Standard Interview Tips R.I.P - time to bring out the ugly truth!

I have had my share of interviews, the good, bad, and ugly ones, and I feel shocked at realizing that most people just don't know about the simplest trick to ensure that you make a better first impression, and create longer-lasting impressions that can get you hired, with your wishes being granted. Just imagine this scenario at any organization's HR desk - you are decked-up in good business casuals, you have scored reasonably well in the first round of interviews, you are now waiting for things to take a more definite shape, perhaps fumbling with your smartphone...what is it that you are not doing? You are not taking observing things that can be turned into simple questions. Yes! One big thing that most interviewers don't realize is that HR practices tend to get too mechanical. So predictable that some candidates cannot be differentiated. Unless you look like Brad Pitt or speak with the intensity of Morgan Freeman, forgetting you as one of the many candidates is not that difficult - yes, perhaps one more thing you didn't realize.

Before you read ahead, please understand that:

- Most 10 tips to ace the interview type of write-ups will never tell you to be slightly aggressive. They constantly preach being very polite and ultra-professional

- Reading into last-minute interview tips and suggestions is a very bad choice. It can mess up your entire state of readiness for scoring it

- Even some of the biggest authorities in this genre, like Monster.com, talk about doing your research as the first job interview scoring tip. This applies here too - to ask the questions, you got to have done some homework about the industry and the general hiring mindsets at work. This cannot be ignored

- Tips to boost your job interview skills insist that you don't talk too much during the interview. This applies here too - I am not asking you to have informal conversations about the weather and relationships

- This is not meant to override the basics of a successful job interview, i.e. being punctual. Nothing puts you in a good spot like being on time, dressing up for the part, and being attentive

- However, if you spend time searching online about what is the best color to wear to a job interview, you will be better served by reading into what I have to share

These observations will help you create questions. A quick list of things that you should be asking the HR personnel rather than waiting for the hiring squad to fire at you. Yeah, this is what they don't talk about in MBA classes at ultra-fancy finishing schools. You have to be pre-preemptive, strike when the other party is expecting humility and thinks you are cornered into a spot. I have used this on many occasions. So, what happens when you are asking the HR personnel questions rather than just answering their queries? A quick summary includes:

- it shows your confidence. You seem already assured about having what it takes to occupy the position in question. You are not waiting for the HR people to ask you mundane questions. You are through with the formalities. You want answers, simple and quick!

- it shows your level of seasonedness. The more accomplished professional is also someone who is not thwarted by any degree of HR tactics. Sitting and waiting to be put through another round of questioning makes first-time offenders apprehensive. The more seasoned player is used to it. The interview is just another day in the week!

- it gives you cover. At the HR desk, there are things that will stand out in your resume for all the wrong reasons. You can lie about it. You can create stories. But some things cannot be hidden. How do you play it? You don't hide. You stand out, with your chest bulging out like a warrior and you attack...verbally! The hiring manager did not expect this - you have created a breather!

- it helps you exit in an informed manner. Unlike other web articles about how to ace the interview, I am not guaranteeing the success of this tip. There is always a chance that this might blow up in your face. At least, I am being honest about it. What you need to consider is the big saver even when this strategy does not work out. What is it? You will emerge from the interview as a stronger, more informed professional. Why? When you ask so many questions and tend to complete sentences, there is a greater likelihood of the interviewing guy or gal divulging more than the required details. Am not talking about spilling the beans about the boss' affair but about investments and corporate strategy and grassroots-level reality that is often not there on a brand's official website!