Interviews Myth no. 2 & 3

Myth no. 2: Interviews are like school exams—the more you say, the better you’ll do

Yes, interviews are a bit like exams in so far as that you’re asked a
number of questions to which you need to respond intelligently,
but there the similarities end. Unlike exams, where lots of accurate
detail is important, interviews are more about interacting and rapport
building whilst simultaneously articulating smart answers. And a
smart answer is often not the most detailed. In fact, long and overly
detailed answers can drive interviewers to distraction, despite their
technical accuracy. Knowing when to stop talking is a skill all
successful interviewees have.
Also unlike many exams, there are often no right or wrong
answers in interviews. We’re all different and come to interviews
from different backgrounds and business sitations. What is important
at an interview is to justify your actions and talk about your
achievements in a confident manner.

Myth no. 3: Interviewers know what they’re doing
Some interviewers are very good at what they do, especially fulltime
professionals (provided they’re not suffering from interview
fatigue). However, many managers and owners of small businesses
often flounder because interviewing is not something they do on a
regular basis. Some sure signs of a bad interviewer are:
• They do most of the talking.
• They sound as though they’ve made up their mind about you
in the first five minutes.
• They seem to pluck their questions randomly out of the ether.
• Their phone keeps ringing and they answer it.


interview myths 3
• They sound like very sharp and less-than-honest salespeople
when it comes to selling the job.
Some sure signs of a good interviewer are:
• They have their questions carefully prepared in advance.
• They want to know what you’ve done and how you’ve done it,
including specific examples.
• They let you do most of the talking.
• They may want to interview you more than once.
• They will try to make you feel at ease.
• They are genuinely interested in your accomplishments, skills
and the type of person you are.
Inexperienced interviewers generally don’t ask the right questions
and can easily be swayed by factors that have little to do with your
ability to perform in the job. So if you are being interviewed by an
inexperienced interviewer, don’t wait to be asked a good question—
one that will allow you to talk about all your wonderful skills and
qualities. Rather, take the initiative in as unobtrusive a way as possible
and talk about the things you feel the interviewer might really want
to know. Unfortunately, this may not always be possible—especially
if you’re being interviewed by a forceful personality who loves the
sound of their own voice. If ever you find yourself in such a situation,
don’t panic. Remind yourself that interviews are just as much about
rapport-building as they are about answering questions. So nod your
head, smile and make all the right noises—talkative interviewers
love people who agree with them.