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Talent Market is a nonprofit whose mission is to promote liberty by providing talent for critical roles within the free-market nonprofit sector

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Talent Tip #36: The Art of the Interview

August 14, 2012

I had the distinct pleasure of spending much of last week with 80 amazingly bright and talented Koch Summer Fellows. We bonded over the art of interviewing.

For most, interviewing conjures the same excitement as a root canal or watching a movie marathon on Lifetime. But the Koch Summer Fellows made interviewing an absolute delight. We went through dozens of mock interviews and lots of discussion about what makes for a good interview.

I wanted to share with you several recurring themes from our time together. I’ve boiled them down to eight tips for giving a great interview:

  • Bring Your A-Game Handshake: Come with a solid handshake – strong, no knuckle grinding or sweaty palms, and remember eye contact.
  • No Sailor Talk: No matter how comfortable you feel with the person interviewing you, do not let curse words fly. No #$%*.
  • Wear the Suit: Unless you’ve been told otherwise by the organization, it’s probably best to wear a suit. Worst-case scenario: you’re overdressed. Best-case scenario: you get the job.
  • Less Is More: Be careful that your answers to the interviewer’s questions don’t turn into soliloquies. If you (or the interviewer!) have forgotten what the question was midway through your answer, you’ve gone on too long.
  • Make It a Disney Story: If your interviewer asks behavior-based interviewing questions (Tell me about a time when …..Give me an example of…Describe a time when…), make sure to share positive stories from your past. Avoid sharing situations that may reflect poorly on you or be misconstrued by the interviewer.
  • Show Me the Money: Be ready to discuss salary. Have a range in mind and be confident when you say it.
  • Take Out the Trash: Don’t trash your former employer. Even if your former boss engages in felonious behavior, be careful about how you frame the situation.
  • Riddle Me This: Come with questions. If the interviewer asks if you have any questions and all you have is crickets, you’re in trouble. If you draw a blank, a question about organizational culture is usually a winner.

Thanks to all the 2012 Koch Summer Fellows for a wonderful week. I feel much better about our future knowing you guys are the next generation of freedom fighters.

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About Us

Claire Kittle Dixon

Claire Kittle Dixon
Executive Director
Claire has more than a decade of experience in the talent development field. She…
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Katelynn Barbosa
Director of Talent Engagement
Katelynn started her career in the Koch Associate Program and then litigated at the Institute for Justice…
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Katy Gambella
Director of Network Engagement
Katy began her career at the Institute for Humane Studies and later joined the Cato Institute…
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Stephanie Keaveney
Network Engagement Manager
Stephanie’s career started at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal…
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Lydia Ocampo
Network Engagement Specialist
Lydia started her career with Young Americans for Liberty. During her time with YAL…
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Wait, You’re a Nonprofit?

Talent Market is a nonprofit. We’ll wait here while that sinks in. We know it’s a crazy concept, but it’s been working like a charm since 2009.

Talent Market’s mission is to promote liberty by providing talent for critical roles within the free-market nonprofit sector.

We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise. (We do not work in politics, nor do we work with organizations that address social issues.) Talent Market believes that the road to prosperity is paved with freedom and that the success of our movement hinges on the talent that will take us there.

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