Have you ever been networking, having a great conversation and at the same time feel as though you are being interviewed?
If so, you may have experienced an informal interview. It happens more than you think and you should be prepared to ramp up your networking conversation if you feel the discussion has become more focused on your skills sets.
Moments like this are what make networking and job searching somewhat unpredictable and keeps you focused on building rapport and talking about your background. If you are uncomfortable talking about your value, start practicing because you never really know who you may meet.
Interviews when you least expect them falls into the category of an informal interview and can occur just about anywhere you are meeting people. I have had job seekers describe informal interview encounters taking place at soccer games or during breaks of a seminar. The key is to be prepared for the unexpected, such as the lunch meeting that turns into an interview. A good rule of thumb to follow is that when you are job searching never let your guard down on observing hidden opportunities and be prepared.
Here are some suggestions:
• Be mindful of who you talking with and listen with intent.
• Know your value, and be able to talk about recent results.
• Prepare and practice general questions so you can use them to further the discussion, if needed.
• Have business cards ready.
• Avoid complaining about the job market, your previous employer or anything that sounds negative.
• Communication is a two-way street; sense the balance of both talking and listening.
• Ask for the next steps with future meetings.
• Always ask how you can return the favor — how can you help them?
Have you had this kind of interview experience? I’d like to hear how it went.
