- "Do you really think a woman can handle this job?"
- "Aren't you a little too old for a grueling position like this?"
- "Do people respond to you just like everyone else, even though you only have one eye?"
- "With that brace on your leg, I don't suppose you get out to visit the companies in your group very often, do you?"
In an ideal world, these questions would not only be unasked, they would also be unthought. But our present world is far from ideal. If you vary much from the norm...if you're an ethnic or racial minority, physically handicapped, noticeably younger or older than most executives, considerably heavier or shorter...there may be unspoken questions in the mind of the interviewer about your ability to handle the job because of your "difference." The best course is to rebut these objections, even though they're not voiced.
But you must communicate indirectly. You can't simply pipe up and say, "Don't worry about my age; I'm more effective at 59 than I ever was at 30 or 40." If by chance the interviewer wasn't thinking of your age as a problem, he'll wonder why you're being so defensive. And if he was thinking about it: (1) he'll be offended that you caught him, (2) he'll be unconvinced by your self-serving assertion, and (3) he'll worry that you may already be hinting at legal action if he doesn't give you the job.
Just as in writing your resume, you can answer such unspoken questions with offsetting information. If you're probably a lot older than the other candidates, casually mention spending your vacation as an instructor for Outward Bound...or that you're leaving in August for two weeks of mountain climbing in Nepal. Or maybe just mention your interest in finding a challenging partner for a few good sets of tennis while you're in town. Make the interviewer think of you as healthy, vigorous, and in your prime. Don't talk about something you watched on television, or how hard you were hit by the flu that's going around. Everyone watches TV and gets sick occasionally, but you can't afford to raise image problems with someone who doesn't know you.
Shatter your stereotype.
Offset youth with civic and business responsibilities normally reserved for someone more mature...president of a stodgy country club, trustee of a college, outside director of a bank. (For this purpose, forget "when-do-you-have- time-for-it?" concerns.) Fight the age problem with evidence of vigorous physical activity and a fast-paced schedule. And if you're a woman, stress the fact that you're accustomed to extensive travel, to making difficult decisions, to operating independently. And throw in an anecdote that makes it clear that your household is organized accordingly.
If you belong to a racial or ethnic minority, be warm, self-confident, friendly and informal...thus demonstrating (1) that you'll fit right in, and (2) that you don't have any doubt or insecurity about fitting in. And if you're physically handicapped, stress your ability to function effectively in the mainstream of everyday life; mention a party you went to recently, grumble about a speeding ticket, talk about your participation in active sports. And if you're overweight, stress the fact that you lead a highly disciplined and energetic life...that you adhere to demanding self-imposed schedules...that you work for long-term goals.
What the Interview Can't Do for You
For years one of the leading literary agents has been trying to get me to write an article which ought to be called How to Package and Pretend Your Way Into a Big Job You're Not Qualified For. Naturally that's not the title he proposes, but it perfectly describes his premise.
Such a concept is not only dishonest, it's ridiculous. No combination of slick resume and glib interviewing can enable you to defeat an array of really excellent candidates and win a job you're not qualified for.
And you shouldn't want such a job. Get it, and your life will be miserable until you lose it...and even more miserable afterward!
However, armed with the information in this article, and the willingness to work as hard as necessary to obtain the position you do deserve, you should be able to fight off the other fine candidates competing against you for any job you fully deserve and can perform.
Good luck. I hope you do.
