Job interviews are like first dates--two people getting together for the first time to get to know a little more about each other and to see if there might be a future together. Just like a first date, there can be more than a wee bit of anxiety involved in a job interview, and there’s always the element of uncertainty and the possibility of rejection. Any first date is what you make of it (even when you know there won’t be a second). The same holds true for a job interview.



Stay Focused

Preparing for a job interview and what transpires during the actual interview can end up being two different exercises. Sometimes the questions the interviewer asks can change the direction of the interview in a heartbeat. This is where the potential employee can lose focus and affect the confidence of the interviewee.

Since your confidence in the interview is crucial, if there is one characteristic that every interviewee should strive to keep constant in the interview, is the goal-achieving trait of being dynamic. Being dynamic is an attitude, it’s an approach, and never forget it makes a difference. The word dynamic is characterized by energy: continuous and productive activity or change. In the real world that translates into emotional intelligence, thriving on change, creative problem solving, and building rapport. If you possess any of these skills, convey them with passion and an authentic interest in the organization you are applying to.



Seven Powerful Words to Get the Job You Want

The football program at Notre Dame is rich with storied history and success. Today there is a simple, yet powerful wooden sign painted gold and blue mounted on the wall at the foot of a stairwell outside the football team’s locker room, that has inspired hundreds of Notre Dame football players over the years.

The sign reads, “Play Like a Champion Today.”

While the exact origin of the motivational slogan is not known, former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz is credited with the sign that hangs in Notre Dame Stadium today. When players leave the locker room, it’s the first thing they see and over the years the players have developed a tradition of hitting the sign; it’s their commitment to play to the best of their ability.

There is a simple, yet equally powerful motivational phrase you can use as inspiration before each and every interview: Why not today? Why not this job? Write it down on a piece of paper with a bold pen and keep it within your sight before the interview as a reminder to not lose focus. Imagine your next employer saying it. These seven powerful words can be life altering when a job is on the line:

“I Can’t Wait To Have You Start.”

This phrase is all about momentum. It speaks volumes about being determined, effectively communicating your qualifications for the job, keeping passion alive in the interview until the very end, and controlling the outcome (at least on your end). Your goal is to get hired, and what better first compliment can a new employer give you then, “I can’t wait to have you start?”



Finish What You Start

Two years ago I was at a friend’s wedding, when he happened to point out a professor from our alma mater sitting at a dinner table. I took the liberty of introducing myself to this man, as I saw it is as a way to catch up on the latest news at UW-Whitewater. We started to talk about the new chancellor, and he happened to mention he was on the selection committee that hired this person. I asked him what separated the candidate who got the job from the others. The decisive factor? “She was dynamic,” he said. “The way she greeted us and made us feel during the interview made the difference. She was focused on making us comfortable with the idea that she was the best candidate for the job, and she would excel.”

Finish what you start, folks. Finding fulfilling employment takes persistence. Always have a plan of how you can be dynamic in an interview and keep momentum until the final “thank you’s.” You will know it has paid off when you hear your new employer say,” I can’t wait to have you start.”