If you think your interview team should be all serious and professional-like in front of the Selection Panel—think again. Well, of course you won’t want to show up in a clown’s suit, and you probably don’t want to launch with a joke, “An architect and an engineer walk into a bar . . .” either.

According to Scott Johnston, “A little bit of chuckle is a good thing” during your firm’s interview. Especially if you can tie the chuckle into the purpose for you being there. So yeah, you should be professional and serious about presenting, but you should inject some personality while you’re there.

Scott presented “Five Mistakes Selection Panels Say A/E/C Firms Make (and How to Fix Them) at  our Seattle chapter’s business practice dinner this month. It was a good session—lots of great tips and examples, including Scott’s answer to the question, “We are the best firm; why do we keep losing?”

The number two mistake firms make? Speaking generally. Scott said that Selection Panels need to hear details.

More according to Scott (whose firm, Johnston Training Group, conducts in-person interviews with selection panel members from numerous public and private organizations, as well as helping A/E/C firms present powerfully):

• Your tone should be humbly competent.
• Pausing is really powerful, and projects confidence.
• Share something personal that relates to the project.

Scott also talked about “creative brief.” Want to know more about that? Feel free to drop Scott a line.