Military Careers, Second Careers - Marine Corps Times

Essential advice for interview success

Interviews involve more than answering questions. Getting the job means being prepared, understanding what you have to offer and providing brief, concise answers.

When it comes to nailing the interview, follow the five C’s, according to Romona Camarata, a senior executive career coach and consultant. Remember to converse, connect, convince, be confident and come clean.

Camarata advises her clients not to feel compelled to tell their life stories when answering questions.

“Don’t lose the thought of what you are trying to relay by a long response,” she said. “The company wants to know what you can do for them.”

Converse

Start off by saying thanks for the opportunity. Briefly introduce yourself and describe your background. This introductory time will answer some questions the interviewer has and help him or her formulate others during the interview.

“Telling them that you are researching jobs within the industry gives them an idea that you are focused,” Camarata said.

Connect

Ask questions to keep the interview moving.

“Talking during an interview should be 50/50,” Camarata said. Listen to what the company is looking for and explain how your skills apply. Describe problems you’ve resolved in your military job. And always be a good listener, so you can provide good answers.

Convince

Present your skills in a convincing manner and be effective in telling your story. One dramatic method: State a problem or opportunity that presented itself to you. Use action steps to explain how you solved the problem. Discuss the results of your actions, and include specific details such as timelines and numbers of people involved.

“Let the interviewer know how your steps affected the bottom line within your area of responsibility,” Camarata said. Discuss your experiences and how they can benefit the company.

Be confident

Use strong body language. Smile. Keep things positive. Mirror what the interviewer does. If he or she leans forward, you should lean forward. If he or she stands, you should stand.

“Your body language shows you are paying attention,” Camarata said. “It puts in their mind that you are a candidate they should be looking for.” If the interviewer asks for a conflict you have incurred in a prior job, tell him or her how you resolved it. Offer good results.

Come clean

As the interview ends, make sure your perceptions of the job and its responsibilities match what the interviewer has conveyed. Recap what was said in the interview.

Be prepared to answer any interviewer’s assessment that you “may be overqualified” by strongly conveying your interest in the job and emphasizing what you can do for the company.