What's Your Interview Style?
Here's a look at four distinct behaviors HR directors see all the time and how you can present yourself in the best light.
During a job interview, are you more apt to come across as a people-pleaser, a clam, a rambler or a warrior? In my 20 years as a human resources and hiring manager, I've interviewed a lot of people, and most job applicants often display aspects of one of these four interviewing styles -- each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. See whether you recognize yourself in any of these behavioral styles. Don't worry: No interview behavior is better or worse than the other. But if you recognize the approach most prevalent in your personality, you can improve your chances of getting the job.
SEE OUR SLIDE SHOW: 7 Interviewer Pet Peeves (And How to Avoid Them)
The People-Pleaser
In an interview setting, you feel the constant need to say what you think the interviewer wants to hear. Here’s a typical exchange between a hiring manager and a people-pleaser:
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
INTERVIEWER: "So where do you see yourself in five years?"
YOU: "Well, um, with luck, at this company, working under you, in whatever capacity serves the organization best."
Okay, take a deep breath. This fawning behavior can be a real disadvantage if your eagerness to please the interviewer doesn’t allow him or her to focus on anything else. You want your true personality, humor and creativity to emerge from the interview.
You can help combat excessive people-pleasing during your pre-interview preparation. Recount to yourself (or a friend) your best career power stories. These should be various scenarios at previous employers that best illustrate your ability to get the job done. Remember, you're an equal player in the face-to-face interview conversation. Let your talents and abilities show.
The Clam
It is not easy for many people to open up to complete strangers, but during the job hunt it's the name of the game. Tensing up and giving one-word responses to a hiring manager's questions doesn't allow you the opportunity to convey your strengths. While you may think keeping things short and sweet offers you a better chance of not screwing up, it actually does the opposite.
Here's a typical exchange between a hiring manager and a clam:
INTERVIEWER: "Tell me about yourself."
YOU: "It's really all listed on my resume."
Loosen up. To help improve your interview demeanor, have six or so work-related stories prepared in your head for you to tell when a relevant "story prompt" comes up during the conversation. Practice telling the stories in advance of the interview. An example would be when an interviewer asks something like, "How experienced are you in Excel?" Don’t simply respond, "I'm very experienced." Take the opportunity to share a story from your work experience: "A couple of years ago, we bought a subsidiary, and I had to design all the spreadsheets to value the subsidiary's assets, real estate holdings and the like. I did it in a week, and it was quite the trial by fire. I learned a lot."
The Rambler
Although it is important to share your power stories during an interview, a story has to have a point, as well as a beginning, middle and end. The hiring manager doesn’t need to hear your life story in the span of a 60-minute interview.
INTERVIEWER: "So how will your background help you to be successful in this position?"
YOU: (Nervous laughter) "I have a complicated story, actually. I come from a family of farmers from the Midwest. Naturally, when I expressed interest during my freshman year of college in wanting to pursue a career in business administration, that came as a bit of shock to my parents…"
Stop. A simple story format is one that best illustrates a problem you faced, the solution you found and the impact it had on the company. Practice answering interview questions with a friend and alone. You won't have as much of an urge to ramble if you've gone through in advance what you want to say and what you'd like your story to convey.
The Warrior
You might be someone who views each interview as a competition that must be won. Do you recognize yourself in this exchange?
INTERVIEWER: "Do you have any questions for me?"
YOU: "Yes: Why are we still talking when we should be signing my offer letter? Just kidding. But seriously, I don't stop until I get what I want, and I want this job."
The trouble with an extremely aggressive interview style is that the only people to appreciate it are likely to be type-A tyrants or crisis junkies -- and those types of managers typically aren’t fun to work for.
Fearful people tend to trumpet how fabulous they are, while truly confident people tend to be humble and honest. To help tone down your aggressiveness, look at the interview process as if it were a coffee date with a friend. The conversation should be tempered. The more comfortable you become at interviewing with different people and personality types, the less likely you’ll feel the need to dominate the conversation or serve as your own overzealous PR person.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Shrink From Highs as CPI Looms
The Nasdaq hit a new record early Tuesday but drifted lower into the closing bell.
By David Dittman Published
-
Tax Pros: Is Someone Fraudulently Using Your IRS PTIN?
Tax Filing An unmonitored preparer tax identification number (PTIN) can lead to serious issues.
By Kelley R. Taylor Published
-
How to Ask for a Pay Raise in 5 Easy Steps
careers When it comes to asking your boss for more money, all you need is good timing and the right preparation.
By Erin Burt Published
-
7 Foreign Countries Luring Americans to Work Abroad During the Pandemic
careers Work remotely – really remotely – in these appealing destinations offering special visas for American workers.
By Sean Lengell Published
-
Myths and Realities of Employment Law
business There are fewer "illegal" interview questions than you might think. And you may feel your workplace is hostile, but would a civil court judge agree?
By Liz Ryan Published
-
Baby-Boomers, Here's Your Wake-Up Call
business The workplace has changed dramatically. These days, there's more to maintaining a career than your day job. Get another oar in the water, fast.
By Liz Ryan Published
-
4 Sticky Job-Interview Situations and How to Handle Them
business The person you are supposed to meet isn’t in the office. Or they want you to dish gossip on your previous employer. Here's how to finesse such awkward moments.
By Liz Ryan Published
-
Interviewer Asking for Your Facebook Password? Be Wary
business If a potential employer requests that you hand over your log-in information to social media sites during an interview, expect worse if you're hired.
By Liz Ryan Published
-
Planning to Ask for a Pay Raise? Prepare First
business Before talking with your boss, make sure you're presenting the best case as to why you deserve a salary increase.
By Liz Ryan Published
-
Social Networking for Job-Seeking Boomers
business Advice for seasoned professionals on how to benefit from social media during a job search.
By Liz Ryan Published