How to Make an Interview Conversational

Life Work Balance

28 Nov 202315:52

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, Abby offers valuable tips on how to make job interviews more conversational rather than robotic. She emphasizes the importance of engaging with the interviewers through eye contact, positive body language, and active listening. Abby also stresses the need for thorough research on the job and the company, as well as the benefits of connecting with interviewers beforehand. She advises against interrupting, recommends note-taking, and encourages asking questions throughout the interview to facilitate a two-way exchange. Abby's approach aims to help job seekers find a role that aligns with their life and work balance, ensuring job satisfaction and longevity in their chosen positions.

Takeaways

🌟 Aim to make interviews feel conversational rather than robotic.
👀 Focus on making genuine eye contact and maintaining positive body language.
📝 Do your research on the job, your experiences, and the company.
💬 Engage in the conversation by asking questions and showing active listening.
🤝 Treat interviewers as people you know and enjoy, to build rapport.
🙅‍♀️ Avoid interrupting interviewers and let them finish their thoughts.
📋 Take notes during the interview to help recall information and thoughts.
🔍 Look up interviewers on platforms like LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds.
🗣️ Speak confidently, assuming interviewers know nothing about you, to provide comprehensive answers.
🏋️‍♀️ Use the interview as an opportunity to assess if the role and company are a good fit for you.
📈 Prioritize finding a job that aligns with your life work balance and happiness.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to provide advice on how to make job interviews more conversational rather than a robotic back-and-forth.
Why is it important to make an interview conversational?
-Making an interview conversational helps to build rapport with the interviewers, allows the candidate to get to know the company and role better, and ensures that the interview is not just a one-way exchange of questions and answers.
What should one consider when preparing for a conversational interview?
-One should consider their previous experiences, research the company and role, understand their own qualifications, and practice good body language to prepare for a conversational interview.
How can body language enhance the conversational aspect of an interview?
-Positive body language such as eye contact, smiling, and nodding can demonstrate engagement and investment in the conversation, making it feel more natural and less like a formal interview.
What is the purpose of researching the company and interviewers before the interview?
-Researching the company and interviewers helps the candidate to understand the organization better, connect with the interviewers on a personal level, and be better prepared to discuss how they are a good fit for the role.
How can note-taking during an interview be beneficial?
-Note-taking can help the candidate remember important points from the interview, recall the information discussed, and prepare thoughtful responses or questions based on the interviewers' comments.
What is the significance of asking questions during the interview process?
-Asking questions during the interview shows interest in the role and company, allows for a more interactive exchange, and provides the candidate with valuable information to determine if the job is a good fit.
How should one approach the interviewers in a conversational interview?
-One should approach the interviewers as people they enjoy and are comfortable with, treating them as equals rather than as authority figures, to foster a more relaxed and engaging conversation.
What should one avoid doing in a conversational interview?
-One should avoid being fake, robotic, or assuming the interviewers know everything about them. Instead, they should answer questions fully and engage in a genuine conversation.
Why is it important to consider the interview as an opportunity to assess the company?
-Considering the interview as an opportunity to assess the company is crucial because it helps the candidate determine if the job, team, manager, and organization are a good fit for their personal life and work balance, contributing to their overall job satisfaction.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Conversational Interviewing

Abby introduces the video's focus on making job interviews feel more conversational rather than a rigid question-and-answer format. She emphasizes the importance of the interview being a two-way street where both parties get to know each other. Abby also provides a disclaimer that the advice given is based on her personal experiences as both an interviewer and interviewee, and may not suit everyone. The video encourages viewers to take what resonates with them and apply it to their own interviewing style.

05:00

👀 Engaging Non-Verbal Communication

Abby discusses the significance of non-verbal communication in interviews, such as making eye contact, positive body language, and active listening. She provides tips on how to engage with interviewers, including maintaining eye contact with the camera during virtual interviews and using appropriate body language to show attentiveness. Abby also suggests that interviewees should be comfortable and natural, as if they were having a conversation with friends or colleagues, to create a more relaxed and genuine interaction.

10:02

🔍 Research and Preparation

In this section, Abby highlights the importance of researching the job and the company before an interview. She advises viewers to understand the job description, align their experiences with the role, and learn about the organization's culture and values. Abby also recommends connecting with interviewers on platforms like LinkedIn and preparing thoughtful messages to establish a connection before the interview. She stresses that being well-informed about the role and the company can help interviewees contribute more meaningfully to the conversation.

15:03

🤝 Building Rapport and Asking Questions

Abby encourages interviewees to see interviewers as people and to build rapport by treating them as individuals who are also interested in getting to know the candidate. She suggests that interviewees should feel comfortable asking questions throughout the interview process, not just at the end. Abby also advises against assuming that interviewers know everything about the candidate and to answer questions fully and concisely. The goal is to create a genuine connection and to assess whether the role and the organization are a good fit for the candidate's life and work goals.

📢 Final Thoughts and Additional Resources

Abby concludes the video by reiterating the importance of treating interviews as a conversation and using them as an opportunity to evaluate the fit between the candidate and the organization. She invites viewers to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments and offers one-on-one coaching services for those seeking personalized guidance. Abby also reminds viewers to subscribe and turn on notifications to continue receiving career advice and interview tips.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Conversational Interview

A conversational interview refers to an interactive and engaging job interview process where the dialogue flows naturally between the interviewer and the interviewee, akin to a normal conversation. This approach is advocated in the video as it helps both parties to understand each other better, allowing the interviewee to make a good impression and the interviewer to assess the candidate's fit for the role and company culture.

💡Body Language

Body language is the non-verbal form of communication that includes facial expressions, posture, gestures, and eye contact. In the context of the video, positive body language is crucial as it demonstrates engagement, confidence, and interest in the conversation. It's a way to communicate effectively with the interviewers without using words.

💡Research

Research in the context of the video refers to the preparation work an interviewee should do before the interview. This includes understanding the job description, knowing one's own experiences and how they align with the job, and learning about the company and the interviewers. Thorough research helps the interviewee to come across as knowledgeable and interested in the role, increasing the chances of a successful interview.

💡Connection

In the video, connection refers to the rapport and understanding established between the interviewee and the interviewer. Building a connection is important as it humanizes the interaction, making it more than just a formal questioning process. It allows the interviewee to showcase their personality and fit for the company culture, which can be a deciding factor in the hiring process.

💡Life Work Balance

Life work balance is the equilibrium between an individual's professional and personal life. The video emphasizes finding a job that allows for this balance, suggesting that a good fit in terms of role, team, manager, and company is crucial for overall happiness and satisfaction both at work and at home.

💡Interview Etiquette

Interview etiquette refers to the polite and professional behavior exhibited during an interview. This includes not interrupting the interviewers, waiting for them to finish their thoughts before responding, and maintaining a respectful and attentive demeanor. Good interview etiquette is essential for making a positive impression and facilitating a smooth conversation.

💡Nerves

Nerves refer to the feelings of anxiety or stress that often accompany high-pressure situations, such as job interviews. The video acknowledges that interviewees may feel nervous and provides tips on how to calm these nerves, ensuring that the interview process is as comfortable and conversational as possible.

💡Asking Questions

Asking questions during an interview is a proactive approach that shows interest and engagement with the role and the company. It is not only acceptable but also encouraged, as it contributes to the conversational nature of the interview and provides the interviewee with valuable information to make an informed decision about the job offer.

💡Fit

In the context of the video, 'fit' refers to how well an interviewee aligns with the company culture, the team, and the specific role they are applying for. It is important for both the interviewee and the employer to determine if the fit is right, as it significantly impacts job satisfaction, performance, and longevity within the company.

💡Confidence

Confidence in the video refers to the self-assurance and belief in one's abilities and suitability for the role. It is important for interviewees to convey confidence without appearing overconfident, as it can influence the interviewers' perception of their competence and potential to succeed in the position.

Highlights

The key to making an interview conversational is to treat it like a natural dialogue rather than a rigid Q&A session.

During an interview, it's important to not only answer questions but also to ask your own, showing your interest and engagement.

Non-verbal communication such as eye contact and positive body language play a crucial role in making the interview feel more conversational.

For virtual interviews, maintain eye contact with the camera and remember to smile and nod to show engagement.

Research on the job and company is essential to prepare for a conversational interview, as it allows you to connect your experiences with the role and organization.

Knowing the interviewers and their backgrounds can help you establish a connection and make the conversation more comfortable.

Conversation etiquette is important; don't interrupt the interviewers and allow them to finish their thoughts before responding.

Taking notes during the interview can help you remember key points and contribute to the conversation effectively.

Asking questions during the interview process is not only acceptable but encouraged, as it enhances the dialogue and shows your interest.

Approach the interviewers as people you know and enjoy, which can help reduce anxiety and create a more natural conversation.

Avoid assuming the interviewers know everything about you; answer questions fully and concisely as if they know nothing.

The interview is a two-way street; it's an opportunity for you to assess if the role and organization are a good fit for you.

A good fit is crucial for your work-life balance, happiness, and overall enjoyment of your role.

Finding a job that fits well can prevent job hopping and increase job satisfaction.

The video provides tips and advice based on the speaker's personal experiences as both an interviewer and interviewee.

The speaker offers one-on-one coaching for interview preparation and career advice for those seeking more personalized guidance.

Transcripts

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