Take a Leaf from the Politicians – in a Good Way

Having interviewed hundreds of people for jobs, and having been interviewed plenty of times, my main reflection is the key preparation for an interviewee is to know what they want the interviewer to know about them.

Do not rely on the interviewer to ask you the right questions. Do not rely on the interviewer to take the discussion in the right direction. As author and entrepreneur Seth Godin says, we cannot wait to be invited.

So, as the interviewee, be clear on the five things you want the interviewer to know – basically why you should get the role or the job. Take every chance to weave these five things into the questions you ask. If you have not been given the chance to share them, use the ‘any questions’ slot to share them in an assertive, but not sales, way.

As the interviewer, ask the interviewee have I given you the opportunity to tell me why you should get this role or join our board?

Interviews are a notoriously bad way to decide whether to join an organisation, or whether to ask somebody to join, but while we persist in using them, let’s at least make the most of it.

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