I hired people for 15 years, and here are four tactics that will get you hired
For more than a decade, I hired and fired people in the information technology industry. And, the very best job candidates did four things right, every single time. These people knew what they were doing.
I’ve led countless interviews and made more hiring decisions than I could possibly count. And when you interview that many candidates, patterns begin to emerge. Often, I would know within the first five minutes whether a job offer was coming. It doesn’t take most hiring managers long.
What separates the good job candidates from the great job candidates are often the little things. The things that career coaches and guidance counselors don’t talk about. The things that often get forgotten.
The best candidates did a few things very well.
Four things great job candidates do during the interview
1: Ask a question at the end of the interview
At the end of the interview, my last question would typically be “Do you have any questions for us?” Your job is to have a question prepared. “Nope” or “I think you already answered all my questions” is not the answer.
Ask insightful questions, like:
- Are there opportunities for career advancement in this position?
- Can you tell me a little about the team that I would be working with?
- What are some of the significant projects that I would be working on?
- What do you expect to be accomplished in the next 30 days? 60 days?
- What is the culture like at this organization?
- What does a typical day look like for this position?
2: Talk job requirements
Very few job candidates actively do this because it takes practice to get it right. Get good at using the specific keywords and job qualifications for the job that you are applying for. Focus on those. Hit on them as much as you can.
In other words, know the specific demands of the job and speak to those.
If the job requires experience with specific technologies, processes or business procedures, confidently talk about your experience with those things.
For instance:
- Microsoft Office
- Agile Dev Process
- Cisco Telephones
- Certifications
- Accreditations
Use the words. The hiring manager will pick up on this.
When the interview asks you to describe your work experience, focus on the skills that your potential new employer is looking for. As I said, not many do this, which means those who do instantly have a leg up in the interview.
3: Admit to real weaknesses
One question I would always ask was about the candidate’s weaknesses, and their answers told me everything I needed to know.
“What are some of your weaknesses?”
I’ve had candidates answer with, “Actually, I think I’m equally strong in all areas”, and “Sometimes, I care too much/try too hard”.
Sorry, those are the wrong answers and you know it. In fact, so does the hiring manager who’s listening to your answer. If you’re asked this question, answer insightfully. Be truthful. I can guarantee you that giving a real answer to this question won’t disqualify you from getting the job.
In fact, it might even secure your new position right then and there.
A real answer: “I multi-task too much and tend to lose focus on what I’m doing. It’s something I’m actively trying to fix and I’ve gotten much better over the past six months. One technique that’s helped me is…”
See? That’s a much better answer.
4: Write a thank you note
Thank you notes are gold mines. During my 15-year career as a hiring manager, I’d get thank you notes from maybe 5% of the people I interviewed.
And you know what?
I probably hired 98% of those people who took the time to send me a note. It showed me that they care enough about the opportunity to go the extra mile. And frankly, thank you notes are easy. Email is fine. If you have a mailing address, consider a hand-written thank you note for extra points.
Believe me, a simple thank you note that takes no more than 10 minutes to write makes a big difference. Start writing thank you notes.
In conclusion, it’s really not all that tough to set yourself apart from the crowd when it comes to interviews. Sure, we all know about the basics:
- Don’t be late
- Dress professionally
- Don’t bathe in cologne/perfume
But, too few job candidates go above and beyond these basic interviewing strategies, and it shows. You are now armed with exactly what it takes to nail your next interview. So, go out and do it.
