On Interviewing – Some Thoughts

Posted by Steve

May 22, 2009

Monday's meeting of the Fight Club brought up the subject of interviewing. This is a subject that plays out on so many levels - intellectual, psychological, emotional, and even socioeconomic.

For example, a friend of mine told me recently that she doesn't like to "brag" about herself during an interview. She felt that talking about her skills and accomplishments was a bad thing.

Sounds silly, doesn't it? But, how many of us have done this? I plead guilty. Not so any more, but in the past I've been reluctant to "brag" about myself. Think about why you might do this.

By the way, do you think my friend got the job?

We play all kinds of mind games with ourselves before, during, and after the interview. What questions will they ask me. Gosh, did I blow the answer to that one! How did I do? Will they call me? Why aren't they calling me? You can drive yourself crazy thinking like that.

Make no mistake, the interview is where you either get the job or you don't. It can be grueling, intimidating, humiliating, nerve-wracking, and even sometimes enjoyable. And the great thing is, you'll never know what kind of experience you're in for until you get there.

To interview successfully, you've got to have the right mindset and be prepared. The best way to prepare is to know yourself - really know yourself.

The subject of interviews is so vast that thousands of books have been written about it (and possibly thousands of blogs, too, including this one!). An entire industry of coaches, counselors, and lecturers earn a respectable living helping people through this often frightening and confusing jungle. Because of this wealth of information, I'll be discussing various aspects of the interview process in future posts. These will draw upon my own experience (personal and professional) and the experiences of others.

Oh, and if you haven't guessed it yet, my friend did not get the job.

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