Anupam Koul is a serial entrepreneur and techno-business thought-leader. He is president of the board at Marlborough product engineering solutions firm Envisage, Inc. His full profile is at www.linkedin.com/in/anupamkoul.
Updated: January 11, 2021
know how
How to become an interview ninja
By Anupam Koul
Interview taking is an art. Some perform it better than others. For many the mere thought of interviewing has them break into a sweat. However, there is no need to despair because anyone can master techniques making interviewing easy. Follow these golden rules, and you can become an interview ninja.
Portray yourself professionally. Interviews are done over phone, video or in person. Getting situated appropriately for an interview is imperative. Nothing derails interviews faster than bad connections, equipment malfunction or lack of a professional demeanor. Interviewees must dress the part and be in a quiet, well-connected and comfortable place.
The 5-5-5 rule. Arriving to an interview late is the worst disservice one can do to themselves. Planning, preparing and starting early should be the norm. Give yourself 5 minutes to settle in, 5 minutes to focus on interview details, and 5 minutes to relax. This will help you feel settled, ready and in-charge.
Be your best self. Sloppiness can show in many ways. Offensive body odor, dressing inappropriately, not carrying a copy of one’s own resume, walking in without a notepad or a pen are examples. One can never go wrong in carrying to the interview an organizer with notepad and pen, reference letters, resume copy, and other pertinent artifacts like certificates and diplomas.
Name dropping helps. Everyone and everything today has an indelible digital footprint. This imprint carries more weight than even our true persona. Interviewees should be mindful of this and should use this to their advantage. Dig up the latest company news, learn about their products and technology, and look up your interviewer(s) profile(s) online. Use LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Glassdoor and others. Check your online profile so you are not caught unawares. Be ready to namedrop, as common connections boost one’s credibility just that iota more.
I vs. we. Your conversations should focus on conveying how you individually contributed to your work, and what areas you led and drove. Interviewers are simply interested in you and not your team.
Do in Rome as Romans do. Different folks, different strokes. Every interviewer has their own style of interviewing. An interviewee is best served in observing, learning and matching an interviewer’s cadence as closely as they can.
Conversation, not interrogation. A two-way conversation makes for a better interview than monotony of one-sided questioning. Use the interview as an opportunity to showcase your awareness, knowledge and intellect. Inquire about the job, company, and prospects.
3 C’s of communication. Remember to be clear, crisp and concise in your conversations. Portray clarity of thought, convey it succinctly with a direct answer, and provide to the point explanation with just the right amount of detail. Brevity is best.
Attitude and aptitude. Interviews are as much about assessing fit to a team as they are about gauging caliber and capability. Listening patiently, speaking in turn, exhibiting interest and demonstrating preparedness percolates one right to the top of a viable candidate list.
Protect confidentiality. Be aware and refuse to divulge details infringing on any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements signed previously. Questions should be answered in generalized terms and, as needed, interviewers should be made aware of confidentiality restrictions.
Impassioned responses. Bad mouthing a previous boss or employer is almost always viewed negatively. A better alternative is to admit a mistake or give the other party a pass.
Ryan Sylvia, CEO at Envisage, contributed to this article.
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