Q: I am preparing for a huge interview and want to have good answers for the tough questions. What do you advise?
A: Candor wins over canned responses. While this has always been at least somewhat true, honesty is highly sought particularly in an environment where the number of start-ups and smaller, leaner organizations is on the rise. Interviewers are more focused than ever on really getting to know how you function – particularly under stress. Some organizations go as far as to have their most senior leaders take rigorous behavioral tests to ensure they have the right stamina, skills, aptitude and attitude to succeed.
There has been a lot of recent discussion on this topic. The Harvard Business Review has a series of blogs commenting on the article, “The Right Way to Answer ‘What Is Your Weakness?’” (Reese, David. January 2014 < http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/01/the-right-way-to-answer-whats-your-greatest-weakness/>). In the article, Reese’s position is that anything short of honesty will not work in today’s environment.
While candor requires courage, draw your strength by understanding the interviewer really wants to make the right choice but cannot do so without truly getting to know you. Also, consider that you will make an ally and a colleague in the process by conducting yourself with integrity even if the “fit” isn’t right for you to be offered the position.
The advice to be candid about ones shortcomings used to be that candidates should formulate their responses about weaknesses into an outline of “strengths.” That way, they would avoid conceding any weakness at all. That approach is clearly passé and may actually hurt you in the long run either by being hired for a job you might not be ready to take on or by being perceived as somewhat dishonest thereby not earning the aforementioned ally.
Therefore, be honest, direct and forthcoming about areas for growth once you establish that the interviewer has a genuine interest in discovering who you are. Such self-disclosure is particularly helpful if you have been proactive to address obvious shortcomings. Informing your interviewer that you have taken courses, sought advice or otherwise taken responsibility for your own professional growth is bound to serve you well as you seek new opportunities.
With the goal of candor in mind, prepare for your interview by doing a couple of mock sessions with colleagues who are both rigorous and supportive. Have them pull out unusual, probing questions that really require critical thinking about your successes and contributions as well as evaluation of your weaknesses without flinching. But, be thoughtful about how you present your candid self. It is still not a great idea to just let it all “hang out” there.
Contact Karen Alphonse at Karena@execSearches.com or visit ExecSearches.com for more information about our career coaching services.
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