One Tip for Making Immediate Inroads During Your Interview

May 10, 2020

There is one person on this planet that we all love talking about:

OURSELVES.

Now, before this turns you for the door, please hear me when I say it isn't meant to offend or suggest a shallow nature, it's simply proven psychology -- and you can use it to your career's advantage to make your wins bigger, sooner, and with less guessing.

The fact is, we know our stories best and our experiences shape how we view the world and relate to others.

So if we want to connect with, say, a hiring manager in an interview, and people enjoy talking about their own story, then let’s get to know theirs.

When it comes to interview prep, put researching your interviewer at the top of your list. Now, enter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Do some digging on these social networks to find commonalities and points of interest to help direct your interview. What groups are they in? What awards and statistics do they list? Like Dale Carnegie teaches in his bestselling How to Win Friends and Influence People, “talk in terms of the other person’s interests.”

What is their background?

Do they have obvious hobbies on their social pages?

Are they a proud alumni of their university?

Would you like to know more about their biggest achievement?

How do your goals and interests align or benefit theirs?

To forge genuine connections, find out what is important to them and let that help curate your conversation. 

"But Claire, I wasn't told the name of my interviewer."

If you don't already know whom to expect, you can always call and ask. Your best bet may be HR or to check in with whomever set up your interview. If it was a referral by a friendly contact, they may know. Try LinkedIn and see if you can find a match for the email you were sent to set an interview time.

Get creative and get sleuthing.

** I realize that sometimes this isn't possible and that video interview submissions have become more common in recent years, so do your best.**

Now that you have a name, do your research. 

The interview is as much about making an authentic connection as it is about showcasing the benefits you bring to the table. Dig deep enough to learn about where your interviewer is from, a few interests, and general details of his or her career path.

Can you relate? Did you have common targeted clients? Have you been in their industries before? Where can you connect with them authentically?

Remember however, let’s not go overboard. We’re not looking for Dexter-level research or shoe sizes or anything.

And while there’s no need to bring up the fact that you have done a deep dive on this person's life, I do suggest you use what you found to bring up common interests, to ask engaging questions about past work and projects from LinkedIn, and to keep the conversation an insightful volley.

You wouldn't call on your most important client without doing this kind of focused research, and when it comes to acing your interview, you want to set yourself up for success in the very same way.

Soon you'll be connecting with this individual and we all know, people hire those they like. To break the ice, make inroads, then forge a connection without breaking a sweat, do your research -- it will pay off in a big way.

Follow Traction Resume on Facebook and leave a comment of the top three things you wished interviewers knew about YOU before the interview.