As you prepare for interviews, keep in mind what employers are looking for in today's job market. They first and foremost want to hire competent individuals who are qualified to take charge and produce results. Hopefully, you know what you do well and enjoy doing, you have specific goals, and you have produced Haldane-principled resumes and letters that clearly communicate your qualifications to employers as outlined in our two companion volumes: Haldane's Best Resumes For Professionals and Haldane's Best Cover Letters For Professionals. Such documents should screen you in for job interviews because they tell employers that you have the requisite skills and accomplishments to do the job better than others.
In addition to knowing if you have the requisite qualifications to do the job, employers also want to hire people they like. And that's where both the referral and job interview play critical roles in getting a job. Only a foolish employer would hire someone who only demonstrates the best technical qualifications for a job. Most employers don't want high performers who are obnoxious, self-centered, and disruptive to the organization. All things being equal or near equal, the person who communicates his likability the best during the job interview will get the job. Whatever you do, don't assume your technical qualifications and experience are the key to landing a job. Your personality may be just as important, especially if you are the type of person who has excellent communication and people skills. Employers look for "chemistry" that is the key to determining how good a "fit" you are for the job and the organization.
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