Interviewing is a 2 way conversation, contrary to popular belief!

So, How may of us have been in an interview that felt like a doctors exam? Sterile, not really knowing what to expect, and then hoping that it ends in your favor!

I'm of a very different school of thought than most when it comes to the interviewing process. I think it should be a give/take scenario. Both the candidate and the hiring authority have a responsibility to be engaging and transparent. Think about interviewing the way you do dating. Would you want to go on a second date with someone who isn't happy, and/or doesn't seem to be all that interested in you? Are you genuinely interested in continuing the pursuit of a relationship with some who isn't showing the same amount of interest that you are, or maybe they are a nice person, but simply is not the right person? Of course, most of us would say no to the above questions, but for some reason we choose to ignore the obvious signals that possibly an employment opportunity doesn't fit where we want to be. We give up long-term options for short-term pay off. It’s kind of a form of career speed dating. Allot of activity, but not much you can take home to the family! ;-)

So, then of course the next question is " How do I avoid this when interviewing?"
Here are a few keys that will help you get the information you need to really know if you do indeed want to move forward in the process:
1) Almost every interview starts off with the employer saying in one form or another " Tell me about yourself." This is a very, very slippery slope! I cannot express enough to be careful here. Don't just start rambling on about your self.
You may say allot of valid stuff, but there is an incredibly high chance you are not going to say the key things they are looking for. Remember, the hiring authority has a problem that is most likely not in the job description. It’s your job to find out what the problem is, so you can address it specifically. (Don’t shoot blindly. Find out what your target is.)
THIS IS HOW YOU DO THIS: When they say" Tell me about yourself" Keep it short and sweet, and the flip the question.
EXAMPLE RESPONSE: I've been a SW Developer (insert career) for over 10 years, and I'm very interested in your company, but before I go any further, since this is the 1st time I'm talking with you directly, can you tell me what you specifically are looking for in the person that will fill this position? (That’s flipping the question)

2) Once you have flipped the question, STOP TALKING!!! Let them answer it. You need to hear them tell you the details that are not in the job order. Basically, you need to hear their pain, because once you have that information, now you are no longer in a generic interview. Once you have that information, you then can address the real problems they need solved, and you will also get a clear picture of what the work environment is that you are interviewing against.

3) Once you have the information you were looking for, whatever you do, don't just say," I can do that." Or " I have done that." Go into your work history and give them examples of where and how you have solved that type of problem before. Demonstrate what you can do, by describing what you have done. Give them a verbal picture of how you functioned in a similar situation. By giving an example, you are giving two answers in one response. A-1) I have done this before, and A-2) I can do this for your company.

He who has options wins!!!

I can't get over how the quickly market is shifting in favor of the candidate! In all of 2009 and going into 2010, there have been so many highly qualified people looking for work, that companies could take their sweet time deciding who they wanted to hire. Due to offshoring, lay offs and downsizing, companies knew (just by the sheer volume of applicants that they were seeing) that there were more candidates than there were jobs. They knew they could pick and choose and take as long as they wanted without running the risk of losing the talent pool in front of them.

It was when we stepped into 2nd quarter that I started to really see the pendulum swing in the other direction. I'll give you an excellent example:

A few months back I was working with two clients that had a job order for almost the identical requirements. The cross over skill set was a 9.5 out of 10. Pay scales identical, skill set the same, and both clients in the same industry. They are both known for hiring the best talent, being a very good place to work, and they both wanted a very senior person.

I had several solid candidates against both positions, but one really stood out above the rest.

Both companies showed genuine interest right away. So far, this is a really good thing.

However, the company that the candidate favored most (we'll call them Company X) had a pretty drawn out interviewing process, and simply wasn't nimble enough to be able to execute thier process quickly. One Friday, Company X called and informed us that they wanted to bring in the candidate for the final step in the process (still a good thing). However, they were having to juggle some schedules internally, and told us they would let us know some time early the next week what day would work for them. I gave my candidate a call, and gave him the good news. He was so excited. It was a solid company, excellent pay, and the location sealed his interest.

Fast forward to Monday afternoon. Company X called and informed us that it will have to be the next week before they can coordinate everyone to be in place for this interview. I then call my candidate, and let him know the time line. Just about an hour later, another interview is offered to the candidate with a 3rd company (Company Z). I firmly believe that a person with no options will make a decision based on desperation. Give that same person options, and they'll make a desicion that will have longevity to it. So I advised him to keep his options open and he goes on the intertview the following day (Tuesday).

Let's recap: 1 candidate and 3 companies want him, but he still is most interested in company X. (Keep in mind , All 3 of the companies knew the candidate had been part of a very recent layoff, and was actively looking. Also, They each knew he was in the interviewing process elsewhere and would be at the offer stage very shortly.)


So, Now we are at Wednesday and company Z calls and extends an offer to the candidate. Wednesday! Their interviewing process was 72 hours from asking him to interview, to extending him an offer. He was thrilled , but didn't want to burn a bridge with company X. So, we called company X and advised him that the candidate had a pending offer. Company X still wanted him, but had no ability to modify thier interviewing process, because it was designed to function in a candidate heavy market, not the market where people have options and you have to move quickly. In the meantime, Company Z needs an answer by Monday of the following week. When the candidate realized company X didn't have any flex in thier process, and then added into the equation that company Z knew they were at risk of losing him so the executed quickly, He decided to not wait, and he accepted the position with company Z.


Weekly, I have seen candidates become unavailable quickly due to having other employment options. I am now finding myself having to withdraw candidates from clients due to other clients simply moving swiftly in their process. Frankly, I think its a very cool thing. In an ideal market it would be great to simply have an equal balance of power. You know, one where employers execute their hiring process in an effective time line, and candidates aren't having to wait by the phone for weeks on end! But since the employment market always seems to be in favor of one side at a time, I think the wisest way to navigate through this is to do exactly what this candidate did... be honest that you have other options, be willing to look at those options professionally, and then when its time to make a decision, you can make an educated, well thought out one that isn't riddled with questions that were never asked!


Only one word of caution: Candidates, be wise in this change of momentum. Choose to be honest about your options. If you are geuinely interested in a company, let them know your time line and if you have other things on the plate. Don't over play your hand. Keep your options open, but also keep your mind open!


Good luck to all of going into quarter 3 of 2010!

Who are you following?

Today I read an email from a dear friend and mentor of mine...heres a bit of it...

" Take a look around you. Take inventory of who you are giving a voice into your life and career.
Choose to always keep people in your life who will inspire you....become a ninja at ignoring anything less. Remember, Who you are listening to, is who you are going to mirror...
If you are following someone who is at best average, that is exactly what you will become. Don't you dare ever follow average! "