Fear is one of the biggest and most common phobias and interviewing can be fearful. There is a big difference in interviewing someone who isn’t working vs. someone who is. There is natural confidence in people who don’t have a direct need for employment because there is no fear of rejection. This can help of course because interviewing is a scary process. Basically interviewing comes down to two things, 1) how well the applicant sells themself and 2) how much of an impact they make on the interviewer.
Strong performing high-potentials, actively seek to keep core job skills current. They find and attend training that will stretch their skillset and improve their ability to deliver on key performance indicators and soft skills. Strong performers may even obtain certifications in specialized areas of their career. They are always selling themselves. Strong performers do this by asking for more work or to work in other areas that aren’t their core focus. They are always interviewing because they want to achieve success.
What is Internal Proactive Interviewing
When done internally, pretty much every interaction with someone outside your immediate sphere is an interview. An impact is left after each interaction and consequent follow-up. Just like an interview, the impact needs to be positive and strong. Agreed upon actions needs to be followed through timely, and to completion. Demonstrate the behaviors that would be desired by someone they would hire.
Ways to Initiate Internal Interviews:
- Join cross-functional project teams
- Randomly call other business unit owners to find out what they are working on, what they are goaled with
- Call the business unit leader of a department you are interested in working for to find out what you should be doing to prepare for an opening on their team
- Ask a senior leader to be a mentor and schedule one-to-ones
- Get involved in organizational committees that speak to your passions
- Ask your boss to help you build connections throughout the organization
What is External Proactive Interview
External proactive interviewing is keeping your resume current. Keeping the updated CV active on job sites. Talking to recruiters when they call or message. Having a strong social media presence that keeps your network updated on your current skills and professional accomplishments. Attend industry events, join associations and overall networking are all ways to do external proactive interviewing. Going on interviews would complete the package.
Get practice at selling who you are, what you do, and what value your bring. This improves your self-confidence and helps you fully appreciate the value of your skills. You can ask really tough questions that you would never ask your boss.
If it goes well external validation will come in the form of interview feedback or moving through the stages. There may even be an offer made but what to do with that will be another topic. You can also learn what skills they are looking for that you have a gap with.
External interviewing also gives great ideas on how other organizations are addressing the same problems you are. The discussion will generate new ideas and concepts. The dialogue itself will stimulate the mind and creativity. You get a first-hand view of another companies structure, successes, challenges. Proactive interviewing is a powerful learning experience because you get to compare two organizations from the inside.
What Kind of Person Tells People to Actively Interview
A confident one. One who genuinely wants what’s best for the people, because ultimately that will be best for the business. Going on interviews will help minimize nervousness because it won’t matter. You can be yourself without fear of rejection.
Go on proactive interviews both internally and externally. Schedule time with someone random within your organization to check-in on what they are up to. Take time to see what else is out there and how it compares. Find ways to take what good you experience and bring it into your organization. Go on external interviews to lose your goggles because it is another way to stay relevant in your field.
Last updated on July 12th, 2020 at 06:43 am
