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Preparing for a Tough Job Interview
To ace your next one, try some of the same preparation techniques used by police officers competing for highly competitive promotions
Carmine Gallo | Business Week
September 08, 2008
I recently gave a communications lecture to a group of big city police officers. Most of the men and women were lieutenants preparing for the most important job interview of their careers—promotion to captain. The selection process is intense. These officers only get the opportunity to apply once every four years, and only a few will make it. Some are nearing retirement, so for them it could be the last chance to attain the rank of captain and all that goes with it: increased responsibility, higher visibility, more pay, and a far better pension for the rest of their lives.
Holding the rank of captain in a police department means communicating with various audiences: staff, commanders, media, elected officials, and community groups. So it makes sense that far greater weight is given to the oral section of the exam than in tests for previous positions. What’s fascinating is that how these job candidates perform on the oral exam will account for more than 50% of the grade.
Here are three techniques officers I met used to prepare for their grueling interview process. They could help you ace your next job interview:
1. Role-Play
Some of the officers I spoke to meet every week to study and conduct mock interviews with each other. They ask the toughest questions possible and critique each other on their answers. And get this—they even bring video cameras to the exercise so they can review their performances.
Most job candidates fail to prepare adequately. Preparation means more than simply reviewing possible questions in your head. It means sitting across from someone playing the role of the questioner. It means rehearsing answers to every potential question (or category of questions). It means placing a small video camera on a tripod and recording your interview. Put yourself through a mock interview scenario to succeed during the real deal.
DonnaMSmith99
28 days ago
2 comments
The Mock Interview is one of the most valuable tools for job seekers. Be it alone in the mirror/ video camera, your best friend, family member, or your study group the critique can be essential for making or breaking the interview.
I also agreed with the mentioning of wardrobe. I see in the workforce many women, who have either too short of skirt, to high slit in skirt, too much cleavage hanging out, or too tight of clothing. We as women demand to be treated fairly and with equality, yet in some choice of wardrobe, it completely discredits this demand. There is a place and time for our clothing to display our sexual intentions, the workplace is not one of them. It is my belief, to be viewed as intelligent and professional, my cleavage, thighs and buttocks, need not compete with my work. Another thought along this line is what happens when confronted with a woman giving the interview? If the wardrobe choice was made with the intention of "alluring" a prespective male boss? Therefore, in my opinion, if you want to nail the interview and obtain the position, professional dress is required.
Thank you for the great article. I look forward to many more.
-D. Smith, Buffalo, NY
kellyeaton13
about 1 month ago
2 comments
I truly agree with this article and with what the police officers she met are doing to prepare for interviews. I am a professional career advisor (12 years now) and these are things that I wish I could easily get my clients to do! I work with people from all sectors of the workforce, and I can tell you that the most successful job hunters are the ones who take this kind of initiative and go for it. The people who don't use these seem to need me to really walk them through all of this and I find a lot of resistance to doing anything like Mock Interview, which is actually a workshop that I teach, exactly the way she describes it in the audience, except I give most of the feedback. Hooray to the people willing to step out of their comfort zone and do what logically makes sense. There really is science behind your brain making new connections when you practice out loud and role play. Believe me, or, better yet, don't believe me; believe yourself. The next time you have a job interview, do what these folks did and anticipate the toughest questions you can think of. Have a friend whom you trust work with you on this and ask them to give you their honest feedback (yes, really honest...). You will likely be just like the independent people I've worked with who've done these things and find a job much, much faster than someone not willing to try!
cece03
about 1 month ago
24 comments
This was a very helpful article. However a little intimidating. I was currently employed for 41/2 yrs. at one location and it relocated. I had worked myself up from a cc operator to a Supervisor. When I was interviewing back then it took up two interviews for one position.
Now I heard it can take up to 7 per one position.
If any one else has any other helpul advise about interviews please let me know.
itsinprint
2 months ago
2 comments
Dr. Burns has a great section in his Feeling Good Handbook about The Five Principals of Dynamic Interviewing. This is a must read, not only for people that feel depressed but also for anyone going to a job interview!
SarahRibh
2 months ago
4 comments
its is just useful article ,ha...em so its sharing the experience,i guess how human resources people update themselves ?.......its from poeple to poeple .......hahaha.
SarahRibh
2 months ago
4 comments
It is just great information,if i would know that from long time i would get up the position i deam with,i think should everybody listen to it to get the real benefit even in your daily life.
queenB247lv
2 months ago
8 comments
I just recently got out of high school, and ive been looking for a job mean while i go to colege, which means alotttt of interviews! this article was great advise for me!
Anya
2 months ago
20 comments
Great article.
Insanitek
2 months ago
302 comments
This works well even for academia.