The #1 Key Q to ace your Interview.

Are you a “Contestant” or a “Consultant” in your interviews? Your answer determines your success!

How do you prepare for an interview without sifting through all of the clichés and platitudes and endless variations of so-called best answers to the most commonly asked interview questions that you’ll find online? The answer: forget everything you’ve been taught about interviewing and make three paradigm-shift changes to your approach:

The 1st change: Shift your mindset from “contestant” to “consultant.” 

One of the most important steps you can take to improve your performance during interviews is to shift your viewpoint of your role in an interview from that of a “contestant” to that of a “consultant.” One of the biggest mistakes a candidate can make is to approach an interview with the mindset of a contestant: saying and doing whatever they think it takes to land the job, rather than determining whether there is a good mutual fit. Candidates that fail to make this distinction risk being viewed by employers as unauthentic, superficial, or worse, less than qualified. Not surprisingly, candidates with a contestant mindset often prepare for interviews by memorizing scripted answers to interview questions rather than taking time to research the opportunity in depth.

Having an understanding of an employer’s business and pain points is essential to presenting yourself as the solution that employer is looking for to meet their needs and help solve their problems. Informational networking interviews are a great way to gain this insight into the nuances of an employer’s business and ultimately position yourself as the candidate they’re looking for. Take the opportunity to talk to those doing the same role that you’re interviewing for, talk to the competition, and talk to the customers to get an understanding of the opportunities and challenges from different perspectives. Having this information gives you a tremendous advantage and helps you create an impactful dialogue where you can effectively position your value proposition to an employer.

This article is part 1 of a 3 part article; we'll post part 2 next week.

If you are preparing for an interview, we'd love to help you - [email protected]