4 Life Lessons I Have Learned from Job Interviews
I really don’t enjoy job interviews. Perhaps, though, I have just had one too many over the past few weeks. In any case, I realized the other day that job interviews are actually a great way to learn about yourself and about life. They force you to think about the past (what you have done), the present (what you are doing), and the future (what you plan on doing). And with all these things on your mind, it’s impossible not to think about life in a greater context.
1. It is not so much about your weaknesses, but rather what you are doing about them
“What is your greatest weakness?” is a classic interview question. For anyone who is tempted to reply “nothing”, I suggest you read my article If You Want to Change, Tell the Truth. Anyway, whilst the interviewer will pay attention to what you claim is your greatest weakness, they are generally more interested in knowing what you are doing about it.
When it comes to life, it is easy to dwell on what is going wrong or what we don’t have. Personally I think it is fine to acknowledge these concerns, but then it is time to move on and start taking positive action to address them.
2. You have to sell yourself
Interviews are about convincing the interviewer(s) that you are the best person for the job. To successfully do this, you must sell yourself as a person. Your skills and experience are important, but so is the ability to clearly show that you are someone who can be trusted, is positive, and presents well.
It is not just in job interviews that selling yourself is necessary. In fact, there are endless situations where it is important to step up and promote yourself as a person. These situations include starting a business, asking a girl/ guy out out on a date, speaking at a conference, or standing in front of a classroom of kids.
(Also see my article How to Sell Yourself at PickTheBrain)
3. Keep a record as you go along
Interviewers love behavioral questions. The basic premise behind these questions is that the best way to predict how you will perform in a job is by looking at what you have done in the past. Personally, I would prefer to talk about what I will do for a new company rather than what I have done in the past… but I’m getting distracted….. now where was I? Ok, so the best way to prepare for behavioral questions is to keep a career journal of your successes and achievements as they happen.
Life really is no different in my opinion. Having a diary, writing in a journal, recording life reminders, and taking photographs/ video footage are all a great way to keep a record of those moments worth remembering.
4. It’s important to look ahead
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?” is another classic interview question. Employers want to see that you have goals, direction, and ambition. And for good reason as these things are important ingredients for career success.
When it comes living a successful life, it is essential to look ahead to the future. If you only live for the moment, it is quite possible that 5 years down the line you will find yourself stuck a situation that you hate. For example, achieving financial independence and having a comfortable retirement are two wealth related goals that, in most cases, need to be planned for and worked towards over a number of years.
Photo by tinou bao.
11 Comments
October 18th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
It looks as if my first comment didn’t get saved. I just asked why not talk about your past accomplishments in terms of what you think the new company needs? It seems to me you’re not trying to sell yourself as a great guy, but as an asset to the company.
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October 19th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Well I would like to sell myself as a great guy AND an asset to the company, but the latter is the far more important (as you suggested Jean).
In regards to answering interview questions, I don’t really have a problem with what to say. After that one bad interview I wrote about, the others have been fine. I’m doing lots of interviews so that I have a few offers to choose from
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October 19th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Hey Peter,
Part 4 is probably the most important, in my opinion. A company like to know if you are ambitious and forward looking. If you are, you will probably also be self-motivated and hard-charging. So it is definitely a must to have a long-term goal.
Cheers
James
PS: Good information. Stumbled!
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October 19th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Thanks James, glad you enjoyed it.
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October 19th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I see ‘X Life Lessons I Learned From Y’ posts are the linkbait fad of the moment
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October 19th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
No offense against the content though, I’ve just seen this format several times lately. One post does well with it and everyone tries to copy it.
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October 19th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Jared: I understand what you mean, especially if you are stumbling and come across that too many articles that have the same formula within a few minutes. I suggest having a look back through some of my recent articles (there is a recent articles widget in the right sidebar) - I normally try to have a bit of fun with my article titles and mix things up.
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October 20th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Peter, your points is great but it all depend on what type of job you are looking for and the personality of interviewer. Sell yourself but never oversell. Goal is definitely a yes but watch the interviewer response. Some interviewers feel threaten when you tell them your goal especially when it affect their authority and position. Then again, if that is the kind of attitude the interviewer has, the company may ne a good one to be with but the department definitely is not.
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October 20th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
SK: that is true. I guess I am more likely to undersell myself than oversell, which is why it is something that has been on my mind lately. Thanks for the comment.
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October 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Peter, the dreaded interview process! In my opinion it comes down to having the right Attitude. Having a Positive Attitude will set you on a path of success. It’s a powerful energy force that you can surround yourself with if you decide to put in motion. People around you including the interviewer will feel your energy and hopefully will lead to a positive outcome. Think of the the positive things about yourself and sell your benefits. Never, under sell yourself. If you have a bad experience, ask for feedback and learn from it. Suggested reading “Body Language” by Allan Pease. And I love to personally share more on my experience in my personal blog over here.
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October 20th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Hi Michael, thanks for the book tip - I’m always on the lookout for book suggestions. Nice blog as well.
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