Let’s face it, interviews can be a multitude of things, but they’re rarely described as fun or thrilling. Words like “nightmare,” “awkward,” “uncomfortable,” and “awful” saturate our vocabulary when we’re relaying our interview stories to friends and colleagues. That’s a shame. The truth is, interviews CAN be great experiences no matter what side of the table you’re on.

“How can I enjoy this interview,” is a question I’ve asked numerous times. After being involved with a ton of these, I’ve narrowed the field to three common factors I always see in great discussions.

Fair warning – this article isn’t designed to give the basics: don’t show up late, forget to dress appropriately, or insult the interviewers. Those simple things are the foundation, not the building itself. Those should be covered from the start.

Let’s get into it.

Interview Tip #1: Be Genuine

This sounds simple but it’s more complex than it appears. At the core of being genuine are a couple of things. Don’t lie on a resume…that’s just wrong (and will probably get a candidate fired if it’s discovered even years later). Don’t script your answers on post-it notes attached to the side of your laptop screen (yes, people do it). Finally, don’t memorize your own lines, or worse, use someone else’s lines.

Memorization becomes extremely obvious extremely quickly. Candidates should think about and prepare answers to the common topics such as weaknesses, strengths, passions, past project experiences, etc. in advance. But “think about and prepare” means exactly what it sounds like. Gather your thoughts, prepare some talking points, but don’t memorize a script. Experienced interviewers and speakers can spot a scripted line fifty miles away, often before the interviewee even realizes they’re speaking from a memorized script. It’s an immediate negative factor, often leading hiring managers to wonder if it’s really the candidate’s answer or just something cool they read online.

Practice answering questions using slightly different verbiage or examples, keeping your talking points the same, but the expression unscripted and genuine.

Interview Tip #2: Research the Company and Position

This is a universally good idea. Candidates who walk into the interview and ask questions that are clearly answered in the job posting or on the company website are often instantly rejected in the interviewer’s mind. Examples include, “is this full or part-time,” “when was the company founded,” or “is this a remote position?”

Take 15-20 minutes to research both the role and company (more for director, executive, and upper management roles).

If you’re feeling up to a bigger challenge, practice working verbiage from the company website or job posting into your talking points from our last tip.

Interview Tip #3: Ask Good Questions

Interviews are a two-way street. As much as the candidate is being interviewed for the position, they’re interviewing the managers and company.

Once Tip #2 is complete, find a couple of questions about the role or company that you’re interested in having answers for. I typically advise that candidates stay away from questions about salary, benefits, and the like in a first interview, unless the interviewer brings them up.

We all have questions about companies when we’re interviewing, and a candidate who says, “I don’t really have any questions,” communicates disinterest at a minimum, or worse, lack of candor.

I highly encourage candidates to find their own, unique questions that are based on their needs, knowledge, and interests. If you’re truly stumped, check out LinkedIn or run a quick Google search.

My personal favorite is, “what do you like most about working for this company?” This gives your interviewers a chance to shine, while also allowing you to learn more about the subtleties and nuances of the prospective role.

Conclusion

Interviews don’t have to be scary and nerve-wracking. While these three tips aren’t guaranteed to land you a job every time, they hopefully can serve to produce a more conversational, genuine, and enjoyable experience.

At the end of the day, an interview is about one thing for all involved; you’re getting to know the person on the other side of the table from you. Be yourself. Don’t memorize. Ask great questions.

No one can nail it every time, but more consistent performance IS possible!