Interviewing with no luck? Read THIS!

Nancy is a 25-year-old smart, driven woman. She has been with her company for three years and is ready for the next level. Unfortunately, Nancy’s company is contracting due to Covid and is distributing lay-offs rather than promotions. Nancy realizes it is time to move on. She has interviewed for roles outside her company, but unfortunately, she isn’t securing a position. Why? Here are some critical questions for Nancy…and those of you struggling to land the roles that you are interviewing for:

1. Does Nancy have the experience and knowledge for the role she is interviewing for? It’s ok that a position is a stretch, including taking on a larger staff or bigger budget, but she needs to be honest with herself about the size of the stretch. It has to be realistic and achievable for her to handle. Competency is essential for any role.
2. Has Nancy researched the industry, company, role, key executives, and people she would interview with? Doing your homework is a requirement, and as positions become more senior, the amount of research required increases. Research is crucial for landing a new job. It takes time, but if done thoroughly, it pays off. 
3. Does Nancy have a list of the top most asked questions in interviews and prepared answers for each of the “standard interview questions”? Has she practiced interviewing with a friend? Has she videotaped herself and had it critiqued?  Some companies even require a particular format for answering interview questions like the STAR method. STAR stands for situation, task, action, and result, and interviewers use it to assess ability. Ultimately, the best way to become fluid and comfortable interviewing is through practice. Like most things in life, the more you do it, the better you become, and your confidence builds.
4. Has Nancy built a network inside the company where she is interviewing? For example, has she used LinkedIn to connect with people that worked at one of her previous employers, attended her alma mater, or have any other commonalities that she can use as a basis for developing a relationship? Building a network in a potential employer’s company is one of the best ways to secure a new position.
5. Is Nancy able to build a connection with the interviewer? Is she presenting herself as someone that the interviewer would enjoy working with? People prefer to work with people they like and can connect with in a genuine, authentic way.

Once Nancy asks herself these questions, chances are an area or two will be revealed that needs improvement. 

How about you, have you identified one or two that need work?

If you enjoy reading my KimMartinTheCoach blogs, follow me on LinkedIn, Medium, Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter at kimmartinthecoach.com!