Has this ever happened to you? You’ve planned to achieve a goal (SMART Goal and the works) and done the required actions.

You’ve reached milestones along the way and actually getting close to goal achievement only to fail at the last hurdle?

It happens.

I’ve seen this more times than I can remember when it comes to job hunting whether it’s been my experience or that of others.

And it’s confusing. Especially if you’re on a job hunt, passing all the rounds only to get stumped at the final interview.

The head-hunter tells you that the prospective employer liked you but there was another stronger candidate who got the prize trophy – the job offer and appointment letter.

That’s exactly what happened with a professional who contacted me on LinkedIn looking for answers for failed last round interviews.

In her case, it wasn’t a one off but a series of interviews for jobs where she appeared to be well-qualified and then losing out in the final round.

This lady is a complete stranger and I don’t know her which made it difficult to assess if she was doing something wrong or dig into the deeper issues.

Since she wasn’t interested in talking to me and was looking for a Band-Aid solution. She didn’t understand that there could be deeper issues or the fact that she was positioning herself as a commodity.

The only suggestions I could give her were to get feedback from the head-hunter who was sending her for interviews, reflect on what could be a common factor in all these failed interviews and fix it.

That seemed to be her quick fix solution and hopefully she’ll get the job next time round.

But there is more to nailing the final job interview in a market where there is no dearth of talent. One simply has to stand out from the noise at each step of the job hunt process starting right from the job application to the last round.

It requires shifts in behaviour and especially mind-set to emerge a winner.

If you too have had this experience, then this post is meant for you. I’m outlining a 4-step reverse goal setting process that will improve your chances of getting the job.

A different approach to goal achievement – Reverse Engineering

In goal setting, whether it’s for a new job or desired results, most of us normally begin building our plan from start to finish that would move us from Point A to Point B.

We set up the S.M.A.R.T Goal, outlining the steps we’d take as well as the date by which each step would need to be completed.

In essence we create a forward-looking plan.

With reverse goal setting or goal engineering, we aren’t simply reversing the direction of the plan but are adopting a different perspective to enable us to identify what it’s actually going to take to achieve our desired result.

Instead of looking at chronological steps first, we look at the activities we need to do and then put them in a chronological order.

It changes our perspective because we might discover there are steps where more effort or research is required in the goal achievement process.

This approach ties up with out of the box thinking and is a complementary resource to traditional goal setting because it provides us with more alternatives and a robust plan of action to achieve the end result.

There are different approaches to reverse goal setting depending upon the goal to be achieved.

It could be a case of outlining milestones that will lead to the final outcome or prioritizing activities and then taking action to achieve them.

Here’s how I would approach it using the example of performing well in the final interview round.

Step 1: Begin with the end in mind – what’s your ultimate goal?

This step is no different from the traditional goal planning method because in order to achieve a goal, we need to determine what our desired end result is.

We need to determine the outcome and a specific date of completion and then move to the second step.

In our final interview round example, we’d state our ultimate goal as

By X date, I will have an appointment letter for Y job.

Considering that we need to take into account factors that are outside our control or sphere of influence, let’s rephrase it to a more realistic goal

By X date, I will give an interview that makes me the most viable candidate for the job and the hiring company considers my candidature seriously.

Step 2: The Brain Dump

The next step is to get all the ideas that you have to achieve your goal down in writing and organize them.

Get a piece of paper and pen or open a document on your computer and set the timer for 15 minutes.

During these 15 minutes write down every idea you have to achieve the goal.

Don’t stop to consider if it’s a good idea or not or whether it’s a workable idea. That comes later. Right now, we need to brainstorm on what possible actions we can take to achieve our goal.

Now look at the list and sort out the activities that are doable and will help you get to your goal and those that while they sound good on paper are not feasible for the goal or not that important.

Make as good a note as you can about the time and resources you will need for each activity.

Transfer the doable ones which you think are important on a clean sheet of paper.

In our example the brainstorming ideas could include:

Read the papers for any news about the company

Find out more about the interviewing team

Get teeth cleaned by a dentist before final round so I have a shiny toothy smile (grooming for executive presence)

Research the company for details that I can use to show I’m aware about their corporate culture

What kind of questions can I be asked, how do I prepare for them?

How can I demonstrate Executive Presence? (The checklist and extra tips in the below freebie answers this question)

Step 3: Prioritize your activities

Armed with our list, the next step is to prioritize our activities and list them in the order that we need to achieve them.

Think about creating a starting outline to begin the sequencing.

Each of these activities might require being set up as mini-goals in which case, subject them to the SMART Goal layout. These will also become your milestones if required.

In our example, it would be the activities and things we need to do to prepare for the interview.

Step 4: Implementing our goal based strategy

We know our goal and priority of our activities. We also have timelines for each activity.

Ask yourself what top priority milestone or activity you need to accomplish, in order to achieve your ultimate goal. What do you have to do and by when, so that you’re in a position to reach your final objective.

It is much easier to create your calendar by working backwards – keeping the end in mind.

• Identify the date by which your goal should be completed.
• Identify the last step you must do before the goal’s due date.
• Identify the next to the last step; the third to the last, and continue until you finish putting all the steps in reverse order.

It’s possible that you might have to move the steps around until you create your final plan of action.

In our example, it is obviously to give an excellent final round interview that makes us the most viable candidate but we need to prepare for the final interview.

In the following section, I’m going to share 4 suggestions about the preparation for the final interview which should appear in your brainstorming step as well as in your implementation step.

4 Prep for Success Interview Questions you need to Nail

Position yourself apart from the crowd

This comes back to standing out from above the noise and being noticed by the interviewers as having something more to offer.

Considering everyone who has applied for the job had the same qualifications and those with better credentials and experience have also reached the final round, how will you position yourself?

The short answer is to avoid positioning yourself as a commodity but as a resource that will give the employer a high ROI.

Get clear on the message that you want to convey in the final round and the skills that you bring to the table that nobody else will.

Research and understand the problems that the prospective employer has and demonstrate your strengths  as well as  USP (Unique Selling Proposition) to solve those problems.

Get feedback and support from your head-hunter or referral source

I recommend preparing for the interview by checking in with the recruiter or referral about the nature of the interview. Ask for any specific information that can help you.

Every company conducts final interviews differently and it’s better to be prepared.

Will there be a personality assessment? A Group setting? Anything that you need to pay attention to?

Once you know you’ve made it to the final round, ask the recruiter questions like

What advice do you have for me going into the final interview?

Don’t get fobbed off with advice like be yourself. You need to know which strengths are to be highlighted as well as the interview format so you come in prepared.

Prepare for the cultural fit question

Cultural fit is an important factor nowadays and you might be asked this question.

It’s time to do some due diligence on the company and their culture.

Prepare for this question by reaching out to your network for people who know about the company.

Check them out on Google and LinkedIn for any information that can give you insights. (This blog post has more ideas for the due diligence sources)

Being technically competent for the job might not be enough.

Your answers should demonstrate your awareness about the company’s vision, mission and other information. Show how you would adapt quickly to the workplace.

How will you handle the compensation question?

This question often comes up at the final interview. You need to be prepared to answer it even if the recruiter has already shared the salary range.

Compensation is only one factor in changing jobs. Gain a handle on what you earn so you can provide it to the potential employer upfront when they ask about your Cost to Company (CTC). Many of the job adverts also talk in terms of CTC.

Your compensation is not just your salary but all the other benefits that you receive. Different companies have different compensation programs and some of them can be quite complicated.

Nevertheless, some idea is better than no idea. Some of the considerations include your base salary, band increments, bonus, employee stock options, restricted stock units, profit sharing distributions, overtime compensation, annual paid leave, medical leave, health insurance cover and other related insurance programs, car loans, car allowances, corporate credit card, superannuation, pension fund.

Research what compensation packages are offered in your industry for the position you are being interviewed for.

Nowadays, a Google search or looking at industry specific websites can provide you with the additional information.

Don’t worry if you don’t have an exact figure. You need to simply have a good figure to compare with any job that you decide to target or get interviewed for.

Also consider asking questions about the package that is being offered and be open to negotiation.

Your turn, how do you prepare for the final interview round?

Ever wondered how to answer the ‘what is your greatest weakness’ and variants like ‘what are your 2 weakest areas’, ‘what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses’?

Or even the question that if the interviewer were to call your former employer, what would they say about you?

These are all ways that the interviewer tries to find out more about the real you. The part that is hidden behind the interview persona and what it would be like to work with you.

Often called the trick question part because it can stump even the best interviewee, it is easy to win with a strong answer.

In this post, I am going to share 2 options on how to tackle this challenge without falling flat on your face.

Don’t let the stress of the weakness interview question get you down

Being interviewed for a job, especially if you have been out of work for some time can be stressful in itself. You may have your guard up so high that your responses may be knee jerk ones despite the best pre-interview preparation.

The first thing to remember is that this is an age-old question.

If you give a trite or hackneyed run of the mill answer, like turning a negative into a positive, you might send out the wrong signals that something is really wrong with you or there is a cover up in progress.

In any case, if the question is a well beaten one, then the interviewer would also know the standard answers. He can trip you up with a follow up question or ask you to elaborate with examples.

During my corporate world days, the answers were easier by simply turning a positive which when taken to the extreme could be a negative. Since many of us did not have coaches to tutor us for the interviews, the answers were sincere and unpracticed.

It also helped to tell the interviewer that I was aware of the weakness and was working on it with a few examples.

That usually helped to move the interview to the next question after being told with great empathy that there was nothing wrong with the weakness.

If the interviewer was nice, the weakness was rephrased, and I would make a mental note to include it in my next CV update. It would also lead to learning more about the company’s training and professional development initiatives.

To be honest, the interviewer really does not want to know a lot about your weakness.

He or she is just checking to see how well prepared you are for the interview and to try to gain a better understanding of you and how you would fit in the organization.

A lot of information is gleaned during the interview with the ‘Tell me about yourself’’ and ‘Why do you want to work for us’ questions. This is just a continuation of the discovery and assess protocol.

Even today, there are certain ground rules to answering this question.

Be authentic, be brief and be general with your reply. Make sure you answer the question. Whatever else you do or don’t do, please do not say that you have no weaknesses. You risk coming off as cheeky and arrogant.

Besides, we all have weaknesses and shortcomings.

Remember, that you were invited for the interview. The recruiter must have seen something in your Resume and profile to issue the invite. Time is a precious commodity, and they are looking to hire a compatible competent professional, not torture you because they have nothing better to do.

How to choose your weakness and convey it from a place of strength

First things first, do not choose a weakness because you read about it somewhere and liked how it sounded.

This is where the authentic part comes in. Just because it sounds good, does not mean that it will work out during the interview process. Especially if the interviewer asks you to elaborate, asks what self-improvement initiatives you have taken or suddenly flips the switch by asking for a real weakness.

The cardinal rule to follow is to first choose the weakness and then demonstrate what you are already doing to dilute it and improve yourself.

Make sure that your answer is genuine. Some firms actually do background checks and also vet candidates via their social media profiles. If you say you have undertaken some training to overcome a weakness, back it up with evidence.

Here are 2 options for choosing your weakness or maybe 2 weaknesses as part of your back up plan and how to discuss them.

Option 1 – choose a weakness that is evident from your resume

Assuming that you have done your homework about the company and studied the job description beforehand, you would already know if there is an area which can be a competency gap and where you might need to put in some extra work and demonstrate that you are either working on it or are willing to work on it. Your interviewer would also have noticed it.

By bringing this up as your answer, you get a chance to highlight to the interviewer the seriousness of your intent for the job and your awareness of a deficiency that has to be overcome.

For example, supposing the job description talks about teams and knowing how to work in a team. Now, if in your previous job your work did not involve team members although you did interact with the rest of the department on an as required basis, you could state your weakness as not having that experience.

“Your role requires that I be able to work as a team member. In my previous jobs, I did not have to work as part of a team and used to mostly work alone reporting directly to my boss. However, I did participate in department meetings and liaise with other colleagues as part of my work. I am sure I can transfer that skill to a more concentrated team as I am used to working with others. This is an area that I know I have to improve on.”

No one will kill you for lack of experience if you show that you are aware of the weakness and are willing to overcome it.

Option 2 – choose a weakness that is not relevant to the position or of minor consequence

Mention weaknesses that won’t affect your ability to work effectively in the position.

For example, there are many people who are alright talking to people face to face or with small groups but feel uncomfortable talking to people on the phone or are afraid of public speaking. They are quasi-confident.

In this case, you could say, “I know I need to work on my discomfort of talking to people on the phone even though I love interacting with people in person and in groups and have no problem with skype or video conferencing. Not being able to see the person and their reactions tends to make me nervous. So after researching this area, I have taken classes to develop active listening skills and breathing skills to overcome my fear.”

By acknowledging the weakness and indicating that this is an area that you are working on. You show that you are proactive and know your skill development needs and are working on it.

You can continue the dialogue by asking if the company provides in-house training on soft skills that could help you with your professional development if required.

My recommendation for this question

When preparing for this interview question, look at the job description carefully before choosing your weakness. If you are applying for a job that requires diplomacy or confidentiality, revealing your weakness for voyeurism, snooping on others or bashing people on social media is not a good weakness even if you declare that you are undergoing therapy for this.

Your mission is to move gracefully to the next question and not ruin your chances of getting the job offer.

What experiences have you had with the weakness question during a job interview?

Did you win with a strong answer or was it back to pavilion? Do share your story in the comments box and please do share this post with others. Who knows who needs to read it right now?

Additional Resource for Job Interview Tips for only $5

Learn more here: Ace Your Interview Guide

Written by: Vatsala Shukla

Win the race to the new job!

At the same time I also learnt 2 other truths.

Firstly, that I was not the only one swimming in the pool of job seekers and secondly that you need to have an upper edge if you are to successfully dog paddle to the shores of a desired job and employment. Nowadays, it is called Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

That was more than 2 decades ago and since then the race to land a job has become more competitive. Before that, one has to not only vie to get the job interview but also beat other equally competent individuals who are selected for the interviews.

The dog paddle race has to be prepared for with diligence and strategy.

One way of gaining this upper edge and improving your dog paddle is to prepare before a job interview. It improves your chances of landing the position. If the ‘Tell me about yourself question’ hasn’t stumped you, then certainly be prepared for the “Why do you want to work for us?” question.

This isn’t so much a trick question as a way that the interviewer can assess how serious you are about the position while checking how much you know about the company.

Your individual truth may possibly be that you need the financial stability to meet your obligations or want to ensure a better career path than what you have right now but that is not the prospective employer’s problem. For them the key issue is whether you have the right credentials and if there is a good match between the two of you.

Here are 9 suggestions to ensure you give yourself the opportunity to shine at the interview.

Preparing for the Interview

1.  Research the employer thoroughly. Learn all that you can about their vision, mission, products, locations, corporate social responsibility drives and policies for a start. This can be done by visiting their website, surf the internet for articles about them, read the papers and even ask among your network for information about them.

Tip: Do read their About Us section on their website for a start. Make notes as you do your research so that you can demonstrate knowledge about the company, its activities and the benefits of working there.

2. Check the company’s LinkedIn Page to see if you have any connection who can tell you more about the company and what they look for in an employee. Start following the company on LinkedIn.

3. Do the same on Facebook and Twitter. The more you know about the company, the more prepared you will be for the interview.

4. Based on your research, make a list of their greatest attributes, achievements, plans, key issues and job description. Then match your own experience and qualities and focus on how you can meet their needs.

5. Consider practicing before the interview with a friend or family member so that you can get your response perfect.

How to stay cool on interview day

When I was preparing for my accountancy exams, I remember our teacher telling us that you can prepare as much as you want but it all comes down to your performance on the day of the examination and if the paper goes your way. We were instructed to stay cool and make sure that nothing fazed us at the last minute.

6. On the day of the interview, make sure that you are at your best. This includes dressing for success and being well groomed. Make sure that you know what attire is appropriate for the organisation. If not, then play safe by going conservative.

7. It helps to also know the exact location of the interviewer’s office or the meeting place. I personally like to do a test run to the location a few days ahead to check out the location, traffic situation and parking arrangements unless I am using the Metro. I also check that the car has enough petrol!

8. Keep an extra copy or two of your resume with you in case your interviewer requests one. The copies also help you to guide the interviewer to the specific areas of your resume when you answer the question.

9. Budget your travel time to ensure that there is lee way for traffic snarls and other unexpected delays. Try to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview time so that you have a chance to compose yourself. Use this time to look at your documents, pick up more information by observing the environment  and make any other last minute preparations

A well prepared interviewee is able to use their knowledge about the employer and the position and present himself as a viable candidate who can meet their needs. This candidate is looking for a Win-Win situation and knows how best he can achieve it.

Have you ever been asked the Why do you want to work with us question? How did you tackle it? Please do share your experience in the comments box below!

Need more help preparing for that Job Interview?

Check out my guide by clicking on the image below. It’s a useful resource.

Written by: Vatsala Shukla

Today’s post comes out of a question asked by a client whose organization is being restructured and the new department boss is putting certain employees through the process of re-interviewing for their old jobs.

Needless to say, those employees who are being re-interviewed are going through the paces while those who are not are feeling uncomfortable and fears of Pink Slips are making rounds.

If you are in a similar situation right now, my immediate suggestion to you is to keep things in perspective and be prepared.

Now is not the time to allow your beliefs about yourself or your situation to hinder you as I explain in Want to be Successful? You need to change your Beliefs.

It is not an immediate firing situation. There may be behind the scene changes that you are not aware of and roles and job descriptions are changing as well. There might be new opportunities within your department or a lateral move.

It might also be the right time to finally update your CV and start looking for another job if the present one has stopped challenging you. Whichever way it goes, don’t freak out and instead prepare for the re-interview with these action steps:

3 Tips that boost confidence for the re-interview

Tip 1 – Try to see the big picture.

The organization as you know it has changed. When the big wheel changes, the placement of cogs and other parts of the machinery are also changed.

Instead of feeling angry or humiliated, use this interview as an opportunity to show-case yourself and the value that you have been bringing to the organization. Find out more about the process and areas that will be covered and come prepared.

This is not a first interview for a new job but one where an assessment is being made whether you still match the job description.

The re-interview might just result in your being given a more challenging role or transfer to a position that might really use your experience and knowledge and if all goes well, perhaps an increase in pay.

Tip 2 – Maintain a positive attitude and start working on how you can bring out your experience and knowledge.

If staying positive is proving to be a challenge, then first build your positive reflex.

Think of it as an annual appraisal if it helps you to calm your nerves. Don’t gripe to anyone about the upcoming interview at the water-cooler or canteen.

From my own experience, I can tell you that times of reorganization and restructuring tend to make people insecure. You never know who will go behind your back and squeal on you to win a brownie point to keep their own job.

Tip 3 – At the re-interview, demonstrate your enthusiasm and passion for your job.

The interviewer would be looking at your competencies and skills but also at your soft skill sets.

Your ability to work in a team and pull to get a job is as important as the knowledge that you are bringing to the table. If there is an outside chance that the organization has also advertised the position, then the onus is on you to prove why they should keep you and not bring in the new guy.

It’s the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your Executive Presence.

Prepare for your re-interview

In addition to your attitude, I recommend a 4th tip – take the re-interview seriously.

Make sure that you are able to present a strong business case as to why you are a good match for the job.

One way of preparing is to get a copy of the new job description and check if you are still meeting the core competencies required.

Note these down and start compiling a list of examples that you can use if situational or contextual questions are asked. Make a note of situations and tasks where your input was critical to successful task achievement.

Are there any new competencies and requirements?

Think about it and strategize how you can show that these new requirements will not affect your ability to perform. Take initiative -enroll for a relevant course and mention it when you are being interviewed.

Note down any competencies or skills that are not included in the job description but which you possess and know that they are important for doing the job.

This will come in handy if you are asked why you are the best candidate for the job. Give yourself the advantage you deserve!

Another good source for preparing for the re-interview is to go through your previous performance appraisals and make notes of your achievements.

If your boss is going to be involved in the process and if you enjoy a good rapport, consider asking him/her more about the process and find out what they are actually looking for. This information will help you prepare better to showcase yourself as the right choice.

An important part of your preparation is to collect supporting evidence to back up your assertions and claims. You do it in your CV; you need to do it here as well.

Think in terms of money that you might have saved the company, new clients you brought in, processes or tasks that you rationalized. Note the recommendations and appreciation received from clients or colleagues, awards or commendations given to you by the company – examples along these lines.

This resource will help in getting your CV polished for the re-interview. Download it by clicking on the below image.

Keep calm and do full research about choices

In addition to the above 4 tips, there is a fifth one – the back- up tip. Different organizations handle their restructuring in different ways. Now what happens if you are really fighting to avoid the Pink Slip?

The first thing you need to check on is the HR Policy of your organization as well as your employment contract. Different countries have different employment laws. If there is a redundancy looming ahead, make sure you know your rights and compensation due.

It helps to know where you stand and what you can negotiate. Many companies do try to help employees find new jobs.

Don’t burn your bridges

If a Pink Slip is coming, negotiate a win-win situation and move on.

If there is a happy situation where you are going to be getting a new job or retaining the old job with more responsibilities, do ask about the salary and benefits. Do a bit of research outside of your firm and in the industry to find out what pay and perks are given in your industry.

Last but not least, use this exercise as a chance to update your CV – the one thing that is always on the back-burner when your job is secure.

Look around to see what else is available within your organization or in the job market. When you are proactive and in control, you not only ace the re-interview but also avoid freaking out.

Now it’s your turn.

Have you ever been through an organizational restructuring and had to re-interview for your own job? How did you handle it? What tips can you share with other readers?

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

You’ve been actively searching for a new job for months. Then one fine day, when you least expect it, the phone rings and you learn that you have finally received the much-desired interview call.

As well prepared as you might be, there are always certain interview questions that can stump you. This week, we look at one of the most common questions that are asked, quite often as an icebreaker. The dreaded “tell me about yourself?”

Even if the interviewer does not start with this question, it can come up at any point during the interview. The best technique would be to practice an answer before your interview. This does not mean memorizing an answer but to consider what you would say with confidence to get the interview going on the right foot.

Whatever else you say or don’t say, please note that this is not an invitation to launch into a verbal autobiography from your kindergarten days onwards.

Assuming that the interviewer has read your application letter and the CV, I’d suggest a 3-4 minute answer where you focus on your positive aspects. Areas could include

1. Your strengths
2. Your achievements
3. Do you do any community or voluntary work outside of your work life? Then do mention it. If you have helped in a fundraiser, put in a brief sentence including the amount raised.
4. If you have been unemployed and this is a first interview after a long gap, consider talking about what tangible achievements you have had during the gap, any volunteer work or any further skilling that you have undertaken. It is a great way to fill up the gap in the CV and indicate that you have not been a couch potato.

Even if the interviewer has not read your CV in depth, this is an ideal opportunity to bring out the key reasons to demonstrate why you are a employable candidate for the job.

In my post on Why Do You Want to Work For Us, the first thing I suggested was to research the company thoroughly and then matching your experience and qualities focusing on the needs of the prospective employer. This same information can be used to create an impressive and natural answer for the Tell Me About Yourself question too.

Because you have done your research on the interviewer and employers, you know which particular strengths and achievements you need to highlight for this question to create space for further dialogue along the lines of common background and interests.

This also helps to build rapport and can take the interview off the normal Q & A track to one where you can share examples of how you have handled real life situations, the tasks that you did, the actions taken and the results which are relevant to the position for which you are being interviewed.

It is always a good idea to research the interviewing company. Check out their website; look at their CSR initiatives and their values. Is there a connection with you? Can you incorporate it into your 3 minute sales pitch? If yes, then practice it.

Last but not least. Be honest in preparing your “tell me about yourself” answer. Remember that anything you say should be accurate and verifiable and can stand up to further interview questions.

Best of luck!

Did you know I help with job interview preparations too? You can check out my services on my Career Coaching Page 
http://karmicallycoaching.com/services-programs/career-coaching/ 

OR

If you want to engage in self-help, acquire my Online Job Application Tips ebook bundle by clicking the image below

                                                                                  I Want My Tips!

This post was originally written in June 2012 and has since been updated in July 2023 for relevance.

Written By: Vatsala Shukla