Three Interview Musts
In an interview, these are three things that employers want to know:
Are you capable of doing the job?
Are you willing to do the job?
Are you manageable? / A cultural fit
All of your interview behaviors should be influenced by these three employer concerns.
Capability
Your capability will be judged by your technical skills and knowledge. Be prepared to share key achievements in past roles related to the technical skills required by the position.
Willingness
Employers will infer your willingness by what you have done in the past and your genuinly expressed interest in the position. Have you gone above and beyond in a past role? Provide examples.
Are you particularly interested in aspects of the role and have the experience to match? Prepare points to share. Arrive on-time and appropriately dressed. Show interest by asking insightful questions related to the position.
Manageability & Cultural Fit
Your manageability is judged by your behavior during the interview and in your communications prior to and after the interview.
In the interview, do you appear engaged and enthusiastic or reserved and aloof? Building rapport during the interview helps to demonstrate relatability and potential cultural fit.
Try to relax, and be yourself, so that you can put your best professional foot forward and provide the interviewer an insight into how it may be to work with you as a colleague.
Answer interview questions directly and without equivocating (no half truths). Some candidates try to inflate their experience by innuendo - The accounting person who might say "I generated a $50M budget" when his actual task on the budget was to make sure it was printed and distributed! Inflating your background will always backfire sooner or later (and mostly sooner). Don’t do it.
Another indicator of manageability is attempting to "take control of the interview." Take a moment and put yourself in the interviewers chair - what would you think if a person you have never met came into your office and started to try to manage you in the interview you were conducting?! Never try to take control of the interview - you'll get your chance to shine. Let it come to you. Don't force it.