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 There are many sources of tips available for the
job seeker. They provide excellent information on how to find job
opportunities, write resumes, present oneself at interviews, etc. A good
example is http://www.rileyguide.com/. I don't
wish to repeat standard advice but rather focus on what makes the
difference between being just OK at the interview and being outstanding.
This assumes that the interviewee is actually qualified for the job.
1. Be
prepared. Make sure that you know what the company's business is all
about, so you can ask intelligent questions and prove that you are really
interested in working for them. You can check their website or even search
the Internet for news information on them, if they are a large company.
2. Dress
for success! This is so important and often underestimated by the
interviewee. The style of dress will vary by company. For instance,
be conservative for a bank or insurance company, but stylish for a media or
advertising company. Never go in jeans, revealing clothes, slippers, or
dirty/old clothes.
Make sure your hygiene is impeccable. Don't smoke for the morning before
the interview as the smell of tobacco will linger in your hair and clothes, and
many people are turned off by this.
For conservative companies, wear your hair in a tidy style; women should wear
closed-in shoes and perfume should be discreet; men should not wear ear-rings,
and any visible body piercings are a no-no.
The interviewer will form a first impression from the moment they see you, and
the rest of the interview will be simply to provide support for that first
impression.
3. Be on
time. Better to get there an hour early than be 5 minutes late. You
may be required to fill in an application form so it's best to be there at least
15 minutes before the interview. If you are unavoidably late, then please
call the company with a good excuse and offer to reschedule the time if they
can't wait for you.
Remember that employers often line up several interviews one after the other.
So you being late will impact on the whole day, and this will be noted.
4. Be
polite. Smile
and shake hands with everyone (if possible) while introducing yourself.
Remember to stand when someone important comes into the room, even if it's a man
and you're a woman - we're all equal in business. It's so easy and makes
an essential good impression.
5. Don't
fidget - it's annoying and makes you look nervous. Don't cover your
mouth while speaking. Speak clearly and pay attention to your diction and
grammar. Never chew gum in an interview. Never slouch in your chair,
no matter how relaxed the interview may be.
6. Don't
monopolise the conversation. It's important that you present your
achievements well, but you must also listen to what the interviewer wants to
tell you about the job and company. You could come across as overbearing
if you take control of the conversation.
7. On the
other hand, make sure that you get to say your piece too, should the interviewer be
very talkative. He/she may well consider you a great conversationalist if
you let them do all the talking, but you want them to learn why you are the best
candidate for the job. So, make sure you get a chance to sell yourself
too.
8. Be
prepared for tricky questions like "if I told you that you are not suitable for
the job, what would you say?" Listen to the question carefully before you
get angry or upset. The interviewer said "IF I told you ..." You
reply very calmly that you would be surprised and disappointed and then go on to
say why you are perfect for the job.
The interviewer was trying to see how you would react.
In all cases, be
calm and always steer the answer back to why you should get the job. Have a good
answer for that age-old one "what do you consider your faults to be?" Come
up with some (genuine) faults that could also be considered attributes.
9. Keep
your sense of humour. It's only a job and others will come your way.
So, don't be too serious and anxious. Show that you are a happy, confident
person and people will want to have you on their team.
10. Never,
never bad talk your previous employers or anyone else. This will actually
reflect worse on you than them. You can make it obvious that you were not
happy with a company or a situation but don't make personal, negative remarks
about anybody.
Also check out "the
Magic Wand", a very effective interview technique I wrote about in a
previous newsletter. Note that any jobs listed there are no longer
available.
I remember one disastrous job
interview I had years ago with a certain cola company. The interviewer
told me how he encouraged his children to drink bottles of this stuff every day,
especially when they were ill. The look of horror on my face must have
killed it for me and we both couldn't wait for me to get out of there.
Remember that an interview is
an opportunity for both sides to establish that there is a fit. You are
also sizing them up, and these days it's very much an employee's market.
So know that you are worthy, and enjoy the experience.
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