Interviews can be intimidating, especially panel interviews. Adequate preparation can make an interview feel more like a conversation, and less like an interrogation. Isn’t a little homework worth it for a potential five or six figures a year?

A networking colleague, Lisa Hatfield, recently messaged me about an occurrence regarding some interviews being held to source new candidates for the government services agency where she works. For the first time, she was not the interviewee, but one of the interviewers.

She says, “After conducting 2 interviews today and scoring them, it is interesting being on the other side of the table. This is also a lesson for me when I’m being interviewed.”

She recommends showing up early for an interview. At the state agency she works for, the candidate is given time prior to the interview to review the questions prior to the actual interview, so they have time to write down answers, consider their own questions, and analyze their responses.

Not every company gives you this valuable time to prepare the answers to your questions, so doing it on your own ahead of time is important. Also, being late is a big ugly mark against you that is difficult to overcome even with a stellar interview and show of qualifications.

She has these suggestions for the interview process.

1. Give detailed answers. It is painfully obvious when someone on the interview panel has to add questions to draw out the answer.

2. Think before speaking so you remain on topic.

3. Make sure your answer relates to the topic.

4. Provide detailed examples of an experience in the work environment.

5. Study the job description.

These suggestions sound like common sense, but a nervous applicant is apt to fumble a bit, especially when unprepared.

She adds the following faux pas that she noticed with some candidates.

One girl brought in a drink. The other just didn’t know how to be detailed enough. Are they experienced for the job? Yes, but based on answers and how we had to score, they won’t get the job.

My colleague’s point is that she has seen things from the other side of the table that she might not have thought of when she was the one interviewing. Her goal is to help you prepare more for your interviews so that you increase your chances of success.

Take away points:

Qualifications aren’t everything.

Preparation counts!

In addition to her work for the government, Lisa Hatfield is a published author and maintains a blog to spotlight independent artists and the organizations they support. You can find out more at passionateorganizations.blogspot.com.