subject: See Things From The Interviewer's Point Of View [print this page] Searching for a job is such an important, and in many cases stressful time, that we naturally concentrate on ourselves. Whether it is writing the best CV or wanting to perform well at an interview or worrying about getting selected for a second interview. It is easy to forget there is another person involved in this process - the person interviewing you who has to decide on the person to offer the job to.
Making an effort to demonstrate an awareness of the interviewer's objectives and pressures will improve your chances of success in getting the job you want.
So what are the typical objectives and challenges that an interviewer has to deal with when hiring a new employee:
1. Hire someone who can do the job: Interviewers want to find someone with the right skills, knowledge and experience to do the job effectively and efficiently. This means you need to present yourself in your CV and at interview with these areas in mind.
2. Hire someone who passes the 'fitness test': In the interview process the 'fitness test' covers 3 key areas. First, all organisations have their own culture and style, interviewers need to ensure that the people they hire will fit in with this. Second, do you fit the interviewer's own style and way of working? Third, do you fit the team you will join? You need to find out what kind of culture exists -by asking - and explain how you could fit in with this based on your own attitudes and behaviours
3. Make a fast, effective start: A big concern for an interviewer is choosing the right person and seeing them make a good start in the job. Other managers will watch to see signs of a good start. With this in mind you should be ready to talk about how you plan to work in your first 90 days during the selection process.
4. Communicate the decision to management. Interviewers must be able to persuade their managers that the basis on which they selected a person for a job was factual, well researched and supported by references. Help the interviewer to help you by following up interviews with an email summarising the main ways you match the job and providing references.
5. Keeping the day job going. Be aware that interviewers will have severe time pressures on them as not only will they be a person short - this is why they are hiring someone - but also they have their normal job to carry out. Respect time and check at the start of your interview how long you have and keep to time. Make your answers in the interview short and concise.
Using these 5 steps along with other key techniques will dramatically increase your chances of successfully winning the job you want.
