Trump on Interviews

Lisa Johnson Mandell, Forbes January 27th 2011

Donald Trump could well be the most famous boss in the world. He employs thousands, and fires hundreds on national television each week. Recently, "The Donald" shared tips on how people can hear those golden words: "You're hired!"

Know the Company.
Employers want to believe that you have a genuine desire to work for their organization and will be a committed member of the team. There’s nothing worse than being faced with a candidate who hasn’t got a clue about the business. It’s essential to demonstrate you understand the company’s history, plans and culture.

Make Connections.
Anyone can do a google search, what is important is how you apply your knowledge. Determine the challenges the company is experiencing; present ideas and solutions to reduce or eliminate these issues. Know the company’s product line? Outline improvements. Familiar with the company’s financials?  Make suggestions about areas of investment. Knowledgeable about competitors? Show how product positioning can yield more market share. The key is to show you can use your skills to make a difference in performance with the information you learned. 

Be Specific.
Stand out from the competition by connecting the dots during the interview; help them see how your talents and expertise will mesh well with the solutions they need within the organization. Create a list of the top five skills you have which can help the company succeed. Discuss specific points from your resume as they apply to the company, but be sure to include the less obvious but equally important skills you’ve acquired over the years as well focusing on how your skills and knowledge specifically meet their needs. Develop S-C-A-R (Situation-Challenge-Action-Result) stories that provide specific evidence of positive outcomes from your application of those five skills.

Be Postive.
If the hiring manager feels they cannot work with you, you will not get the job. Period. Individuals will often be hired over more qualified professionals simply because they had a stronger personal rapport with the hiring manager. Demonstrate a willingness to be flexible and stretch yourself, but stop trying to be what they want and simply be who you are.  You want to be a fit with the prospective organization as the person you are and not the person you are trying to be.

Show Respect.
Be on your best behavior. This may seem an obvious point but it’s something all too many people forget. Clear your schedule around the time of the interview to help clear your head and keep you focused. Be polite to everyone you meet, from the receptionist to your potential boss. Smile; say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when appropriate and show that you would be a friendly and valuable member of the team. A follow-up reiterates your interest in the position; a handwritten note Referencing specific points from your interview is better than an email.

Be Prepared.
Practice, practice, practice! Practicing is one of the best ways to prepare for a job interview.  Dress the part and set up an interview space. Create a list of common interview questions and answer each question out loud. Recruit a friend or family member to ask questions and give constructive feedback or if you have a webcam, record your responses and play them back. Assess your body language and your answers to the questions. The more you practice, the more you will be prepared to respond positively and confidently during the actual job interview.