Let’s say you arrive at a job interview, and this happens:
I was asked to meet with an employer, and when I arrived for the interview, the person I was supposed to be meeting with had to leave unexpectedly. I was asked to meet with the senior vice president of the company instead and the meeting felt awkward. I’m not sure I made the best impression.
While not typical, this could happen to you, too. What would you do in this situation? You must be prepared for the unexpected, so you can handle the situation with a minimum of stress.
These “unprepared moments” can tell a prospective employer much about how well you work under pressure. While suddenly being thrust into an interview with a senior executive probably was uncomfortable, if you’re prepared for the interview, you will not be caught off guard.
The good part about a situation such as this one is the exposure you can receive to someone who is most likely the decision maker (or someone in a position to influence hiring decisions).
So, how do you prepare for the unexpected?
Planning ahead is always a good idea. Plan your discussions in such a way that you have questions for every department you might encounter during an interview.
You can ask questions about an employer’s needs and goals. Here’s an example: “How would a person in the role I’m interviewing for know they were successful six months from now?”
This type of question gives you an informal — and very real — snapshot of what the employer is looking for in a job candidate.
If you are unsure of the impression you made during the interview, a follow-up thank-you note is a good place to address this. Consider mentioning that although your meeting was unexpected, you enjoyed learning more about the employer’s needs.
Highlight the areas you discussed and point out the strong match between the employer’s needs and your experience.
