In today s competitive job market, both interviewers and candidates far too often make easily avoidable mistakes. Korn/Ferry International, the world s leading provider of recruitment solutions, has provided their top three interview tips for both hiring and obtaining senior management positions. Korn/Ferry s list identifies the most frequently made mistakes and offers counsel to prevent them.
Top Three Tips for the Candidate:
There is no such thing as the SVP of "leveraging my background" Establish a clear objective with specific career goals. The more directed your objective, the more attractive you will be as a candidate. Don t be vague in articulating your goals - be specific. A VP of "keeping my options open" doesn t exist. Don t be afraid to state your goals. You will only come across as a more self-assured candidate. If you re not the right person for this particular job, you may very well be considered for another one.
Don t be afraid of the period - There is power in silence during an interview. Answer the question, but don t ramble. Senior management candidates often succumb to nerves, and wander into areas that are either not of interest to the interviewers or serve only to highlight their insecurities. Pause, think about the question asked, and be thoughtful and concise with your answer.
Ask for the sale - As a candidate, be clear that you want this job. Too often, candidates don t appear eager or interested enough during an interview. Showing up and being articulate doesn t guarantee the job - make sure you voice your interest in the position. Tell the interviewer you are excited to be considered for this opportunity.
Top Three Tips for the Employer:
Forget the guest/host mentality - Try to escape the guest/host relationship as quickly as possible. Instead, find a common denominator on which to build a conversation. Once you put aside the formalities, the interview will provide you with far more insight into the candidate.
Don t think in black and white - A resume will only reveal so much. The goal should be to peel away the words and bold text and try to find out the true character of the candidate. Your frame of mind should be to converse in a real conversation, much like meeting someone in a social setting for the first time. Don t focus on resume bullet points. Instead, use the time to delve into other topics of conversation that will paint a more accurate picture of the candidate.
Don t forget that interviewing is hard work - Interviewing is not easy and no one should try to wing an interview for senior management. Prepare yourself. Look at the resume ahead of time in order to identify two or three things you want to ask. Know your company s needs and culture and understand how a particular candidate s skills could be an asset. Determine whether the candidate s background fits with your company s vision. If it does, you ve probably got a winner.
Jerry McGrath, Senior Client Partner in the New York office of Korn/Ferry International, is a member of the firm''s U.S. Human Resource Practice. Mr. McGrath specializes in senior-level Human Resource searches. He has over 20 years of HR experience in investment banking, communications and marketing organizations.
