How often we give our power away when we are preparing for an interview (or to make a presentation, or…, or… or…). It seems the world is setting out to remind me of this right now. I have been assessing a number of people for senior leadership roles recently. It’s a topic that has cropped up recently with a coaching client (as it does from time to time). And I have been following a discussion thread on the HRUK group on LinkedIn with the heading: What’s the one piece of key advice you would give to a candidate preparing for an interview?
I make an initial response as follows:
This is a question I find myself exploring with coaching clients – i.e. in a situation in which I am the advocate of the person being interviewed.
What I often find is that the interviewee holds the mindset “I need to prove I’m capable of doing this job” rather than I mindset of “I’d like to establish whether or not this is the right employer and the right job for me – whether we are well matched”. The energy that goes with the first mindset is quite different than the energy that goes with the second.
What I often find is that the interviewee holds the mindset “I need to prove I’m capable of doing this job” rather than I mindset of “I’d like to establish whether or not this is the right employer and the right job for me – whether we are well matched”. The energy that goes with the first mindset is quite different than the energy that goes with the second.
So, for the interviewee, my first piece of advice would be to explore and choose a mindset that serves them in fulfilling their intentions.
I particularly notice the response of another correspondent with which I tend to disagree:
However, taking Dorothy’s point a stage further, it all starts wih having the right positive mindset to win the interview.
Around 90% of my clients have previously failed at interviews because of self doubts, excessive nerves and negative thoughts. The focus then becomes on ‘I hope I don’t freeze’ etc rather than I will make sure I impress!
Around 90% of my clients have previously failed at interviews because of self doubts, excessive nerves and negative thoughts. The focus then becomes on ‘I hope I don’t freeze’ etc rather than I will make sure I impress!
My concern is this: setting out to “impress” can set up the idea that somehow all the power is in the hands of the interviewer. When we hold this point of view, we are liable to think we have to do something more than be ourselves, to wonder exactly what the key is to being successful, to feel increasing levels of anxiety (because, after all we don’t know). In other words, self doubts, excessive nerves and negative thoughts are the natural corollary of thinking we have to impress.
On the other hand, when we view an interview as a mutual exploration (are we well matched?) our attention is not only about any decisions a potential employer might make (which are out of our hands). It is also with our own needs, helping us to think about what information we need in order to know to what extent the job we are discussing might meet our needs. This is a more balanced perspective and tends to leave us feeling more powerful. And yes, it helps to hold the belief that the right opportunity is out there – and this may or may not be it.
There is a paradox at work here – as there so often is. Some interviewees with skills in influencing will set out to impress – and be empowered by this. These are people who have the ability to put themselves in the shoes of a potential employer and to understand precisely what they need to do to influence or have an impact on their interviewer(s). If you know you have these skills – then yes, set out to impress. Either way, the aim is to choose an approach which empowers.