If you are an interviewee or interviewer, here is my landline hard hitting tip ― so easy it really should reduce the stress and eliminate the nerves as well.
Firstly, interviewing is just an exploratory, honest conversation and it’s reciprocal. The questions and answers are all relating to what is essential to both parties, i.e. skills, qualities, values, attributes.
Bear with me, as I have been racking my brain to make it easy and straightforward. So, let’s strip it right down and think of it this way: You are looking for a flatmate: What is important to you; skills, qualities, values, habits, attributes? They pay rent on time, are clean, are a non-smoker, honest, trustworthy? What questions would you ask?
What are the BS answers, and what are the answers that resonate?
An interview is not too dissimilar to this scenario!
And thereby hangs a tale to this example, you will know straight away if someone has provided an answer that is not authentic. And even if the ‘real’ answer isn’t what you wanted to hear (they leave their wet towel on the floor regularly) ― I bet because they have been honest, you are now perceiving them as trustworthy, and it might still be doable, despite the wet towel issue.
So, my advice to both interviewees and interviewers is: Make a list of what is vital for you, i.e. skills, values, attributes, etc, then formulate the questions around this list. From the answers received, ask further questions, leading to the honest, exploratory conversation as mentioned above.
“Your energy is always your first impression. It is the foremost perception others will have of you. This initial energy introduction is a calling card you cannot fake.” ― Anthon St. Maarten
