Interview Cheat Sheet - Feb 2, 2024 Newsletter

Hey, you — no cheating! 👮 Okay, so maybe it’s alright to cheat a little bit when it comes to going in for a job interview. Let’s talk about the most effective ways you can prepare and what hiring managers are actually looking for.

⚾ PLUS… Hit a home run on that upcoming job interview with our Interview Questions Worksheet.

A typical job ad receives an average of 118 applications. Of those, just 10–20 % are offered a job interview — sometimes less. 😱

The point is that when applying for a job, you’re competing with a ton-load of people interested in the same position. If you’re lucky to make it past the initial screening (hint: you’ll need an ATS-friendly résumé for this), you’re still running against a dozen or so fellow applicants hoping to bag the job.

It really boils down to nailing the interview if you want to tip the scales in your favor. ⚖️ And these hacks will help you do just that:

• Do your prep. Research the company, learn as much as you can about your interviewers, prepare for common questions, and test your skills with a mock interview with friends.

• Dress appropriately. Choose an outfit that demonstrates your professionalism; make sure it’s clean, freshly pressed and comfortable.

• Be punctual. In fact, try to arrive 10–15 minutes early. If you know you’re going to be late, make sure you have a good reason for it and that you let your interviewer know ASAP.

• Mind your body language. Give a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, keep your hands on the table… Anything else could show a lack of confidence and interest.

• Use psychology to your advantage. This includes mirroring the interviewer’s body language, finding common interests and repeating their name during the interview when possible.

• Treat it like a conversation. Interviews are as much about you learning about the job and company as it’s about the hiring manager learning about you and your experience.

• Follow up. Send a “thank you” note within a couple of hours of your interview, reiterating your interest and touching upon something you discussed during the meeting.

Good luck! 🙏

40 % of employers reject Gen Z candidates 😶

Sometimes, we learn by mimicking people whose behaviors are well-thought-out and effective. Other times, we learn by observing behaviors that lead to terrible outcomes and doing the exact opposite of what we see. 👀

When it comes to job interviews, one generation falls in the latter category: they show us, unfortunately, many things that must be avoided if we’re looking to actually land the job we’ve got our eye on. That generation is Gen Z.

4 in 10 employers — that’s right: a whole 40 % — report rejecting these young candidates in favor of older applicants. The reason is that they find Gen Zers’ job interview personas unprofessional: they reportedly often don’t dress the part, fail to maintain eye contact, and use inappropriate language. 😫

To be honest, any reasonable adult could identify this as stemming from a lack of experience and confidence. And it’s true: Gen Z have been known to struggle with poor mental health. They are, in the words of child psychiatrist Stuart Lustig, “the loneliest, least resilient demographic alive”.

On the one hand, we can’t expect young adults fresh out of college or high school to behave the same way that members of older generations do. On the other, we can’t expect hiring managers to place their trust in candidates who seem to lack self-esteem.

So, perhaps the most useful thing we can do as parents, colleagues and mentors is support the young adults in our lives as best as we can. 🤗

Knock the interview out of the park 🏏

Got a job interview coming up? You’re gonna need this: our completely editable Interview Questions Worksheet to help you prepare winning answers to common questions — and impress the hiring manager.

Stay tuned for more awesome gifts.

Catch you on the flippity flip :)

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