Your Next Job Interview

Your Next Job Interview 

The job market is steep but steeper in security as each company has just one CSO while it may have multiple Sales/ Fin Dir roles. The reality is that for each position of a CSO it is 1:50 and 1: 200 for each mid- manager role. A new job gets us a higher role and salary and despite the competition being so stiff we do not prepare for our growth. Let’s understand this better-

Gaps-

·        3 Things- A bland CV posted as a formality; out of sync with JD and disinterest with the recruiter call- The interview starts with your effort on your CV, aligned to the JD however this is a huge gap as we upload a CV misaligned to JD thus being unable to sell our strength. We are so self- involved that we feel the first talent call is just a formality, yet they put on paper the first impression they see of the candidate and we fail here again.

·        Next, things will pick up and technical details will come in and what you have done which is best illustrated by way of examples; yet we blabber minus a preparation exhausting the interviewer rather than create chemistry; we must listen well to respond accurately and no harm in pausing 2 sec to think and respond.

·        We must have a very good understanding of the company and how we can add value to its ops. There is no short-cut to being well read and knowing latest trends in security, tech yet most of us lack this basic knowledge trying to fool thru; yet find hours to invest on Wup Univ.

·        Lastly your CV is your trumpet- invest in learnings, new courses to showcase it all and have that cutting edge vs your 199 competitors, they are not your friend and this is a gladiatorial sport where only the fittest will survive to get selected.

Basic Corrections-

·        Before you go for the interview one must do a mock drill with your mentor and you will realize how the fast ball at 180 km/hr travels and how to smash a six out of it;

·        Do go with the belief that the interview knows more than you and do not start coaching them- listening is the easiest form of showing respect;

·        Leave your past jobs back and more so for my fauji brethren- the corporate has its own rules/ learn to leave your ranks in the closet and race as equal; the CV has your rank no need to flaunt it;

·        The min you must do is reach the last round to get yourself a consolation medal that you will win the next race.

To Conclude- I, am a vanilla security manager minus a CPP, CFE etc but I, did bat on the IPL team of MS and captained IPL team of Deere and now at PepsiCo only because I, continue to learn daily as Michelangelo did even at 87 yr.

# Colonel Bana. (07)