Interview Tip: Don't Do Desperate

As a recruiter for a staffing agency for five years, I've had the opportunity to interview more job seekers than I can count. You can imagine that I've seen and heard it all--the good, the bad, and the ugly, as it were. Interviewing for a job has a way of placing the "interviewee" in an awkward situation, a sort of suspended animation or parallel universe. As the job seeker, you truly want to make a good impression and sell yourself, but you cannot help but feel a certain degree of anxiety because you KNOW you are being scrutinized.

Because I worked for a staffing agency that placed associates on temporary assignments, I had the opportunity to meet with certain job seekers on a pretty regular basis. I had a wonderful opportunity to observe the professional development of some of these associates. I watched as they grew in confidence and honed their presentation skills. Many times, I became a valuable resource for offering coaching and advice. I remember one such experience vividly.

I'll call this job seeker "Denise" to protect the innocent. Denise was likable, talented, and had a solid work ethic. She was the type of employee who would hit the ground running and roll up her sleeves to get a job done. But sadly, she wasn't having any success finding a job. She called one afternoon and asked if she could drop by my office to chat in hopes that I could give her some advice to help he be a bit more successful. I invited her to come in.

The moment she sat down and began talking, I diagnosed the problem Denise was desperate. She really needed to work. She was afraid that if she didn't find a job soon, she would be homeless. She was eager to find a job--too eager! She told me that she was getting calls for interviews and that she "really sold herself in those interviews." But, she never got called back for a second interview and never received a job offer.

Job interviews are like blind dates. While it's important to be enthusiastic and convey a sense of interest in the job, you want to avoid being too eager. "Needy" is never attractive. The line between honest excitement and positive energy and truly desperate is so fine that we can easily step over that line without even knowing it. If you've ever been on a blind date, you know what I mean. You have to know just how much selling to do.

Here are some valuable tips for selling--but not overselling!
1) Match the energy level of the person conducting the interview. Take that energy level up "one notch" but don't be "over the top." The interviewer will find you exhausting.
2) Answer the interviewer's questions thoughtfully and completely and then SHUT UP! Don't go on and on. Watch the interviewer's body language. If you see a glazed over look in the eyes, quit while you are ahead.
3) Keep the interview conversational. Be natural. Be yourself.
4) Don't do desperate. Convey interest in the opportunity. Be enthusiastic. But, never let the interviewer know that you desperately need a job.

In a nutshell, play a little "hard to get." Convey an air of confidence that says "I'm interested in this opportunity. But, I have other opportunities that are just as interesting!" With some work, you can go from being a "Desperate Denise" to a "Confident Connie."

Best of luck!