Interviewing for a job or a promotion? Normally it will begin with “Tell us a little bit about yourself.” What if you turn the tables and say, “Would you like to know something that is not on my resume?” Then tell them something interesting from your deep personal past. How many marathons you have run or countries you’ve been to. Or when did you decide philosophy major would be a great fit for this job! How you met your fiancé or who talked you into two covid dogs! This question that you ask them does three things: It provokes interest, it turns the question asking on its head, and it humanizes the interaction. Don’t think of a job interview as a final exam even though it might be! Keep asking them questions: “May I give you an example of that?” is much better than “Here is an example”…keep them attentive to your questions as you are to theirs. If you are online, lean in slightly from time to time…and look in the camera not on the screen. And at the end when they ask if you have any questions say, “I really hope you will seriously consider me for this position (not ‘job’) and after today’s interview if your company is anything like what I experienced here today, I know I will do great work for you.” I coach executives and physician and pharma leaders, and I cannot tell you how many forget or are afraid to ask for the position. Interviewers I’ve spoken to are also amazed. One said, “Why don’t they just ask?”