The grand finale of an interview

With only a few days to go until the Fourth of July, we can all envision the grand finale of a fireworks show.  No matter how long or short, low budget or grandiose, there is always a finale to cap off a night of fireworks around dusk.  The promoter saves the best for last and usually throws such a barrage at the audience that you go home satisfied and ready for next year already.

This got me thinking about how to "finish" during the course of an interview.  While you don't want to save everything for last and overwhelm a hiring authority, there are many parallels if you really think about it.

1)  Incorporate the highlights of the interview into the final thoughts.  If you pay close attention, many of the best fireworks through an entire show are in the finale again.  Or at least portions of them are.  So as you complete an interview, be sure to remind the hiring manager of all of the best parts.  Having it scripted doesn't make it any less fantastic, just as seeing the smiley face firework again at the end along with loud booms and bright explosions isn't still awesome.

2)  Make sure you haven't saved too much for the end.  If you were at a fireworks display that was lacking for the first 20-25 minutes, you might be tempted to head to the car early so that you can be the first one out of the crowded parking lot.  But watching from your car just isn't the same if the ending is wonderful.  Be sure to sprinkle in plenty of goodness during the early and mid parts of the interview to keep your audience excited for the finale.

3)  Be ready for a dud.  We've all seen them before.  That firework that shoots up into the sky, you wait for a good 5-10 seconds, and then absolutely nothing happens.  In a fireworks show everything is so well choreographed that you should be able to overcome a dud.  But in an interview it could take a lot of momentum out of the conversation.  If you don't answer a question well or sense you are losing the audience, be sure to follow with something good.  If you're not ready for it, the entire interview could be lost.

4)  Leave them wanting more.  As I mentioned, a great show should make the kids begging to stay a little longer just in case there is one more wandering firework that may be out there.  You may not always get the job or the offer in an interview (especially if it is a final interview), but you better hope the hiring manager wants to see you again and make the final push for an offer.

The final parallel I will draw is to remember with fireworks you are playing with fire.  You have to plan ahead and balance the risk/reward.  That is a big part of a successful interview as well.

Be safe and have a wonderful Fourth of July!

How to overcome the dreaded "late goal" in an interview

We have all heard the phrase "expect the unexpected" and it should apply to the interview process as well.  I have had many a candidate shocked in the 11th hour of an interview process when they thought they had it in the bag.  So what went wrong and how can one anticipate the twists and turns of a topsy turvy and imperfect process?

I don't watch much soccer admittedly, but did watch the moment depicted in this picture from last night's stunning draw for the U.S. team.  The goalkeeper's expression says it all.  This was not supposed to happen as the game was literally only seconds away from being over.  The soccer pundits will dissect this game and provide their thoughts with the benefit of hindsight.

Instead of looking back and wondering why you didn't get the job after a lengthy interview process, I am here to tell you how to stay ahead of the curve.  It is certainly not a foolproof plan, but applying some of these time-tested ideas can possibly save some heartache for you at some point as you consider a career move.

First of all, don't be afraid to ask if there are other candidates in the pipeline.  Far too often people think that is an inappropriate question, and they may not want to really know the answer.  Especially if there are indeed qualified candidates that might be in the mix.  My thought is, however, that this notion should push you to perform at your highest level when interviewing and following up with the potential employer.  If there are no other candidates in the pipeline, you may relax and not really put your best foot forward.

Secondly, be educated on the interview process of the particular employer you are engaged with for a possible opportunity.  Be mindful of what next/final steps may be and try to complete additional steps ahead of time.  If they require an online application, go ahead and do that right away.  If a personality profile must be completed, ask to do that early.  If professional references need to be called before an offer is extended, be sure to have contacted those individuals to provide a heads up that a call could be coming.  Although every employer's process differs, many of these types of steps in the process are near universal.

Third, know the timeline of the interview process.  While not always a perfect science, the timeline can be projected to some extent with most interviews.  Especially if you think logically.  Right now, for instance, you should be aware that summer schedules may play a role in setting up an interview.  The HR contact could be on vacation in the coming weeks.  Or the hiring manager.  Or you as the candidate.  Look ahead as much as possible to see what possible obstacles could arise and tackle them head on early rather than late.

Finally, handle defeat as a good sport.  If you do find out you finished in second place for a particular role, be sure to handle the situation with a lot of grace.  I have seen candidates finish in second place, only to find out the first candidate ended up declining the position.  Or perhaps another role opens up down the road.  Or the employer decides to hire two people instead of just one.  As I've read some of the headlines this morning for U.S. soccer, they appear to be making some excuses for what happened.  Instead they should just be focused on their next opponent as they still have a chance to win.

Have you ever experienced the unexpected in a job interview?  How did you handle it?

How long is an interviewer's attention span?

You all know the old saying that you make an indelible first impression in the first fifteen seconds of meeting someone.  In my world I have found there is a lot of truth to that statement.  Maybe I will allow for a cushion and say it could be the first fifteen minutes, but it is without doubt that an interviewer is going to have an internal clock ticking from the minute you shake their hand.  If you can't manage to impress some positive thoughts upon that person's mind, you are unlikely to ever see past round one of the interview.

So what can you do to ensure you are keeping the attention of the person on the other side of the desk or the table?  We will assume you all know how to keep good eye contact, maintain proper posture, and not stammer through answers like a nervous Nelly on a first date with someone that is not in your league.  So let's move onto the items that may be a little bit more difficult to define.

1)  Ask the interviewer what they like about working for the company.  If they brush off the question and say they are quarantined in HR or Talent Acquisition, dig a little deeper and ask what they think someone would say if asked that question after their first 90 days.  Or perhaps after their first two years.  This is a more creative way to ask about the culture of the company.  If you come right out and as about the culture, they will likely point to their website or a mission statement that is too generic to help you at all.  If you are going to work there some day, you really want to know what a daily routine may look like.

2)  End your answers with a follow-up question back to the interviewer.  You may not want to do this every time to show your hand, but it can apply to just about any question if you think about it long enough.  Salary, job description, your past work history, motivation to make a move, the list could go on and on.  This is especially effective if your answers are concise and to the point.  If you blather on and on about your past three job changes and then ask a question related to how often the position you are considering undergoes turnover, you have likely already lost the person's attention.  It is all about timing.

3)  Ask something personal without it being too obvious.  Anyone can look around an office or cubicle to find pictures of family, or a recent vacation, or perhaps a diploma to know where someone went to college.  There is nothing wrong with asking those questions, but again you're trying to keep the attention of the interviewer.  Try to ask a subtle question early in the interview about something personal, and then come back to it later.  This can even be done on the phone.  If I am speaking with a candidate for 10-15 minutes and they told me about a weekend adventure coming up in the first two minutes, I usually tell them at the end of the conversation to have a good adventure.  Most people seem surprised that I remembered that detail from earlier in the conversation.

4)  Be memorable.  I know this sounds esoteric, but it is also fairly basic.  If an interviewer speaks/meets with 10-12 people a day, you want to be sure you're at the very least in the top quartile.  Make them remember SOMETHING about you so that they can associate your background with the resume sitting in a pile of resumes on their desk.  But don't try too hard.  Back in the day it was common to put "hobbies" or "interests" at the bottom of your resume.  Nothing wrong with that in theory, but it isn't awe-inspiring, and you better hope the person reading your resume has the same hobbies.  Otherwise you're in trouble.  Instead try to find out what the interviewer's hobbies/interests are and ask some questions of them.  Or find a way to insert one of your personal life experiences into the conversation if you think it could resonate with the interviewer.

Bottom line is that you only have one chance to make a first impression.  If you don't think about that before you enter the interview, you are already behind the eight ball.

What other tricks of the trade have you learned over the years that could be good for others to hear to keep the attention span of an interview alive and well?

What the first day of a new job really looks like

For those of you that equate a first day on a new job to jumping into the deep end of the pool before taking the swim test, you are not alone.  As much as you might think you are prepared for the transition and what a first day (or even first week for that matter) will look like, there are always surprises, twists and turns.  So what is the best way to handle the transition?

The advice I have for this particular blog topic is going to be simple.  We could have much more in-depth discussion about the idea, but to Keep It Simple Sam (K.I.S.S.) can help you avoid over-thinking anything as you work on making your first impressions with your new colleagues.

The first thought is to have no fear.  I was at a pool with my kids yesterday, and they had a high board that was about ten feet above the water.  I was absolutely amazed at the size of some of the children jumping off with reckless abandon.  As a parent it freaked me out a bit, but if they had been hesitant going off that high board it could have ended badly.  Instead they were all giggling and having a great time.  Why not enter into your first day with the idea that it is only going to be exciting and not terrifying?

The second idea is to be prepared.  To go off of this high board the kids had to pass a swim test.  Although you won't know all of the ins and outs of your new job and new co-workers, at least be ready on your first day with the appropriate paperwork, identification, dress attire, etc.  This may seem simple, but you would certainly feel awkward if your first meeting with HR you had to admit that you left your completed application by the back counter at home and promise to bring it in the second day.

Thirdly, know that there are people interested in your success.  At the pool there were no fewer than six lifeguards at any time near the slides and diving boards at the pool.  At your new employer there will be many parties that are invested in your success.  Know that you can count on them.  Ask them questions and pay attention to what they have to say.  They are there for a reason.

Lastly, have fun.  This may seem counter-intuitive for the workplace, but I am telling you that it works.  I'm not saying to fool around all day and not get work done.  Rather show up with a smile on your face, warmly interact with those around you, and be the first to extend a hand and introduce yourself to anyone and everyone.  It will quickly be learned that you are the "new kid on the block" and people are bound to respond favorably to that.

More than anything, remember that everyone you talk to on your first day at one time also had their first day at the company.  You're all in the same boat and may as well enjoy the ride!

Do you have any interesting stories of first day adventures?