Interview Tips from the Campaign Trail

The current presidential primary debates are like first job interviews -- a chance to see how a candidate measures up against other contenders before subsequent interviews, primary votes, party deals and the general election deliver the top job to the winner in 17 months or so.

While I hope most Monster job seekers don't have to interview for that long before getting a job offer, it did occur to me that these early debates offer some glimpses into the interview styles of the candidates. Plus, the comments -- constructive or otherwise -- from media observers and the blogosphere might also apply to ordinary job seekers heading out for job interviews.

So here are some comments and tips taken from the primary campaign trail, which might apply to your interview situation.

Blogger Erin Cox from WTNH-TV in Connecticut noted last Sunday's Democratic candidate debate in New Hampshire was more like "speed dating" than an actual debate. She, and a New Hampshire couple she interviewed, disapproved of the raise-your-hand-on-the-issues polling of the candidates and approved of Senator Hillary Clinton's rebuke to the moderator about it.

Note to Job Seekers: Don't be afraid to reframe a question to make a point about your strengths, and make sure an interviewer knows you stand for something.

Adam Nagourney of the New York Times had several suggestions for Republican candidates at their early May debate in California, among them this item: "Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York…struggled to spell out a fairly complex position on abortion rights that has reverberated across the political field ever since." Nagourney went on to suggest Giuliani needs to find "a way to finesse an answer to the question."

Note to Job Seekers: Take a hard look at your resume, and if there are issues (employment gaps, education, skills, experience) an interviewer might question, make sure you have a clear, confident, concise and credible answer in mind. Practice it.

Lots of commentators have highlighted the role the debates play in establishing -- or undermining -- the conventional wisdom of who is a leading candidate. Frank James of the Chicago Tribute noted: "Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico still had problems delivering a coherent answer on his stance on the immigration legislation before Congress...Definitely not the way to break into the top tier."

Los Angeles Times writer Michael Finnegan quoted a campaign speech by Republican Mitt Romney: "'The best ally of peace is a strong America,' said the onetime Massachusetts governor. Americans 'are overtaxed, and government is overfed.' Values and morals 'are under constant attack.'"

Finnegan then pointed out: "To Stu Spencer, one of Ronald Reagan's top campaign strategists, that timeworn framework - used by nearly all of Romney's rivals for the nomination - falls short of what he see as an appetite [among voters] for change."

A Last Note to Job Seekers: You can never be sure you're the leading candidate, so don't assume you know what the interviewer wants to hear. Prepare for the interview, and find out how to establish yourself as the best candidate for the job.

Look here for more interview resources:

• "Make Interview Preparation a Part of Daily Life"
• "Interview Tips for Landing a Creative Job"
• "Close the Interview"
• Monster's Interview Tips message board 

Related Blogs

• "Students Discuss Their Experiences Working the CNN Debates"
• Pollster Blog 

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