Lessons from real-life job interviews

Topic: Personal brand

All that work on your CV has done the trick and now you’re drawing on the everywomanNetwork’s wealth of resources to prepare for that job interview. As you put the final touches to your winning strategy, heed the lessons – in both job interview success and failure – from the women who’ve gone before.ⁱ

A LESSON IN TAKING THE RAPPORT TOO FAR

Connecting with your interviewer through a shared hobby, acquaintance, interest or experience can be a fantastic icebreaker. But beware of over-reliance on the personal element – or pushing it to its nth degree…

Felicite Moorman, CEO of BuLogistics recalls an impressive candidate who ultimately didn’t get the job when she over-used the shared love of animals that transpired during their conversation: “We ended on a note that led me to believe I’d be making an offer after our round of interviews were complete. The next day, I received the first of several cat-related faxes. The cat faxing continued, with notes signed ‘The Crazy Cat Lady’, to the point that I declined to make an offer. The last fax [read]: ‘Was it the cats?’ It might have been the cats.”

A LESSON IN HONESTLY REFLECTING YOUR TALENTS AND SKILLS

More than half (56%) of employers have caught a fib on a resume, with the biggest culprits coming from the financial services sector (73%), leisure and hospitality (71%), technology (63%), healthcare (63%) and retail (59%). The most common is an embellished skill set (62%)ⁱⁱ and one that is all too likely to see you come unstuck if you reach interview stage…

“I went on a job interview for a Director’s Assistant, and was told it was someone who worked in film. I found out upon arriving that I was actually meeting a very prominent Director,” says Mia W. “He saw on my resume that I spoke French, which led him to conduct my entire interview in French. I speak some, but I hear little to almost none when they get going. Needless to say, the interview was a bust, and he laughed me right out of his office. I was totally embarrassed and amended my resume immediately.”

A LESSON IN FAILING TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES

Whatever your view on the Google-style interview question along the lines of “If you were a pencil, what type of pencil would you be?” – they’re becoming increasingly common. A candidate can miss the mark if they fail to take their time to understand what’s really behind the question. Chances are your potential employer isn’t all that interested in pencils; they want to test your ability to think on your feet, problem solve or think in an abstract way…

“The strangest question I was ever asked in an interview was ‘If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?’” says Mandy. Afterwards, I asked the interviewer for an explanation. Apparently the answer they were looking for was ‘A fruit salad to show that you are an all-round individual’.”

A LESSON IN MIS-MANAGING THE FOLLOW-UP COMMS

While you should never neglect to follow up with a brief thank you for your hiring manager’s time, beware of being overly officious or chasing an answer that isn’t forthcoming…

“We had a potential hire interview with us a year ago who seemed genuinely interested in the position and was impressive all around,” says one recruiter. “The problems all started in the days after the interview. She sent an email every three days asking for an update on our decision, and after a week finally revealed that she got a job offer from a different company, but she urged us to come to a decision because she would much rather work for [us]. It’s a good thing to be honest about your intentions, but sometimes less is more after a positive interview. And under no circumstances should you use another job offer as leverage for a quicker decision.”

A LESSON IN USING NERVES AS AN ICE BREAKER

Your hiring manager is a human being who understands that job interviews can be a nerve-wracking business. If nerves get the better of you, think of it as a potential icebreaker, rather than a deal-breaker…

“I went on a job interview for a data entry position. Part of the interview was testing my typing speed. The interviewer stood next to me and told me: ‘Right click to open this file’,” says Alicia. I was so nervous that what I heard was ‘write click’ and so in the notepad window, I actually typed the word ‘click’. We both had a good laugh and I got the job.”

A LESSON IN PLAYING TO YOUR UNIQUE STRENGTHS

Experience is only one ingredient of the perfect recipe employers are looking for. If you know you fall short of some of those ‘must have’ skills, or are likely to lack the breadth of other candidates, think carefully about what makes you different, and showcase that at every opportunity…

“A fresh graduate with a Psychology degree was able to land a job as a Retail Store Manager for a high-end clothing line,” recalls a recruitment agent. “She was up against other applicants who had years of experience in the same position. So how did she get the job? It involved a mix of confidence, presence and wits. Merely showing up for a job that required years of experience impressed the son of the owner who happened to be visiting the office and decided to take part in the interview process. She explained that being completely new to the industry meant she could absorb all the right information for getting the job done. She said: ‘I’m new, I’m fresh and very eager to learn, I won’t be as complacent as all these other applicants.’”

A LESSON IN WOWING YOUR INTERVIEWER FROM THE OFF

The candidate who’s willing to go the extra mile is a difficult one to say “no” to. Think outside the box when it comes to demonstrating your passion, and don’t be afraid to show just how much preparation, thought and work you’ve put into the interview…

“My first interview was with the buying director of a brand I absolutely loved, to be a designer,” remembers Gemma Metheringham, Chief Creative Officer at Karen Millen. “At the time it was my dream job. It was a very short interview. I’d done a lot of research and designed a collection for them at the start of my portfolio. The director – who has since become a very good friend – looked at the first few pages of my project and said: “I love it, when can you start?” The key with interviews is to do your research. Learn about the person you’re meeting and think about what they might be looking for. Think about the business you’re applying to and what they are looking for, think about the experience you have that would be relevant and how you could apply it. Look at their product. Have a view on what you love about it and what you could bring to their collection. Show them you have the potential to make a difference.”

A LESSON IN FOCUSSING ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Working out the logistics of what time you’ll get up, what you’ll wear and how you get there are important. But if late-running trains or a broken heel intervene, you’ll need to fall back on the confidence you’ve gained through thorough prep work…

“Years ago, when I was interviewing for the job of deputy editor at Harvard Business Review, I thought I had carefully prepared for my full day of interviews,” says Karen Dillon. “I had my favourite suit dry cleaned and ready to go. I took my older daughter (a notoriously bad sleeper) to my parents’ house so I could count on getting a full night’s sleep. I even did a dry run of the unfamiliar drive to the office on the Sunday before my interview. I was ready for anything. Or so I thought.

“The night before the interview, my younger daughter, normally a sound sleeper, started teething and cried continuously. Far from well-rested in the morning, I somehow managed to slice a hole in the suit when I tried to cut off the plastic dry cleaner wrap. With my second favourite suit on, I headed out the door with my driving directions in hand. Unfortunately, the map directed me on a heavily trafficked route — something I hadn’t encountered on my Sunday dry run. After sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I ended up at the interview a solid half hour late — and seriously ruffled by my series of setbacks. In hindsight, I can laugh at what happened (especially since I got the job) but I also realise that I had focused on all the wrong things: logistics and details instead of substance. That mistake could’ve easily derailed what was to be one of the most important job opportunities of my career.”

A LESSON IN OWNING YOUR MISTAKES

All the planning in the world sometimes can’t prevent a curveball coming your way that threatens to throw you off guard. If you make a mistake – whether it’s getting the interviewers’ name wrong or turning up late – own it sincerely, and then move on and do your best…

“I received an invitation to attend an interview for a role I really wanted for the following Wednesday,” says a candidate. “However, on the Tuesday I received a phone call asking if I was coming to the interview. I said, ‘Yes, I am coming tomorrow’. The person calling said the interview was that day. I had got the date wrong. Luckily, I was invited to attend an interview the next day and walked into the interview saying: ‘I have been five minutes late, half an hour late but never 24 hours late.’ All my answers were totally honest as I did not think I had much of a chance. I was offered the job. Three years later, I was at an awards ceremony receiving an accolade for our innovative work with young people. The person who had interviewed me leaned over and said: ‘I knew that you were the right person for this role, even if you were a day late.’”