Say This and That, But Never That

I’ll never forget that conversation. I needed a bilingual social media community manager to join my team. The job posting clearly indicated that language proficiency was a must. The recruiter emphasized this on the phone screen too. But then Amanda* came in.

She was smart, articulate, poised. She knew social media. She’d managed a community or two in the past. Check, check, check. And then I started talking in Spanish. Crickets. Deer in the headlights. Total silence. She froze. Had no clue how to engage or respond. None. Zero. Nada. Turns out she took two years of high school Spanish, which she thought was enough to make her competent and proficient for a bilingual role. Geesh! I’m all about “fake it till you make it,” but this was a total crash and burn. I put her on our “do not interview for any role” list. Next!

I’m amazed at how poorly most people prepare for job interviews. Or how over-inflated they are about their own experience. The face-to-face meeting is probably the most crucial moment to convince an employer to bring you on board. It’s not just about reviewing your resume. The interview is all about chemistry, ability to process and respond real-time, a time to flesh out accomplishments and experiences.

Here are five tips to keep in mind when preparing for your next interview.

#1 — Confidence is good. Cockiness is bad. As a hiring manager, I want someone that knows their stuff… or is capable of learning their stuff quickly. I want a team member that operate on their own, that won’t drop the ball, that knows how to ask for help. Help me feel good about your ability to become a strong contributor. Tell me about experiences that demonstrate this mindset and we’ll become quick friends.

#2 — Being a boss is good. Being THE boss is bad. Nothing turns me off quicker than a prospect who thinks they know it all. You’ve met them, the ones who are quick with an answer, rarely really listen but always want to be in control of the situation. The one who has seemingly done it all exceptionally well. Uh… then why are you unemployed? Show me some vulnerability. Show me your appetite for learning. Demonstrate your willingness to collaborate.

#3 — Questions are good. Blank stares are bad. If you haven’t spent any time learning about the company you are interviewing at, then don’t bother coming in for the interview. Seriously. Even better, show me you’ve spent time learning about the industry, the competitors, the audience. Your goal is to come in with enough knowledge that you can ask intelligent questions and demonstrate your capacity to learn quickly. And in case you’re wondering, I am always suspect of the person that doesn’t have at least one or two questions.

#4 — Stories about past employment are good. Badmouthing past employers is bad. I’m not looking to add bad apples to the team. If you are ranting and raving about your previous employers, why should I be confident that you won’t be ranting and raving about us? Bottom line is, a job interview is not the place to slam others. Highlight the things you learned, leave the rest at the door. (Once you get hired, I’ll take you out for a drink and get the scoop. That’s the right time for that conversation.)

#5 — Speaking in complete sentences is good. Using big words to impress people is bad. I know when you are just throwing a bunch of words together. So don’t waste your time. Answer the question presented, be clear, precise and to the point. Add a relevant anecdote, but don’t just drone on. Blabbing away just demonstrates that you don’t really know what you are talking about. If you are nervous, take a deep breath before answer. Or pause for a moment to reflect. But assume that I think use the English language (or Spanish, if I’m interviewing for that other role.)

*Names have been changed to protect those that should definitely know better by now.