| SolveYourProblem eLearning Series: Job Interviews
Help Me Nail My Job Interview!
( 11 pages )
How
Should I Behave On An Interview?
There are many
things that you can do to take some of the pressure off during
an interview. The way you behave is one of the most important.
It’s not all in the words that come out of your mouth, but
often has a lot to do with the mannerisms you use.
Interviewers are
not just about IF you are skilled enough for the job, they
are often about if you would fit in nicely with your co-workers.
Your personality is a big part of your interview and can
make all the difference in the world. Here are some of the
little things that you should pay particularly close attention
to during an interview.
You do not want
to be chewing gum or sucking on breath mints during an
interview. Also, don’t speak in slang during
an interview
either. It is unprofessional and rude.
Your
First Impression
First impressions
can be a hard thing to get past in any situation. During
an interview, you want to give the best first impression
that you can. There are many small things that you can do
to assure you give the best impression possible. They are
as follows:
- You can never
be too polite to the person that directs you to your waiting
area when waiting to be interviewed. A small gesture like,
asking how they are doing can work wonders for you when
you leave the building later.
- While waiting
to be interviewed, sit properly and behave as if everyone
passing you by is your potential interviewer. They just
might be! Smile at people as much as possible. Do not act
impatient or bored, it sends the wrong message. Some interviewers
will keep you waiting just to see how you handle yourself.
- Greet you interviewer
with a firm handshake and a smile.
- Remain standing
until your interviewer asks you to be seated. It is simply
polite and shows proper etiquette.
- Again, dress
according to the type of job that you are applying for.
- Show yourself
to be well organized, by having all things needed for the
interview.
- While waiting,
do not eat or drink anything.
- Don’t chat
on your cell phone while waiting for your interviewer.
It makes you look distracted.
Show
Confidence
Do not
enter an interview with a defeatist attitude. Don't
mope or exude
too much placidity in your manner either. It is not inviting,
and does not give the impression of a person that they will
want to
see every
day.
Be sure of your
abilities without appearing cocky or narcissistic. You want
to let your
interviewer know that you are equipped to perform well at your
job, without alienating other co-workers. You should point
out
your accomplishments in your field while remaining somewhat
humble.
List your accomplishments
in a matter of fact way without going into too much detail.
I know this sounds repetitive, but you can never get this point
too strongly. Understand that body language plays a large part
in exuding confidence to others. Sit straight. Practice good
posture, and keep your head up.
Keep
a Positive Attitude
You should always
try to smile and keep a positive outlook during your interview.
If
you hear something that doesn’t sound good to you,
don’t frown and look disgruntled, just keep a slight smile
on
your face until it is time for you to say something. Then approach
your interviewer with your questions or concerns when the
time
is appropriate.
Maintain
Eye Contact
Keeping eye contact with
your interviewer is very important, especially when one of you
is speaking to the other. If you are looking around the room
or at the items on the interviewer’s desk, you will appear uninterested.
Just imagine what you would be thinking if you were speaking
to him and he was looking all over the room. You would probably
think that you already lost the interview.
Body
Language
I’ve touched on
this a little bit so far, but you should bear in mind some
of the common errors that
many people make when they are speaking to others. I’ve listed
some of most common body language no no's that you
should avoid when sitting
through an interview.
- Avoid fidgeting
while speaking to your interviewer. It shows a lack of
self confidence.
- Avoid speaking
while using overly expressive hand gestures. It is distracting.
- Avoid
biting your lips in between sentences. It gives the impression
that you are making things up.
- Do not sit
with your arms crossed because it makes you appear stand-offish.
- Do not shrug
your shoulders when asked a question that you are unsure
of. Take a second to think of
your response.
Shrugging
your shoulders gives the impression that you don’t
know the answer.
- Don’t answer
with nods and head shakes. Use your words to answer questions.
- Get
plenty of sleep the night before the interview. You don’t
want to yawn in front of the interviewer.
He will think that
you are expressing boredom.
Closing
the Interview
Once you have
run the bases of the interview, it is still important that
you end the interview well. The hard part is over and now
all that is left is for you close out the interview in the
same winning manner.
Wait until your
interviewer stands up or requests that you do. Give your
closing greeting. Thank the interviewer for his taking the
time to see you. Offer another firm handshake, and ask when
you might know when you might expect to hear from them about
their decision.
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