How to be the good Guy that interviewers remember for the right reasons!
We all hope to make an indelible mark when we leave an interview, but we can tell you, as a representative of the Bristol Finance Recruitment world, that being remembered for the right reasons can be difficult. We are all human, and employers who have spent a gruelling day with a queue of nervous candidates, all trying equally as hard, can be forgiven for struggling to put names to faces. History shows us that sometimes it’s easier to be remembered for the wrong reasons! Take Guy Fawkes, for example…
You’d think that the Gunpowder Plotter’s infamy would have faded into the mist of obscurity, but no, not a chance! Customs and traditions have changed over the years, but Guy Fawkes Night still holds generations in its thrall with a dastardly story of betrayal and the delight of bonfires and fireworks displays.
It’s strange how Guy Fawkes is so widely remembered, but his story might just contain a few tips for us! Here are a few pointers on how to be remembered for the right reasons after the interview, by being a good Guy!
- Have very clear goals
Be honest with yourself about what you want out of a role and then you can be more honest with the interviewer. Try not to go for jobs just because you need a job. Your future happiness is at stake! You’ll be happier in the job if you focus on what you want!
Guy Fawkes had a very clear goal (albeit a pretty nasty one), so much so that when he was caught red-handed and asked what he was trying to achieve, even the King was impressed with the boldness of his reply that he,
“Wished to blow the Scottish King and his Scottish Lords back to Scotland.”
Now I’m not saying that attempting to blow up the king was a good thing, far from it. However, the plot was very focused and if it had succeeded, the history of our nation would have changed overnight. The king and his Parliament were most likely extremely relieved that it did not succeed which is probably why the king encouraged Gunpowder Plot Remembrance Day to take place on November 5th of the following year.
- Show empathy with the overall aims of the company you are interviewing to join
Rather than saying what you think the interviewer wants to hear, (lots of people research common questions that get asked at interviews) look at what the company is trying to achieve. Check out their website for their mission, vision, values, and value proposition. Think about how you could help them in your new role to overcome the obstacles that they face. How could your skillset and experience help them meet their commercial goals and increase revenue, reduce risk or make more of an impact?
Guy Fawkes had a lot of sympathy with the cause of the Catholics, having become a Catholic himself after his father died and then fought in Spain for the Catholic cause. He was prepared to do anything to put a Catholic monarch on the throne in England. However, Guy Fawkes’ judgment was lacking, and he didn’t have empathy with what the church was trying to achieve. It is unlikely that the Pope himself would have condoned putting a bomb under Parliament!
- Find out why the company is hiring and speak to that need
If you have an understanding of why the role is open you can speak to that need. You can find out by leveraging LinkedIn, by looking at the company website or even by asking people who already work at the company. For example, if a role has come up because someone has left unexpectedly, you can make it easy for the interviewer to see how you will add value from day one. Come to the interview with specific examples of what you have done for past employers and show them that you are ready to hit the ground running.
Or maybe the job has come up because the company is experiencing growth and needs to expand their team. You can show your understanding of their position by describing a relevant example of how your previous experience could help them in their growth journey.
Guy Fawkes had a lot of courage, knowledge and experience of explosives from his time-fighting in Spain. He certainly had a lot to offer but rather than putting it all to good use to help the administration of the time, he used it for quite the opposite!
- Know the company’s current goals
Speak their language by being aware of what are they working on right now. Why not reach out to people who are working at the company and ask them for a five-minute chat to find out what is important to the company at the moment? What are they focusing on in this quarter? Then you can spend some time making an honest assessment of your career highlights and speak about those that are most relevant to where the company is going in your interview and how you could help. Equally, if you have discovered initiatives online such as charitable activities you could ask questions as to how you could get involved with them.
Guy Fawkes’ lack of understanding of the concerns of the administration of the day would have led him to completely obliterate any objectives (good or bad) that they were trying to achieve in the course of one night. Not a nice Guy.
- Follow up.
Always send an email after the interview to thank the interviewer for their time and show a bit of your personality! Remember that people like people and if you didn’t get that particular role, being a good Guy means you will be remembered for the right reasons and that the door could remain open to you for you for future roles.
If you are a finance professional still in need a little help to get to interview and you are based in the London area or the South West we’d love to hear from you. Based in Bristol, Finance Recruitment is our speciality and we have our own specific way of working that puts People, Purpose and Planet before Profit.
For all things Bristol Finance Recruitment, get in touch with us at Core3 for your next role – we’re one of the Good Guys!
