3 ways the interviewee can interview the interviewer

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To anyone seeking work and actively interviewing: Remember, the interviewer is a human. Like you, they have needs, uncertainties, questions, aspirations, fears, ambitions, and so on. Although they may have some influence on your life and future, they don't control it.

Too often, interviewing causes insecurity or even feelings of inferiority for some candidates.

Perhaps all they're focusing on is their 'need' for a job and income. Although this is important, they lose sight of the bigger picture and get themselves nervous, many times, even before the interview begins.

Remember, just as they (your potential future employer) have certain things they are interested in discovering, during an interview, you should have a list of things you need to find out from them.

I've been on both ends, the interviewee and the interviewer. There are many things an interviewer can do to put a interviewee at ease, but I'll cover that in another article. For this time around...

Here are 3 things you can do to turn the table on your next job interview:

1) Don't think of it as an interview

Be the first to let down your guard, especially if you see that the interviewer is (overly) professional and all business.

Smile, loosen up, speak slower. Talk normal, don't try to use big words or fancy phrases. Break the ice with a recent story, news, or observation. You'd be surprised how this can change the atmosphere or interview aura, as I like to call it.

Try this: A few minutes before the interview, imagine that you have just met this person for the first time, at a coffee shop (if that's where you're meeting for the 'interview', even better!). How would you present yourself? What would you want to learn about them? Talk as if you're complete strangers, wanting to get to know each other, NOT an employee and employer. (If they don't end up liking this approach and feel that you are too casual, it's probably not somewhere you want to be working.)

Set yourself in conversation mode not information relay mode. The best interviews I've had with candidates are the ones that didn't feel like interviews.

2) Stop focusing on your own needs

Paying your mortgage/rent is important, but put that aside for at least 30 minutes. Be genuinely interested in the person interviewing you and the company. If you're not, you shouldn't be interviewing with them. Move on. Find a company/job that interests you.

This can be practiced by listening carefully and engaging in the discussion. However, if you sense that it is NOT a discussion and the interviewer is just going through a bunch of questions, either change the pace or candidly tell them you're not there to go through a checklist.

3) Have meaningful questions prepared

Ditch the typical questions that can be answered by visiting their website, the job posting, or a LinkedIn page/profile. Dig deeper. Also, ask some of the the questions as the discussion is happening, not just at the end. Keep a casual flow.

Try these:

• What are the OKR's and/or KPI's for this position?
• Who was the last person that got promoted and how did they earn it?
• What would happen if this position is not filled?
• What keeps you (the interviewer) at the company?
• Do you think about work on Saturday and Sunday (why or why not)?
• Did your manager ever question you taking PTO?

Join me next time as we look at ways to improve your Emotional + Career Intelligence.

The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the authors employer, customers, partners, etc.