Interview Practice

1. Details That Get You Hired

When you prepare to interview, don’t just set your sights on doing well. Strive to achieve exceptional results. To be exceptional means you stand out from the crowd. An exceptional candidate is the one who is offered the position!

In order to be exceptional, you need to have a plan and know the steps to answering interview questions. If you already believe in your ability to answer interview questions well, it's likely that you have participated in an interview, performed well, and gotten hired for the job. Congratulations! However, each job is different, and your skills and experiences are going to need to evolve. You must embrace the fact that you need to prepare and practice.

If you don't have faith in your ability to answer interview questions, fear not. Progress can be made. Everyone has the ability to improve on the interview skills that they currently have. We all perform better when we have studied and prepared.

think about it

• Your performance on an exam is determined by how much you have studied the class material.
• When playing a sport, you need to know and understand the play call in order to execute properly. This requires lots of practice.
• When making a sale to a customer, you must know the details of the product or service you're selling.

step by step

To interview exceptionally, you will need to:

1. Plan and prepare your responses
2. Learn how to improve your answers
3. Practice to enhance your interview performance

Each person has their own unique style when it comes to answering interview questions. Your goal should not be to adopt a style or technique that works for someone else. You want to be as prepared as possible for any interview opportunities. Have the self-awareness to understand what you do well as an employee. Identify the skills you have and highlight them with confidence. It’s easier to speak with confidence when you believe in something. Have faith in your own ability to do the job well, then communicate effectively to employers and make believers out of them.

1a. Planning Your Response

Before we get into the process of planning your response to an interview question, it is important to talk about time. When you’re on the so-called “hot seat,” and experiencing the sense of urgency that takes place during an interview, remember to slow down and remain poised. People often get nervous and anxious during an interview. In the excitement, everything feels like it is happening faster. Or waiting in the lobby for five minutes may feel like an hour when you are nervous and your heart is beating fast. When you are nervous you may talk too much, too fast, or not enough.

STOP FOR A MOMENT… THINK… AND RESPOND.

Your mind works better when you are calm, and the time that you take to gather your thoughts and respond to questions is not as long as you think it is. Especially when your answers have a positive impact on the employer.

Employers ask questions for different reasons, and it’s very valuable for you to know what the employer is trying to understand about you when certain questions are asked. Take the time to evaluate each question that you’re asked, and search for the hidden meaning.

Consider the following interpretations as a way to know what to look for while evaluating questions. If you are able to understand the core meaning of an interview question, you will be more laser-focused on how to respond with a complete answer.

What they say…	What they could mean…
What do you know about our company?	Are you interested enough to learn about our business, and have you done your research?
Where do you see yourself in five years?	Do you find the work you do meaningful, or could you be someone that is a risk to leave the company shortly after they are hired?
What is your greatest weakness?	Can you handle feedback? Do you have self-awareness? Are you currently addressing the areas where you need to improve?

Let’s go more in-depth and review a full interview response.

EXAMPLE

What they say…	What they could mean…
Describe a time when you had to deal with a conflict between you and one of your co-workers.	The employer wants to understand if you’re a team player, and how you handle interpersonal relationships.

To answer this question well, you will want to give your best solution to the challenge or situation. You also want to share your philosophy on the issue or topic. Remember that people tend to recall the first thing and last thing that they hear. The facts in the middle are more difficult to retain. Starting off with a strong response is good, and the way you close out your answer will leave a lasting impression.

Here’s a sample response to the above question:

During my employment with WRF industries, I was asked to lead the staff meeting because our director had to unexpectedly attend to other business. During the meeting, one of my co-workers (Ron) became a distraction for the group. As I was presenting the meeting agenda and topics, he was mumbling words under his breath. Rather than directly address Ron’s behavior in the meeting, I waited until afterward, and asked to speak with him alone in the conference room.

When we spoke 1:1, I made sure to speak in a calm voice. Instead of attacking his actions, I asked Ron how he was doing, and what I could do to improve my presentation style when addressing the team. I remembered that Ron was my co-worker, and believed that I would have more success treating him as my equal than trying to critique his behavior. Ron expressed that he was under a lot of stress at home. He was feeling a lot of pressure to make more money and advance in his career. When he walked into the staff meeting and saw that I was leading the meeting, he became jealous. I told Ron that I was just filling in today, that his work contributions were very valuable, and that I had always admired his ability to interact and bond with clients. Ron actually apologized for his comments during the staff meeting without me bringing up the topic. Befriending Ron in this way was the right move. We developed a better relationship after that meeting, and it improved our collaboration on future projects.

1b. Answering Interview Questions Effectively

Responding to an interview question would not be difficult if a one-word answer was the right response.

Employer: Do you believe that you would be a good fit for this role?
Interviewee: Yes!
Employer: Great, you're hired!

If only it were that simple. Your goal is not to just respond. Your goal is to impress and amaze the employer. Set a stretch goal. Your interview performance should be so amazing that the employer won’t let you leave the building until you accept their offer. Think about what type of responses you would have to give in order to receive that type of reaction.

Take a moment to think about how a person could astound and amaze during an interview.

• What would they need to say?
• How would they need to act?
• What would the employer need to hear from the candidate?
  

Think about what makes a good response, and what makes a great response. The interview should feel like a two-way conversation. You are trying to share unique pieces of information that highlight your special abilities to do the job well. You are also hoping to learn from the employer the value that this role will bring to your career. Great answers include:

• Expressing the knowledge you have of the employer's need(s)
• Addressing the specific business need(s)
• Showcasing your experience and the skills that will allow you to address the challenges of your potential new role

The table below demonstrates additional key drivers that push your answers from good to great.

Tip	Example
Ask the employer if they agree with your response. When you ask for feedback it can make the interview process more conversational.	"Is that typically how you handle situations here at XYZ company?"
Reiterate what you know about the role in your answer.	"From talking to your team, and from everything that I have read about the company..."
Show enthusiasm, charm, and interest	"That's really exciting to me! I've been hoping to get a chance to do...."
Share information that shows your self-awareness and empathy	"I realized that I work more effectively when I create a to-do list." "I wanted to speak with her/him directly so that I could understand their perspective."
Give insights that share the results of your work	"The company noticed a dramatic improvement..." "I believe that I could learn on the job quickly and make an impact."

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2. Mock Interviews

Throughout this challenge we have discussed the importance of preparation, and how insights and details can enhance your interview performance. We can now take what we have learned and put it into practice. Mock interviews can be extremely helpful when preparing for an interview. A mock interview is when you simulate the interview process, by having someone ask you interview questions. You then receive feedback on your responses, and how well you presented. When set up correctly, a mock interview can offer you important takeaways and feedback to improve.

2a. How to Practice Interviewing

Being focused and locked in is how to really benefit from your mock interviews. Take it seriously, and respond as though the employer of interest is asking intense questions.

• Select questions that are relevant to the job industry or employer job description. It’s quite possible to pose questions in your mock interview that will be asked in the actual interview. Do your research and consider what type of information the employer is looking for. You should be able to hit on a few questions, or at least have a general idea of the type of questions that are coming.
• Be aware of your non-verbal communications. When practicing during mock interviews, take note of your movements, eye contact, and gestures while speaking. Sit or stand at attention, and ask your mock interviewer to monitor what you do, in addition to what you say.
• Make your answers concise. If you talk too much you will detract from the effectiveness of your response. Share your answers within a time frame of one to three minutes, depending on the question that you’re asked.
• Eliminate filler words. Actors, politicians, and news anchors all speak clearly and directly, because they take out the words that aren’t meaningful. These professionals also regularly practice their public speaking skills. You should follow suit. Take inventory of the number of times you say these filler words (um, like, uh) and cut back on the use of these words.

The more you practice, the more you will improve. Most importantly, you will become more confident. More confidence equals less stress and nerves. Mock interviews help you enhance your self-presentation. When you practice, your mind revisits information, and the synapses in your brain can access the information faster during interviews.

2b. Mock Interview Resources

Work with someone that can lead the interview conversation the same way an employer would. Choose from family members, professors, or career counselors. Perhaps you know someone that works in human resources, or an individual that has experience conducting interviews? The feedback and insights that you receive after a mock interview should come from someone that you trust.

Use this rubric as a way to gain feedback from your interviewer.

Person-to-person mock interviews are not the only resource. You can use technology to participate in mock interviews, and practice as much as you need. Platforms like Handshake, Interview Stream, and Big Interview offer mock interview services that allow you to select relevant questions and record your interview sessions. The platforms mentioned do come at a cost, but you can often find access through a school or public library. There are also free options on YouTube. By searching under the term “mock interview practice,” you can find videos that set up an interview scene and moderate questions for the mock interview.