image, JoeFoodie

Interviewers are people too. Doing the same thing over and over again isn't usually too exciting. It can get boring spending several days interviewing candidates for a role.  When something is unique on a resume, it is likely to elicit a topic of discussion during the interview. Perhaps you were in a one-hit wonder band in the seventies or played professional rugby?

The interview may want to ask you about your unique talent or interests and you can have a great conversation sharing your mutual interest in sports, your ability to play the guitar or passion for baseball card collecting.

You walk out the door feeling great because the interviewer will remember you. The interviewer liked you and now you are likely to get the job, right? Well, not so fast.


Will the interviewer remember you as a good person to hang out with and relax or will he/she remember you as a great candidate for the job?

The opportunity to sell yourself for the job is very limited. If you didn't take the opportunity to sell your skills, qualifications and abilities for a job, you didn't put yourself in the best position to succeed.

Wherever possible, refocus the interview on your qualifications for the job vacancy at hand. How can you do that? Keep answers to unrelated (but interesting) questions short and sweet.

The interviewer should remember you as a great fit for the job and not just a cool person!