2020 Graduates & the Job Market-Beat the Odds (2 of 2) (Copy)
This is the second of two blogs for 2020 graduates on winning a great job. Last week, I shared ideas for developing a solid resume that can be customized to match the “magic words” found in a job advertisement. Computers do much of the initial screening. Your resume and application must reflect those job-description words to get to the next level, a request for an interview!
Right after the extreme fear of public speaking comes the strong fear of the interview. Do you think it would help if you knew what to expect? Sure it would! Smart students and their families want to succeed. Getting your hands on the most commonly used interviewing playbook gives you a big advantage. It would be like getting a sneak preview of the final exam in your toughest course!
Your wish is granted. Here’s the sneak peek at the final exam of interviewing! There are two major types of interview systems; Competency-Based Behavioral Interviews, or CBBI, and all the others you’ve heard about or experienced. The CBBI system is how Fortune 500 companies are interviewing for entry-level positions. The company identifies 7-10 core competencies (things like Achievement, Initiative, Integrity, etc). They ask you for real-life examples of how you handled a situation that demonstrates an important competency. For example, you can’t just “say” you are very organized, you have to “demonstrate it” through a true story. They will probe with follow up questions if your answer is not clear or thorough. This well-structured system is legally compliant and easily repeatable with every candidate. It provides a more accurate comparison among the applicants in the candidate pool.
Be forewarned that smaller companies, especially those without a Human Resources department or director, may not use the CBBI process. However, preparing for the CBBI will give you terrific answers to any style interview you encounter. The structured answer you provide will likely be much better than your competitors.
So, what must you do to stand out and become the top candidate for your dream position?
Get the best book I’ve seen about CBBI. Parents, unless you recruit college grads for a living, get some help here. Let me suggest a great book, Competency Based Interviews. Author Robin Kessler wrote a “tell-all” book on exactly HOW to demonstrate your skills. She teaches you the “secret” to nailing every question with a great answer. Additionally, she provides classic interview tips on dress, demeanor, and those thank you notes. If you follow her directions and DO THE WORK, you will become an outstanding candidate and get job offers.
Train, practice, repeat. Why people think they can just roll in and wow the interviewers with their great personality mystifies me. Let me assure you, your Fortune 500 interviewer is professionally trained and experienced. You ARE competing. Someone will win. It needs to be you. Why not train for what is to come, practice competency-based interviewing with a friend, and ask them to help you identify any weaknesses? You must commit to training to interview well, the way you would train to play well on any sports team. That takes practice, dedication & focus.
Assess, Alter, and Get Better! After every interview, as soon as possible write down the questions you were asked, the responses you gave, and their followup questions. After a day or two, study your notes to see how you might do it better in the future. Failing to assess & alter your direction will keep you from getting better. I am currently taking piano lessons; my teacher reminds me to practice it correctly so I don’t have to fix a bad habit later on. Sage advice.
Wash, Rinse & Repeat. Even with a lot of practice, chances are your first three interviews will have some rough edges. Welcome to the club. BUT- if you have trained for CBBI questions, you may still become their top candidate! Even if they don’t use CBBI, your well-structured responses recommended in the book will make you stand out. Invest in Robin Kessler’s book on interviewing. It can shorten the job search and improve your graduates’ opportunities immensely.
In addition to the book, get an old-fashioned notebook to gather all your information about any position you may apply for; contacts, location, impressions, special information, etc. You can’t store all you need to remember on your phone. Your notes will help you recall significant details after you’ve been on several interviews. Those notes can help you choose the right position from among the many I believe you could receive.
Good luck! BUT- make your own luck by learning the secrets to being THE best candidate!
Until next time,
All my best,
Bonnie Burkett
