Why you're not moving forward in interviews (and how to fix it!)

Top 3 reasons you didn't move on in the interview process: (all in your control)

1) You were distracted during the initial phone screen.

2) You didn't seem excited about the job/company.

3) You didn't communicate your relevant experience as well as you think, OR you didn't communicate confidence in your experience.

The good news? You can change all of these things and make sure your next interview is better...... 

#1: Minimize your distractions

Now you obviously have demonstrated that there is a good likelihood you could be a good fit through your resume, cover letter etc so HR is going to suss out your soft skills first. (Go you!)

??GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO RELAX at least 5 minutes before your interview. If you're running straight into it, you either left your last task distracted or you're starting this one distracted. Give yourself a breather to center yourself and focus.

??Make sure you're in a quiet spot. If your dog barks incessantly like mine, it is worth sitting in your car if you don't have somewhere else Barky Interruptus can go for the 30-60 minutes. Sure, people understand that you might be working from home, currently unemployed and that alone doesn't deter them from talking about what you can bring to the table, but it's REALLY difficult to have a professional and productive conversation with someone you have no established rapport with when there's a lot going on in the background.

??If you're scheduling this phone screen right after work, or during your lunch break, PARK YOUR CAR. Do not attempt to have this conversation while driving. You need to be focused on the conversation, not the yahoo who cut you off without using their blinker. Even folks who are WELL qualified for the job can (and have) blown a phone screen by not even realizing they weren't answering questions well enough because their focus was split on the interview AND the road.

??Take notes, and have your resume in front of you. If they ask you a specific question about something on your resume, make damn sure you are being accurate in your response. You don't want to be hemming and hawing to remember a specific example. This is more common if you've done a lot of contracts, it's a lot to remember. Heck, last night's dinner can be a lot to remember, so set yourself up for success here.

#2: Show your interest in the job/company

Assuming you're not distracted (because you're applying the advice from #1) there are two big things you can do to show interest.

??CHOOSE YOUR WORDS wisely. It might seem silly but different words can give the same overall message with different undertones. Saying "I'm willing" is not the same thing as "I'd like to". Both indicate you will do whatever job function is being discussed but the latter indicates enthusiasm and the former indicates a complete lack. Employers want employees who are happy to be there, not just tolerating their time. Make sure your phrasing is positive and shows enthusiasm.

?? ASK QUESTIONS that show you've done your research. If you haven't looked up the company, any relevant news to your job function and current events or what is happening within the company, chances are you're not giving the impression you're very interested. Not everyone can be the life of the party, so if you're a low key person, showing your interest through strategic questions is incredibly important!

#3: Communicate clearly and confidently

Imagine you are hiring your clone so you can sneak away on vacation. You know exactly what they need to do to make sure your job is done well and you have to show them how to do it. You know the major bullet points and can provide examples to paint a good picture of specific examples. This is what you need to be able to do with your interviewer, give specifics and paint a clear picture. 

??Write down examples before you go into the interview that demonstrate your accomplishments and the core of your skills. You know they're going to ask, so come prepared.

??Practice talking to somebody. Just writing down examples isn't enough, you need to verbally deliver the examples, work out the ums and uhs before the interview so that when you get there, your delivery is smooth, clear and concise. 

These things are all in your control if you are intentional in your actions! Never forget- you know yourself, you know your skills, you ARE capable and you CAN crush your next interview!