Candid Thoughts on Interviewing, Hiring and Improving Your WorkLife

March Madness

Pretty much my favorite time of year.  Hoops Galore!  ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and on and on.  Invariably as you are watching the highlights of your favorite team, you always get the post-game interview where a common quote is uttered by a student(allegedly) athlete as they make their point and say, "Ya know what I'm sayin'."  I mean, you know what I'm sayin', right?  I'm just sayin', ya know.

Sure I know what you are sayin'.  I think you are sayin' you are looking forward to your NBA career where you will get paid for playin'.  I feel ya, Bro.  As I contemplate this, I flashback to my early days in recruiting when a former mentor of mine would say - You are responsible for their interpretation.  Regardless of the encounter, we are responsible for the interpretation of what we say or - are sayin'.

This is so true in any encounter dealing with your spouse, significant other, kids, boss, co-worker who ever it it is - but let's just focus on the interview in this blog.

Think about the interview - it really is one of the strangest encounters in life.  I mean, ya know what I'm sayin'.?  Let's get together, decline the beverage they ask if you want and always wish you would have accepted, have a brief meaningful conversation, look each other up and down, tell me about yourself, answer some behavioral based questions (you hate those - "tell me about a time when..."), in 3 to 5 minutes decide if we like one another, spend another 27 - 57 minutes more with one another, ask a few more questions, take a tour of the office environment to see if the others look normal and like your kind of people, take a card, ask a question or 3, grab a handshake and leave.   Seriously, how we do this?

Anyway, back to communication.  Maybe it is not quite like depicted in the previous paragraph but ...sure it is.  OK.  So during this meaningful conversation - as the interviewee you have to make sure the interviewer understands your position.  Did they really understand what you just said about why you want to leave your company?  Did they?  Watch them - are they on the same page?  You have to check-in with the interviewer - what I am proposing is that you say "Ya know what I'm sayin'" without saying, "Ya Know what I'm sayin'."

I want you to check-in and confirm they got it.  You know if they got it, right?  You know - they smile, they nod a little, they have that mini-sigh thing going on that indicates their time is not being wasted - as if to say finally a viable candidate has arrived in their presence, better yet they are simply engaged in active listening and are following along.  It's that moment when an interview seems more like a conversation between professionals than a first date gone awry.  In March Madness terms per CBS, we are talking about the One Shining Moment of the interview.

Check in, confirm they got your point - Ya know what i'm sayin?!  For more on Ya Know What I'm Sayin - please go to the Urban Dictionary.

The Interview With The Boss And The Boss's Boss

This one has been wandering in my thoughts for quite some time.  I am guessing this is going to be low on the entertainment meter and high on the enlightening one.  I think a troublesome interview can include a meeting with the boss and the boss's boss. 

Let's establish what we mean here.  You are going in to an interview and you are scheduled to interview with your prospective new boss and that individual's boss as well.  Yes, you may interview with others but I just want to isolate on these two people.

This can be a tricky one and I am going to attribute this primarily to the more than likely insecurity of the boss.  This does not matter what level you find yourself in the organizational chart of life - people are insecure - some you see over time, some you don't get close enough to see but it is there -most of the time.

This has a simple solution.  If you interview with the Boss first, no problem - you are golden.  Make sure you tell the BB in this case - how well the interview went with the B - prop up the B.  If, however, you interview with the Boss's Boss first and then with the Boss - here is the common mistake we make.  Let's say you, in your mind, knock it out of the park with the BB - DO NOT MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS WHEN TALKING WITH THE BOSS.  We just do not know how the B will interpret - is that cool with him/her or are you now a threat to the B?  Does your new found chemistry with the BB threaten the B because he does not have that level of rapport with his own boss - and he has been working for him for 2 years.

My thought is - Hopefully you are never perceived as a negative threat to your new boss but more as one who strives to get your boss promoted- this never hurt anyone - but don't put yourself in the position of not getting an offer because you are perceived as a THREAT now.

OK - I know it is a departure from my typical rant, colorful, overzealous pontification but I hope this helps you manage the interview process just a little bit better and helps you THINK prior to your next interview that includes the Boss and the Boss's Boss.

"You Summed Up In 30 Seconds What Took Me..."

So I was doing some recruiting yesterday - you know, my job.  I am interviewing this guy, great guy - very personable, forthright - telling it like it is.  Exactly what I am looking for - someone that just opens up and allows me to understand their point of view.  (Note to the elusive moving target candidate: If you are not like this guy - you pretty much suck - if employers have to guess and if recruiters are left to guess - than I guess you won't be getting that job.)  Back to this call though.

Although I enjoyed the conversation with this gentleman, Man was he a fan of words.  The more the merrier and while he was engaging - my ears were somewhat exhausted.  But that is alright, that is what I do - listen.

When I am in an interview, or any conversation for that matter, I frequently confirm with the person that I am on the same page.  You know - kind of summarize what they just said - it is a good skill so they know you are listening and if you are off track it helps you get back on.  Good communication type stuff.  You should try it.  Use it.

So we are talking about why he wants to make a change and what he is looking for and I go to summarizing.  He says to me, "You know, Andy - I think you did in 30 seconds what took me 30 minutes to tell you."  And I thought, "I know - why couldn't you be me?"  Not really but..ok..maybe I did.

My point, Mr. Candidate - is you need to be the one to do that.  You are the one that is on the hot seat - the one interviewing.  Brevity is your friend. 

Can you answer the "Tell me about yourself question" without the interviewer yawning or rolling their eyes?  Can you describe what you do and what you have done succinctly?  Can you articulate your skills quickly?  Are you capable of getting to the point?  Can you strip away all the meaningless details and share the heart of the matter with clarity?

If you can't, you better learn.  If you can't, you better prepare.  If you answer the tell me about yourself question by starting - "When I was a child, no let's back up - at the point of conception I proceeded to spend 40 weeks or so in my mother's womb..." this is not good.  I think the saying is - being aware is more important than being smart.  I am sure someone who was strong on awareness said that but an interview is a time to be aware.  We can help you do this.  Let's identify the tough questions and brainstorm on the answers together.

What you say matters.  Your words matter.   You need to be aware of your words, how you say them, and how long it takes you to say them.  Do you know when you are talking too much?  Do you have that internal voice that says, "Shut up, (insert your name)"?  Your spouse or significant other can assist you in acquiring this.  Getting to the point gets you the job.

Let Me Give You a Hand With That

I really struggled with even typing this up for fear of sounding incredibly hokey, way too basic, or condescending.  I guess since this is a fairly new blog though - the basics are a good place to start.

I write this not because I think it but because my employers talk about it way too often.  The receptionist in my office was even having this debate with her replacement last week.   We all encounter this frequently and make judgments from it as well.

I guess one of the things I have always liked about my job is I get all the feedback.  I hear both sides and am able to see the fit or a non-fit begin to take shape.  I take this feedback seriously so I can help you interview better the next time.  Again, what I am about to share is the basic stuff but it is of vital importance.  Any idea what this might be? 

Your appearance?  Kind of - but more important.  Bringing a few extra copies of your resume with you to an interview?  Good idea - this is still more important though.

It is your handshake.  I am telling you I have heard way too often about poor handshakes.  I am not kidding.  Again, I feel uncomfortable almost even talking about it.  You should know this already, right?  Somewhere between sitting up straight and chewing with your mouth closed - didn't someone mix in a "you need a good firm handshake"?

I really don't need to go any further but - I must  I mentioned that the receptionist in my office building and her replacement were discussing what makes a good handshake.  As I happened by, I joined the conversation and truly appreciated that 2 twenty somethings were engaging in this conversation.  So often I seem to think that the twenty somethings of today think it is ok to put their my space page link on their resume - complete with all those close up photos of their tats (tattoos), while Buckcherry's song "Crazy B@!ch" provides accompaniment to your perusal of their private life.  Sorry back to task.

Let's just say - at my 39 year old vantage point I was glad to see and hear these two ladies get it.  So how should you shake a hand of your potential boss and future co-workers?  Let's analyze the components of a chemistry building, job getting, ideal interview handshake.

Firm but not too firm.  The pit between the thumb and the index finger need to meet and your fingertips need to slightly wrap the underside of their hand all while looking them in the eye.  Please practice now. 

Finally, no one is ever going to comment on what a tremendous handshake you possess but my will they comment on a bad one.  They do and will - please don't let me hear that about you.  Now, sit up straight ...or you will not get this job!