Varun Satia, Founder & CEO, Kraftshala
Navigating the job interview landscape can often feel like traversing a complex maze. One of the most common mistakes is that people treat interviews like an exam with a fixed syllabus. Instead, to present yourself as the ideal candidate, it is crucial to understand the perspectives and concerns of the interviewer. Here, we delve into strategies to enhance your interview performance through self-awareness, storytelling, and really focusing on addressing the interviewer tensions.
Think of an interview as a sales exercise where you are the product. The interviewer is your customer, and your goal is to pitch your profile compellingly. This perspective shift is crucial.
Dissecting and Absorbing the Job Description
Start by breaking down the job description (JD) into core competencies aligned with the role. Show your proactive approach by truly understanding the JD. Customise your answers to reflect the specific skills and attributes the role demands. For instance, if the role requires strong analytical skills, discuss a time when you used data analysis to drive business decisions, setting you apart from candidates who offer generic responses.
Crafting Your Self-Charter and Understanding Your Strengths
Once you have understood what the role demands, reflect deeply on your unique strengths which align with the role. You can create something known in our parlance as a self-charter. It is a detailed document capturing specific instances of who you are, your experiences, personal interests, life-changing events, and core strengths. Reflect on your experiences and identify instances where you excelled. This self-awareness will help you answer questions with authenticity and clarity. By knowing your strengths, you can confidently articulate how you can add value to the role and organisation during the interview. Detailing your failures and how they transformed you can provide compelling stories that demonstrate resilience and growth.
The Core Interview Tension
One of the most crucial aspects of acing an interview is understanding and addressing the interviewer’s concerns. Every question an interviewer asks has a core interview tension (CIT) behind it, reflecting an underlying anxiety or concern. For instance, interviewers often worry about whether the candidate will be a waste of time or if they have enough potential to warrant further consideration. Therefore, it is essential to demonstrate your strengths and reassure the interviewer right from your introduction that you are a capable and valuable candidate. Understanding what the interviewer is looking for and delivering tailored solutions will make a lasting impression. For instance, if the job requires strong project management skills, discuss a successful project you led, highlighting your organisational abilities and how you ensured the project’s success.
Storytelling in Interviews
Stories are a powerful way to communicate your strengths and experiences. They help the interviewer reach their own conclusions about your capabilities, making your claims more believable. For example, instead of stating that you are creative, you could share a story about a design project you worked on passionately, explaining the innovative strategies you employed to solve a challenging problem. This approach demonstrates your creativity without explicitly claiming it, allowing the interviewer to deduce your strengths.
Honesty is Non-Negotiable
Lying during interviews is a surefire way to sabotage your chances. Competent interviewers can detect dishonesty and will dig deep for authenticity. Be truthful while presenting your experiences. Package the truth thoughtfully, highlighting your strengths and achievements in a manner that resonates positively with the interviewer. For instance, if you faced a significant challenge in a previous role, discuss how you overcame it honestly, showcasing your problem-solving skills and resilience.
Leveraging Technology and EdTech Platforms
Both employers and candidates now heavily rely on technology throughout the hiring process. Employers use advanced software to assess candidates’ digital profiles even before interviews, while candidates use technology to plan, prepare, and present themselves confidently.
Most importantly, when preparing for an interview, ensure you can add value to the recruiter from Day 1. As a fresher, one of the main challenges is to build your skills which will help you stand out amongst the 1000s of applications with a strong portfolio of work. You can either take up part time projects, build something or your own or take up structured programs in the domains that interest you. If you are considering taking up acourse, do your research properly. Interviewers will ask you on how you went about your decision as well and the more depth you can demonstrate in your decision process, the more the recruiter will get an insight into how you operate. For marketing and sales roles, you can consider Kraftshala as our programs train you for specific roles and ensure you are getting prepared for interviews in depth. For domains like technology, data analytics, design etc, there are other companies who can play a significant role in bumping up your skills and interview preparation.
Mastering the art of interviews requires a strategic blend of preparation, self-awareness, and effective communication. Stay genuine, address the interviewer’s needs, and tell your story compellingly. With these strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to impress any potential employer and secure your desired role.
