Ever wonder what “wows” an interviewer, or what drives them up the wall?
We’ve been discussing these topics with Mandy Zaransky, Ragan Communications’ chief marketing officer, in her “Top Five Tips for a Successful Interview” series. This week, we’ll wrap up the series with a roundup of her insights. Plus, find out the book she says pays interview dividends.
Here is a recap of her five essentials for interviewees hoping to turn a much-anticipated meeting into a career upgrade:
1. Be punctual.
Nobody likes waiting, but nobody likes being interrupted without reason—especially a busy interviewer.
Fact: Arriving too early has its setbacks, too.
“Interviewers are busy, so they’re expecting promptness, but being too early signals that a candidate is likely desperate and possibly obtuse. In the world of interviewing, one is marketing themselves no matter the position and understanding your audience is Marketing 101,” Zaransky says.
Arriving at the location seven to 10 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time is ideal, Zaransky says. This shows that you are prompt but cognizant of the interviewer’s busy schedule.
Scope out the area of the interview prior to the scheduled meeting date, and pick out a nearby spot where you can compose yourself before the interview. Make sure you are there with plenty of time to spare.
2. Avoid using cringe-worthy words and phrases.
Certain things you say could suggest you are unprepared or, worse, dishonest.
Ditch these four phrases before your interview:
“To be honest with you...”This raises the question: Are you not being honest at other times?
Not only does this call into question whether you’ve been less than honest, it can also signal a lack of preparation.
“This comes off as filler,” Zaransky says, “and makes potential candidates seem unprepared.”
Honesty is the best policy, so you needn’t use this phrase.
“Literally.”
Just don’t, please.
“You’re either being literal in your statement, or you shouldn’t use the word. You’re always speaking literally, unless you’re speaking figuratively, which you shouldn’t do in a job interview,” Zaransky says.
“You know.”
This filler phrase is another cue to the interviewer that you’re stumped or flat-out unprepared.
Zaransky says, “It is also a signal from the interviewee to the interviewer that they need reassurance during the interview process.”
Rehearse your responses out loud, so you’re comfortable when it’s time for the real thing.
Get rid of this phrase, you know?
“Things like that.”
This is a response one would give when explaining their roles, strengths, relative experiences, etc. Do not waste this opportunity.
Zaransky says, “Articulate, succinctly explain, give tangible examples. Don’t gloss over or fill space with ‘things like that.’”
This is the perfect time to market yourself. It’s your chance to stand out among the candidates vying for the position. Be specific; be detailed. Give the interviewer a reason to remember you.
3. Stay positive.
An interview is no place to discuss your poor professional relationship with a current or former employer.
“Keep your conversation positive, and talk about why the specific job is of interest. Highlight your skills and how they make you a good fit for the role,” Zaransky says. “Discuss what experiences of yours mesh with the job description, not why you want to get away from your current or former job.”
You’re courting the interviewer. Focus on the positive experiences you’ve had and the skills you’ve learned from previous roles, not on your negative feelings toward a former employer. That said, it is OK to talk candidly about wanting growth opportunities and stating that there are none at your current organization. Everyone respects a motivated candidate.
“Looking for a job is very much like dating,” Zaransky says. “You always want the second date as an option. Let the choice to move forward be your choice. Woo and wow them, and then decide if it is the right fit for you.”
4. Be prepared.
Exhaust every resource that provides information about the organization in advance of your interview. Start with its website, then scour the internet for other materials, including social media pages.
Find out everything you can about the interviewer, too.
“Thanks to Twitter, I found out my interviewer was into soccer, so I made that mutual interest a part of the conversation. I discovered a lot of food pictures on another interviewer’s Instagram account, which made it a safe topic to find discussion points to talk about,” says Zaransky.
Any personal connection gives you a leg up on other potential candidates.
“LinkedIn is another great platform for researching the person who will conduct your interview,” she says. “ It’s a roadmap of your interviewer's career journey. Look for similarities between the interviewer and yourself. Study their path so you can incorporate and reference tidbits of that information into a question or two during the interview.
“It never hurts to demonstrate that you've done your homework and have a sense of the audience. Anything that is public facing is a good place to look for information.”
There are plenty of resources available; use them.
The end of the interview is not the only time you should be asking questions.
“It’s important to ask questions throughout the entire interview, not just at the end,” says Zaransky. “By asking relevant questions, you can set yourself up to show the interviewer you’re able to do something in the position, based on a task, or tasks, they’ve mentioned. This gives you the chance to explain why you’re a good fit.”
She offers the following example:
Interviewee: You mentioned that this role is available because of a promotion. Why was the last person in this role hired? What made them stand out? What do you want your ideal candidate for the role to have that would be a complement or an addition to the skills that are already on the team?
The interviewer’s response will help you decide how to position yourself and provide examples throughout the meeting.
You’ve put in the work to earn an interview—don’t stop there. You’re in the homestretch; make a strong push toward the finish line.
As a bonus, Zaransky shares her favorite interview book “The Pocket Idiots’ Guide to Interview Questions And Answers.” It explains why interviewers ask particular questions and how best to showcase your experiences or explain away deficiencies.
“It is the single best interview book that I have ever found,” she says. “Though it seems laughable, it’s great.”
[RELATED: Join us at Walt Disney World for the Social Media Conference for PR, Marketing and Corporate Communications.]
Have you polished your interview skills? PwC seeks a public relations and social media manager in New York City.
Not the job for you? See what else we have in our weekly professional pickings:
Freelance motion graphics designer—Ragan Consulting Group (Illinois)
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Direct marketing manager—Humana (Kentucky)
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If you have a position you’d like to see highlighted in PR Daily’s weekly jobs post or you’re searching for career opportunities, RaganJobs.com is the perfect place to find or post quality job openings.
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