In case there was any doubt, if you are attending a job interview, you are being interviewed because the employer wants to hire somebody ? not because he/she wants to trip you up or embarrass you.
I know it can sometimes feel that way, but these hiring managers are generally busy people and want to get the hiring out of the way as soon as possible so they can get the successful candidate (hopefully YOU) into the organisation to start to contribute his/her value.
Through the interaction which will take place during the interview, the hiring manager will be searching out your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your qualifications, skills, experience and intellectual qualities and he/she will probably probe deeply to determine your attitudes, aptitudes, stability, motivation, and maturity, and comparing you with the other candidates to ensure you will fit into the team.
But know this:
They actually want you to succeed.
Not only in the interview but also in the job!
Shocker, right?
He/she will also be comparing you against the other candidates they?re meeting
? so never forget that you are in a very competitive situation, so always put your
BEST FOOT FORWARD!
15 dos and don?ts concerning the interview meeting?
- DO plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early. Late arrival is inexcusable.
- If presented with an application form, DO fill it out neatly and completely. DON?T grumble that ?all the information is already in my CV?.
- DO greet the interviewer by his/her surname if you are sure of the pronunciation. If you are not, ask them politely to repeat their name.
- DO shake hands firmly.
- DO sit upright in your chair; look alert and interested at all times.
- DO smile.
- DO look a prospective employer in the eye while you talk to him/her, (but don?t get creepy by staring!).
- DO follow the interviewer?s leads but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that you can relate your background and skills to the position.
- DO speak of those things about yourself which relate to the position.
- DO be prepared to answer standard questions (see also #3 above):
- DON?T lie. Answer questions as truthfully, frankly and openly as possible.
- DON?T make derogatory remarks about your present/former employers.
- DON?T enquire about salary, holidays, bonuses, etc. at the initial interview. However, you should know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary range if asked.
- DO conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing.
- DO end the meeting with a smile, a courteous thank you, another firm handshake and politely ask about next steps.
In short, do everything you can to GET THE OFFER.
Even if, along the way, you have decided that you?re not so keen on this particular organisation/role, I recommend that you GET THE OFFER ANYWAY!
It will boost your ego, elevate your bargaining position, and give you the opportunity to learn something about the overall process, that you can practice.
It is not every day you will get a job offer, so it?s helpful to gain experience with that part of the overall process, how to handle it etc.
So this part of the process is vitally important, and, in this blog, you will find a number of articles and tip-sheets providing guidance on how to go about it.
If you prefer to get our job interview tips all in one place, you can download my e-book
7 POWER TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PEFORMANCE AT JOB INTERVIEWS
at a special member?s price.
Till next time, always remember I am rooting for you!
With love & blessings
Peter Fleming FCMA
Your Career Success Coach