7 Things to Demonstrate in Every Interview

Here are some tips for acing that next interview!

Often times people preparing for interviews spend more time thinking about what they are going to say than they do focusing on what they want to show the interviewer. Below are seven key things that can help you ace an interview if you can find the right way to demonstrate them.


Passion
This one is an absolute no brainer but if you can't get show a certain level of energy or excitement about the job opportunity why would anyone want to give you the job. Furthermore, passion is contagious! If you bring this to the interview, chances are you will be able to transfer some of that energy to the interviewer. So smile, be positive, and show them you want it!


Grit
You can’t easily measure grit with metrics but an interviewer will know it when you see it. Grit means different things to different people but to me it all boils down to perseverance of effort without loss of passion or enthusiasm. The best way to typically show grit in an interview is through the art of storytelling. Go to an interview prepared to speak about a time you failed but didn’t give up and were able to emerge victorious in the end. Owning your failures and showing you can learn and grow from them not only demonstrates grit, but also is a clear indication of emotional intelligence.


Preparedness
This one is a deal breaker for me. As a sales leader, I expect my reps to know their customers and their business’ through and through before they every even engage with them. An interview should be no different. If you know who you are interviewing with, why wouldn’t you look them and their business up, try to identify their care abouts, and search for some common ground? Why would anyone want to go into a meeting blind? You shouldn’t, and you should make sure the interviewer knows you’ve done your research and came prepared.


Impact Beyond Role
It’s easy to over-focus on your own individual successes in an interview, but focusing on the impact you’ve had on others and the broader organization will get the interviewers looking at you as a leader. Show ways you’ve made an exponential impact through others or how you go above and beyond your job description simply because that’s who you are!


Direction
Conviction of direction is huge for me. If you are interviewing for a role, you need to show the panel that you didn’t make the decision to pursue that role overnight. Show them that everyday you are taking calculated steps to prepare you to make an immediate difference in this role. Show the panel that you know exactly where you are trying to go with your career and that you are running toward something and not away from something. Lastly, make them feel like their opening is your top priority, nobody wants to hire someone who put them second.


Ability to Establish a Rapport
Being able to connect with people is essential in the workplace. If you can establish a rapport in an interview, you will be able to do so in the office as well. This helps the interviewer feel more comfortable about your ability to mesh well with a team and gets them to look at you more as a person than just a candidate.
​

Follow Through
The final thing you need to demonstrate in an interview actually takes place after the interview, and that is follow through. This is critical to sealing the deal. In the process of an interview, if you engage the interviewer as you should, you should leave with several take aways or action items. Follow up with the interviewer after the interview and show your commitment to the role, and follow through with any action items you left with to show you take the opportunity seriously. Just know this, if you don't follow up and follow through in an interview, one of the people you are competing with for the role will!