Let’s suppose that you play the part of the ideal candidate for the job, an intrapreneur, a lover of new technologies, an expert in AI, who not only embraces change but drives it, which of course you are not.
And your performance is so good that instead of giving you the Goya for best new actor, they give you the job. Well, my friend, we have a problem. On Monday at 9:00 a.m. you start in a new role for which, of course, you are not prepared, nor do you have the necessary skills, and on top of that in a place where they don’t know you.
Spoiler alert, it won’t go well. You won’t fulfil the expectations they had of you, your performance won’t be as expected and it’s likely that this adventure will end much sooner than you expected. Back to square one with one difference from last time. In your next interview, when they ask you about your last job, you have a story to tell that they are sure to love.
But that’s not the only possible scenario if you choose to play the part of the ideal candidate that you are not. It may also happen that your performance is not THAT good, you start giving vague answers, looking away, contradicting yourself, so that after half an hour the person interviewing you is clear that you are lying. This creates a very uncomfortable situation for both of you, especially if the interview is face-to-face.
You’ll want it to end as soon as possible, so you can play dead until the interviewer leaves, or say, OK, you’ve caught me, can I leave and come back in and start again?
Now seriously, even if it doesn’t seem like it, this scenario is much better than the previous one. You are not going to be selected, nor are you likely to be called back for another interview at this place, but it has been a priceless learning experience. Surely this was not where you wanted to end up as a candidate either.
At this point, we are clear that making you pretend to be someone you are not is not an option. It is much better to be yourself, confident in your abilities and skills, making sure you prepare well for the interview to give your best version of yourself. Do we agree?
Well, let’s get to it. I will try to summarise so as not to repeat things you have heard many times:
- Obvious things. This point would include such basic things as being punctual, taking care of your image, being polite, knowing what the company/department that is going to interview you does, etc. If you need us to go into detail on this point, we are in trouble. In any case, don’t despair, any AI can help you.
- Why me? Take the profile of the position you have applied for, read it carefully and ask yourself, why should they choose me? Write down everything that makes you the ideal person for the job. If in doubt, ask the people who know you best, both at work and in your personal life. You might be pleasantly surprised by their answer.
- How do I prove it? Based on what you wrote in the previous point, think… throughout my professional career, at what times have I demonstrated all of this? Think back, remember specific projects or situations and, above all, what your role was in them, what you contributed and how you did it. This is what you absolutely have to tell your interviewer. If there is no specific work situation to demonstrate it, use a personal one. Better that than nothing.
- What am I missing? Let’s be honest, the ideal candidate rarely exists. And that’s normal, because the profiles published are usually a bit like a letter to Father Christmas, asking for the impossible. Think humbly about which point or points of the profile you do not fulfil and how you plan to solve it. Tell your interviewer. I assure you that they would rather hear your improvement plan than a series of lies about what you are not yet.
- Any questions? Probably yes. Think about what is really important to you at work and try to ask the right questions to clear up any doubts. It is possible that they will not be able to answer some of your questions, but they will surely be able to answer others.
I hope I have answered the initial question of this article, now you know what I would do in your place. It’s time to prepare for the interview and give it your best shot. And if you’re not selected, at least take comfort in having done everything you could as a candidate. And of course, don’t get down on yourself. Throughout your search you will hear many more nos than yeses, it’s pure statistics. Good luck!
