Stand Out from the Crowd in Interviews

In an Interview, How do you Stand out from the Crowd?
In a recent How to Prepare for the Interview workshop that I conducted, one of the participants commented about the last interview she had gone through. Her comment was about how “weird” the interviewer seemed to be. I asked for specifics of what made her feel that way about the interview and she said some of the questions he asked as well as some of the comments he made before the actual interview started, seems so off track and out of place. I just thought he was not very professional. I asked her if any of the questions and comments were off-color or seemed improper. She replied no, they just seemed irrelevant. She went on to say, I have been out of work for a while and was nervous and tense about going through an interview; I was in a no-nonsense mood and totally focused on business.
I asked her what exactly did he say that took you off balance. She said as he was getting ready for the interview and organizing papers on his desk, he was commenting on some problems he was having getting ready for a party they were having for his two-year-old daughter. I asked her what she said or did. She told me even though she was not into this conversation at all and simply wanted to get on with the interview she felt obligated to be sociable and say something so she told him she understood she has a two-year-old and a four-year-old and knows how trying it can be when their birthdays come around. I thanked her for her comment and told her how much I appreciated her bringing such an important and interesting scenario to our attention.
It points out things you should know before you go to an interview. First, remember she said he made comments before the interview started. Please know that all interviews start from the moment you walk into the facility where the interview will take place. Everything that takes place after that point may very well be part of the interview.
Second, as you probably know there are certain questions that an interviewer cannot ask an applicant, such as do you have any children and how old are they. However, without asking that question, this interviewer knows how many children this applicant has and their ages. This tactic to get you talking about things you did not intend to talk about, not to mention to get you to talk about them before you know you are talking about them is a learned skill for interviewers.
The procedure is much like what may take place with a polygraph test better known as a lie detector test. The administrator of the test may conduct a brief interview before any wires are attached to you and the official questions are asked. During this brief interview while the subject tends to believe the test has not started the administrator knows everything that goes on in this room even before the wires are attached is part of the polygraph test and he or she may very well get you to answer a question that you might answer differently once the wires are attached.

Finally and the heart of this article, I would like to point out a skill set that is less talked about but may be the very thing that helps you stand out from the crowd, Soft Skills. There are applicants that have great technical skills and clearly meet the qualifications for a position but fail to get the job because they lack the right soft skills.
Soft skills include such things as your people skills, how you handle yourself socially, your attitude and manners, your personality traits, your ability to think before you talk as well as your dress code, eye contact and body language. And just like with that polygraph test, what goes on before the wires are attached or the first official interview question is asked may have a lot to do with rather you get that job or not.
Here are some more soft skills for you to consider that also make great talking points about your abilities to use in an interview that will help you stand out from the crowd:
• Works well under pressure
• Listens for understanding
• A self-starter with the ability to learn fast
• Handles change well
• Works well with subordinates, co-workers and supervisors
• Respects and follows company policy
• Works well alone or as a team player
For more information and help preparing for your interview, please order a copy of my book The Road to Controlling Your Career and visit my website arcofsuccess.com.