A Successful Interview Primer

We all want to have an interview that leads to a job offer correct? Get a job offer after all and we can stop writing resumes and going to job interviews. Even if you enjoy writing resumes, applying for jobs and attending job interviews, you can’t get past that it takes time and energy; both of which we’d rather spend actually working and getting paid to do so!

So here’s some pointers broken down into categories. Hope you find them helpful.

FIRST IMPRESSION

• Dress a notch above what you’ll typically wear on the job
• Formal, business or business casual dress depending on the job; never casual
• A firm, dry handshake, solid eye contact, a smile
• Stand up straight, no slouching or stooping; look as fit as possible
• Good hygiene: deodorant, clean hands and teeth, hair off the face, fresh breath
• Turn your phone off just before reaching Reception
• Greet the Receptionist with warmth; he/she may be asked for feedback

BRING WITH YOU

• A résumé for yourself and up to 3 copies for those interviewing you
• The job posting showing with highlights on the skills and qualifications
• 2 pens (if 1 should run dry), paper for notes
• A thank you note to be given to the lead interviewer later the same day
• 3 or 4 written questions to ask before leaving
• Enthusiasm, a positive outlook and some energy

IF YOU SIT DOWN

• Show your preparation and lay out your résumé, job posting, notepad, pen, etc.
• Offer copies of your résumé to anyone without one
• Glance at your résumé if you need to recall points during the meeting
• Lean slightly forward in the chair, sit up straight but look comfortable
• Enjoy the conversation; this is an opportunity NOT an inquisition
• Put your shoulders back and watch your posture

IF YOU STAND OR WALK

• Match the pace of the interviewer, put energy in your step
• Keep your right hand empty for handshakes along the way
• Look interested in what you see, be observant and picture yourself working
• Be friendly with whomever you meet; you never know their title or influence

WHAT YOU SAY

• Ensure you have energy and enthusiasm in your voice
• Market your value and benefits just as you would a product you’re selling
• Know why you want the job and how hiring you benefits them
• Vary the pace of your words, slowing down to emphasize points made
• Never curse, resort to slang or speak badly of former employers, companies etc.
• Use skill-based language as you speak; the words you found in the posting
• Provide examples from your past and specific examples that prove your claims
• Express gratitude for the interview, anticipation of joining them soon
• Avoid talking excessively or one-word answers
• Ask for clarification if you are unsure of a question
• Steer clear of saying anything controversial that could damage your chances

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Keep good eye contact throughout the interview
• Avoid distracting behaviour like twirling hair, tapping your pen, bouncing legs
• Always look focused and show strong interest
• Listen to questions asked and make sure you answer the questions asked
• Check your clothes before putting them on for cleanliness
• Shine your shoes
• Avoid large, dangling jewelry
• Be punctual, allow for delays
• If there’s time, check your appearance nearby before announcing your arrival

WRAPPING THINGS UP

• Make a solid last impression – (more important than the first impression!)
• Know the next steps in the hiring process by asking
• Get business cards, contact information and how to follow-up
• Find out when a decision is to be made
• Ask if there’s more information they would like which you could offer
• Express gratitude again for the conversation and your peaked interest
• Thank the Receptionist, get their name (you will be calling them to follow up)
• Smile again and shake hands firmly
• Leave them your references

POST INTERVIEW

• Ask Reception for interviewers contact info and proper spelling of name/title
• Find a quiet spot and jot down any problem questions
• Pen a Thank You card now and return to the Receptionist, leaving it with them
• Note a follow-up date in your phone or agenda
• You may still be observed until you leave the property so you’re still, ‘on’
• Note your surroundings should there be a 2nd interview

There is great debate over which is more important, what you say or how you say it. Many people believe that the interview is largely successful or not somewhere in the first 45 seconds to 3 minutes of meeting a candidate. In other words, that first impression is critical.

Interviewers are generally smart enough to know that their first impressions are just that, and the bulk of the interview is determining if that first impression was correct or perhaps they misjudged an applicant and their opinion is changed. You are fully in control of how you come across with your body language, your words, the preparation and research you completed ahead of time and how you behave during the conversation. While this is a lot of responsibility, it’s nice to know that you’ve got a lot more control on the decision to hire you than you might have thought otherwise.

For more pointers, tips and general suggestions on how to both get and keep a job, I invite you to visit https://myjobadvice.wordpress.com/ where you’ll find my personal blog. There you can check out past blogs, comment, click on follow to get notifications on new ones etc.

Always with enthusiasm and appreciation for your readership and support

Kelly

 

 

#1 Desired Trait? ENTHUSIASM!

If skills, experience and academic education alone were all it takes to impress upon an employer that you’re the right person to hire, there wouldn’t be any need for interviews. Employers would simply look over the resumes that come in, and presumably the first one that checked off all of their needs would get selected and the rest put aside. That is not how it works.

Interviews are held of course, most often in person, but in some cases are held over the phone, via a video link, or in a screening test or questionnaire which both lead up to an in-person get together.

The reason those employers set up meetings between applicants and their own representatives – pegged as interviewers – is to size up the person in areas that aren’t indicated on the résumé. Essentially the employer wants to meet to assess your personality, attitude, friendliness, ability to engage with them, your communication skills, first impression; all in an attempt to decide as best as possible if you’re the kind of person that will fit into their organization.

It might seem obvious to you that you want the job. I mean, otherwise, why would you have applied? People who apply for jobs however have varying degrees of excitement and enthusiasm for the work to be done. Some apply out of desperation, some are just kicking tires, seeing if they get any response, others are genuinely interested in the jobs while others are running away from the jobs they have now and almost anything else would seem to be preferable. So one’s motivation for applying in the first place is often a key question for an interviewer to determine.

This idea of determining ones motivation is why questions like, “Why are you applying for this position?”, “What do you know about us?” and, “Why are you leaving / Why did you leave your current / last job?” of interest. These kinds of questions are designed to have you respond in part to your motivation for wanting to work for this company you are being interviewed by.

So if for example you don’t know much about the company you are applying for, this could show you don’t actually know or seemingly care if the job and company will be a good fit for you or not. Your lack of interest in putting in any effort to find out before applying tells them you might just be on a fishing trip – trying to see if you can get a job offer by putting in a minimal effort. Is this an indication how you’ll go about things if they did hire you too? Probably. After all, if you aren’t investing much energy in finding out something that should be pretty important to you personally, you’re not likely to invest much energy in the work the company expects you to do on their behalf now are you?

Showing a high level of enthusiasm for the opportunity before you is first and foremost what an employer wants to hear and see in the people they hire. When you are genuinely enthusiastic about the job or career you’re interviewing for, you send a very appealing message. You’re going to work with enthusiasm, enjoy what you’re doing, make an investment of your physical and mental capacities and in short, you’ll be connected to the work you do.

So you’ll show up on time, be present mentally when you’re there physically, get along with your co-workers, and your overall energy and work ethic will add to and not draw from the overall goals of the organization. Let’s sum things up by saying you’re going to be an attractive addition to the team.

How do you convey enthusiasm? Ah, good question! Look and sound positive, sit slightly forward and make good eye contact. Ask questions throughout that show a real interest. Mention things you’ve discovered through your earlier research about the job, their clients/customers. Identify any opportunities you’re aware of that your uniquely qualified to respond to. Ask about future challenges, culture, expectations and reply to what you hear by thoughtfully adding how you will enjoy engaging with these same things.

You can tell when someone isn’t really engaged in what they’re doing and so can an interviewer. Ever been on a date where the other person doesn’t seem invested but is going along until they can finally get away? You can tell by their glances elsewhere, their lack of conversation about anything meaningful and their posture that this isn’t a good fit for either of you. Pretty much the same thing with a job interview.

You might actually see the word, ‘enthusiasm’ in a job posting or you may not. It’s never a bad idea to bring it out right from the first moment of contact, all the way through to the handshake you respond with as they say, “Welcome aboard!”

Having said that, continuing to show enthusiasm for your job on a daily basis will help keep you in mind as a positive person and influence on others you come into contact with. Who knows? Could be that your genuine enthusiasm for what you do will gain you respect and perhaps even lead to being considered for advancement as opportunities arise within the organization in the years to come.

With Enthusiasm as always,

Kelly Mitchell

What I Think While Interviewing You

First of all you may not even care what I’m thinking when I’m sitting down across from you in this job interview; but you should. After all, you’re hoping I offer you the job we’re talking about. So it stands to reason that if you know what I’m thinking, you have a chance to either let me go ahead with those same thoughts or you’ve got time to change my mind before we’re done.

So let’s begin with my first impression.

When we met the reception area, I quickly looked you up and down and I started with your clothing.  I’m giving you top marks if the clothes are clean, fit with our company dress code and I’m evaluating your judgement in not just what you’re wearing, but how your clothes fit, the coordination and the appropriateness of what you selected to wear.

At the same time – and we’re talking about 3-4 seconds here – I’m taking in your hygiene and personal grooming, your facial expression, noting any obvious piercings or visible tattoos, and noting how you looked just before you realized I was the interviewer. That’s a lot to take in over 3 or 4 seconds, but I do this for a living you understand. Actually you do it too; you’re looking me over I believe and sizing me up as we meet.

I’m offering you my hand by the way as a traditional form of greeting, and how you react to this is also information I’m gathering to assess your suitability. After all, you’ll be meeting many people should I hire you, and your comfort level in how you greet them reflects on us as an organization. I’m impressed most with a firm but not overpowering handshake in return.

Now I understand you’re likely nervous and that’s to be expected. Some nervous excitement given what’s at stake is a good thing actually, but I’m checking as we begin hoping you haven’t got extreme nervousness to the point where I don’t get to see the real you. I’m actually hoping to put you at ease to the extent I can so that I can assess the person you’ll be on a daily basis. Telling me you’re extremely nervous and not yourself isn’t helping your cause. How can I really see you fitting in with my other staff if the real you isn’t present?

Now that we’re seated, I’m noting your posture and like the fact you sit slightly forward and you’re making great eye contact. The smile I’m giving you as we begin is hopefully reminding you to smile yourself – there it is! I’m now wondering if that smile looks natural or forced; because a natural smile is welcoming and appealing to customers and makes for a friendlier workplace. I know not everyone walks around smiling all day, but what I really want to avoid is hiring someone with that brooding, all-too-serious face that seems set in a constant frown. That’s not going to be a good fit here.

Now as we begin the questions and I listen to you speak, I’m sizing up how much you know about the job you’re interviewing for. A question asking what you know about our company, the job itself or why you’ve applied is designed to give you the chance to tell me how much – if any – research you’ve done. If you’re really interested and invested this opportunity you’ll do well in this. If you don’t answer well, I’m unimpressed and guessing we’re just one of 50 places you’re applying, hoping somebody hires you.

I’m really liking the fact that you answer the questions I’m asking. You obviously know yourself well, and the examples you’re giving me are backing up your claims  when it comes to your experience. How you handled situations in past jobs gives me a really good idea of how you’ll behave and act if I bring you onboard here.

You know what I’m also thinking? I hear energy in your voice; you really sound enthused about the job and you’re convincing me that you’re really looking forward to the work. This seems like more than just a job to you; I like that. This is after all, a company I’ve put a lot of hours and dedication into. I’m in a place to select an applicant who will bring some real energy and be a positive addition; because let’s face it, I’m going to work with whomever I hire.

Another thing I’ve noticed as you’re talking is that you look like you’re using your brain. I mean, you’re answers show you’ve thought about the questions asked, and the answers don’t sound rehearsed and fake. Your facial expressions are moving between serious and thoughtful to smiling – the odd laugh added which shows a natural side. You’ve prepared some questions too I see, and bringing along your résumé, the job posting, a pen and having it all organized in front of you tells me you’re ready. I like that because you’re not just saying you are organized, this proves it.

Having wrapped up with a handshake again and walked you out, I noticed you also stopped just long enough to shake the hand of the Receptionist and gave her a quick word of thanks. Full marks for that.

I’ve got other people to interview, but I’m impressed. I’m thinking at this moment you’re making a strong case to be hired. Well done!

The Right Attitude For The Interview

Congratulations! You’ve been offered and accepted a job interview with a company you’re really interested in working with doing a job that you’d sincerely love to do. While it’s taken longer to land this interview than you ever thought it would, you’re grateful for it nonetheless. This is the job interview!

There’s a lot riding on this one isn’t there? It’s your one big chance to show them how great you are and how great you’d be in the position. What to wear? When to leave for the interview so you get there early but not too early? What to research – is there time for more research? And what about – hold on there partner! Slow down. Breathe. Focus.

Sometimes we get over excited about the interview don’t we? I mean it’s one thing to be happy and excited about an upcoming job interview that we really want but it’s quite another to go overboard and see it for what it isn’t too. It isn’t your only shot at a job you’d be great at and love doing that’s going to pay you well. I’m glad it is by the way, but on a broader scale it isn’t the only job of its kind nor is it probably your only shot at this job with this company.

I do understand that in the present moment; at this time, this is your shot however and that’s what you’re understandably focused on. I’m happy for you and I’m here in your corner for you.

Let’s start with some basic information; what we know to be true. First of all, it’s clear that up to this point, you are in the running for the job. You’ve impressed them enough, presumably with your resume at the very least, and you’ve already made it to the short list of applicants beating out those whom applied and didn’t get an interview. If you submitted a cover letter with the resume, it too is a fairly safe bet that (assuming they read it) whatever it contained motivated them enough to want to hear more from you. The two documents together have resulted in the interview. It’s important to recognize this because if you don’t land the job, you’ll want to stick with what’s working when applying for other jobs, and clearly these two did what you hope they’d do for you.

You’re understandably nervous to some degree at the prospect of the interview but more importantly what the interview represents. It represents your chance to be offered the position itself; and attaining the job fulfills a pretty significant goal of yours. You may also be seeing this opportunity as more than doing something you’d love with an employer you’d love to work with. This perhaps could be your chance to start paying down debts with the income it will provide, move in different social circles, prove to other people you’ve rebounded and have made something of yourself, and of course it will take a huge weight off your shoulders and you can shift from job searching to employment.

With all that riding on this job interview,  no wonder you’re feeling the heat! Could I suggest a few things? First, acknowledge to yourself that you’re now down to say 3-6 people from perhaps 75 – 100 who have applied for the job. Your odds of getting hired are actually very good. Sure you’re now competing with just a few others who are feeling the same way, but we’re focused on what’s within your control and that’s you not them. Think positively and let’s own this interview.

Let’s answer some basic questions here well ahead of the interview. Why do you want this job with this employer? The sum of your previous experiences (life and work experiences) has made you the person you are so, why are you right for this job based on your past? This will be a combination of your education, skills, experience, values, personal suitability and the intangibles you bring that are unique to you from the other applicants.

Look at the job posting you initially applied to again. The things you’ll be responsible for and the qualifications they said they are looking for are going to make up the bulk of the interview questions. You need answers that contain specific examples from your past that p r o v e you have the skills and experience you claim to have. Get these together now.

Your attitude? Desperation isn’t attractive; its – well – desperate. I’m pretty much guessing they want someone positive, upbeat, good to be around and have around. Being assertive but not cocky or aggressive is usually on the mark more than it’s not, but your homework into the role might tell you otherwise. Maybe it’s aggressive they want because your income is based 100% on sales? If so, shift your approach to fit. Maybe they want someone low on socializing and more on the, ‘there’s work to be done so let’s get to it’ mentality, so again emphasize your work ethic.

Go  on get excited! You should be! We can celebrate together after the interview when – successful or not – you’ve done your best to shine and given it your best. The ultimate decision is out of your hands but you hope to influence that decision-making process with everything you’ve got. Like an athlete, leave nothing unsaid that you want to communicate.

The right attitude? Communicate “I want this job with your organization; I’m the right person for the position.”

 

Pre-Interview Personal Check List

Aside from doing your homework and researching the job you’re about to be interviewed for, here are some tips you can easily overlook that could make the difference between making a positive or negative first impression. Read the list, see what you think and make adjustments to your pre-interview routine as you best see fit. All the best to you as you pursue that next position!

1. Footwear.

Get your shoes out the night before and spend 5 minutes polishing them. All shoe stores sell various polishes and protectants yet many buyers only leave with their shoes. When you sit down in front of interviews your footwear is often front and center; especially if you cross your legs and elevate one over the other, thus raising it directly in their line of sight. The interviewer can infer you don’t put much value in personal appearance if you’re footwear is poorly maintained and if this is you at your best, you might not be the person to represent the company.

2. Socks

Depending on the job you are going for, you can play it conservative and wear solid colours that match your outfit or you can go playful. If you’re unsure, opt for the conservative black, brown, grey etc. This isn’t the time or place to wear two different socks as the interviewer has a limited time period to ask you pertinent questions that relate to the job and one of them isn’t going to be, “What’s with the socks?” Therefore, they’ll be left to wonder if you’re just having fun, showing off your individualism, bucking the establishment or you just generally don’t recognize the occasions when you should dress appropriately.

3. Tattoos And Piercings

The general public once associated people who displayed tattoos as being criminals and sailors, piercings as being for punkers and those into self-mutilation. Today, people in all walks of life have tattoos and they’ve become mainstream. However, you have to use common sense when making up your mind to expose or cover up your personal artwork. Knowing the culture of the company you are applying for, anticipating the reaction of the customers, clients or end-users of the companies services and products can all help guide you in your decision. Of course, the tattoo itself and what it communicates has to be paramount. You can always remove piercings for an interview, or even the job once you’ve got it if it’s important to you and add them back when hired or on your own time.

4. Shirts, Blouses, Pants, Skirts And Dresses

Notice I didn’t include shorts and neither should you. Get out what you’re wearing the night before an interview or if you’ve got your favourite interview outfit, check it out now rather than later. Look for obvious signs of wear and tear such as frayed cuffs and hems. When standing in front of a mirror, have you gained or lost weight and the fit isn’t what it once was? Aside from stains that can come out in a wash, have the garments faded and now look drab? Have you any loose or missing buttons that need sewing?

5. Brush Your Teeth

Whether you’re a smoker or not, brushing your teeth before the interview not only removes any stuck food but can improve your breath and impact your confidence. Head out to a pharmacy or grocery store and pick up a small tube of toothpaste, a small or collapsible brush and a mini bottle of mouthwash. These you can stash in your purse, glove compartment box or even an inner jacket pocket of your coat.

6. Hygiene

Shower, use deodorant and if you’ve got annoying sweat lines under your chest or under your armpits, dust yourself with some baby powder after the shower dry off. The baby powder will help reduce those sweat lines and give you one less thing to worry about. Clean and trim your fingernails; trim the nasal hairs too.

7. Perfume and Cologne

These days someone in the company you are applying to is likely to have some allergy to fragrances. It might even be a company policy that you arrive without a scent; what’s pleasing to you might be deadly to someone else and that someone could be the person prepared to interview you. Some applicants are told that the interview can’t proceed unless they can wash off the fragrance and rescheduling may or may not be possible. Don’t lose the interview and thereto the job over this.

8. Hair Care

If you’re the applicant who out of habit plays with their bangs or locks, get it back and out of reach. If it constantly falls over your eyes and you have to continually toss it back or move it off your face with your hands, choose a hairstyle that eliminates this. Ensure it’s clean, groomed and this goes for beards and moustaches too.

9. Business or Business Casual?

Before the interview, check the expected attire worn each day by current employees. Does the company have a policy or dress code you could adhere to right from the interview? Find out.

10. Accessories

You want to impress them with your knowledge and your answers. Too bad if they can’t hear you over the jewelry on your wrists or they can’t get over the distracting earrings or necklaces. Keep your accessories to a minimum as they should highlight you not the other way around. Clean your glasses ahead of the interview as well.

Job Interview Help: Features And Benefits

So you’ve got to the job interview stage again and you’re feeling the typical nerves you always feel. If only they would look at your resume and hire you based on that, but instead they want to meet you and conduct a job interview. Ah well so be it.

During the interview you just know they’ll likely ask you about your strengths, why they should hire you, why you’re the right person for the job or something similar. Why is it that for some reason you feel you never do a good job selling yourself? Maybe it’s that you were brought up to believe you shouldn’t brag about yourself. Possibly your just not comfortable doing so, and honestly, you wonder how you could possibly convince them you’re the best person for the job when you’ve never met let alone talked to the competition. Maybe you’re not the best person for the job in the end.

I can help you with an exercise so that you can talk with confidence about yourself without feeling boastful. For this exercise you’ll need a pen; just a standard ordinary pen you’ve got no doubt nearby. Please go get one now and then resume reading.

Okay let’s look at this pen you’ve got before you. First I want you to name some of the features of the pen; it’s construction. Hold it in your hand and you may notice its light weight. Perhaps there’s a clip on the pen, the ink is black, and it may be slim or have a soft spot near the end that your thumb and index finger hold onto. The pen might have a retractable tip that appears and disappears with a click or twist. Finally you surmise that another feature of the pen is that it’s relatively cheap to buy.

Now that you’ve identified the features of the pen, I want you to go back and identify a benefit for each feature. So as its light weight, you can use it longer without fatigue. The benefit of the clip is you can attach it to a pocket or notebook thus freeing up your hands and reducing the chance of losing it. The benefit of the black ink is that it’s a standard for many contracts. Being slim, it’s easy to grip, and the soft spot to hold onto makes it comfortable to hold for long periods. The benefit of the retractable tip is that there is no cap to misplace, and when you put it in your pocket, you’ll avoid staining your clothes. Finally, the price feature means if you lose it, it will be easily replaced at a low or fair price you can afford.

Now, you’ve completed the exercise in identifying features and benefits of the pen. You should have a good idea of not only what goes into the pen but the benefit of ownership. The next thing to do at this point is to turn and think about yourself and the job opportunity before you.

Consider your features and your benefits. Look first at your academic qualifications; your masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates. Once you name them, consider of each of these of benefit to you; how they will enable you to do this job you are considering better than had you not received them. They have provided you with knowledge and a perspective you would not otherwise have.

Think too of your soft skills; personality, overall demeanor, your philosophy as you go about your day. How do these features that make up who you are, translate into a benefit the employer would realize should they hire you? Perhaps your positive attitude would be a breath of fresh air in the organization, especially when interacting with clients and customers.

This is also where you can look at a topic most people are coached to avoid talking about at all costs; your age. Your age is your feature. How I put it to you, would your age benefit the employer? As an older person, perhaps your age would approximate your target customer base; and older customers might identify with older employees. Maybe your age has brought you wisdom, an appreciation for diverse ideas, the experience and maturity that translates into a solid attendance record. Maybe the employer will benefit from your stability on the team and your ability to mentor its younger employees.

Should you be young and find you’re not taken seriously by employers, your youth is your feature, and the benefit to the employer might be your up-to-date knowledge and use of technology. Your employer will benefit from your experience with social media; you’ll have the energy to work productively the entire day without a letdown in the afternoon. The employer will also benefit from your enthusiasm and good health; for you won’t have declining health issues for years.

Okay so back in the interview, the key to this exercise is to highlight for the interviewer exactly how the employer will benefit from hiring you. This isn’t boasting but rather marketing. Market yourself to the employer’s needs; here are my features and here’s the benefit of each feature.  So don’t just say in answer to the question, “Tell me about yourself” that you have a degree. Instead say you’ve got a degree and the benefit of this is that you’ve acquired a deep appreciation for the field of work, and that translates into better performance.

Job Interviews And Facial Expressions

When we flex our facial muscles in various combinations and degrees, we produce different expressions, and it’s these expressions that give those who see us clues as to our emotional state. Facial gestures and expressions can communicate our sense of well-being, our mood and personality.

It’s these facial expressions that make us approachable or send the message we’d rather be left alone. We can communicate happiness, excitement, fear, loathing, pride, acceptance, ignorance and any number of other feelings just by changing our facial expressions; sometimes with small subtle movements or conversely with wild animated exaggerations.

This much you probably know already. How aware are you however of your facial expression at any one time? Most of us are pretty good at putting on the right face at the right moment. We get some bad news for example but put on a courageous face when the kids enter the room because we don’t want them to pick up that something is wrong. Or we roll our eyes when someone is boring us with a story but the second they make contact with us again we snap back to a look that communicates deep interest.

You can look at any number of faces and more often than not approximate the right mood or message that person is communicating without them saying a single word. Whether its pain, sadness, despair, anger, joy, elation, surprise, gratitude or longing, we can identify the message because facial expressions are universal.

When you’re looking for work, it is as you know a pretty frustrating experience much of the time. The stress of applying and hearing nothing at all in return or being rejected over and over can start to take over our general mood more often than we’d like. If our unemployment period is extensive, there is a very real danger that the smiling face we used to present to the world becomes replaced with furrowed brows, stress lines and more often a neutral or negative norm.

So this is what we should be aware of and fight back against; the danger of losing our generally friendly disposition and smile. After all, when job searching, we want to encourage contact with people, we need those connections to increase our odds of being viewed favourably by others as a positive addition to their workforce. The last thing we want to come across as is brooding and oppressive just by the look on our face. That kind of message received by those around us would cause many to refrain from approaching or wanting to be around us; at a time of course when we need those very people to give us tips, leads and open doors to opportunities.

It is a real testament to the strength of a person who can go about their job search and sustain a positive attitude when it’s so easy and tempting to share the setbacks and disappointments. Keeping a positive outlook, and a look on our faces as we look for work that looks out on all who see us is a big plus. After all, if you can stay positive, look enthusiastic and communicate this with your face, you should be able to convince an interviewer that you’ll bring the same attitude to the workplace and work with the same positivity when things get tough there.

Throughout your interview, you’ve got a lot to consider and thinking on your feet as questions get asked of you can be challenging for some people. Your face will communicate many different messages to the employer. You will want to communicate pleasure in answering questions about the job because you’re fired up about it. You’ll also communicate being thoughtful as you consider questions and search your memories for the best way to answer. What you want to avoid is looking perplexed, out of your league, intimidated, confused or unsure.

Of course the first impression you make on the people you meet the day of the interview is critical. A genuine smile and giving people your full attention by looking directly at them will communicate strength, assertiveness, friendly and confident. All of these are desirable impressions to make on those you meet. Whatever you do, don’t give the Receptionist a bland or negative face and then instantly turn on the charm for the person who comes out to greet you for the interview. The Receptionist may be asked for their assessment of you, or they could in fact not be the Receptionist at all, but just covering for the Receptionist until they return, and you’re facing the Interviewer all along!

If you wish, a good exercise you can do in private is to size yourself up in front  of the mirror. Get dressed and stand there. Extend your hand as if you were shaking the hand of the interview and smile. In order to see the impact you’re having, you HAVE to look at yourself in the mirror and this will force you to look where you should be looking. If you’re typically shy and look down or off to the left etc. you’ll correct yourself without knowing it just to see yourself.

As an amateur actor, I have spent many a time in front of mirror looking sad, elated, crying, joyous etc. to see what I’m communicating.

Make sure the messages you send with your face are the ones you want to share!

 

 

Ever Get Mad At Yourself After A Job Interview?

There are situations in life that make us sometimes stop and say, “What a dumb thing to say! What was I thinking?” Usually these are relationship situations; boyfriend to girlfriend, parent to child, employee to boss, and of course the classic job applicant to interviewer scenario.

You know what I’m referring to if you’ve been in a job interview and you get that question where your mind goes blank. You’ve anticipated the question before and just as your mind was trying to articulate a response in your head, your tongue is in a different time dimension and blurts something inane out slightly before your brain can send it a message to zip it. Then you’re scrambling trying to go with whatever you said and that wonderful answer you once had is hanging in the universe somewhere forever probably with all those emails that mysteriously go missing.

Equally worse is a question you haven’t even remotely prepared for which throws you for a loop. Your anxiety rises while your sweat glands kick in and in the midst of your biggest fear of failure, you find yourself pleading with your cerebral cortex to give you something – anything that will get you past this interview question remotely communicating anything that could pass as human intelligence. Despite your desperation, your brain screams, “I’ve got nothing!” so loud your sure the interviewer must have heard.

Well I’m not at all sorry to say that if you smugly decided to walk into that interview with no preparation or practice, the anxiety and fear you experienced was really brought on by your own actions. Not only is the one interview a write-off, but the danger here is that if you don’t learn the lesson and prepare better, you are likely to repeat this experience again and again until you do. A series of bad interview experiences will only serve to create a pattern, and a pattern will possibly lead to major damage when it comes to how you view the entire interview process.

So how can you significantly reduce your stress in advance of getting an interview? That’s a great question and is the very first intelligent thing you could ask. It starts I believe in first understanding that in order to get a job offer, the interview is indeed necessary. You’re going to have to sit down and meet people and carry on a conversation; a conversation mind, not an interrogation.

The interview is you and them discussing a job opening and while you’re busy making your case as to why you are the best logical fit for the job, they should be making the case for why they are the employer of choice – but only if you are asking them the right questions as well. Ask no questions at all or the wrong questions, and yes it will seem like you are the only one on the hot seat.

Have a look at that job posting again. See how the employer has listed all the responsibilities of the job? Doesn’t it appear fairly logical that during the interview the questions they are most likely to ask of you will be to share your experience in previously or currently doing those same things? So if you are going for a job as a Bank Teller where you will need the skills of customer service, math and personal accountability, you are likely going to be asked to give examples of your competence and experience in those three things. Best you then have a few stories ready that prove in the telling your good skills and how current or past employers have benefitted from your use of them.

Sure you might get thrown a bizarre question you could not have anticipated, such as your favourite kind of dessert, but really good employers won’t waste their valuable time with these. The exception where they might ask you the odd question is if they suspect you are regurgitating rehearsed answers to get you off and see the real you, or if you have to by the nature of the job deal with new and odd bits of information to see how you handle these things right then, right there in the interview.

You can also get someone to interview you as practice before the real deal. Leave it to them to come up with the questions, or give them a list you prepared yourself ahead of time. In your list of questions, include any question you have previously had a hard time with or totally bombed out on. Why? Isn’t this about increasing your confidence not eroding it? Of course it is, but if the tough question you didn’t answer well is likely to rear its head in the future, you should prepare for it now so you deal with it much better in the real world.

Most people avoid practicing for job interviews because they hate job interviews. Most people then don’t improve because they haven’t practiced. Most people then have a lot of job interviews which they hate. See the cycle?

Want less job interviews? Good. Practice your job interview skills and prepare properly. Ironically, just as you get better and more at ease in job interviews to the point where you might actually enjoy going to them – you don’t get anymore. Why? Because lo and behold somebody liked what they saw and heard in the interview and offered you the job!

Why The Word, ‘Passion’ Is In

Look at any on-line or on the wall job board these days and you’ll see the word, ‘passion’ or ‘passionate’ in many of those postings. Why is that and what’s really being sought by the employer? How passionate can a person be after all about selling socks or working on a line?

There are a number of ways to look at this. First of all there are many people looking for work today, and it’s a fairly known thing that few people stick with companies for decades anymore. When someone in their 20’s takes a job and launches their career, neither the employer nor the employee themselves plan on the person staying until they retire. The employer wants to ensure however, that the people who do work on their behalf work with enthusiasm and commitment while there to ensure the success and longevity of the company.

That doesn’t come as a surprise does it? I mean if you started up a business yourself, you’d have a tremendous investment of money and your future prosperity locked up in that enterprise. So don’t you want people who you hire to be strongly committed to making the business successful? If the people you hire are truly motivated themselves to succeed, the business has a high probability of being profitable and standing the test of time. On the other hand, if employees view their work as a job until something better comes along, they are less likely to put forth the extra effort that being outstanding requires.

Employers want to attract people who are enthusiastic about the work they’ll perform. Enthusiasm and passion come from wanting to perform at a peak level. If you can demonstrate some of that passion in an application and subsequent interview, you’re off to a good start. But how to demonstrate passion?

For starters, look and sound engaged and glad to talk about the work you’ll be doing. You know how all you have to do with someone in the early days of a relationship is mention the name of the person they are smitten with to get a dreamy look or a smile? It’s like that; the person’s body language changes instantly at the name because there is an emotional response. When you are talking about an opportunity before you, do likewise. Sit slightly forward in the chair, smile, vary the pitch and tone of your voice, emphasize or stress certain words in your speech. In short, sound enthusiastic when you talk.

Be cautioned however. Can you generally tell when someone you are speaking to is phony or over the top? Think of those infomercials on television where someone is absolutely bonkers over their plastic food containers instead of struggling with their old rolls of wrapping paper. Really? Does anyone really get that happy about leftover plastic containers? Those are actors who we tend to laugh at more than identify with. That’s not genuine passion. If you act excited about jobs you really don’t have an emotional investment in, people will see through you too.

Emotionally invested…hmmm… might be on to something here… So suppose you got to the interview and in wrapping things up you got that tired old question, “Why should I hire you over the other people we are interviewing?” Now further suppose you answered, “I stand out because I’m emotionally invested in the success of the business. While others might be looking for A job, I’m not; I want THIS job. This job is a good fit because I’m committed and personally motivated to succeed, and the opportunity to work with others who have a similar passion for this work is exciting.”

If this sounds crazy to you and phony, then the job you are going for isn’t the ideal one for you at this time. That’s just my opinion mind, but again, if you put yourself in the position of an employer, you want people who are truly committed to perform at their best – especially when they work without being supervised. People who are genuinely enthusiastic about their work require less supervision because they regulate themselves and excel because they enjoy what they do.

This win-win situation benefits both the employer and the employee. Ultimately, if the company succeeds and you are part of that success, your chances of reaping some of those rewards increases. Many companies, (though not all) who either fail completely or have to down-size, have an employee force that see their work as just a job; no more or less important than another job.

Here’s a little nugget for you; there is an endless supply of people who can competently do the same work you are capable of, but there are only a small number of people who are genuinely passionate and invested about doing the same work. So replacing people is easy on the one hand when an employer needs to. On the other hand, finding exceptional people who will find fulfillment and dive into their work with enthusiasm is much more challenging.

Do you wish you could stand out from the crowd and truly grow with a company? Good advice therefore would be to prove your self-motivation for the work to be done, exhibit some enthusiasm and passion, and tie your future success to effort you put forth each and every day. Your passion will make you both memorable and valuable.

Passion never goes out of fashion.

Mesmerize Your Interview Answers

Quite often when I’m facilitating a workshop on preparing for upcoming job interviews, people get the idea that they are supposed to have all their interview answers memorized. This causes them undue stress naturally because of two things; one they can’t predict the questions that will be asked and two, they can’t memorize things very well.

So my advice to these people is not to memorize answers but rather to mesmerize your answers. I really would find it difficult to believe that anyone would actually go into an interview with all their answers rehearsed to the point where they would actually memorize their answers the way an actor memorizes their lines. In a play that runs night after night, the director will expect the actor or actress to move exactly the same way when speaking a line, have the same expression, the same tone of voice and the same words night after night. Not so in an interview. Trying to do this repeatedly at all your job interviews would be hugely stressful and well, just wrong. Your answers should appear fresh, unrehearsed and natural.

So how do you mesmerize your interviewers? Well, like the actor, you do want your interview to be memorable in a positive way. The importance of doing some research ahead of your interview is critical. Looking at the job description, you’ll see the qualifications the job requires, and you may see words that describe the working conditions such as, “fast-paced”, or perhaps, “client-focused”. These give you strong clues to what the employer values. If you are going to thrive in a fast-paced environment, then you should be sure to let the employer know that you like being busy, can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and feed off of working in high energy settings. Your describing the fast-paced workplace that interviewer works in, and you fit well with what he or she experiences daily to the point where they can see you working there.

Even rookie interviewers can tell when someone is just spitting out rehearsed answers, and I’ll bet you yourself can do this too. The person is concentrating, looking for the exact phrase they memorized, and their eyes look away as they wrack their brain for the right words. Wrong. To really wow an interviewer, think first about the question you’ve been asked to make sure the answer you are about to give actually answers the question. Next, you’re going to want to use some concrete example from your past, (preferably a work-related example) that demonstrates the skill or actions that show the interviewer you have the skill or qualifications they are inquiring about.

Should an interviewer ask about your problem-solving skills for example, you might begin by first repeating back the question such as, “Sure, I’m happy to describe my problem-solving ability”. This ensures you’ve heard the question right, and allows your brain to sort through its mental filing system and remember a time or two in your past when you solved a problem without the awkwardness of dead air while you think. Now paint a visual picture for the interviewer so they see you in that other workplace, and tell them what you were trying to accomplish and then explain the problem that came up, or the challenge that you faced. Next explain what you actually did to resolve the problem and finish by telling them the positive result that occurred based on your actions. Now wrap the whole thing up by getting back to the job you are applying for today. Basically it’s to show that if you can do it elsewhere, you can certainly do it again in this new position under similar circumstances. Draw everything out for the interviewer and assume nothing.

Of course to really mesmerize the interviewer, say one thing they wouldn’t expect. I was asked once why I wanted to work for a company. My answer began, “I don’t actually want to work for _____________ (and I named the company). I waited about 3 seconds and watched the stunned faces of the interview panel register. Then I said, “I want to be employed by the company but I want to work for your clients”. Then I went on to talk about the concept of Servant Leadership, and how it was my philosophy that I work directly for customers and clients and had never worked for any company but had been employed by several over my life time. That was a memorable answer and I used my acting skills to pull it off with just the right amount of pause for dramatic effect. Oh I mesmerized them and they told me so after the interview. “Not sure where we were going to go with the whole interview until you continued. Certainly a new take on that question I can tell you” said the lead interviewer later.

Be careful though. Don’t stand out in an odd way that leans toward the negative. Inappropriate clothing, peculiar haircuts or over-the-top makeup application will definitely make you stand out, but only because you won’t fit in. You may be out of the process early and wonder why the interview was so brief. Be knowledgeable about the company and the role you may play in it, be friendly, confident and show some honest enthusiasm for the job, and certainly use your good manners.

Mesmerize your answers and certainly I wish you all the best as you prepare for future interviews.