Interview like a Politician: Why Prep?
You have a full time job already. You’re a student working two jobs on top of school. You’re a busy parent juggling pickups, drop-offs, healthy dinners, AND meetings with clients. When in the WORLD will you have time to prep for this interview? You’re either gonna get this job or you’re not right? They want you, you have a strong resume. You’re a good candidate. You’ll do fine to wing it, right? WRONG.
Honestly, I’d rather be the most prepared candidate than the most qualified candidate. And if I can be both? That’s really a win. But at this point, you’re as qualified as you’re going to be for this opportunity. The best way to conquer the interview is to prep, prep, prep.
In the next article, I’ll go over in EXHAUSTIVE (hopefully not exhaustING :P) detail my specific interview checklist, but today I want to give my general thoughts and experience with interview preparation. Going into an interview prepared, with research, facts AND experience on your side helps you feel confident and knowledgeable -- both things that are priceless in an interview situation. Being properly prepared instead of under-prepared will help you maintain the right level of confidence and cool instead of boosting yourself up artificially -- then you can come across as arrogant and aloof. Two things you definitely want to stay away from in an interview situation.
Besides researching the company and their needs, remember to craft questions for the end of the interview. These are VITAL to conquering an interview and I can’t say it better than this article from The Balance Careers. What questions you ask will show how well you understand the position, how well you’ve listened during the interview, and how familiar you are with the company itself.
You may be asking yourself, “Self, what does any of this have to do with politicians? Why did Keril call this series, Interview like a Politician?” Well I’m glad you asked, I was just getting to that. Politicians prepare well-crafted messages and clean narratives when seeking approval and/or consensus from the public. That’s what you’re doing in the interview room. You’re seeking consensus and solving a problem.
Why is this important? Well, as the old saying goes, no one is looking to buy a shovel. They are looking to dig a hole. The shovel is how they are going to actually dig the hole. Metaphorically speaking, the “digging the hole” is the problem and the shovel is the solution. You’re the shovel - the solution to their problem. You can’t do this effectively if you don’t know what problem the company is looking to solve.
Again -- you are the solution to their problem. The interview is your chance to prove that. So, why carve out time from your busy schedule to prep for your next interview? Because practice makes perfect, as they say, and you don’t want to be any ol’ candidate, you want to be the PERFECT candidate.
Next week: My Interview Prep Checklist. I’m excited to share with you my step-by-step preparation advice to get you ready for that interview room!
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Phewph. You did it. You’ve just walked out the door and are sitting in your car back in the parking lot doing a little happy dance to your favorite song.