Posted on
November 23, 2009 by
admin
Dearest readers, I presume that at least on a few occasions in your life you will be confronted with the job interview… at least I hope so. Your first one even might be already during high school or university, but as soon as you receive that valuable piece of paper, life is getting pretty serious; and hopefully it will not be the only job interview you will have in your life.
Some people might be naturally successful during a job interview; they understand the dynamics, the most important do’s and don’t, while some others simply don’t get to the point of getting the contract. I am not promising a bullet proof method for getting that contract, but there are a few simple things to remember before, during, and after the job interview, which may dramatically increase your chances. Below are 10 suggestions to give you on your way, but of course, if you feel that any important do or don’t was omitted from this article, I am very much looking forward to your comments.
#1: Do dress to sell
You are a salesperson, you are selling all of your knowledge and a specific amount of time to a corporation. In a sense, you are a company yourself. Therefore, dress like a business person. I feel each and every man or woman should have at least one very official business outfit readily available. Even if you know, that the company has a very informal style, it does not mean you can show up in jeans during the interview. Make sure your hair is neatly cut, groom well, smell well, and simply be the person for the job.
#2: Do not assume everything will go with the flow
Prepare well for the interview. Each company and business culture has its own set of rules, but there are a few things which reoccur over and over again. These include questions such as “tell me something about yourself”, or “where do you see yourself in 5 years time?”. Buy a book on job interviews, and study the most common questions, prepare the answer well, so that you instantly know how to answer a question when it is asked.
#3: Do your homework on the company well
One of the most embarrassing situations you might get into is to ask a question, which is obvious or which you should have known. Therefore, always research the company before the interview. Where does the company have offices?Which are their business units? How many employees do they have? How much turnover did they have last year? What is the current price of their stock?
#4: Do not fidget
Everyone is nervous during the job interview, but it is also expected that one can control his/her nervousness up to some degree. Therefore, try not to fidget with things like a pencil, or your hands. Be cool.
#5: Do show confidence
Being confident is very powerful. It means walking up straight, with the shoulders relaxed and slightly pushed backwards. When seated, lean in and show interest in the topic, look your counterpart(s) in the eyes frequently, but without creeping them out. Always have a block note and a pen readily available to take notes if necessary.
#6: Do not lie
Selling yourself means putting yourself in the spotlight in the best possible way, but without lying. For example, if you are taking a Chinese course since a month or two, you may tell your counterpart that you speak Chinese, and that you have the potential to be put on China-relevant projects in future and grow to a more prominent position within the company. However, telling your counterpart that you speak Chinese fluently would be merely lying. Any lie will most probably be revealed sooner or later, and the result is usually immediate termination of the contract.
#7: Do engage in small talk
Small talk is a powerful tool to get to know your counterpart a bit better on a more social level. Moreover it is a powerful instrument to build a more personal connection. Give your counterpart the opportunity to start the small talk, and engage in it actively. You may also ask your counterpart a few questions. However, be careful not to become too personal. Typical small talk topics to start with are the weather or whether you had a good trip. Avoid any topics which involves strong personal opinions, such as politics, religion or sexuality.
#8: Do not talk more than you have to
Nervousness often causes a person to say more than is necessary. Some employers may use this against you by simply remaining unresponsive after you have finished answering. It is not uncommon, that the silence is so discomforting to the applicant, that the applicant starts elaborating his answer even further, and therewith sharing information which he never intended to share. The best way to cope with this is simply to keep your mouth shut, and keep the silence. After half a minute or so, you may ask something like “do you have any more questions?”.
#9: Do have one or two questions available for the end of the interview
As a future employee, you really want to demonstrate that the position and company interests you. Therefore, you will want to ask a few questions. Personally, one standard question I use is “why do you enjoy working for company xyz?”. This will give me some personal information how my counterpart sees the company, and it is information which is not likely to be found somewhere publicly. Best is to write your questions down on your note block, that you should have with you, and put it on the table during the interview. The benefit of doing this is, that even if your questions are automatically answered during the interview, you can still show that you have given a thought about it. You can even state that you had for example written three questions down, which have been answered already. Again, referring back to #3, do not ask questions that you should already have known.
#10: Do not expect everything to go automatically
Once the job interview is over, thank you counterpart, and make an arrangement of when you will hear a result, or at least further information. The company should generally stick to that. If not, give them perhaps two more days time, and then call the person you had the interview with to inquire about it. Some companies might even use this as a test, in order to see how bad you want the job and how persistent you are. Always remain active, not passive.
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