Everyone needs a story, particularly in a job interview situation. The question “tell me about yourself” or “why are you here?” gives you the opportunity to tell the interviewer about who you are, what you stand for and how your background fits the job and organization.
In yesterday’s blog I suggested presenting your background in story form at a job interview, rather than just dry facts. I can wait a minute if you have to go back and re-read it… done? Okay, now let’s look at other common kinds of interview questions which you will need to address in your “story” (and answers you will want to avoid).
The “Unwritten Story”
When the recruiter or interview panel asks you, “So, why do you want to work in facilities management?” Do not respond by saying, “Actually, I’m not sure what I want to do.” I guarantee you this is the wrong answer! Even if that’s the case, it is definitely not something you want to share in an interview.
To write your story you need to do your homework before the interview. Even if you’re not 100% sure purchasing and leasing real estate is the long-term career for you, develop a rank order list as to your reasons for pursuing this line of work. So, when asked, you can show the interviewer that you have focus.
The “Stepping Stone Story”
It is not uncommon to hear this one in an interview… “Why do you want to be a (insert job title here)?” the interviewer asks. You respond “Well, I’d like to do this job for a few years, get some experience, and then move on to something else.”
This is not the story you want to tell in an interview, and for that matter not many other places I can think of. It’s like telling your girlfriend-boyfriend/spouse you’d like to hone your dating/marriage skills with them for a few years and that, once you’re ready, you’ll dump them for someone else.
I confess, in parts of this blog entry I am reliving my own stories gone wrong. I used this one in my job interview for Human Resources (Personnel Department at the time). Even if you think you’ll want to switch jobs in five years, a lot can happen between now and then as I found out.
So, full disclosure is probably not the best idea even if you get the job, unless you want to spend the next five years known as the guy who is going to leave.
The “Location Story”
When asked why you want to work for the organization, you respond by saying “I’m just really hoping to live in Southern California to be close to my boyfriend or girlfriend.” To heck with whether or not it’s the right job or the right employer, focus your story on convenience.
If you buy the above as legitimate reasoning, be warned, I’m going to have to go into to another lame relationship scenario to illustrate my point.
Okay now, just think about how that story would work if, because of high gas prices, you were dating someone mainly because he or she only lived a few blocks from your house. How do you think that person would feel if you told them you were first attracted to them not by their intellect, good looks, or anything else; rather you were on the same bus route. Need I say more?
The “Education Story”
Interviews sometimes involve specific questions concerning your education and how it has prepared you for the position you are seeking. If there is a direct connect, an accounting major applying for an Accountant position, this will be a pretty straightforward story. It becomes more difficult to craft when you like many other young college students spent too much time thinking about what you were going to major in and not enough time thinking about what you were going to do with it.
Your folks must have been thrilled when you came home at spring break to tell them you were going to major in Philosophy. (Not one of your most promising career path choices.)
But, don’t despair; you will be able to repay that student loan after all. Most employers want to hire candidates who have the intellectual horsepower to hit the ground running. So that means they’re going to be less interested in what you majored in and more interested your grades, leadership roles, and related internship experience.
The fact that most undergrads don’t get jobs in their major just means that graduate schools will have larger enrollments in their "Working Professionals" programs. And, you’re probably going to have to work a little bit harder to identify opportunities of interest and to craft a story that links your major to a specific opening. Think about what attracted you to a particular major and how that interest might correlate to different careers.
The End of the Story… Before your next interview, look at your experience and skills and determine how they fit with the job. When you’re able to effectively tell your story, you’ll be that much closer to getting the job you want for all the “right” reasons.