Keep It Simple

I recently had to have some work done on my car. When I picked it up, the mechanic told me what problems he found and what he did to fix them. He didn’t go into a lengthy discussion about how the air conditioning system works or the benefits of which particular parts he chose to use. He zeroed in on what was important to me, which was that the problem had been resolved, and I could now rely upon the AC to pump out cool air. He didn’t tell me about relays, Freon levels, or fan speeds. “Your air conditioning is working fine now. You shouldn’t have any more problems.”

The mechanic understood that the nitty-gritty details of the problem, as well as its solution, were not important to me. All I was really interested in was the fact that the problem had been solved. When you are interviewing for a job, you need to talk to your interviewer the way my mechanic talked to me. You need to quickly vet out what the interviewer values, and speak to that.

When you’re describing what you have done in a previous or current position, don’t go into great detail about the minutiae of the role. Everyone understands that all roles have a component of tedium to them. You only have limited time with your interviewer, so don’t waste it on irrelevant, boring technicalities. Here are some general guidelines to help you decide what is and is not relevant to your interviewer:

• When speaking about a current or previous role, avoid anything relating to the logistics of doing your job. No one cares. Boring.
• Don’t go through a task list. I give this advice all the time when it comes to resume writing. No one is interested in your “duties” or “responsibilities.” Say something dynamic about a great achievement.
• Don’t explain the organizational structure of your current or past employer. It is understood that each organization is different and unique, and will have its own way of constituting itself.
• Avoid the temptation to talk about yourself, your career goals, and your aspirations. If the interviewer happens to ask, respond succinctly and then turn it back to her. The interview isn’t about you but is about the problems that the hiring manager has.

Polish your resume. Know it cold. Practice answering commonly asked behavioral questions. Keep it simple. The hiring manager is looking for someone who can help her succeed in her role, and she wants someone who will make things easy. Don’t overcomplicate. Aim for simplicity, and self-edit as necessary.