by Trevor Gelder, Corporate Director
Talent Acquisition and Deployment
Every interview is a stressful event. Candidates want to make the best possible impression and potentially get a foot in the door of a great company and launch a lasting career. Nervous energy abounds, tongues tie, palms sweat. But most candidates don’t consider that it’s also stressful for the interviewer. Not all hiring managers interview on a daily or weekly basis. They study resumes, prepare the perfect questions and take deep breaths just like you. They have the pressure to find the absolute best candidate while not asking the wrong questions, not talking too much, not making the wrong assumptions, etc.
The best thing a candidate can do is have some questions ready so the interview becomes a conversation. Don’t just wait until the end when you are asked if you have questions. Instead, consider the entire interview an opportunity to let the interviewer know that you keep up with news and current events, are aware of the company’s important markets and have researched industry trends and happenings.
What’s the best way to interject? One way would be to say, “I understand from your company’s website that you plan to move further into healthcare markets. Do you anticipate the new federal legislation on healthcare initiatives will affect that effort?” Or, “I hear you are at the forefront of sustainability efforts, can you describe some of the specific green initiatives the company has embraced?”
Posing questions to the interviewer will allow him or her to share information about what they know best – their company and their expertise – which relaxes the interviewer, takes the pressure off of you and also helps you gauge if this is a person you can relate to – and could work with – on a daily basis.