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| Check in During Interviews |
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| Some of your best stories probably take time to detail, but your initial interview answers should be brief. Check in with the interviewer after two minutes and prompt an invitation to go on. Say something like, "Now that I've described the outcome of my work on that project, would you like to hear about my role in detail?" |
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| Answer Briefly |
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| When it comes to talking during an interview, sometimes less is more. As a general rule, you should speak one-third of the time and definitely no more than half of the time. The best interviews have a give-and-take atmosphere. To do this, you need to ask questions and try to draw out your interviewer rather than talking about yourself nonstop. When it's your turn to speak, don't hesitate to tout yourself -- just remember to stop talking after you do. |
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| It's OK to Be Nervous |
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| Not only is it OK to be nervous about an interview, but it is essential for you to accept how you feel. Telling yourself you should feel differently than you do is unrealistic and just makes you feel bad about yourself. What's the worst that can happen at an interview? For many, it would be not getting an offer. Did you ever think that maybe the job wasn't right for you? Try to look at the process as a learning experience. |
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| Emotional Prep |
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| Preparing emotionally for the interview is as important as researching the company. The right mood helps you perform at your best. Try these suggestions for preparing emotionally: get moving -- go for a walk, run, exercise, meditate, do yoga, stretch, dance, something -- activity gets blood flowing to your brain; sing your favorite song while driving to the interview; repeat an inspirational phrase aloud that's meaningful for you; or simply remember a time when you felt terrific. |
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| Answering Illegal Questions |
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| Responding professionally is much more effective than telling the interviewer he's breaking the law. Even illegal questions pose an opportunity for you to present information about your talents. If you're asked an illegal question, don't directly answer it. Deal with the underlying concern, and express your commitment to your career. For example, if an employer asks, “How does your spouse feel about your business travel?” respond with, “I'm fully committed to performing my job well. My career is important to me, and I have a strong support system at home." |
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| Interrogation or Interview? |
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| You determine whether you're interrogated or interviewed. If you don't ask questions throughout the interview, you force the interviewer to continue to ask you a series of questions. Interviews should resemble meetings where both people ask questions and provide answers. After you respond to a question, ask a question to make sure you're understood accurately and that you've provided enough detail. After responding, ask something like, “Did I give you enough detail?” “Was I clear on that?” or “Would you like me to elaborate?” |
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| Put Up with Rejection? |
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| When rejection comes, it may trigger old wounds from past experiences. You may feel hurt, angry or fed up. Instead of being stuck in feeling rejected, take back the power by staying proactive. If you really wanted to work for that particular company, sit down and write a letter, stating how disappointed you were. Remind them of all the positive traits you could bring to the organization. Let them know you are still interested in working for the company if something should change or open up. |
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| Face the Feedback |
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| If you ask for feedback from an interviewer, be prepared to hear things that could be upsetting. You should listen carefully, and take notes to refer to -- and react to -- later. Be gracious about what you're told. Don't argue or defend yourself -- this is not a chance for a rebuttal. Be sure to thank the interviewer. Then, take the advice and think about changing some techniques to improve on your next interview. |
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| Follow the Interviewer |
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| During the interview, your interviewer is giving you information that can guide you on how to behave during the meeting. Observe your interviewer's style, and then pace and match it. Listen to what is being said, and let the interviewer know you've been listening by asking good questions and making insightful comments. Answer questions by providing the information asked for. Telling more than needed could be a mistake. Too much information, particularly personal information, should not be discussed during the interview. |
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| Look Better, Feel Better |
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| If you want to spruce up your appearance for the interview but can't afford new clothes, consider altering an outfit you already have by pairing it with a different shirt, tie, blouse or accessory. Even on a tight budget, you can find some real bargains out there. Think about what you need before you go out shopping. Outlet stores and resale shops offer some great treasures. For better or worse, looks can make a difference. |
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| Be Quiet and Focus |
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| One common mistake candidates make when interviewing is talking too much. It's important to listen to the question asked and answer that question. Keep your answers to two to three minutes at the most. When you limit your time, you tend to stay more focused. It is very easy to stray off the subject and ramble about things irrelevant to the job if your answer is too long. Watch the interviewer's eyes -- if they glaze over, you've lost them. |
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| Look Them in the Eyes |
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| Eye contact is one of the most important aspects of nonverbal communication and can make a significant difference in how you present yourself. If you look away when speaking to someone, you're viewed as lacking confidence or interest. If you have a problem looking into your interviewer's eyes, try looking at the “third eye” right above and between the eyes. |
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| Managing Time in a Job Interview |
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| In an effort to try and dig themselves out of trouble, most job interviewees give long answers to hard questions and they give short answers to easy questions. Mistake! That increases the proportion of the interview spent on weak points. |
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| What You Could Do Today |
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| Rule of thumb: Short answers for hard questions and longer answers for easy ones. Another tip for managing time in a job interview: You want the employer to picture you in the position, especially if your job history is weak, so spend as much time as possible discussing what you'd do in the new job. The mantra: Focus on the future, not the past. |
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| Think of an Interview as a First Date |
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| When facing a job interview, the natural tendency is to gird yourself against the onslaught of killer questions and to do everything you can to snow 'em. That can be a prescription for failure. You will likely come off as defensive, even disingenuous. Under pressure, job seekers frequently utter turn-off canned phrases such as, "I'm seeking a new challenge," or, "I believe I'm uniquely qualified for the position." |
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| What You Could Do Today |
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| trying to figure out if there's a match. This mindset proffers many advantages. You come off as curious, not desperate, you don't assume that too-formal, phony-appearing job-seeker persona, you talk about what you want to talk about instead of just passively getting bombarded with the employer's probes and you're more likely to ask questions during the interview. Those questions will help you assess if you really want the job, or if the tasks will be annoying and the coworkers dumb? Treat the interview as a first date, and you'll both be better informed when deciding whether you should hook up |
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| Get to Work! |
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| Unemployed? Then your job right now is to find a job. Don't let personal distractions keep you from putting in the hours necessary to continue your search. Think of this as going to work. Research companies, industries and positions. Knowledge is power, and power gives you confidence -- something you'll need to succeed in interviews. |
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| Ask Your Way into a Better Job |
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| You can't really tell how good a job is from a want ad. There's often a gap between the exciting opportunity portrayed in the ad and the actual job. |
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| What You Could Do Today |
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| You can often get the straight scoop about a job by asking the right questions. For example, in the job interview, ask, "What attributes are most needed to succeed in this job?" If the boss says, "We need a real self-starter," that's a clue you won't get much support.
After you're offered a job but before accepting it, ask a few more questions or even ask permission to talk with your future coworkers. Ask questions like these: What it's like to work here? What can I expect in pay raises? What kind of training is offered? How's the boss? Are the products good? How many people have held this position in the past few years? Why did they leave? You may not always get straight answers, but you'll probably get enough to help you decide if you should take the job.
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