Interview Like a
Pro in Five Easy Steps
By
Linda Matias, NCRW, CIC, JCTC
www.careerstrides.com
linda@careerstrides.com
Visit our
interview coaching page
It's an inescapable fact that interviews
are the "make or break" factor on whether one lands the job. So it is
surprising to find that most job seekers approach interviews with a cavalier
attitude, without any preparation - they simply wake up the morning of the
interview, cross their fingers, and hope for the best.
Unfortunately, walking into an interview cold rarely works. Human capital is
the biggest expense an organization has. When all is said and done, a wrong
hiring decision costs a company time and resources. Through a series of well
thought out questions, a skillful interviewer will use the interview process
to distinguish between those candidates who have experience and those who
are experts in the given field.
An interview can be won or lost within seconds, and by implementing simple
strategies, you can vastly improve your interview performance. Interviews
can be challenging but they are manageable when approached as a five-step
process.
1. A successful interview depends in part, on whether you understand your
role and that of the interviewer. As an interviewee, you have two
obligations - (1) to sell your qualifications and (2) to evaluate the
position and leave the interview with a solid understanding of the job's
requirements. Interviewing is more than just answering questions; it is
about preparing, understanding and responding to the hiring organizations
needs.
The role of the interviewer is to sell the company, assess your commitment
to working for their organization and determine if you are the same person
that is represented on paper.
In reality, your role and that of the interviewer overlap. Both of you are
gathering information, selling a product and evaluating whether or not there
is a match between you.
2. Before each interview select 3-5 accomplishments or skills that you
consider to be your major selling points. Every time the interview shifts in
a direction that doesn't support your agenda, figure out a way to steer the
conversation back to your major selling points. When determining your
selling points, consider situations where you demonstrated initiative,
overcame challenges, and/or streamlined a process.
While it may be difficult to define the specific needs of every company that
is hiring, all organizations are looking for an employer that has the
following characteristics: advanced communication skills, teamwork skills,
honesty and self-confidence. Whenever possible, integrate these qualities in
your responses.
3. Build personal credibility by adapting your communication style to that
of the interviewer. The way you communicate goes beyond the words that you
choose. Your appearance, demeanor, posture and attitude all play a part in
the way your message will be received.
Trust begins to form during the interview and by flexing your communication
style you leave the listener with a subconscious message that says, "I can
sit next to this person on a daily basis." Once you have accomplished that,
you are one step closer to a job offer.
4. Turn the interview into a conversation by asking questions throughout the
interview. Ask questions that reflect your interest in the organization. If
you leave an interview without asking relevant questions, the interviewer
will question your sincerity. By asking questions you show the interviewer
your commitment to your profession and the industry.
5. Don't get blind-sided with questions that you should have been prepared
to answer. There are several questions that are interviewer’s canned
favorites and they include: Tell me about yourself, Where do you see
yourself in five years? Tell me about a time when you successfully handled a
situation?, and What do you consider your major achievement?
Rehearse interview answers, but don't sound rehearsed. Practice your
responses until you feel that they clearly reflect your skills and
personality. Don't just make statements that you think the interviewer wants
to hear.
Going in unprepared is a sure-fire way to sabotage an interview. When it
comes down to the wire and it is between you and another candidate with a
similar background, interview performance will probably be the deciding
factor on who gets hired.
Job offers are not won by accident; time spent preparing for an interview
produces significant results. The more you practice your interviewing skills
the more confidence you will gain and the more polished your presentation.
Learn more about our
interview coaching program.
Editors and publishers
are welcomed to reprint articles found on our website as long as the
following byline appears intact and the email and web address are
hyperlinked.
Certified in all three
areas of the job search—Certified Interview Coach ™ (CIC), Job & Career
Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW)—Linda
Matias is qualified to assist you in your career transition, whether it be a
complete career makeover, interview preparation, or resume assistance. You
can contact Linda directly at
linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website
www.careerstrides.com for additional career advice and to view resume
samples.
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How to Say It: Job Interviews
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How
to Say It: Job Interviews
Written
by Linda Matias a Certified Interview Coach and director of Certified Interview
Coach Institute, How to Say It®
Job Interviews provides the nuts and bolts you need to interview successfully.
Order
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Are you going on interview after interview and not receiving job
offers?
Visit our
interview coaching page to learn more about improving your interview
performance. .
Who Should Participate in Interview Coaching?
Interview coaching can help your if...
- You
never receive a call for a second interview—much less a job
offer—despite thinking you performed well in interview after
interview. You need
insights into the key skills and techniques for creating a winning
strategy.
- You haven’t interviewed in a while and
want to brush up on rusty interview skills. To really shine in an
interview, you must create an interview setting that inspires trust
and sets the stage for showcasing your qualifications.
- You have a challenge (been fired or laid
off, job-hopper image) you need to address. An interview coach can
help you overcome just about any such challenge by teaching you to
clearly communicate your winning points.
Visit our
interview coaching page.
REPRINT THIS ARTICLE FOR FREE
Editors and publishers are welcomed to reprint articles found on our
website as long as the following byline appears intact and the email and
web address are hyperlinked.
Certified in all
three areas of the job search—Certified Interview Coach ™ (CIC), Job &
Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW)—Linda
Matias is qualified to assist you in your career transition, whether it
be a complete career makeover, interview preparation, or resume
assistance. You can contact Linda directly at
linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website
www.careerstrides.com for additional career advice and to view
resume samples.
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