Most jobseekers know that having good interviews is an essential part of getting the job they want. But how many of them know exactly what skills they should apply in order to lie better in the interview?
While there is no set formula for making effective lies, there are some guidelines you can follow to give you a better chance of getting what you want out of an interview.
Be Ready To Admit Your Limitations
Even the best of us can’t hide our weaknesses from others. And the best thing you can do for yourself in the interview process is to be ready to acknowledge your weaknesses. This is how you make yourself more human and vulnerable, which can only work to your advantage.
An honest appraisal of your qualities and skills is what your future employer is looking for, and it will make you stand out above the rest of the applicants. Be ready to discuss the areas in which you’re lacking, and be prepared to offer solutions to the problems you’ve identified. This is what separates you from the crowd, and it’s what will make your interviewer remember you.
Know What You Want
What do you want out of this process? Do you want a job in IT? Is the company you’re applying to specialise in graphics design? Do you want to be a Sales manager?
Whatever it is you’re looking for, you need to be sure that the business you’re joining is a good fit for your skillset. Even if you’re confident that your skill-set will make you a valuable asset to the company, you still need to be sure that the role you have in mind is suitable for you. Ask yourself questions about the job, and make sure that you’re comfortable with the answers. If you’re not sure about anything, be sure to ask.
Don’t just go with the flow. Take time to think about what you want, and make sure that you’re happy with the decision. Sometimes it can be hard to see things clearly when you’re in the middle of the application process. Taking some time off, and coming back to the decision later can help you put things in perspective.
Plan Your Answers Ahead Of Time
As we’ve established, being ready to admit your weaknesses makes you more human and therefore more relatable to the people you’ll be working with. And one of the best things you can do for yourself in the interview process is to plan your answers. This will make it easier for you to come up with responses that are both human and engaging. It also means that you’ll be able to tailor your answers to what the interviewer is asking, and give some really unique insights into yourself.
If you’re ever interviewed by more than one person, or if you’re interviewed remotely (e.g. via video call), be sure to practice answering questions in advance. This doesn’t mean that you’ll need to prepare an entire speech or presentation. But having some answers ready will dramatically improve your chances of getting the job. Plus, it’ll make the whole process feel much less stressful.
Use Examples From Real Life
To add some life to your answers, and make them more relatable, go back to basics: show the interviewer that you’re a thinking individual, and use your own real-life experiences to illustrate your points. For example, if you’re asked about a specific project you worked on, you can say:
“That project actually sparked when I was at Comic-Con. I was there promoting my graphic novel, and saw a prototype of the Ironman helmet. I went home that night, and the next day I drew up a plan on how I could improve on the design.”
This is a great way to show your creativity, and the project will resonate with the person you’re speaking to because it’s real and specific. If you want to embellish on this point further, you can say:
“It wasn’t just the Ironman helmet that got me thinking. I had always wanted to do something different with my hair, and my wife was the one who inspired me to try out hairstyles inspired by anime characters. So I drew up a plan, and voila! My wife helped me style my hair into a Sakura-style bun, and ever since then we’ve had to coordinate our schedules so that we can have our hair done at the same time every week.”
This is just a small example of how you can use your personal life to add some colour to your answers. But the key is to make it relatable. To an outsider, it might just seem like you’re making things up as you go along.
Focus On Adding Value
It’s vital that you provide genuine value in your answers: give the interviewer something they can’t get from elsewhere, and you’ll be shining in their eyes. While it’s important to show off your skills and experiences, it’s more important to do this in a way that makes the interviewer want to work with you. So, when you’re thinking of your answers, ask yourself: “How can I add value to this conversation?”
What do you want out of the interview process? Be ready to discuss your weaknesses, but also be ready to offer solutions. While it can be difficult to see things clearly at the end of the application process, taking the time to plan and prepare will make all the difference.