How to be yourself in a job interview

Have you ever seen that La Quinta hotel commercial where the sales guy is calling on a client, closes a deal, and is then invited to play golf?  He proceeds to rip away his suit and is wearing a golf polo and sweater underneath.  Then the new client suggests tennis instead.  The sales guy rips away his golf polo to reveal tennis gear.

Not only do I hope you don't have to change clothes during an interview to impress the employer, but I hope you don't have to change who you are either.  Unfortunately I hear about it all the time after a failed interview.  Case after case of a candidate waffling between what the employer wants to hear and what is actually true about someone's background.  Here a few easy tips to prevent that from ever happening to you:

1)  Stick to your strengths.  If you are usually a quiet, contemplative type of person, don't enter into an interview trying to act like Cheri Oteri on Saturday Night Live when she is an over-eager (and over-bearing) cheerleader with Will Ferrell.  The employer may really like that energy and expect it on a daily basis.  Be careful who you portray yourself to be just to get the job and then show up on the first day as an alter ego.  I can tell you exactly how that will turn out after a few months on the job.

2)  It is okay to say, "I don't know".  If an employer is looking for a very specific answer, and you don't know the answer, the worst thing you can do is fake your way through it.  Or point to how you are a quick learner before admitting you don't know the answer.  Stay true to yourself and focus instead on what you do know.  Or ask a follow up question to see if it is in fact something you could learn quickly.  If you jump too quickly to an answer that isn't you, it will be evident quickly.  I once had an employer tell me that a candidate took so long to improperly answer a question that the hiring manager forgot what the original question was that the candidate clearly didn't have an answer to in the first place.  The interview was unofficially over after that.

3)  You can adjust your answers on the fly, but don't abandon what has worked in the past.  I had a healthy debate with my son last night during Game 7 of the Golden State/OKC game.  He complained that all the Warriors do is shoot threes and hope they go in.  I argued that is their game and has been all season.  Why change now?  They certainly had to change a few things as the Thunder defense threw different looks at them, but if they had decided to not shoot any three-pointers at all during the pre-game strategy, it likely would have been a different outcome.  And not in their favor.  Again, if you are hired for a job based upon an interview process where you pretended to be Superman, and you're really just Clark Kent on a daily basis, the new employer will feel like you pulled the wool over their eyes.

4)  RE-LAX.  Now don't take this to an extreme - I am NOT advocating taking your shoes off and kicking up your feet on the desk.  Instead focus on the small details.  Breathe more intentionally, talk more slowly (people always speak more quickly when nervous), really consider your answers before blurting them out, be aware of your surroundings, etc.  Another story I can think of is a candidate who spoke for so long and in such circles that they had to ask the hiring manager to repeat the question that was asked ten minutes earlier.  The opposite of my story from above.  Can you seriously imagine such a verbal barrage coming out of your mouth that you couldn't even remember the question that was asked?

5)  Be the best version of yourself.  There are a few ways to accomplish this without much effort, but these concepts are often overlooked.  They include getting a good night's sleep before the day of an interview, eat a good meal beforehand, allow plenty of time to arrive early at the interview so that you're not flustered, use the restroom before the interview to make sure you don't have to later (this is also an opportunity to see if any of that pre-interview meal is stuck between your teeth or spilled on your collar), this list could go on and on.  Yet so many people fail to do this little things that would give them a better opportunity to truly be themselves.

The bottom line is that companies are going to hire based upon who they see and hear in an interview.  If that isn't who you really are, those first few weeks and months could be really awkward when they find out they hired Clark Kent and not Superman........

Why a job interview is like an audition

Do you ever have those moments in your life where personal and professional worlds collide when providing advice?  I had that happen this weekend, and it made me think of the job search process.

My daughter is auditioning this week for a show choir at her school, and she was rehearsing both the dance and the song portion over the weekend at home.  As my wife and I provided tips and helpful feedback, there were moments I thought to myself I could have been in a conversation with a candidate, prepping for a job interview.  Here is why:

1)  It only matters what you are doing, not who you are up against.  My daughter is really good at math (fortunately or unfortunately) and she knows exactly what her chances are mathematically to make the show choir.  But if she focuses only on that, it will likely impact her performance.  While it may seem contrite to tell her (or a candidate) to "just do your best", that is exactly what I would expect.  Put out the best version of yourself and the results will be what they will be.  Regardless of the result, you will know you went in prepared, did your absolute best, and will be chosen on that merit alone at the end of the day.  If it goes down any other way, the system was rigged.

2)  Be nervous.  I would be more worried if my daughter was NOT nervous ahead of the audition.  That would mean she either doesn't really care or is over-confident and won't try her best.  If on any level she thinks 80% effort is good enough, there is a good chance it won't be.  Same thing goes for an interview.  Frankly I think sometimes candidates go into an interview with the attitude of "Well, we will just see how things go."  That completely undermines the ability to impact the process in your favor.  Why anyone would just go through the motions in an interview is beyond me.  To what end would you want to do that?  My favorite candidate is the nervous one because that confirms to me that they are fully engaged.

3)  Pay attention to the small details.  We told our daughter to greet the judges immediately upon entering the room.  Shake their hand, acknowledge their efforts, thank them for their time, leave with a smile on your face - the list could go on and on.  Sure, they will be watching her audition.  But I guarantee they will also be watching how she conducts herself in every setting.  Same goes for an interview.  From the moment you park your car or walk in the building, you should be acting on the premise that the interview has begun.  You never know what tiny detail is going to be the tipping point for making the first or final impression.  Leave nothing to fate.

4)  Have fun.  If you look like you don't want to be there, it will be assumed that is the case.  People naturally want to be around other people that are happy.  You can certainly go overboard on this one, but if you strike a good balance it pays off every single time.

5)  Be ready to say yes.  While it would be exciting to be accepted in the show choir, we have tried to communicate to our daughter that is when the real work begins.  Practices, rehearsals, time at home, and much more will come with the territory.  Be sure you are ready to commit to that, knowing that is what is required to put a good product on the stage.  Same with an interview - be ready to accept an offer if it comes.  No one should need practice interviewing.  If you are doing so, it must be for a good reason.  Go into that interview knowing you might get the job and what that means.  Otherwise you are wasting everyone's time.

The only thing left to say if you are preparing for an interview is "Go and break a leg!"

What "culture match" means in a job interview

There are many important factors when considering a new job - career progression, salary, vacation time, work/life balance, location, and many more.  But how often do you hear the phrase "culture match" during an interview process?  And what exactly does that mean?

Business management author and guru Peter Drucker once said that "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."  There are many ways to dissect this statement, but at its core I think he is trying to say that having a good company culture is always going to trump having a good "strategy" for conducting business.  So how exactly does one determine a company culture during the interview process?

The first thing I would suggest is ask everyone you meet in the organization.  If the answer varies dramatically with each new person you meet, there is likely not a cohesive culture that everyone adheres to.  Instead they likely go to the beat of their own drum, and that can cause many problems down the road should you decide to join the company in any capacity.  I know some companies that have such a top-down approach that everyone from the CEO to the receptionist would have a pretty similar answer to that question.

Next, I would do extensive research online and with social media.  What do others say about the company, including former employees?  Glassdoor is a newer resource for employee reviews that show the good, the bad, and the ugly.  While you certainly have to take those reviews with a grain of salt, you might be able to detect some trends.  See if your philosophies line up with what others say about the company and then ask follow up questions in an interview setting or as a follow up email with the hiring manager.

Another way to determine company culture is reviewing the overall benefits package.  One of my colleagues recently noticed that a few more companies have pet bereavement policies.  That is a new and innovative way to tell your employees how you care about them.  A company that says they care about their employees but have strict PTO policies, poor medical coverage, no retirement plan, and very few on-site perks probably don't really mean it.

Lastly, you have to really ask yourself if you can live with what you learn about a company's culture.  If you really like who you would be working with, but feel like the company is a little too strict with a dress code, is that something you can work through?  Or perhaps there is too much of a buttoned-up feeling with the management team, but the ability to work flexible hours is available.  The idea of determining culture match can prove to be a tough balancing act.  There is no such thing as a "perfect" culture, but learning as much as you can about a company's overall culture can be a huge determining factor in your decision to work for them or not.

Is no news really bad news in a job search?

I tell people all the time that no news is no news when awaiting feedback.  Seems simple, right?  Far too often, however, the idea that there is no news is usually perceived as bad news.  In a job search it can seem even worse as you wait for your phone to ring with feedback.

I could turn this blog into a ten-part series to outline all of the crazy reasons why employers and candidates alike have failed to provide feedback or thoughts in a timely manner.  The idea that time kills all deals is something that hovers in the back of your mind.  Especially when someone says they'll be back to you in a few days and a week or more has already transpired.  Of the many reasons why no news could simply be no news, here are some of the most popular ones I have seen lately:

1)  Life happens.  Okay, this may seem broad, but it is honestly quite common.  A hiring manager gets called out of the office unexpectedly for a personal reason.  Another matter in the department becomes top priority, and that is the short-term focus.  A client needs something and that is the first thing to take care of before looking to fill a position.  Of the millions of reasons that fit into this category, there are likely a few that are less explainable than others.  But if you can accept the fact that this is a possibility, it will help you sleep at night when a few extra days have gone by without any feedback.

2)  The company is interviewing other candidates.  Sometimes they will tell you this, sometimes they won't.  You have to remember it isn't necessarily a bad thing.  It is only a bad thing if you are the only candidate they have interviewed so far, they have no one else in the pipeline, but then say they want to talk with ten more people before they proceed to next steps.  That could be a red flag.  But if they have four resumes and want to meet four people, that is going to take some time.

3)  There is another position that is a better match.  I have had clients in the past that take longer than normal to provide feedback because they are talking internally about another team or division that would be a better culture match.  They still really like the candidate, but feel like going in a different direction will benefit both parties.  Sometimes these discussions take some time and employers want to have their ducks in a row before making those decisions.

4)  The employer is waiting for feedback from a panel member.  Perhaps you met with five people, four really liked you and told the hiring manager or HR contact, but they want to make sure the fifth person has a chance to respond.  This can be maddening because the chances are usually good that the last person will give the thumbs up.  Until that happens everyone is waiting.

Have you ever waiting longer than expected for news, only to find out it was good news?  I would love to hear stories of people that have had something unusual happen to add to my long list that never cease to amaze me.

How to improve workplace relationships

How many of you woke up this morning thinking you might be able to glean some workplace relationship advice from Steve McMichael?  #Mongo  #FourHorsemen  #SuperBowlChamp

Since I am likely the only one who woke up with that thought, allow me to explain why.  I was in Chicago over the weekend to catch a Cubs' game with my son.  Since the game was rained out, we went downtown to check out NFL Draft Town.  We stopped in a NFL Store right outside of Grant Park and Steve McMichael was signing autographs.  My son got in line, and I told him when he got up there to ask Steve what his favorite memory was of Walter Payton.

After Steve first managed to make fun of the Cubs for not playing in the rain (you know, since football players wouldn't have minded), my son was able to ask the question.  You could tell it was something that had an impression on Steve as he paused for a few seconds, got down on a knee to make sure he was eye level with my son, and proceeded to tell him how hard Walter practiced.  How he never took a day off.  And that he was never afraid to sneak up on Steve and wrap him in a giant bear hug to remind Steve how tough he was.

Along with being a fun moment for me as a huge Bears' fan, it made me think of how Walter would probably have a few more ideas to share about working with others.

1)  Always show up.  Walter didn't only do this at games when the bright lights were on.  According to Steve, he did it every day in practice too.  I have a feeling he didn't do it for accolades, but it was simply who he was.  He showed up every day, ready to go and have an impact on his organization.  What a great quality in a teammate and a colleague.

2)  Have some fun.  I imagine along with showing Steve how tough he was, Walter was trying to lighten the mood at practice by sneaking up behind McMichael.  Sure he was paid a lot of money for playing a game, but Walter wanted to enjoy what he was doing on a daily basis.

3)  Be memorable.  As the moment on Saturday impacted me, it was almost more so because it reminded me about how both players were likely wonderful teammates.  To have such good memories about something that happened 30 years ago is a sure sign they made each other better on and off the field.

4)  Set goals.  I am pretty certain Steve and Walter didn't show up to practice hard just to say they had a good practice.  They wanted to win games, win their division, and ultimately win a Super Bowl.  They would not have been able to do any of that together if they had not set goals and worked hard every day to achieve them.

5)  Be intentional.  In the short story that was shared by Steve, I got the sense that something like the bear hug was not a one-time occurrence.  Walter likely sought out Steve (and others) on a daily basis.  You can't build a good long-term relationship with one moment or a couple of moments.  Instead they are built up over time by seeking out others on purpose to learn about them, be with them, and share knowledge when you can.