What if your job interview required that you engage in a head to head challenge with the other candidates.
Imagine… every word you said, every move and mistake you made being caught on camera, broadcast to millions of people and analyzed by experts and commentators for days to come.
In essence, that’s exactly what occurs during the candidate debates. These face-offs are no doubt the ultimate interviews for the world’s toughest job; they’re incredibly nerve-wracking, and critically important.
Every day, I coach job seekers as they embark on their often-challenging adventures in interviewing. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been tracking successes, and blunders, of the Republican and Democratic candidates, and have been pointing out those Dos and Don’ts to job candidates. Here they are…
The Candidate’s Top To-Dos
Manage Body Language: Sometimes candidates are so concerned with what they have to say that they don’t think about how they look. Body language and hand gestures can, and should be used advantageously. When greeting someone, the handshake should be warm and sincere. Don’t be in a rush to let go of the hand you are shaking. If you want to express honesty and openness, whether standing or sitting during your discussion, make sure to keep arms open. To add impact to your words and holds the attention of listeners, make sure you’re using hand gestures.
Shift Conversation: Politicians plan their approach long before debate day. They master the art of expertly shifting the conversation to the issues they want to discuss. Before an interview, you should do the same. Plan out the major points that you want to make. Then, during the interview, find a subtle way to shift the conversation so that you are able to drive those points home.
Share Concise and Quantifiable Success Stories: Long, drawn out conversations are tiresome and frequently meander. The debaters worked to make their arguments quick and pointed. As a job candidate, it is vital that you concentrate on keeping your comments focused and your language clear. It is also critical to give detailed results of your achievements as opposed to general comments. The candidates throw out many facts and figures to underscore their successes and so should you!
Connect on a Personal Level: The candidates are pros at engaging their audience. They speak to people by name, they ask probing questions to sway the conversation in their favor and they re-iterate the concerns that their questioner may have. This is a communication skill that will serve you well during interviews.
What NOT To Do: Learn From The Debate
Don’t Over-Do the Facial Expressions: Pursed lips, strangely enthusiastic smiles, bulging eyes. These are just a few of the facial expressions and cues that were analyzed by the press following the debates. These expressions send a silent signal that the speaker may be aggressive, uncomfortable or overly emotional. While facial expressions are hard to control, being aware of them is the first step in changing your demeanor.
Don’t Interrupt: During the debates, the candidates who interrupted came across as hyperactive and lacking self-control. These traits are not valued in a leader OR in an employee. However, you can increase your value by showing that you have the ability to pay attention, take in new information, and make others feel valued—all of which begin with listening.
Don’t Talk Too Fast: Instead of appearing calm, cool and professional, some have criticized the debaters who rattled off information and chomped at the bit. Of course, debaters and interviewees are nervous, but showing a calm demeanor gives the appearance of confidence and honesty.
Don’t Be Over Confident: Cocky candidates may come across in 2 different ways. Sometimes, they come across as lazy, entitled and undeserving of our vote–and the job. Other times, overconfident candidates appear swaggering and domineering. Confidence is no substitute for readiness. Be prepared with your research and show sincerity during your interviews.
A good debate performance can shift the polls and strong interviewing skills can secure jobs. Just like the political debates, every interview is either an opportunity to convince or a chance to fail. What else can we learn from the presidential candidate debates? Without being political, how can presidential candidates and job seekers correct their stylistic flaws? Please share your thoughts.