I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to be on both sides of the interview table on several occasions. Early in my career, I had opportunities to hear from the very best in my companies share with me their experiences in interviewing, and tips they had for me to make me comfortable (and hopefully effective) in interviewing for new roles.
Some of the best advice I have received included the following:
Don’t sound too polished or rehearsed – go in knowing your stuff, but when questions are asked, give it time to breathe before you answer. If you sound too rehearsed, it can come off as cockiness or unnatural
Make them feel like you belong – one of the most successful interviews I had was with a team of four managers (the GM, my eventual boss, and two of my eventual peers). I went in thinking I already had the job, but not showing it. How I did this was to really turn the interview into a conversation with people I felt I already knew. I ended the interview by saying “Thank you all so much for your time, and I really look forward to the possibility of us working together.”
Be comfortable asking THEM questions – when you go the extra mile and ask people about why they work where they do, you can certainly again find ways to get them to consider you. If there is someone interviewing you who has been there longer than you, ask them ” (insert name), tell me what has inspired you to stay here for the past (number) years.”
Showing “Bridled enthusiasm” – being too eager for an interview again can come across as overconfidence, or the perception that you need the job vs wanting the job. Certainly express your passion for what you do, but maybe consider toning it down a bit so you don’t seem like you need this job or else.
