Some candidates seem to think that preparing for the interview process will diminish spontaneity of the conversation, or that their responses will feel canned and unnatural. In fact, the opposite is true.

To be well prepared for interviews is to understand the techniques of successful interaction which will enhance anyone’s candidacy. To answer “off the top of your head” can be dangerous, and you might find yourself later regretting what came out of your mouth in the stress of the moment. It might even cost you the job you wanted.

All candidates should be aware of the following five guidelines in order to give thoughtful, intelligent responses that will favorably impress the interviewer. 

1) Listen carefully to each question and, if you are not sure what the interviewer is looking for, ask him or her to repeat or clarify the question.

Sometimes if you are concentrating too much on yourself, or making observations about the interviewer or the surroundings, you might miss really hearing what the interviewer is saying or asking. Make a conscious effort to clear your mind of self-conscious or other distracting thoughts, so that your full attention is on hearing the person who is speaking to you.

If you need to hear the question again, or have it re-phrased so that you better understand what the interviewer is getting at, do not hesitate to ask. Some candidates fear “looking stupid,” and instead of asking for assistance will guess at a response or try to “wing it”. Contrary to your looking stupid, the interviewer is more likely to think favorably about your honesty and lack of ego, both of which are signs of healthy communication and interpersonal skills.

2) Take a few moments to collect your thoughts before responding.

Candidates may feel that they are expected to have “the answer” immediately. In addition to moving very fast, our culture generally has a discomfort with silence. However, silence is a very powerful communications tool, and you should not be afraid to use it.

If you feel the need to bridge the silence gap while you process the question and collect your thoughts, take a slow sip of water or coffee. Or, make a comment such as, “That’s a thought-provoking question, Mr. Baker. I’d like just a moment to think about that ……”

3) Take about two to three minutes to initially respond.

Prior to your interview, practice the answers to some likely-to-be-asked questions with a partner who will help you to time your responses. As you practice some of these timed responses, try to get a feel for the two – three minute time range. As you become more aware of this, it will become your internal guide or barometer during interview discussions. At the same time, watch the non-verbal reaction of the interviewer, and use this to adjust accordingly.

4) Be specific, using examples, anecdotes or stories to enhance relevancy and interest.

Application of the question to your specific work experiences makes you more interesting to the interviewer. For instance, you might be asked a question such as, “Tell me how you would get up to speed as quickly as possible in this new position.”

Instead of guessing or theorizing what you might do, or what you think the interviewer might like to hear, use a comparable real life example from your past experience: “When I first started in my present company, I didn’t really know very much about the product lines or the customer base. To get myself up to speed quickly, I…….”

5) If possible, relate your answers to the needs or requirements of the position you are interviewing for.

Your objective is to get the interviewer to visualize you in that position, and being successful in that role. Prior to the interview, ask for a job description so that you can better relate your responses and experiences to their specific needs. If that is not possible, and the interviewer does not offer this information during the opening of the interview, ask for an overview of the position so that you can put your responses into the context of that particular role.