Sometimes a great response to “Tell Me about Yourself” is just not enough. Sometimes you need something more strategic, inserting critical thinking into our preparation.
The Interview Doctor has a new tool, Strategic Executive Job Interview Training Program, that can help!
Recently I helped Jose prepare for an interview as senior counsel for a huge multi-gazillion dollar corporation. This would not be your regular job interview. I suspected the hiring manager, the General Counsel, would not be using the 30 Frequently Asked Questions. If Jose was going to do well, the interview had to turn into a conversation so the General Counsel could imagine Jose sitting in the next office.
We needed more than “Tell me about yourself.” We needed to prepare with a more strategic approach in which we anticipate what the interviewer might ask, then use stories to demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do a great job.
I guided Jose through a series of questions to understand the problems facing the organization and how Jose believed he could guide the organization through these issues. We researched all the folks on the interview schedule for insight to find common ground.
Stories are always more memorable than general statements, so we identified some stories that would demonstrate Jose’s expertise.
Job interview preparation starts with the foundation of “Tell Me about Yourself” to organize our thoughts. The Strategic Executive Job Interview Training takes your interview preparation into a whole new level! Strategic Executive Job Interviews training utilizes the “Tell Me about Yourself” foundation to help you think critically as you prepare for your next job interview.
Jose and I talked through many possibilities, including how to ask questions to ascertain which issues are the highest priority and how to gain control of the interview. Jose felt confident, like he could take on any challenge!
Senior level positions are simply different from mid- or lower-level positions. Hiring managers make decisions on the basis of fit, looking for the person who can solve the big problems facing the organization (and there are ALWAYS problems) and who can fit with the team.
Don’t go into your next job interview blind. Give yourself all the advantages with The Interview Doctor’s two job interview training programs, Tell me about yourself: Secrets to Strategic Job Interviews, and for senior level candidates, check out Strategic Executive Job Interviews.