A common misconception about the interviewing process is that most think it’s set up by companies to hire people. Yes, they are looking for a person to hire.
But that doesn’t mean they will just hire anyone.
If you follow this thinking, then they would have hired the first person who applied for the role. But that’s not the case.
That is why companies have developed different stages or steps in their interview process in order to weed out people.
They don’t want to just hire anyone.
Limited Supply and High Demand
The key to acing the interview process is understanding the basic principles like this one. In most cases, there is only one role. Unfortunately, there are other applicants vying for that single role.
Because of this, companies hold all the power during the interview process.
With limited power and lots of competition, the only way to get through to the end is by answering the questions companies are asking.
Applicants Go Through a Funnel
The funnel method is a principle that is common in marketing and sales. So if you are not in this industries, this might be unfamiliar.
A funnel is a device that has a wide top and a narrow bottom. It’s often used to pour or guide liquids when transferring to another container.
It’s a very good analogy that demonstrates you start off with a big number but finishes with a small amount. In sales, you start with a lot of leads and prospects. But not everyone will close and become a customer.
This is similar to hiring.
There are a lot of applicants but only one will be hired for the role.
It’s Your Responsibility
Contrary to what you’d find on the internet, it is your responsibility to communicate how good you are to the company. It’s not the interviewer’s role to ask the right questions or probe deeper.
It’s a nice excuse. It’s nice to hear. But reality doesn’t work that way.
These terrible interviewing advice are the reasons why you aren’t getting job offers.
Yes, interviewers have to ask the right questions. They have to prepare and know what they are looking for in the applicants. But that’s not something you can control.
What you can control is your performance throughout the entire interview process. The key piece is how you can communicate that you are the perfect fit.
Competition Doesn’t Matter Either
Lastly, keep in mind that credentials of other applicants don’t matter. If they can’t communicate this to the interviewer, then you have an edge.
These prestigious school names only act as a proxy because companies haven’t through through what they want yet. So you wouldn’t want to be working for these companies anyway.
Great companies look beyond that. They simply focus on getting the answers to these two questions. This is where you should focus all your efforts in getting in.
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