Intuitive Interviewing Skills Wanted!

After a string of conversations with clients all across the country on the topic of interviews, some glaringly obvious connections were made. In a job market that is far more competitive than it has ever been, why are so many candidates in essence turned away after the initial interview? Many of them not making it past the phone interview phase. Clients that were asked and research into past declined interviews were proof positive that the applicant was either not prepared or not qualified. So my question is - who is responsible for that preparation, the candidate or the recruiter?

I believe firmly in the team approach to many things, mainly because it will help accomplish far more than going it alone. A good recruiter will have a lot of inside information about the company, job description, reason for the opening and possibly the interview style. A good candidate will do their homework, spending time on the prospective company's website, doing news searches about recent information and potentially talking with others in the market to glean inside information.

Nothing is more frustrating as a recruiter then to hear from a client that the candidate came to a meeting and wasn't prepared at all. Obviously I failed them because I have a specific process that I run through with candidates to ensure that I've given them the instruction they need to breeze through the meeting. It will include the generic stand by information:

• Be on time, early is best, if you can't help being late- call at the very least so it can smooth things over.
• Dress appropriately - this typically means business professional for an interview.
• Bring 3 copies of your resume on professional paper.
• Close the interview asking for the next step or the job.

But a good recruiter will dig deeper with the candidate and have them prepared on the psychological aspect of the meeting as well:

• Be confident in your first two minutes, firm hand shake, smile and hold your carriage straight.
• Gauge your environment and the demeanor of your interviewer(s). It is awkward if you are overly formal in a relaxed setting or vice versa, seeming unprofessional in a corporate setting. 
• Look directly at the interviewer when they are speaking, smiling or nodding in agreement with their statements. Some of the best interviews are more of an active listening than speaking arrangement.
• Have strategic and conversational provoking questions ready to be asked- DO NOT ask about benefits, vacation, or hours of operation - these surface questions can be handled by the recruiter. Prepare at least 10 questions that you have written down that you can ask throughout the meeting, knowing you will not ask more than five of them in total. Why the excess? It is to be a safety net in the event that some of the questions are already answered in the conversation. 
• I have received feedback that the latest trend is to ask a question along the lines of "Can you see any reason that I would not be moving forward in the process?" This BOLD line of questioning is off-putting to say the least and may not convey  your enthusiasm, but rather your aggressiveness and inability to read social cues. Better to close the meeting with a renewed sense of understanding of the role, a genuine interest in the company and a  statement asking what the remainder of the interview process will look like. Example "Thank you for explaining the specifics of the role, after learning more I feel that the position aligns to my skills and the direction of the company fits with my goals as well. Could you tell me how the process will proceed from here?"
• Follow up- it is customary to send a note thanking the interviewer for their time. Emails are acceptable in this era, but always be sure to proofread. You will want to reference something specific and insightful that the person said or did within the meeting and align it to you. Perhaps it was an article or something newsworthy about the company, find something to help them remember exactly who you are. 

I hope that these tips will help in your next interview situation, there are far more finer points but I'll save that for when we work together.