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The Interview:
A job interview is similar in
many ways to a social conversation, but it requires more than just
conversational skills. How well you do in a job interview will depend on how
well you can articulate your achievements and qualifications as they relate to
what the employer wants. Let’s consider next what employers are looking for in
a job interview and what your main objective should be…
What
Employers Look For...
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Qualifications
– A track record of success in previous roles; academic qualifications
are only one part of the equation! |
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Positive
Attitude – Can do,
upbeat and optimistic. |
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Interest
in the company and position
– Do some research on the company before you get to interview; show a
genuine interest. |
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Stable
Work History – If you
have many job changes on your CV, make sure that you can justify them.
Would you employ a job hopper? |
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Clear
Sense Of Purpose – Do
you really know: what you have achieved/what your career objectives are? |
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Communication
Skills – Articulate,
persuasive and convincing… |
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High
Performance Standards
– How principled are you? Do your principles match with those of the
company you are applying to? Do you set high standards? |
What
You Should Look For...
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A
Job Offer - This is
your number one goal! You are not interviewing to evaluate the company
(this should have been done before you get to interview); you are
interviewing to see if you are good enough to get a job offer. An
undecided or tentative attitude has no place at interview; leaving an
employer with the impression that you are just shopping around is a fatal
mistake. |
Preparing
For The Interview...
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Proper
preparation can make the difference between receiving and not
receiving a job offer. |
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Do
some research about the company i.e. size, products, annual sales
revenue, principal business, locations, etc. Check their website or
find company information at
www.prnewswire.com
or
www.companiesonline.com,
this will prepare you to show genuine interest in the company and
make you feel more comfortable during the interview. |
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Make
sure that you know the exact place and time of the interview, the
interviewer’s full name, the correct pronunciation and his or her
title. Try and find out how many people are involved in the
interviewing process and who the final decision maker is if you can |
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Be
prepared to ask questions during the interview. Your questions allow
the interviewer to evaluate your professional and personal needs.
Careful questioning helps both of you determine if your relationship
will be mutually rewarding. Avoid asking questions that relate to
salary, benefits, vacations, and retirement until the very final
stages of the recruitment process. |
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Allow
sufficient time for the interview. Plan to arrive at least ten
minutes before your actual appointment. There is no excuse for
tardiness at an interview! |
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Dress
appropriately. Plan how you will dress for the interview, remember
that there is only one chance to make a good first impression. You
should make your own judgement as to what is appropriate for the
company and its culture, but in general business dress is best. |
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Keep
a positive frame of mind. Set other concerns aside and focus on what
you are going to accomplish at the interview. |
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Types
Of Interview...
Interviews can be very formal and
structured. Some of the questions will be formulated to uncover your past
behavioural patterns and will be rather rapid in pace. Questions can also be
informal and conversational, such that the pieces of your background will be
uncovered in a more random way. Let the interviewer set the tone and match your
style with theirs.
First
Contact...
Your initial greeting should
include a firm handshake, an enthusiastic hello, and lots of eye contact,
followed by an introduction of yourself.
The
Ice Breaker...
In most interviews, there is a
short interval before getting down to business, which is filled with small talk.
Respond with enthusiastic and pleasant answers to remarks and questions.
The
Interview...
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Follow
the interviewer’s leads, but try to get the interviewer to
describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview
process. This way, you may be able to apply your background, skills
and accomplishments to the position. |
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Establish
rapport with the interviewer. People want to hire those they feel
most comfortable with. |
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Make
sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a
factual, sincere manner. Stress your achievements i.e. sales growth,
margin increase, cash flow improvements, processes developed,
savings achieved, systems installed and always relate these in terms
of benefits to the business. |
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If
you have any hesitations or concerns about the company or the
position, hold them for your Xecutive Search consultant. We will
answer them for you. |
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If
you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that
you have already been rejected, do not let your discouragement show.
Sometimes an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem
to discourage you as a way of testing your reaction. |
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Always
avoid discussing salary at the first interview! Make sure you talk
about a) why you are interested in this position and b) what you can
offer the company. |
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Closing
The Interview...
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The
closing phase is the most important part of the interview for making
a lasting impression that can place you above other competitors for
the same position. |
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Let
the interviewer know how excited you are about the position |
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Find
out what the next step is. |
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Make
a statement that indicates that you can do the job, and that you
would like to receive an offer. Always ask for the offer. |
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Finally,
as you are preparing to leave, tell the employer how much you would
enjoy working with him or her personally. |
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At
this point, you should expect to be dismissed or taken to another
interviewer. All interviews should be handled in the same fashion.
You must convince all parties in the interview process that you are
the right person for the job. |
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The candidate that shows the most
enthusiasm for the job, the opportunity and the company is usually the one that
gets the offer! | |
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