10 ways an interview is like a figure skating competition

I am a closet competitive figure skating fan. Watching the ISU competition from France this morning, I was reminded why I love this sport so much. So much of it is mental, and to be world-class requires an amazing amount of hard work, dedication, determination, coaching and practice, practice, practice. In my opinion, just like interviewing.

I thought of 10 ways interviewing is like a figure skating competition:

1. You are judged by other people, but only really competing against yourself.

2. Both take rigorous practice before and between every performance.

3. Being in shape and building your stamina gives you a distinct advantage.

4. No one wins based on what they did last year – although reputation is important, winning THIS contest rests on THIS performance.

5. The right outfit and appearance reinforces rather than distracts the audience from you and your message.

6. There are standard elements that you must fulfill. However, you can’t win just on technical accuracy. You also need a certain amount of “artistry” or presentation points. In an interview, this means being likable and bonding with your interviewers.

7. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. The trick is to pick yourself up quickly, finish your performance as flawlessly as possible, and practice to not make the same mistake again.

8. A huge component of success is belief in yourself. Some skaters who miss a jump early in their routine let it get in their head and then they miss all the rest. Winners shake it off and add extra elements to make up the difference in the points deducted.

9. Points are deducted for errors. Some of the most damaging errors come on the “easy” elements through a simple lapse in concentration.

10. Giving your best unfortunately doesn’t ensure a win. You can give the performance of your life and still lose to someone who gives a superior performance, which in an interview can be illustrating that they are a more perfect fit for the job in question.