The Other Side of the Table
This week, I was able to participate in an interesting opportunity. As I am quickly approaching graduation, my current supervisor for my student publicity position on campus is looking to find someone to take my place. She asked me if I would like to sit in and help conduct the interviews, and I of course jumped at the opportunity. As a current job and past internship seeker, I am used to being on one side of the table. I wanted to gain perspective on what it is like to be the interviewer.
As we interviewed candidates, I did my best to jot down notes while giving the interviewee my full attention. As I watched three very different personalities and work styles come in and out the door, I couldn’t help but think of myself and how I had carried myself in past interviews. After a day of being an interviewer, I have some tips I think will make my next interview experience as positive as possible.
1. Emphasize the RIGHT skills set. Obviously you wouldn’t have been asked to come in for an interview if you did not have the qualifications an employer was seeking. However, if you are interviewing for a position that is very heavy in designing promotional materials and so on, don’t devote the entire time to talking about how you are a fantastic writer. Of course writing is important, but if you are going to be spending the majority of your time with design software at this position, you need emphasize that set of skills.
2. Bring work samples. During your college career, you should be saving and collecting samples of work throughout your courses, organizations, jobs and so on and keeping them in a nice portfolio. This portfolio will come in extremely handy when you are in the interviewee chair and are talking about how you are an InDesign pro. Your portfolio will show your potential employer that you can back up those claims. Even if the interviewer doesn’t ask for samples of work, you should still have your portfolio with you just in case.
3. Keep a conversational tone. That is age appropriate, of course. You want to show your potential employer that while you are respectful and could easily be someone they bring along with them to an important client meeting, you can still carry on a conversation. Being extremely formal or laid-back could be a reason you do not get the job offer, so it’s important to know a good balance between the two and to have thoroughly researched the company beforehand to get an idea of what their office culture is like.
What are your tips for a successful interview experience, either as a hiring manager or a job seeker?
