Getting to be part of the Team

I’ve written a lot about climbing and running (well, that is this site ) and about leadership and teamwork – but not so much on what it takes to be part of the team.

During the past few weeks, I have been interviewing candidates to be part of our work team and I started thinking about what it is like to sit on both sides of the interview phone or desk.  Here are some of my personal thoughts and recommendations:

1. Do your homework.  Most books will recommend this, but it is amazing how much homework is really required these days for most positions.  Do everything you can to know the company products, customers and challenges – but not just from the web.  You need to talk to a wide spectrum of people – partners and employees to truly understand the issues/opportunities and not to appear to naive.

2. Be prepared.  I tell people that before any meeting, know two things: a) what you want to come out of the meeting and b) to control the first five minutes of any meeting that you have called for.   Same for interviews.  If it is an informational or a second round interview, you should be clear about what you want the outcome to be (and it is probably not to immediately get an offer) and communicate that.  Know what you are going to say in the first five minutes when the inevitable question comes up, “tell me about yourself in your own words.”.

3. Have thoughtful questions prepared.  You will be judged more by the questions you ask as they demonstrate your curiosity and knowledge and help move the interviewer to get that you are a strong candidate based on your insights.  Preparing these are not so hard and having them ready is relatively easy.

4. Know what the company wants in this role.  If it is to be an account manager, alliance executive or sales leader for a particular customer, partner or region, you are going to be asked who you know and to demonstrate intimate knowledge of same.  It’s normally a given that companies are not necessarily looking for your Rolodex, but for sure insider information as to the account or partner you are being asked to manage  is essential.

5. Balance self-confidence, humor and self-deprecation.  These sound like opposites but they allow you to form a bond with the interviewer and that you don’t take yourself too seriously and are able to use humor to defuse certain intense situations.  Selling yourself lightly, but firmly works.  Joking about something political or in the news does not.

6. Don’t go around the hiring manager.  Mails to the hiring manager’s boss usually backfire.  Having a cadre of people that know you and are into the business matter a lot when they stand up for you and they are name-brand individuals.

7. Tell interesting stories.  The best ones incorporate elements from #5.  A beginning, middle drama, and happy ending.  Short and poignant.

8. Be truthful.  If you don’t know something, the interviewer will really appreciate when you say so.  They will then move on to another subject.  Going off-subject and deflecting will normally just alienate them more.

9. Make a personal connection.  An old boss said “customers buy with their heart not with their head”.  Same for hiring.  Know who you are talking to and connect with them early (and easily) – but don’t overplay.  It can’t overcome for not having the right experience.

10. Make the close and get feedback.  When you know there are just a few minutes left, ask the interviewer what they think.  Ask them for honest feedback, no matter how painful, and how they compare.  Ask them for the ideal candidate and where you stand and if they are really interested in continuing.  If they say you will be hearing from staffing, press them a little to commit that they want to go further with you, or just don’t want to give the bad news now.

Some final thoughts.

Even if you don’t make the next round don’t take it personally.  There are great resumes out there and you never know what the hiring manager is really looking for.  So ask.

Listen, listen, listen.

Take the call in a quiet place without barking dogs or the wind howling.  Be super positive and assured.

Remember that the hiring manager, staffing and recriting are usually in a hurry to find the right person.  They really want you to be the one and are rooting for you. The sooner the right person is hired, the sooner they can move on to other positions to be filled.

It is a small world. This may not be THE job but staying in touch for the coming months and years is a good thing.

Speaking of which, here is my key advice:

Don’t wait until you are between jobs or the threat of losing yours that causes you to reach out to previous managers, colleagues or senior leaders.  It appears disingenuous if you do so.  Keep a broad network throughout the years. Invest in same. Be good to everyone you work with, even if it is a confrontational situation.  This means being helpful to all no matter what your current position.

Always keep your cv and LinkedIn profile updated.

And in the end, loving what you do and knowing what you want in a job is everything.  It is no different than being on the mountain.  You’re there by choice not by enslavement.  Respect your leaders but be a leader yourself.