The Art Of The Interview Part 2: Your Guide To Landing The Job

A great interview can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Avoid common interview pitfalls
• Ensure your resume represents you and your experience
• Establish an executive presence during your interview(s)
• Build rapport

Whether you’re eyeing an internal promotion, switching companies, or stepping into your first professional role, these strategies will help you succeed. 

Let’s dive into everything from crafting compelling stories about your experience to avoiding the common pitfalls that trip up even the most qualified candidates.

After engaging with this foundational piece, learn how to set yourself up for long-term job satisfaction. And head here to refresh yourself on the fundamentals of preparing for an interview.

Common Interview Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even the most qualified candidates can stumble in interviews, and often it’s not because they lack skills or experience. 

Let’s address some surprisingly common pitfalls. 

The Resume Disconnect

Here’s a scenario that makes interview coaches cringe: a candidate with a beautifully crafted resume who can’t speak to their own experience. 

Interview expert and TaskHuman Coach Shawanna Lawrence highlights this scenario as a critical issue: “Using a resume (maybe touched by AI) and then not being familiar with your own resume.” You have to be able to sell your resume.

In today’s age of AI-enhanced resumes, this problem has become even more prevalent. Of course, there’s nothing actually wrong with using AI, per se. It’s just a tool, but to get good results, it needs to be used properly.

Here’s what matters:

• Own every word on your resume
• Be ready to elaborate on each bullet point
• Have specific examples ready for each skill listed
• Understand how each experience connects to the role you’re pursuing

The Experience “Gap Trap”

One of the most common challenges Shawanna encounters is what she calls the “preparation gap.” 

As she explains with high individual contributors. “Just doing their work and not having taken any stretch assignments. So they take an interview and they don’t know how to position themselves for supervising staff.”

This is particularly tricky when you’re aiming for a step-up role. In fact, internal candidates often struggle to articulate their readiness for the next level.

Here’s how to bridge this gap:

• Document instances where you’ve informally led projects
• Highlight cross-functional collaboration experiences
• Emphasize mentoring or training contributions
• Focus on outcomes that demonstrate leadership potential

The Storytelling Struggle

“Knowing the work but understanding how to tell the story” – this challenge that Shawanna identifies resonates with many of her clients. You might be excellent at your job, but you’re at a disadvantage if you can’t communicate that excellence effectively.

Again, hiring managers say they can tell within the first five minutes of an interview if a candidate is a good fit. That’s why your ability to articulate your experience clearly is crucial.

A common mistake is known as the “data dump,” – where candidates throw out everything they know without structuring it meaningfully. Instead:

• Focus on relevant highlights
• Structure responses using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Keep answers concise but impactful
• Practice transitioning smoothly between topics

The Financial Impact Weakness

For senior roles, Shawanna points out a critical gap: “For managers moving up or moving up to C-Suite, being able to demonstrate how you saved the company money. This can take multiple sessions, go back and look at your notes, find projects or things you did, and then come up with those money savings outcomes.”

Many candidates overlook the financial impact of their work; demonstrating financial acumen is crucial for career advancement. Start tracking:

• Cost savings from process improvements
• Revenue generated from initiatives
• Resource optimization outcomes
• Time efficiency gains translated into dollar values

These days, it’s not good enough to say, “Hey, I made my workplace more productive as a leader,” or “I made my company more money.” Instead, be specific. “I increased productivity over 20% over six months with my plans” or “I increased revenue by 30% across 2024”

Remember, every operational improvement has a financial impact – your job is to make that connection crystal clear.

Advanced Interview Strategies: Taking Your Game To The Next Level

If you feel confident about the basics, it’s time to explore the strategies that can truly set you apart. These techniques transform good candidates into irresistible hires. Let’s dive into the advanced playbook.

Executive Presence: Beyond The Basics

When you’re targeting senior roles, the game changes dramatically. “Really selling yourself – how you know people in the company, knowing your job really well, demonstrating that you know how to lead, and demonstrating that you really know the business,” Coach Shawanna emphasizes. 

This is what’s called the “full-spectrum leadership package.“

For executive-level interviews, a lot of hiring decisions are influenced by cultural fit and leadership potential rather than just technical capabilities. 

To demonstrate executive presence:

• Align your responses with company strategy
• Show systems-level thinking
• Demonstrate stakeholder management expertise
• Present a clear leadership philosophy backed by examples

A powerful technique is about “zooming in and out” – shifting seamlessly between strategic vision and tactical execution in your responses.

The Art Of Building Rapport

“Being personable,” as Shawanna notes, isn’t just about being friendly – it’s a strategic advantage. And it’s about being genuine. Yeah, it sounds complicated, but the takeaway is to work on building proper relationships that come from a place of authenticity.

You’re laying the groundwork for future relationships. Whether that path is walked may come down to this conversation, so be proactive in showing up as your full self.

Here’s an advanced rapport-building framework:

• Active Listening Enhancement: This means mirroring key phrases thoughtfully and asking insightful follow-up questions. The best thing you can do is to show genuine curiosity about the interviewer’s perspectives.

• Empathy Demonstration: “Key elements include: adaptability, practice active listening before the interview, show empathy and action and communicate in a clear way when responding,” Shawanna advises. This isn’t just about nodding and smiling – it’s about understanding the organization’s challenges.

• Time Management Mastery: Remember what Shawanna said about the recruiter’s limited time? Here’s a 60-30-10 rule for responses:

  • 60% focused on outcomes and impact

  • 30% on the specific actions taken

  • 10% on context and background

The Power of Strategic Questions

One often overlooked aspect of advanced interviewing is the art of asking questions that demonstrate strategic thinking. 

Develop questions that:

• Show you’ve done deep research
• Demonstrate forward-thinking
• Reveal your leadership mindset.
• Uncover opportunities to add immediate value

Handling Complex Scenarios

Advanced interviews often include challenging scenarios or case questions. Shawanna’s advice about adaptability becomes crucial here. When facing complex questions:

Take a structured approach:

• Clarify assumptions
• Break down the problem
• Consider multiple perspectives
• Present a clear rationale for your solution

Use the “preview-detail-summarize” technique:

• Preview your approach
• Provide detailed analysis
• Summarize key takeaways

Pro tip: Always connect your answers back to relevant experience while showing how you’d apply these lessons in the new role.

Final Thoughts

Throughout this guide, we’ve done a deep dive into advanced interview strategies. 

These are your takeaways to boost your confidence heading into an interview.

• Ensure your resume is reflective of experience you can speak confidently to

• Understand the pain point or challenge you are uniquely solving

• Focus on building relationships from a place of authenticity

Remember, when it comes to successful interviews, it’s not just about getting the job; it’s about finding the right fit where you can continue to grow and contribute meaningfully.

Lecturas relacionadas: Your Preparation Guide To Land The Job You Want & Setting Yourself Up For Job Satisfaction

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