If you’re preparing for a job interview one week out, you’re late. You’ve got to prepare earlier. And the most important part of that preparation isn’t about hard skills…
I just read this post from Silicon.com called “Ask the Experts: How do I ace that job interview?” Three experts answer the question, which is a nice touch. It’s got a lot of good, solid, standard advice. Some if it is wasted pixels, like:
Turn up on time. Don’t forget to smile. And dress the part.
You really shouldn’t have to be told that. Now, in her defense, the author of that advice, Cathy Holley, does treat it as obvious foundational stuff and quickly moves beyond it. She also talks about the value of in-depth preparation, which is good. Her reminder about enthusiasm is her best advice, however:
Lack of energy and passion is one of the main reasons candidates are turned down.
But where’s the relationship?
What’s missing from this post—and so many posts like it—is the value of the relationships that you have with the people doing the hiring. For example, the questioner in this piece says:
Q: I have an interview next week that could lead to promotion to a senior role in the IT department. How do I convince the panel I’m the best candidate for the role?
It sounds like this is an internal promotion; that the candidate is trying to move up within their own company. That would imply that this person knows the people doing the hiring, right? The best way to ace that interview is to create valuable relationships with those people. Of course, if you only have one week to prepare, then you’re not going to be able to do as much relationship building - that’s why you’ve got to build relationships all the time.
Tessa Hood, one of the three experts in the post, gives the most valuable advice when she talks about the personal brand. Unfortunately, she limits it to what you wear.
Also - dress for the job you want, not the job you’ve got. As this is a good step up, make sure that you look the part. Is your personal brand reflecting the brand of the company and will you be a great ambassador for it? Remember, this isn’t just for the interview but for consistently moving onwards and upwards.
Personal brand is more than what you wear
Your personal brand and your ambassadorship is so much more than what you’re wearing. How you connect with people is part of being an ambassador - part of your brand. How you build alliances. How you advocate. How you communicate. How you handle yourself in varied situations.
If you’ve been focusing on relationships over time leading up to this interview, great; they’ll know your personal brand.
You can always speak to examples of your personal brand
If you haven’t created relationships with these people over time, you can still speak to it in the interview. Think of the times in your career when you strengthened partnerships, brought people together, overcame a misunderstanding, motivated teams. Share those examples with the interview panel. These are powerful examples of ambassadorship and your personal brand.
Start now, even if you’re not looking for a job
Before you find yourself looking at the calendar with only one week to prepare for an interview, ask yourself if you’re doing enough to build relationships today. Do it now, even if you’re not actively looking for a job. Take someone out to lunch. Stop by someone’s desk and say hello. Stay connected with people - always.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Some very good points here. I think that given the state of the economy and seemingly endless layoffs, people employed by someone else would be well served by nurturing relationships with their superiors and their coworkers every day. If the time comes for your company to trim staff, if you’re a relatively unknown entity - even if you work hard - you’ll likely get the axe. Start nurturing those executive/management relationships now, but be sure to be genuine about it. No one likes a brownnoser who’s just trying to get favored or save their hide.