How To Prepare For An Executive Level Interview: Tips You’d Never Think Of
Are you preparing for an executive interview and are seriously concerned that you won’t be ready when you sit across from the interviewer? Many executives have similar concerns, regardless of the experience that they’ve obtained in attending or conducting job interviews.
You’ve probably heard a ton of advice about ways to prepare for an interview, but just when you think you’ve heard it all, something jumps out that could actually work for you. So if you’re preparing for an interview, consider some of the following tips that you may have never thought of in a million years.
Prepare in an Office Space
While preparing for your interview, it doesn’t hurt to do so in a space that reminds you of a serious, office environment. For instance, if you have an office in your home, it’s good to organize your thoughts in this space. Occasionally, there’s nothing wrong with practicing for your interview with a TV blasting or your family vying for your attention, but a bit of practice in a more subdued, interview-like setting can get your mind prepared for an interview much more quickly.
Rehearse in Front of a Mirror
Another quirky, yet helpful, preparation tip is to consider rehearsing in front of a mirror. Most executives are fairly adept at verbal conversation, but your body language can be an incredibly important element that shouldn’t be overlooked. Very often, it’s difficult to know how the way that one holds his arms, sits, or looks around a room can affect the mesasge he’s trying to get across. By practicing in front of the mirror, you could possibly fine-tune your reactions and even cure a few nervous ticks.
Talk in Front of Your Kids
A large aspect of interviewing at the executive level is being able to tell a good story about who you are and what you’ve accomplished while keeping the attention of everyone in the room. Everyone knows that children have the shortest attention spans in the world, so if you try to tell your “story” to your school-aged kids and they hurriedly get back to their toys, video games or TV show, you know that you may need to work about harder on telling your story (and delivering it) in a more interesting fashion.
Don’t Rely On Your Resume
While you want to know what’s in your resume, executive biography and any other documents you’ve submitted, you don’t want the interviewer to feel as though you’re reading from them as you answer questions in your interview. If you do, the interview will not feel genuine. So as you practice, think about who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and what you’d like to accomplish on the job. You’ll do perfectly fine in the interview if you remember to stay honest and think logically about what you’ve done and why you’re a good hire.
You know the basics of preparing for your interview, so it’s always good to learn about those tips that may be a bit more quirky but could still work. Considering the above tips is a great way to get a step ahead of the competition in your job interview.