Mmmm…. Not sure where this is going, are you? How could a job interview be like a nightmare, you ask?
I used to get nightmares when I was a kid. Really awful dreams about a wolf trying to look in the windows as I desperately figured out where I could hide so I couldn’t be seen. My shrink has been trying to figure that one out for years. But I digress.
When I had a nightmare, my mom would comfort me. She told me to change the ending. Just that simple. While you are having a nightmare, just change the ending. Tell the wolf to leave. Or find a gun. Change the ending so you come out the other end safely.
How is a job interview like a nightmare? Let’s consider the typical job interview.
You get called to come in for a job interview. You are excited. You pack up your briefcase and go in to meet the HR Manager. She asks you a bunch of typical questions. You are nervous but get through it ok. You send a thank you note afterwards. Nothing else happens. Rinse and repeat.
Was this a success? Did you win or lose? When you repeat this scenario over and over, you get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach like you want to scream… just like a nightmare! So how to stop the cycle? How to change the ending of the job interview? Take control of the job interview.
A few facts:
- Most hiring managers are really bad at interviewing. They ask the same stupid questions. They don’t learn anything from the interview. They continue to interview until they get tired or the work piles up and they are forced to make a decision.
- Most candidates are really bad at job interviews. They optimistically expect a good outcome without any basis for their optimism. They are not well prepared.
You could change the ending by responding to each fact with a new ending. Since most interviewers are really bad at interviewing, you need to give them something to ask you about other than the most frequently asked questions. Change the job interview so you provide the interviewer with irresistible questions to ask you about your background. Questions you lay at their feet. By being prepared with interesting nuggets the interviewer can ask you, you will end up talking about what YOU want to talk about. You will control the interview. By controlling the interview you will change the ending and get an outcome (a job offer) that will make you smile. So stop the nightmare. Take control of your interviews. Get the outcome you want.
The Interview Doctor can help you structure your interview preparation so you control the interview. And you get the job offer. Just call to find out how we can help!