Opinion: Interviews are just conversations

This past Tuesday on my Instagram page for #LaurenCreativeCareerTipTuesday I posted about interviewing. In the caption I stated, “Remember the company is interviewing you BUT you are also interviewing the company”. We are taught that interviews are very serious meetings that require you to be dressed to the nines and be able to answer any and all questions. While it is important to dress for the interview, prepare and take them seriously, would you be mad if I told you they are just conversations?

Yes, you read that correctly, they’re just conversations.

Conversation: A talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged. (Cambridge English Dictionary)

Interviews require you to do four things:

1. Be Authentic

2. Maintain the conversation to build rapport

3. Answer Questions

4. Ask Questions

Be Authentic

Be yourself. You are more than enough. Oftentimes, people switch up during interviews in attempts to conform to what they think the interviewer wants them to be. Sometimes people will even mirror the interviewer's behavior. Be yourself and let your personality shine through in the interview. Most interviewers have high emotional intelligence and can recognize when people are being fake versus being true to themselves. Do not fall into the habit of being anyone but yourself.

Maintain the conversation to build rapport

Prior to the interview it is important to google search your interviewer. Gather as much information as you can about them so you know who you're talking to, what their role is in the company, and any additional information that will help you find common ground. Finding common ground is key to building rapport. Some things to look for when researching your interview is:

• What is their role in the company?

• Where are they based?

• What is their educational background?

• What do they post on their LinkedIn profile?

• Do they write blogs?

• Do they share content?

• What do they like to do for fun?

Gathering as much information about the interviewer will help you be as successful as possible. The more research you do the less nerves you will have on the day of the interview. Some of my best interviews I had found my interviewers personal and professional social media pages and actually got to see what they looked like, how they sounded, and what they liked to talk about. Building rapport with them was not difficult nor were the conversations in the interview.

Interviewers typically have a script they read you with prepared questions. My goal in every interview is to get the interviewer off the script. This way we go from a formal conversation to an informal conversation. Whenever I get someone of the script, I am confident I will get the job. Afterall, if you build rapport your foot will be in the door.

Answer Questions

No matter what the interviewer asks you, there is no wrong answer. Obviously, there are responses that are better than others but the reality is you can answer questions anyway you want. Definitely be cognizant of obeying the style the interviewer wants you to comply to, for example the STAR method. Just know that the interviewer is trying to test some or all of the following:

• Your communication skills

• How you respond to stress

• Can you think on the spot?

• How much you know about the company and the position your interviewing for

• How you articulate your professional skills and experiences?

Ask Questions

In my #LaurenCreativeCareerTipTuesday caption I stated “When an interviewer asks “Do you have any questions? Take advantage of that time and ask them your five prepared questions. Failing to ask the interviewer questions negatively affects their perception of you as a candidate. All it is telling them is you will sit through a whole meeting in the workplace and never ask a question! Check out the list of 15 questions I have below that are GREAT questions to bring up an interview:

1. What does the onboarding and training for this position consist of and how long are you in training before you assume your new role?

2. Are their opportunities for advancement and what does one need to do to advance?

3. How would you describe the company culture?

4. What do you like most about your job with this company?

5. Can you describe the ideal candidate for this position?

6. How long have you been here at the company?

7. Why did you come to work here?

8. Are their opportunities for professional development. If so, what do those look like?

9. What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job?

10. What do the day-day-day responsibilities of the role look like?

11. What’s the next step in the interview process?

12. What kind of process and technology do you use to work collaboratively?

13. How do you measure performance and success in this role?

14. What job shadowing opportunities are available for an applicant before they accept an offer?

15. What is the performance review process like here? How often would I undergo performance reviews?

Remember interviews are just conversations. It is okay to be nervous but definitely do not be intimidated. Always remember to be authentic, build rapport with the interviewer, answer all the questions they ask with eloquence, and ask questions! If you’re still nervous about your upcoming interview or want extra practice, book a Free 30 Minute Prospect Screening and then once you have completed that you will be able to book a Mock Interview with me. Just like anything else, practice makes perfect. The more interview practice you have the less intimidating you will be. You might even believe me when I say interviews are just conversations.

Stay Creative,

Lauren