Drive Your Interview
I want to change the way you think about interviews.
Understandably, we think that an interviewer should drive the interview. I want to turn that belief on its head.
Sure, you have to answer the questions they ask you, but have you ever thought about taking more control in an interview?
It may sound impossible, but it's not. Here are some ways you can drive the interview as the interviewee.
Decide what they must know about you BEFORE going into the interview. This is the first step to taking control of an interview. As you prepare for the big day, decide on 3 things that you absolutely must get across to the interviewer. This usually centers around why you think you're the perfect fit for the job (without saying it like that)! You want to come to the interview with examples of how you've demonstrated those 3 qualities or skills at work or school. If you don't have a chance to cover some of them as you answer their questions, make sure to throw it in at the end when they ask if there's anything else they should know about you - or even if they don't!
Redirect questions when necessary. If you cannot for the life of you come up with an answer to a question, admit that you are having trouble coming up with a good example on the spot but offer something else. That is, did a different example come to mind that demonstrates how you can perform well in this job? Share it! One way to segue into that would be by asking a question. For example: "I'm having trouble right now coming up with a good example for that, but can I share with you a time when I...?"
Ask your interviewer/s hard questions. This week I saw that a recruiter jokingly wrote a post saying a power move would be to ask the interviewer where they see themselves in 5 years. I love this! Even if you don't want to ask that, you can ask what they love and don't like about the company or their job. This shows confidence and that you're not afraid to confront difficult situations. You can get creative here.
End with a bang. If you haven't been able to cover your 3 things they must know about you, or you feel like they have concerns about you being a good fit for the job, ask them if they have concerns about it. If you do this, be ready to address their concerns then and there in a smart way. This requires advance preparation.
Interviewing is stressful. Learning to take the driver's seat will make you feel more confident and give you a better chance both at landing the job as well as understanding what the job and company are actually like. You need that to be able to make the right decision should you receive an offer.