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Any tips on standing out in my interview?
I just set up a big interview tomorrow for a DREAM job. I'm so excited about interviewing, but I'm also nervous because I'm sure they are interviewing more than just a few candidates for a single spot (and there's really no hope that they'll have another position open). I'd really like to stand out in my interview, but I'm not sure what I should do other than read the job posting a million times and think of what experience I should highlight as relevant to the job.
If it matters, I'll describe the job here. It's a posting for the Research Director position for a legislative committee within our state government. Basically, the RD would keep up to date on policy issues in a specific area and be a resource for the legislators on the committe, and draft legislation as well as organize hearings and written testimony etc etc. As for me, I'm an attorney, but I've spent my whole "career" working at non-profit organizations that primarily do legislative advocacy (meaning we're always over at the state house talking to legislators about what we think they should do re: specific bills/policies). I've done a lot of the research and legislative drafting that this position requires, but not in this specific policy area (though in related policy areas).
Wish me luck, I may need it!
Re: Any tips on standing out in my interview?
Just know your stuff. Be prepared to answer all types of questions, from the typical interview questions to situational questions ("describe a time when X happened, and how you handled it/would handle it")
GL!
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
Do your research . . . what does the group have in the pipeline now? Where is it in the legislative process? Who are their biggest allies & what are their biggest hurdles? Ask the interviewer questions about this project & offer insight if you can . . . bascially give them free advice at the interview to show you are ready & willing to dive right in.
Here's a great question -- ask the interviewer how he/she thinks the 2010 US Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Fed Election Commission is going to effect their non-market strategy &/or what impact will it have on the 2012 presidential election?
don't just review the job description - scour their website, read up on the bios of anyone you'd be working with, review their last few policy statements or news releases, ask pertinent questions about some current issues they may be dealing with. show that you've done your research and ask questions related to what they've been doing or problems they may have been having and could use assistance overcoming.
ask them specifically what qualities they think the successful person in this position would have, and then follow-up in your thank you letter highlighting how you have met those qualities or your experience that qualifies.
ask for business cards or get email addresses of everyone you meet with and send them same-day or next-day follow-up thank you emails tailor specifically to something they said.
reiterate at the very end your in-person interview your enthusiasm for the job, the group, etc. and what makes you such a great fit. sometimes we interview people who we think would do a great job, but it's not clear they really *want* this job, KWIM? so it makes us feel less confident in wanting to offer it do them.
sounds like a totally awesome job! GL!
Check out this great blog, askamanager.org. I've been reading it every day during my job search, she has some really great advice!
One tip I got from her was the "magic" interview question, which is, "Thinking back to other people who have been in this position, what differentiated a top performer from an average performer?" Interviewers seem to love this question!
Good luck.