Tweet

7 steps To a Great Interview

Written by: Donald F. Pooley

Article Overview: Stan Tucker brought his client into my Montreal office to learn about a new tax-saving concept. After the meeting, Stan returned to my office and said “You impressed him. He called you a brilliant conversationalist.”

7 steps To a Great Interview

Stan Tucker brought his client into my Montreal office to learn about a new tax-saving concept. After the meeting, Stan returned to my office and said “You impressed him. He called you a brilliant conversationalist.”
I sat stunned, because I didn't know what I said to earn such praise. Thinking about it made me wonder even more, as for most of the meeting I just listened.
Well, I also asked a few questions to get him to tell me more. But, mainly I listened.
That's not to say I'm not a good talker. I can bore the best of them. But with Stan's client I knew enough to shut up.
Curiosity helps; wanting to know more about the other person. My sincere curiosity about Stan's client encouraged him to tell me more about himself, his family, his business, and his hopes and plans for all of them.
He considered me 'a brilliant conversationalist' because he did 90% of the talking!
This meant shorting out all those brilliant ideas, answers, and opinions that leapt into my mind. And I did not interrupt. Not easy.
I jotted down these points shortly after that meeting:
1. Listen. With sincere interest.
2. Don't judge a person by how they look, or sound.
3. Don't label anything said as good, bad, right, or wrong.
4. Don't interrupt.
5. Ask questions to clarify what you've heard, and to learn more about your prospect's attitudes, hopes, and fears.
6. Don't inject your thoughts or ideas.
7. Don't come up with answers until your client understands and accepts the problem.
You don't need a client to practice these steps. Try them on anyone---the next person you're talking to, for example. Your spouse, kid, mother---all who say “You never listen!”
Prove them wrong by practicing a great interview technique.
Who knows? You might become 'a brilliant conversationalist'.

Related Articles
  How do you get offered a job working in the recruitment industry?
  Interview Thank You Letter
  Setting The Stage For Your Interview - Building Rapport
  The #1 Interview Question That Candidates Find Most Difficult
  Whatdaya Mean Preinterview

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Re: New forum - online businesses! - Thanks Evan for this great Interview and I will be pleased to be part of the new forum on online businesses!
The Game Inventor's Guidebook - by Brian Tinsman, 2002 I checked this out of my local library today and its pretty interesting... didn't address what I wanted to know, which was how to actually design an online gaming system (indeed this doesn't cover online games at all), but for board games etc. it's pretty good. Here's the TOC: 1. How they diid it: Trivial Pursuit Magic, the Gathering Dungeons & Dragons Pokemon Trading Card Game Interview with an inventor Interview with a publisher 2. How the industry works 1. What's in it for you 2. How new games happen 3. Anatomy of a publisher 4. Markets for games 3. Games and companies you should know 1. Mass market games you should know 2. Mass market companies you should know 3. Hobby games you should know 4. Hobby companies you should know 5. American specialty games and companies you should know 6. European specialty games and companies you should know 4. Self publishing 1. What am I getting into 2. Before you print 3. After you print 5. Selling a game step by step 1. How to invent a game 2. Game design 3. Game development 4. Targeting publishers 5. Before you submit 6. Eight submission strategies 7. Contacting publishers 8. Protecting your property 9. What to do if they don't say yes 10. What to do if they do say yes! 11. The game industry's dirty little secret 6. Resources and examples Publishers and mnufacturers Distributors Brokers Game conventions and trade shows Industry publications Sample query letter Sample record of disclosure Sample licensing agreement Sample option agreement
Re: How to Promote Your Blog – The Definitive Guide to Promoting - Great information. Thanks so much for your help. I'm looking into google indexing right now and I'll be improving SEO moving forward. I checked out your blog and sites, too. Great content. Thank you...
Re: 4 Ways to Go From Employee to Entrepreneur - The situation that Wezi describes is more the norm than the exception. I have spoken to many "entrepreneurs-to-be" that have a desire to work for themselves but can't overcome the fear of making that critical leap. The truth of the matter is, if fear is preventing you from moving forward with your own business you need to overcome that fear first. To do this, try this exercise: 1. Write down as many detailed reasons why you are DISSATISFIED with remaining in your job until you retire. E.g., it won't let you achieve the lifestyle you desire; you are sick of commuting an hour each day; etc. 2. Write down in as much detail as possible your VISION of what your life will be like once you have your own business and you are fully engaged in it. Enjoy this step. 3. Create a list of the action steps you need to actually complete to get things rolling. What do you need to do first? Second? Third? Create a step by step plan. These three steps all work together to overcome any resistance you may feel towards making a major change in your career. If after these exercises, you are still too afraid, look at what you have written down. Chances are one of the three forces for change (dissatisfaction, vision, or first steps) are not yet strong enough to overcome your fear. Perhaps, once you really thought about it, things aren't really that bad in your current career, etc.... Hope this helps.
Re: Welcome New Moderators in Addition to Our Fine Team! - Hey Terriz, Very nice to meet you . . . . Acapella ? . . . .Very cool. I used to listen to my uncle and his friends sing acapella on a Brooklyn NY street corner. Great memories . . .Great sound. Thanks Barry


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

What should your free giveaway be?

Life is a Balancing Act!

LEARNING TO HAVE FUN – EVERYDAY!

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.