Interview Coaching

What are interviewers looking for?

No matter how polished you are, that next interview can be daunting and create self-doubt. What do interviewers tend to look for? What are the exact words to say? What's the biggest mistake most interviewees make? Even those conducting the interview might be daunted by not knowing what signals to look for in candidates.

I was heavily involved in recruiting, including leading many on-campus recruiting teams for over a decade. After an eight-hour day of back-to-back interviews, I'd often pull the recruiting team together right afterward to discuss what we saw in the candidates and who stood out for what reason (for the right and wrong reasons).

I noticed that the same set of eight things always seemed to come up in discussion, the signals most often sent by the interviewees--whether they realized it or not. I share these eight signals now to help you know what to look for if you're an interviewer, and if you're the interviewee, to increase your self-awareness of the signals you're sending that are getting noticed.

1. How authentic you are

It's trite advice but couldn't be truer: Be yourself in an interview--the person across from you can absolutely tell when you're not. This includes speaking from the heart and not being afraid to show some vulnerability (especially around the "What's your weakness?" question).

As an authenticity check, I'd always ask myself, "Did I get a clear snapshot of who this person really is?" Candidates who were too slick or over rehearsed or used lots of buzzwords left me feeling like I just had met a robot, not a real person.

2. How concise and articulate you are

This comes from knowing your résumé and core stories to tell and from anticipating questions. Sure, it can include pauses before you answer as you're gathering your thoughts.

Here's the problem with the opposite (rambling). It creates blurriness for the interviewer. Meaning the interviewer stops listening, his or her attention wanders, there's less to remember about the candidate, and after seeing many other candidates, the inarticulate candidate begins to blur and become unremarkable.

3. How considerate you are

It seems like a small thing, but it can send a big signal. Are you polite, on time, and sure to thank the interviewer at the end, and do you avoid bashing any company or person in your interview? Exuding respect curries favor.

4. How confident you are

Without being arrogant, of course. The interviewer is picturing you on his or her team and what it would be like to work with you. Would you want to bring someone onto your team who's either racked with self-doubt or so arrogant they wouldn't take direction?

Here's a tip to get the balance right. Walk in thinking "I know this job is mine, but I know I don't know everything."

5. How interested you are in the job

Surprised to see this one? It always came up in debriefs. There's something to be said for simply expressing just how interested you are in the job--and why. It's a fact that some people interview for practice, with no intention of ever taking the job. Interviewers know this and don't want you using them as fodder for improvement. They want people who really want the job, so don't be afraid to show it (without going overboard).

6. How passionate you are

This is related to the above but goes beyond showing passion for the job you're interviewing for. This is about showing passion as a person, having it come across in the stories you tell about your experiences, triumphs, setbacks, and lessons learned. You should be lifting the energy in the room by showing genuine enthusiasm for things you're enthusiastic about. If you can't get energized by what you have to say, how can you expect the interviewer to?

7. How warm you are

Sometimes I'd encounter a candidate who was super focused and articulate, and had good stories. And they were cold. Too emotionless. I had a hard time connecting with them as a human being and was left feeling like their mechanical nature wouldn't blend well with any work culture and wouldn't bode well for collaboration.

So be focused but warm it up a bit. Smile, laugh, put some heart and emotion into your answers.

8. How prepared you are

This is the easiest signal to spot, and the worst signal to send. The second I sense the candidate doesn't know their résumé or their stories or has done zero homework on the opportunity they're "pursuing," game over.

Asking smart questions, having organized answers, and clearly anticipating common interview questions are all ways to indicate you're more than prepared for the interview.

Source: Scott Mautz, INC.com, October 2019

BEFORE YOUR VIRTUAL INTERVIEW

Clarify the interview structure with the recruiter:

The time of the virtual conference (and clarify any time zone differences)

The platform that will be used, and access information (including any codes needed to join in)

How long to expect the conference to last

Any specific preparation required for the call

Who will be interviewing you?

Prepare your space:

Pick a location that will be free from distracting background noises — kids, pets, phones ringing.

Turn off the TV, computer, and/or iPad, and silence your phone.

Optimize your background. Carefully consider what is in the background. Make the background interesting, but not distracting. Plain white walls are fine, but boring. Can you frame a desk or bookshelves behind you instead?

Check your lighting. Use natural light when possible in combination with other lights. If the light source is behind you, you may appear as a dark silhouette on the screen. Position a lamp or other light source in front of you and/or to the sides.

Hang a “do not disturb” sign on the door. Let anyone who will be nearby know that you will be on a conference and should not be interrupted. Lock the door if necessary!

Prepare and test your equipment

Test your setup with a friend before the virtual conference starts. Make sure you have Internet connectivity and that your webcam and microphone are working. You may also have to download the software if it is the first time you are using the application.

Positioning is also important. Prop up the computer or screen so that you are not looking down at it and practice where to sit so you are framed correctly by the webcam. Make sure your torso is visible — including your hands — especially if you “talk” with your hands.

If you’re using your phone to call in, use a landline if at all possible. If using a cell phone, make sure the phone is charged (or plugged in) and has a strong cell signal in the area you are taking the call. If you are using a cordless phone, make sure the battery is charged.

Plug your device in or make sure it is fully charged.

Consider purchasing a few inexpensive items to help:

A webcam is a must. There are webcams built in to most laptops. You CAN use the camera on your phone but you will need a tripod and won’t be able to see your interviewer.  External webcams can be much higher fidelity than what you may have on your laptop and are not expensive.

Consider a USB-connected headset for an interview instead of using the computer’s speakers. Headsets are inexpensive and can provide a much clearer experience.

If possible, use a wired Internet connection (plug directly into the Ethernet port) instead of using a wireless connection. You may need to purchase an inexpensive long Ethernet cable to do so.

Turn off notifications on your computer and close your other software programs. You do not want to be distracted by beeps every time you receive an email.

Silence your cell phone when you are on a virtual conference.

Avoid using your phone’s speakerphone feature on an audio conference. Not only can a speakerphone create an echo, but it also picks up more background noise (such as shuffling papers). Use a hands-free headset if possible, or your phone’s regular mic.

Prepare yourself

Choose clothing intentionally. Check how the colors of your clothing appear on camera. Just like TV news anchors avoid some colors and most small patterns, pick colors that will show up well on video. Blues, jewel tones or pastel colors work best. Do not wear white or black. Oranges and yellows can also be problematic.

Dress from head to toe. You may think you do not need to wear pants since the other people on the conference call are only going to see the top half of your outfit. But you should always expect the unexpected. You never know when you might need to stand up. Pajama pants or shorts with a dress shirt, tie, and jacket just do not work.

A bit of makeup can make you appear less washed out.

Go to the bathroom beforehand. Check your teeth for food.

Have a glass of water nearby in case your throat gets too dry.

Consider eating a cough drop (especially one with menthol) before the virtual conference. A medicated cough drop can help your voice and help you avoid coughing during the call. (But make sure you finish the cough drop before you get on the call!)

Be on time

Log in 5 minutes ahead of time (but no more than that). You need time to troubleshoot, but you don’t want to risk overlapping with the previous interview.

DO NOT:

Never answer another call. Ignore call waiting (if you have it) — or disable it, if possible.

Never chew gum or eat anything during a virtual conference.

If you take notes, do not take them on your computer. The sound of typing is distracting. Have a pen and paper to take notes. (Or mute yourself if you must use your keyboard to take notes.)