Vision Directed Interviews: How to Succeed within Interviews
By:
Pamela
Watson
You've probably read numerous job interview tips which list the
ways to respond to the difficult interview questions: Tell me about
Yourself; What are your work-related weaknesses?; Why are you
leaving your current employer? These are the usual dreaded questions
that we all expect to hear from interviewers. Typically interviewees
are advised to create well-prepared and rehearsed scripts to respond
to these dreaded questions. And so, during the course of the
interview, interviewees sit on the edge of their seats waiting to
respond, trying to remember the correct answers. And consequently,
the interview becomes a race, a highly tense setting designed to
stay one step ahead of the other with scripted conversation and
pre-planned positioning and second-guessing. The possibility of
authentically assessing the merits of the position and being able to
evaluate how you might fit within the company's culture and mission
is minimized in this scenario.
Optimally, the interviewer and the interviewee should operate within
the same mental space. To effectively hire someone who fits within
the organizational game plan, as well as the specific position, the
interviewer needs to ensure that the questions will provide
opportunities for detailed, authentic discourse. At a minimum, the
interviewer is looking for information regarding
situations/projects/tasks/assignments in which you've handled, the
specific steps undertaken to achieve results, and the direct results
accomplished.
As an interviewee, you have to be able to deliver this
information....no matter the question. Additionally, as an
interviewee, the only way you'll be able to respond with full
confidence (without referring to a script) is by ensuring that
you've done your homework. To confidently manage the interview, it's
important to know where you're heading - - to know your vision.
Everything else should flow directly from your career or personal
vision. Every tactic you undertake to find the new job, the new
career opportunity, or the promotion should emanate from your
established vision. In this manner, you will be able to hit the
answers to those dreaded questions without feeling nervous because
the interview is not the most important tactic - - it's one step
within a strategy. It's your well-crafted vision that's essential,
not a well-prepared and rehearsed script based on someone else's
words. Authentic interviews happen when you're able to effectively
convey your vision, your passion, your success stories.
Have You Created a Personal or Career Vision? More details provided
in the next BCM Career Management Guide. Contact me directly with
questions, comments, feedback at pwatson@beaconcareermgmt.com
Author Bio
Author: Pamela Watson, Beacon Career Management, LLC
www.beaconcareermgmt.com
After 17 years of management , I decided to craft a different vision
for my career. I launched Beacon Career Management, LLC in 2005 and
have been working towards continually achieving my career vision.
