Targeted Selection

By Elizabeth Chamberland, Campus Representative, Indiana University

You perfected your résumé, played the waiting game, and have gotten an interview! The interview can be the most influential factor in a hiring decision. While a well-written résumé can get you an interview, a solid interview is what gets you the job.

In Fortune magazine, Bill Byham writes about his well-known job-interviewing strategy called “targeted selection.” Based on the idea that the past foresees the future, candidates are encouraged to highlight previous achievements to forecast future success within their company.

Byham also notes the following interview tips:

1) Know your predecessors

2) Liars don’t get hired

3) Take advantage of the unprepared

By this he means, if possible, speak with current employees to find out about those people who previously held the position. Emphasizing your strengths in areas previous employees may have failed in can leave a good impression on the interviewer. Being honest is much better than getting caught in a lie or exaggeration in an interview. His third point means you should be prepared to ask questions and prove a high level of preparation to the potential employer to leave a positive impression.