How to Face Job Interviews

Last week I volunteered at JobTrain (www.jobtrainworks.com), where I got a chance to mentor a couple of job aspirants on how to write good résumé and how to face job interviews. As we were about to start our discussion on job interviews, one of my mentees remarked, “I have heard enough of do’s and don’ts, and I am bored to hear them again. Advise me something valuable that I can take with me today.”

“What could be valuable for this young man?” I asked myself. After a moment of thought, Miyamoto Musashi's “Book of Five Rings” flashed on my mind. Miyamoto Musashi’s guidelines teach a Samurai how to face a combat, and take control of a situation – both planned and unforeseen. An interviewee’s situation is not very different from that of a Samurai, except that for an interviewee it’s a question of getting or not getting the job, and for a Samurai it’s a question of life or death.

Though "Book of Five Rings" has many do's and don'ts, it organizes them very well in such a manner that they stick in a reader's mind forever. It has five chapters – Ground, Water, Fire, Wind, Void. Each chapter transitions beautifully into the next. If an interviewee follows these chapters carefully, the ideas in the chapters come extremely handy during interviews.

1. Ground: Prepare the groundwork for the job you are aspiring for. Learn and practice all the crafts the job requires. Research about the company; know their strengths, weaknesses; learn about their competition. Think about how you could add value to that company. Anticipate the questions that may shower upon you. Practice the answers for, “Introduce yourself, why are you looking for a job?” Prepare a list of questions that you are going to ask.

2. Water: Blend yourself well with the environment where you are being interviewed. Reach the place early. Get used to the place, people, lighting, etc. Make yourself comfortable by the time interviewer greets you and shakes your hand. Watch out for the cues that tell you about the norms of the interviewer. Blend with the interviewer’s culture. For example, if the interviewer is a serious, I-hate-nonsense kind of a person, you too answer to the point. On the other hand, if the interviewer is a take-it-easy person, make sure to show that you are friendly, social person too.

3. Fire: A fire produces warmth, and can be aggressive too. Be assertive in your tone. Never lose your presence of mind. Show positive, warm attitude. All jobs require that you be tough at times. Many interviewers are naïve; they try to demean you. Be careful not to take those remarks and comments personally. Always answer a question, but never answer back. If you don’t know, don’t lose heart. Everybody doesn’t know everything.

4. Wind: Let your thoughts flow as fast as the wind. Do not get lost searching for answers or explanations. Get a piece of paper or stand up to a white board while crunching numbers or while showing things visually. Write bullet points wherever necessary. Say all you want to say in short. Give your best in the small amount of time available.

5. Void: At end of the interview, be aware that you have got nothing to lose – whether you get or not get the job. If you happen to get the job and join your new employer, very soon you will aspire to moving higher or a different position. Then you will find your job, the job you got through the interview, less worthy. Therefore, do not be too happy or too sad about the outcome.

The young man jumped with joy as I explained the fourth chapter. The last chapter confused a hell out of him. I guess, it required some experience in life to understand the chapter of Void. I told him, “Do not worry about it. Give your best in the interview, and in the job. Then start preparing ground for your next job. Good luck!” Then we bid goodbye. My mentee seemed satisfied. I surely was.