If you’ve got a job interview coming up and you’re feeling a little nervous, don’t
worry.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably seen enough celebrity interviews to know what
works and what doesn’t.
Okay, fine, the business world isn’t exactly star-studded and full of GIFable moments.
But interviews are still a key part of the hiring process.
You built hype with your resume and cover letter; that promotional package got an employer
interested!
Now, you just have to land that job offer.
And we’re here to help you show employers your star power, with professionalism and
some top-notch answers to common questions.
I’m Evelyn from the Internets.
And this is Crash Course Business: Soft Skills.
[Intro Music Plays]
We’ve already talked about how the job search is sort of like marketing a movie.
You’re just marketing yourself!
So the interview is your press junket.
It’s a chance for you to dive deeper into your work experience, show you’re good under
pressure, and demonstrate your competence, intent, and integrity face-to-face, instead
of on paper.
Just like a movie star going on different talk shows, you’ll have different kinds
of interviews.
You could have a one-on-one interview, like on Oprah.
Or panel style, like The View.
You could be answering questions like you’re on CNN with Anderson Cooper, or performing
tasks like you’re on Ellen.
To get a feel for what’s in store, it’s important to do your research.
You wouldn’t want to be prepared for E! when you’re actually on Dateline.
It’s generally fine to ask who’s going to be interviewing you, if you aren’t told.
But be polite about it!
It can be helpful to look up your interviewers or skim their social media.
You know they’re checking yours.
Just don’t accidentally ask someone how their vacation in Aspen was.
Plus, figure out what skills you want to highlight by perusing the company’s website or searching
for news articles, to understand their values and current projects.
We don’t have time to go deep into industry-specific questions or styles, because a consulting
interview is totally different than an art portfolio review.
For the most part, some employers will use problem-solving interviews, where you may
need to perform tasks, take an assessment, or give a presentation.
And almost /all/ of them use behavioral interviews, which are personality questions that help
them better understand your skills and working style.
Like a red carpet event where everyone is asked, “Who are you wearing?”
there are some behavioral questions you should always be prepared to answer.
Hiring managers sift through hundreds of qualified applicants, so to find out if you’re really
interested in their company, they’ll ask: “Why are you interested in this position
or organization?”
To tackle this one, lean on your research.
Talk about parts of the company that you genuinely appreciate, like their commitment to equality
and diversity.
or how they encourage creative
exploration.
To determine your ability to work with others, you’ll be asked about how you handled a
specific type of situation in the past.
Usually, it’s something like, “Can you discuss when you handled a conflict with a
coworker or a difficult customer?”
These questions can also be about a specific quality you need to succeed in your industry.
So, if you were a freelance YouTuber asked about a difficult client, you could talk about
how you helped them hone their scattered vision to create a 4-minute video with a clear, compelling
story.
We all like to talk about our successes, and your resume is full of them.
But you’ll also be asked something like, “Can you talk about a time you failed?”
or “What’s your greatest weakness?”
And don’t try and spin your weakness into a strength.
“I’m just too dedicated to my job” may be a great excuse to avoid going on a
date, but in an interview, it’s a cop out.
Instead, show some self awareness and talk about something that has impacted you and
what you’re doing to work on it.
So, if you have trouble public speaking, you could talk about how you ran a talk show with
your best friend every morning in college, which built a lot of confidence.
It can be hard to know what to talk about when behavioral questions are flying at you
from all different directions.
But there are some general tips that can help!
For one, be reasonable -- don’t feel a need to get too personal.
This is a professional interview, and they don’t need to know the drama of your private
life.
To avoid getting tripped up, act like a celebrity who’s trying not to spoil the movie they
just filmed [*cough* Tom Holland] by having a set of about 10 pre-planned answers.
To make sure you hit all the key points with ease, use the STAR format, which stands for
Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Briefly outline the situation you found yourself in and the task at hand, then emphasize
the action steps you took and the result of your actions.
You should also wrap up with what each experience taught you.
That shows how you want to grow as a professional.
Preparing answers with STAR in mind will help you stay clear and succinct, even if you’re
nervous.
Or tired.
Just like an all-day press junket, interviews can have multiple rounds.
To see what I mean, let’s go to the Thought Bubble.
A top-secret government program that prevents intergalactic threats has seen your amazing
service record at the NYPD, so they invite you to an interview.
You have two assessments, a one-on-one interview with the HR representative, and a panel interview
in front of some executives.
After completing an aptitude test, you’re given one hour to come up with and present
a five-point-plan to prevent consumer identity theft...by ALIENS.
You’re tired from a long morning, but you’re only given a short break between the problem-solving
interviews and the behavioral interviews.
Plus, staring at a panel of six black suits would make anyone nervous.
But, luckily, you’ve got some stories prepared in STAR format.
Remember: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
So if you’re asked about when you solved a problem under pressure, you could say:
When I came upon a robbery, the suspect took off.
I quickly and calmly assessed the situation, calculated potential routes in my head, weighed
my best options, and gave chase.
I caught the suspect and recieved a medal of valor.
Or if you needed to talk about working in a team or resolving a conflict, you could
say:
Initially, my teammate Frank and I bickered.
But we had a discussion and adapted our communication styles to be more forward and direct.
Together, we successfully launched an initiative to recover stolen jewels.
From this experience, I learned to openly communicate with colleagues to best understand
their needs.
In no time, you’ll have shown your skills, impressed your interviewers, and be on your
way to saving the Earth!
Thanks, Thought Bubble!
Even if you’re not interviewing for a secret government program, questions can get
a little strange.
So, if you’re asked what zodiac sign you most identify with, pause to gather your thoughts.
You can take a sec on straightforward questions too -- as long as you’re not doing it for
every single one.
Be sure to tie your answer back into qualities the interviewer is looking for.
Like, my Mars is in Taurus, so I’m intentional in my actions, which leads me to succeed by
being detail-oriented and driven.
It’s true.
Or if you’re thrown a weird problem-solving question, like “How many penguins are there
in the United States?”
don’t stress about getting the right answer.
Instead, show them how your brain works and explain your thought process.
So you could estimate that there are like 10 penguins in every aquarium.
And if there are 3 aquariums per state, then there are roughly 1500 penguins in the U.S.
Remember, there’s always a difference between strange questions and inappropriate
-- or even illegal -- questions
No one can ask you about anything covered under protected status like disability, sexual
orientation, or gender.
There’s more on this in our Crash Course Government series.
And questions like “do other people find you desirable?” could be considered harassment.
We all admire celebrity shutdowns of really inappropriate or insulting interviewers. Channel
your inner Rihanna, shut it down.
But if you’re asked something inappropriate, don’t feel forced to answer it directly.
So if you’re asked, “Are you religious?” -- a question which is illegal, by the way -- you could
say something like, “I value the right to freedom of expression.”
Or if you’re asked, “Where are you from?”
it isn’t necessarily illegal, but it could be evidence of discrimination against nationality.
So you could answer it with where you’re currently living.
It’s also important for you to avoid asking your interviewer inappropriate questions,
like “Do you have any more information on that impending lawsuit?”
That’s the kind of thing that’s best to research on your own, or ask about after
you’ve got a job offer.
It’s better to politely and directly ask about salary, time off, or other potential
problems once you’ve already wowed the crowd.
Instead, use your interview time to ask questions that demonstrate your priorities, your understanding
of the position, and your familiarity with the organization.
Show you’ve done your homework and that you value professional development by asking
things like, “I know that the Pawnee Parks and Rec department is dedicated to community
service.
Can you tell me more about your young leadership programs?”
Or give the interviewer a chance to talk about their work experience with, “What’s
your favorite thing about working for this company?”
Remember what we said about emotional influence?
Relevant and thoughtful questions will show that you’re professional and take pride
in your work.
You can also emphasize your professionalism by dressing nicely and conservatively, showing
up on time, and using the names of your interviewers.
Now, there’s a difference between professional and formal.
You don’t need to show up looking like you’re headed to the Met Ball.
But if you look good, you’ll feel good.
And the best way to knock an interview out of the park is to feel confident and relaxed.
Just like the Hitchhiker’s Guide says: Don’t Panic.
Instead of frantically reviewing your notes right before, which was fine in college, but
not so much now, prepare ahead of time.
That way, you can wait in that lobby while sipping on some of their fancy cucumber water
and chilling to your favorite music [-- Solange, anyone?]
And your work’s not done when the interview is over.
Use those written communication skills to send your interviewers a thank you note that
includes something memorable you talked about.
Then, sit back and be confident in the fact that you did your best.
If you don’t hear back right away, it’s okay.
Like the Oscars committee, it can take weeks for organizations to reach a decision.
If you absolutely need to know if you’re getting the job -- like if you have another
offer on the table or need to move cities -- politely ask with a follow-up email if
you’re still being considered for the position.
And soon enough, you’ll have found a new gig!
So, if you remember nothing else from this episode:
Know your show.
Do your research ahead of time so you’re not surprised.
Know yourself.
Figure out what skills you can emphasize and prepare interview answers ahead of time in
STAR format.
Know your enemy.
Strange questions happen, but don’t feel pressure to answer anything inappropriate.
Know your style.
Act professionally, dress for success, and send thank you notes.
Next time, we’re officially done with our days at the movies.
We’ll cover what happens after you get a job offer: becoming a master negotiator.
Crash Course Business is sponsored by Google and it’s made with the help of all these
nice people and Thought Cafe is our amazing animation team.
Crash Course is a Complexly production.
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