ask you to elaborate on one error you made in the past and how you fixed it. For example, you might tell about an incident where you and a coworker miscommunicated, or elaborate on a situation when someone else did something negative that impacted your project, but you successfully fixed the issue.
Food for thought …
To have a successful job interview, one must be true to himself. Being true to yourself rewards something but do no go overboard. Do not overpower yourself that your prospect employer maybe belittled.
Unfortunately @Tracey Crafton is right about oDesk. I tried applying to multiple jobs in the field of 3d… I have 7 years of experience in it, and now I’m working as a freelancer and I didn’t have any successful interviews, because my price is just too high compare to the $2/hour indian vages…
But this is capitalism, and oDesk doesn’t guarantee that the better one will win the race. Price often wins (even if it comes with worse quality).
i can do this
Hi Erica,
Bravo, not only was that an absolutely awesome post. You answered Tracy exactly the way I wanted to.
All in all, definitely worth my time to read and bookmark! Congratulations on acing all your interviews!
If I could add one thing: Focusing on the most commonly asked interview question, or on the questions that make up the basic framework for an interview is the one area of preparation that when combined with all the points that you’ve mentioned, has brought success to me as well as the individuals that I help prepare for interviews.
I even go one step further and try to anticipate the areas in my employment history that potentially warrant further explanation and prepare responses in the same way. That way, when crunch time *does* arrive, and provided I’m qualified to do the job, I’ll be able to answer any questions that come up with relevant, well structured, “salesy” responses.
If I am especially nervous or eager to prepare for an interview, I will record myself on my phones voice recorder, making any tweaks as necessary.
Note: A list of some really good questions with hints on answering them can be very easily retrieved from the web by googling “most common interview questions”. Also, depending on how diverse the domains and objectives are of the companies you’re interviewing with, you might have to develop slightly different scripts for each of them.
Tracy, while I respect your opinion and empathize with what I perceive as being a less than adequate work load that you are experiencing, why did your comment have to be laced with such negativity and disrespect. I completely agree with Erica, and I am confident I am not the only North American native, that is over-the-moon ecstatic with oDesk’s “new world of work” platform. In fact, the only negative thought that comes to my mind is, “Darn, why didn’t I know about oDesk long, long ago!” Seriously, it’s amazing what innovative features and hard fast benefits you receive by being an oDesk associate and for the first time in a long while I am free from commuting to work!
Best of luck to all!
Rebecca, thanks for the positive feedback and additional good advice on preparing for interviews. I hadn’t thought of recording myself answering questions! (Though I’ll admit that I do take advantage of mentors and friends who enjoy doing “mock interviews” and who have been generous with their time in helping me prepare.)
The job hunting process is a minefield of frustrations, and competing in a global marketplace can remove some of them (getting access to jobs in your field, locating positions with flexibility for your schedule, getting a quick-hire for quick pay) but it can add in the stress of increased competition. The guidance offered is based on my own experiences with successfully marketing myself to employers, but I also know that the weight of global competition can be a heavy burden to bear for many people. I’ve found that it isn’t about “me” vs. “them”: competing successfully means focusing on yourself–your core values and strengths, your expertise and experience, your personality and work ethic–and creating a complete package that employers see value in. It isn’t easy (if it was, why would I need to blog about it?), but it is a path that nets you the positions that not only suit your skills but will also allow you to command the pay you want.
I’m glad you have found success on oDesk, and have been cultivating a work life that works for you, Rebecca! Keep up the great work — and look for a post on “common interview questions” coming soon!
There are several people who have made “sour grapes” comments in this discussion about competing with foreign talent in 3rd world countries. While I have to agree with the fact that those workers have a financial advantage when competing with those of us who live in the West, I can’t say that it’s slowed me down anyway.
When I look at the myriad of postings on oDesk, my first eliminating criterion is, “Is this potential customer a cheepscate?” Those who are, and there are plenty of them, show their true colors by stating in their job posting that they are only willing to pay $1 for 500 written words. Okay, if that’s all they’re willing to pay, then they don’t want my quality and I don’t want their work. I want to work for those who are seeking quality.
If all I can offer a potential customer is copywriting at the same level of skill that they can get from India or the Phillipines, why should anyone pay me more? But, if I can provide a superior product, I have something that is worth charging for; and more importantly is worth it to my customers.
I’ve been on oDesk for less than a month. In that time, I’ve landed 6 jobs, all for customers who are seeking quality writing. Three of those jobs have converted into long term relationships and one is a $6000 contract. If I can do it, than any other westerner who can deliver a quality product can too
Rich, congrats on finding success so quickly! I love that you are culling the employers who aren’t willing to pay what you are worth, and I particularly like your statement: “….if that’s all they’re willing to pay, then they don’t want my quality and I don’t want their work. I want to work for those who are seeking quality.” You’ve obviously found your niche (and have both the ability and the confidence to not accept anything less than what you feel you deserve). Nicely done!
Thanks for this wonderful blog. I will take your comments to heart as I apply for and interview for various oDesk positions.
I can understand the frustration of the lady who spoke about low rates. They are shocking! These are apparent in many of the VoiceOver listings as well. But, I don’t let them wind me up anymore. That’s what the “delete” button is for. I then press on to more interesting and rewarding postings. If there are none on offer on the oDesk site at any particular time, I move on to other resources.
Cheers…
Hi Erica,
I really enjoyed your post and totally agree with the Point 4 Practice.
If you do nothing else, practice, practice, practice because if you know ‘what’ you’re saying, you can focus on ‘how’ your saying it — and 90%+ of what people remember about you is your body language not your words!
ERICA, your bio says you’ve been a small business owner for 10 years – well done, that is no small feat – and I was just thinking that I would love to hear the flip-side of this blog post… How to nail an interview from the EMPLOYER’S point of view. eg the best questions to ask & what to look out for!
Cheers,
@Franklin_Adam
PS. Well done on getting a job offer from every interview you’ve been to!
VERY GOOD IN YOUR WEB SITE
I really enjoyed your post and totally agree with the Point 4 Practice.
If you do nothing else, practice, practice, practice because if you know ‘what’ you’re saying, you can focus on ‘how’ your saying it — and 90%+ of what people remember about you is your body language not your words!
ERICA, your bio says you’ve been a small business owner for 10 years – well done, that is no small feat – and I was just thinking that I would love to hear the flip-side of this blog post… How to nail an interview from the EMPLOYE
Erica- thanks for a great article and useful tips. Regarding Tracy discussion- what you said is partially right, but also so is true for part of what she said.
It is impossible to compete with people in areas of the world where a smaller compensation can feed their family versus someone in Western World or in rich countries where living costs are much higher. It is not a question of getting sub-standard work level just because someone is paid less. Some of the people in these poorer countries have education in and at Western standards and the quality of their work is not sub-standard just because they are paid less.
One thing the Odesk could do to level this discrepancy in pay would be set a fix dollar amount or a range (with min and max) for each job. That way employers will not be allowed to underpay the Odesk online “workers” from the poorer countries. I hope there will be a creative way to balance this unfair competition between “workers” from richer and poorer countries.
Ok, now I have a question. I am a mom that did not work for three years now (since 2008) and wants to return to the work field. Jobs online don’t seem to work for me, as there is high competition for those sometimes having 300 or more applicants for each job. Any valid solutions?
Thank you.
This is a really good site
Actually odesk is the best site for all.
congrats on finding success so quickly! I love that you are culling the employers who aren’t willing to pay what you are worth, and I particularly like your statement: “….if that’s all they’re willing to pay, then they don’t want my quality and I don’t want their work. I want to work for those who are seeking quality.” You’ve obviously found your niche (and have both the ability and the confidence to not accept anything less than what you feel you deserve). Nicely am agree ur terms and conditions!
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