Congratulations! You have a job interview soon! What will the Hiring Manager want to know about you!

1. Can you do the job?

Before the interview, study the job posting carefully and note the stated requirements for the job. The most important requirements will be near the top of the list. Jot down the exact keywords in the job posting and then plan to choose these exact words when answering questions.

For example, if the LinkedIn posting says the job requires: ‘extensive experience with social media marketing… plan to mirror their keywords, “I have extensive experience with social media marketing…on these 4 platforms. I have been posting for over 5 years for my previous company and increased customer responses by 33%. I believe I can increase your customer inquiries for your new product line with similar, or perhaps even better statistics.

The vocabulary incorporated in your answer relates exactly to the wording of the job posting, and your response communicates solid familiarity with social media marketing at your previous position, over a period of 5 years. Your answer provides proven statistics, and you communicate that you have studied their company’s products and will confidently contribute to their company.

2. Will you do the job?

What is your attitude? Will you give the job your full energy and enthusiasm?

To test out your attitude, the recruiter might say, “I imagine the project you managed for 6 months took extra time and stretched the team you managed. How did you handle the pressure?”

The question is multi-faceted. How does she manage a team? How does she prevent team burnout? How does she not only stay committed to a project herself, but how does she keep her team engaged? Your answer should include an example story of how you managed this project.

“When we launched the project, I engaged the team with a vision for the outcome, what it meant to the company and ultimately would mean for them as employees. I also set doable milestones and celebrated the wins frequently along the way, so the team members would know they were appreciated and making progress toward the end goal. I also regularly met with my own manager to give progress reports and receive his feedback and ideas. These meetings kept me focused and engaged in the project. The result at the end of 6 months was a proud team who completed their project on time and on budget. My manager actually gave me a raise, as a result.”

The answer communicates by example how you, the project manager, not only stayed committed yourself, but how you strategically led an engaged team throughout the 6 months. The recruiter will conclude from your example that, yes, you are a willing worker!

3. Will they like you while you do it?

From the first 5 minutes of the interview, you are building a personal relationship with the recruiter, hiring manager and other associates you first meet at the company. If on a Zoom call, everything in the visual background should show your professional best: an attractive but not distracting background behind you, suitable clothes, hair, and makeup, good lighting, and sound. Plus, no family or pet interruptions.

If you go on site for an interview, the first person you meet may be a receptionist, and she is as important as the recruiter, himself.

I was walking through the parking lot of a community college where I was interested in a teaching position. Surprisingly, all the college students and staff were out in the parking lot because of a fire drill. I struck up a friendly conversation with a woman waiting for the fire drill to end, and I mentioned I was interested in a teaching position for English as a Second Language. She turned out to be the department chair! When we went back into the college, she discovered a mistake on my application, and we were able to fix it.

Receptionists are often asked by a hiring manager after a candidate leaves, her opinion of the person interviewing. Therefore, it’s a good idea to put your phone away before going into the reception area to introduce yourself to the receptionist with a friendly smile and conversation. When the hiring manager arrives, a firm handshake, eye contact and light talk immediately communicates your personal interest in him and helps make a good first impression. Sometimes subtle, these efforts go a long way to communicate you are easy to be around, professional and pleasant to work with. It is best to avoid negative comments about previous jobs and former bosses!

Can you do the job? Will you do the job? Will we like you while you do it?!

With preparation before the interview and strategic communication throughout your meeting, recruiters will conclude that you will contribute your expertise effectively to the position and work pleasantly with coworkers, doing all your work with a go