I had an interview recently that gave me something to think about. The candidate had excellent technical experience and clearly knew their stuff. But as the conversation continued, I noticed they were explaining things to me as though I had absolutely no understanding of the industry.
Now, I will not be repairing a gearbox anytime soon. Honestly, that is better for everyone involved! But not being able to do someone’s job does not mean I know nothing about it.
The person interviewing you may be a recruiter, an HR professional, a hiring manager or a leader from another part of the business. They may not operate the machinery, programme the PLC or manage the production line themselves. But they probably understand far more about the role, the industry and the business than you realise.
There is also another skill being tested in that moment. Can you explain your technical knowledge to someone who does not have the same level of expertise as you? That is a valuable skill.
If you can take something complicated and explain it clearly, respectfully and without making the other person feel silly, you may also be someone who can:
• Train new team members
• Share knowledge across the business
• Communicate with customers or suppliers
• Support less experienced colleagues
• Step into leadership responsibilities
That could be the very thing that sets you apart from another candidate with similar technical skills.
There is a big difference between saying:
“You probably won’t understand the technical side of this.”
And saying:
“It is quite technical, but let me talk you through how it works.”
One shuts down the conversation. The other shows confidence, patience and the ability to bring someone along with you.
For employers, this is worth paying attention to as well. Do not only listen for the correct technical answer. Notice how the candidate explains it. Someone who can make complex information easy to understand may bring far more to your team than technical knowledge alone.
Your expertise may get you into the interview. Your ability to share that expertise could show that you are also a trainer, a mentor or a future leader. And that is a skill worth talking about.
Catch you next Tuesday!
