Week 8: Charming Your Audience
How to Prepare to Charm Your Audience
Video Time: 17 Minutes Action Time: 3 – 5 Days
1When confirming your interview time, date, and timezone, you’ll want to ask these few questions. This way you are better-prepared going-in because you’ll have more information about the hiring process.
“How many candidates are you considering for this position?”
This way you’ll know who your competition is and how many people you’re up against. Knowing your competition, you’ll be able to use this information as leverage. You’ll bring something fresh and new to the interview that your competition doesn’t possess. So, find a quality that makes you unique aside from having the basic skill sets required for the job. It’s all about being that diamond in the ruff!
“What is the last day you will be interviewing for this position?”
You want your interview to be as close to the last day as possible. If there are other candidates, you want YOUR interview to be the freshest in the interviewer’s mind. An interviewer is more likely to remember their last interview rather than the first, especially if there’s a multitude of candidates.
“Ideally, when do you want the position filled?”
This question helps you to figure out the best possible time to interview. Being closer to the end of the time that they are interviewing is typically better because they will be more likely to remember you. So schedule that interview last and knock their socks off with your charisma, grit, and preparation.
2
Research commonly asked interview questions.
You don’t want to go into an interview sounding too rehearsed, but you don’t want to freeze up like a deer in headlights either. So doing some research will help. That way you will have an idea on how to answer these commonly asked questions before the interview. Just don’t memorize your responses. Practice making the answers sounds as natural as possible. Remember you’re not a robot! Here’s a link to help you get started crafting your list of questions.
3
Determine what you can do for a company.
The interviewer must feel like you will bring value to the company. Nobody wants to carry around dead weight! So ask yourself, what makes YOU special for a position? We all have unique skills and attributes, so embrace yours! Create situations you might encounter while on the job and come up with solutions. That way, at the interview, you can detail ways to help the company solve problems! Wow! You’re useful!
4
You can use GlassDoor or other research that you’ve done to prepare questions yourself.
During an interview, it is important to remember to ask questions yourself. This way you create a dialogue with the interviewer. That way the interview will feel less like an interrogation and more like a conversation. Just don’t rely solely on those questions as they’re merely a backup. You have them in case you forget any important ones.
Here is a list of questions to ask during an interview to get you started.
1When confirming your interview time, date, and timezone, you’ll want to ask these few questions. This way you are better-prepared going-in because you’ll have more information about the hiring process.
“How many candidates are you considering for this position?”
This way you’ll know who your competition is and how many people you’re up against. Knowing your competition, you’ll be able to use this information as leverage. You’ll bring something fresh and new to the interview that your competition doesn’t possess. So, find a quality that makes you unique aside from having the basic skill sets required for the job. It’s all about being that diamond in the ruff!
“What is the last day you will be interviewing for this position?”
You want your interview to be as close to the last day as possible. If there are other candidates, you want YOUR interview to be the freshest in the interviewer’s mind. An interviewer is more likely to remember their last interview rather than the first, especially if there’s a multitude of candidates.
“Ideally, when do you want the position filled?”
This question helps you to figure out the best possible time to interview. Being closer to the end of the time that they are interviewing is typically better because they will be more likely to remember you. So schedule that interview last and knock their socks off with your charisma, grit, and preparation.
2
Research commonly asked interview questions.
You don’t want to go into an interview sounding too rehearsed, but you don’t want to freeze up like a deer in headlights either. So doing some research will help. That way you will have an idea on how to answer these commonly asked questions before the interview. Just don’t memorize your responses. Practice making the answers sounds as natural as possible. Remember you’re not a robot! Here’s a link to help you get started crafting your list of questions.
3
Determine what you can do for a company.
The interviewer must feel like you will bring value to the company. Nobody wants to carry around dead weight! So ask yourself, what makes YOU special for a position? We all have unique skills and attributes, so embrace yours! Create situations you might encounter while on the job and come up with solutions. That way, at the interview, you can detail ways to help the company solve problems! Wow! You’re useful!
4
You can use GlassDoor or other research that you’ve done to prepare questions yourself.
During an interview, it is important to remember to ask questions yourself. This way you create a dialogue with the interviewer. That way the interview will feel less like an interrogation and more like a conversation. Just don’t rely solely on those questions as they’re merely a backup. You have them in case you forget any important ones.
Here is a list of questions to ask during an interview to get you started.
5
Next, practice, practice, practice!
Do a mock interview! Practice in front of a mirror as if your reflection is the interviewer. This may sound silly at first, but trust us, it will help. Get family, friends, bridge trolls, etc. to do mock interviews with. This will help you ease into the interview process because you know these people and are comfortable with them. And hopefully, they will provide honest feedback because they want you to succeed. So get to practicing! Future you will appreciate the help, and Mr. Troll will appreciate someone to solve his riddles. Remember, practice makes perfect!
5
Next, practice, practice, practice!
Do a mock interview! Practice in front of a mirror as if your reflection is the interviewer. This may sound silly at first, but trust us, it will help. Get family, friends, bridge trolls, etc. to do mock interviews with. This will help you ease into the interview process because you know these people and are comfortable with them. And hopefully, they will provide honest feedback because they want you to succeed. So get to practicing! Future you will appreciate the help, and Mr. Troll will appreciate someone to solve his riddles. Remember, practice makes perfect!
How to Charm Your Audience: Live Time!
1
Make sure you dress professionally and arrive early.
If possible, practice going to the job location the day before so you can time your arrival. This is especially important if you take public transportation. Missing a bus has ruined many perfectly timed arrivals. First impressions are important, so don’t start on the wrong foot by showing up late. Remember the early bird gets the worm!
4
Don’t be afraid to make small talk.
This will help create a more relaxed environment and help to take you out of the hot seat. For example, if the interviewer mentions having a dog, it’s okay to ask them about it. For added points, mention that you’re a dog person if you are, and if you aren’t, give them constructive criticism on the value of cats. Having a dialogue is the best way to build a connection with the interviewer and get the ball rolling. Remember you are talking to a person and not a computer screen!
2
Be Yourself!
Don’t be afraid to smile and make yourself approachable. Interviewing can be intimidating, but don’t let that dim your personality. Make sure you are engaging with the interviewer, so you can form a connection. This will help you stand out among the stack of applications. Remember you’re more than your resume, so let that AWESOME personality of yours shine through!
3
Make answers as simple and straight-to-the-point as possible.
This way, you and the interviewer don’t get lost. If you’re someone who rambles, don’t! Just get the question answered and move on. Two or three sentences are enough to answer a question.
5
Create a Dialogue.
In interviews, the interviewer may feel they are better than you and have the power. So balance the scales and take back your power! To do this create a dialogue, so the interviewer isn’t the only one asking the questions. Remember, you are trying to learn more about the company as well. By creating a dialogue you slowly tear down the interviewer’s belief and build a rapport.
Instead of the interviewer feeling superior, you want them to think of you as their intellectual, their equal, their new colleague, or even as a new friend.
1
Make sure you dress professionally and arrive early.
If possible, practice going to the job location the day before so you can time your arrival. This is especially important if you take public transportation. Missing a bus has ruined many perfectly timed arrivals. First impressions are important, so don’t start on the wrong foot by showing up late. Remember the early bird gets the worm!
2
Be Yourself!
Don’t be afraid to smile and make yourself approachable. Interviewing can be intimidating, but don’t let that dim your personality. Make sure you are engaging with the interviewer, so you can form a connection. This will help you stand out among the stack of applications. Remember you’re more than your resume, so let that AWESOME personality of yours shine through!
3
Make answers as simple and straight-to-the-point as possible.
This way, you and the interviewer don’t get lost. If you’re someone who rambles, don’t! Just get the question answered and move on. Two or three sentences are enough to answer a question.
4
Don’t be afraid to make small talk.
This will help create a more relaxed environment and help to take you out of the hot seat. For example, if the interviewer mentions having a dog, it’s okay to ask them about it. For added points, mention that you’re a dog person if you are, and if you aren’t, give them constructive criticism on the value of cats. Having a dialogue is the best way to build a connection with the interviewer and get the ball rolling. Remember you are talking to a person and not a computer screen!
5
Create a Dialogue.
In interviews, the interviewer may feel they are better than you and have the power. So balance the scales and take back your power! To do this create a dialogue, so the interviewer isn’t the only one asking the questions. Remember, you are trying to learn more about the company as well. By creating a dialogue you slowly tear down the interviewer’s belief and build a rapport.
Instead of the interviewer feeling superior, you want them to think of you as their intellectual, their equal, their new colleague, or even as a new friend.
Here’s a Conversation that Utilizes Throwback Questions
INTERVIEWER: I see that you were a spelling bee champion in the eighth grade.
YOU: Y-e-s, it was the highlight of my young life.
INTERVIEWER: Ah. (feeling superior) Peaked early?
YOU: Like the first draft of Mt. Everest! (throw-back question!) Did you ever spell?
INTERVIEWER: N-o. My father made me play polo instead…
YOU: I always wanted to play polo!
INTERVIEWER: It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Mr. Ralph Lauren.
Here’s a Conversation that Utilizes Throwback Questions
INTERVIEWER: I see that you were a spelling bee champion in the eighth grade.
YOU: Y-e-s, it was the highlight of my young life.
INTERVIEWER: Ah. (feeling superior) Peaked early?
YOU: Like the first draft of Mt. Everest! (throw-back question!) Did you ever spell?
INTERVIEWER: N-o. My father made me play polo instead…
YOU: I always wanted to play polo!
INTERVIEWER: It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Mr. Ralph Lauren.
6
Have throw-back questions!
This is when there is a back-and-forth of asking questions and giving answers. It’s how you develop a natural conversation and build the kind of relationship you want to have with others.
Here’s a Conversation that Utilizes Throwback Questions
INTERVIEWER: I see that you were a spelling bee champion in the eighth grade.
YOU: Y-e-s, it was the highlight of my young life.
INTERVIEWER: Ah. (feeling superior) Peaked early?
YOU: Like the first draft of Mt. Everest! (throw-back question!) Did you ever spell?
INTERVIEWER: N-o. My father made me play polo instead…
YOU: I always wanted to play polo!
INTERVIEWER: It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Mr. Ralph Lauren.
And on and on and on and on…
You want the interviewer to think you’re fun and easy-going. It is important to have the skills needed to do the job, but you want the interviewer to look forward to working with you as well. This level of thinking helps them see you as a colleague and not someone who’s beneath them in the power structure.
NOTE: At any point, the topic of money may rear its angry capitalist head. Don’t be afraid of its devilish smile. Remember that you’re there to get a job and that you deserve a salary worthy of your time. NEVER throw out the first offer. By allowing them to give you a starting block, you see how much value they place on your skills and can negotiate from there. And please try to negotiate! We miss 100% of the shots we don’t take after all! We’ll take more about that dreaded negotiation word in episode 10.
Finish that Shiitake!
In the next episode, we’ll tell you “How to End an Interview Like A Rockstar”. See you there!