SMPS WAVE - Pacific Regional Conference Recap - Interviews (Part 2)

The 2015 SMPS WAVE - Pacific Regional Conference is now in the rearview mirror. While it was an amazing experience, it was impossible to catch all of the amazing presentations. Thankfully, several SMPS Fellows sat in on each presentation and shared their findings during the last session of the conference. Moderated by our own Bill Strong, FSMPS, CPSM, Owner, Bill Strong Consulting, the session provided an open discussion of the key points conference attendees should take with them. We are happy to share their findings with you on Friday mornings over the next few weeks. 

INTERVIEW SESSIONS

They Came Here to Win: Lesssons from the Front Lines of Short-List Interviews - Meg Winch

The Situational Interview: How to Show Intelligence, Flexibility, and Teamwork When Working in Unknown Waters - Susan Murphy

Hook, Line and Sinker: 4 Important Skills that will Elevate You From "One of the Pack" to "The One" - Susan Murphy and Deborah Briers, CPSM

by Dawn Greco, FSMPS, CPSM, Business Development Director, ICF International

Three Key Takeaways 

1. Put Your Ego on Hold - it doesn't matter your staff's status in your firm, what matters is what their role is for this project and this client.

2. Content is the 'Gift of Your Knowledge' - technical staff need to realize that their vast knowledge is a gift to the project and to the client, as long as it stays directed to the client's need.

3. Coaching your teams - as a marketer and coach make team comments in public but make individual comments in private.

Take Away From My Expertise

Most interviews are won in the Q & A, yet we all spend the majority of our time rehearsing the "formal" presentation. My interview teams practice responding to Q & A before practicing the presentation.

New Item I Learned

Create a 'villain' that allows the audience to rally around - that being you and your differentiator (remember, a villain isn't your competitior, it is the client's problem in need of a solution).