In today’s job market, it is no secret that finding meaningful employment is difficult. Having an advantage is essential, which is why knowing some interview tips, tricks and questions can go a long way when trying to find the ideal job.
Introduction to the Interview
Many employment counselors will say that an employer makes a decision within the first few minutes of the interview. This is often true, so making a good introduction is essential, since it lays a foundation of credibility.
First off, start with a smile and a good handshake. Never simply grab the employer’s hand and shake it loosely. Keep it firm, as this shows strength and confidence.
Second, greet the person warmly. Thank him for the opportunity and show enthusiasm. Employers are judging the candidate’s actions, looking for little signs of interest.
A final tip that may not be as well known is the concept of personal space. When bringing a briefcase, resume, portfolio, etc. NEVER simply place it on the interviewer’s desk. The desk is the interviewer's workspace, and invading it without permission is a major faux pas. If interviewers want to see any documents, they will ask for them.
Interview Body Language
Body language is extremely important for a successful interview. Believe it or not, any professional interviewer will quickly notice signs of poor confidence, sloppiness or anything else negative by simply reading someone’s actions.
One thing to keep in mind is to sit up straight with the shoulders square. Avoid slouching, because it is a telltale sign of low self-esteem, which is something no employer wants to deal with. A confident employee is more likely to be productive, take initiative and offer new ideas.
Eye contact is also highly important. Make sure to keep the eyes focused on the employer as much as possible. Looking away can be interpreted as intimidation or even dishonesty.
Third, avoid fidgeting, scratching, sniffling or any other subtle things like that. Employers do not like them because they are often distracting and again indicate poor confidence. Be aware of this, and if fidgeting is a real issue, try keeping both hands on the lap.
Competing With Others During an Interview
What makes a person stand out is the likelihood that he will succeed. Naturally, hiring managers do not want to choose someone who will fall short and force them to search for a new person. In order to sound as marketable as possible, it is important to show the interviewer three main things: knowledge, skills and abilities.
Knowledge refers to learned information that gives a person the ability to perform a job. Knowledge is unique to the position in question. For example, the knowledge required to be a Human Resources Assistant would include things like health and safety, interview techniques and labor laws.
Skills refer to something that is observable or can be measured. Like knowledge, it is someone learned but it is not job specific, so it can be carried from one position to the next, such as spreadsheets, word processing and computer networking.
Abilities involve personal strengths that will help an employee succeed. Like skills, they are not job specific. Unlike skills, however, abilities are usually attributed to one’s personal strengths. Some examples include multitasking, working well with others and leadership.
Remember that during the interview it is important to not only mention knowledge, skills and abilities, but to link them to the job. This will show the interviewer how an individual is going to help the organization as a whole.
Another thing to keep in mind is that of all the above three things, abilities are the most important. Knowledge and skills can be learned through training, but abilities such as organization and teamwork are usually inherent to a person. This is why being more qualified does not necessarily guarantee a job. Do not simply give the employer information about the field in question. Instead, focus on abilities and their potential use.
Interview Success
The biggest key to a successful interview is preparation. Make sure to research the company and get to know it well. More often than not, an employer will ask questions to test if the candidate has familiarized himself with the organization. It is a simple yet crucial way of showing interest.
Interview Questions
An employer will ask a lot of questions during an interview, but there are some common ones that a person can rehearse as part of their preparation.
Tell me about yourself?– This is something they will often ask. This is an opportunity to outline key knowledge, skills and abilities. This is also when things like education should be mentioned.
What do you know about [the organization]? – At this point, they want to see how well the candidate how well the candidate has researched and shown interest in the company. This is fairly open ended, so mention as many key points as possible.
What kind of experience do you have? – Outline any jobs or other important roles and link them to the job in question. Explain how they will help the organization as a whole.
Why do you want to work for us?– Draw from previous research and explain the characteristics of the company that make it appealing. The key here is to be honest. They are trying to assess the candidate’s fit with the organization.
What would you say is your biggest strength? – There are many good answers, but focus only on abilities here. Mention things such as teamwork, multitasking, organization, etc.
What is your biggest weakness? – This is always a difficult question to answer. Take a weakness and turn it into something positive. For example indicate any steps being taken to help correct the problem, or how it has become a valuable learning experience that will be useful later on.
What are your salary expectations? – This is another difficult question to answer, but there is one rule: NEVER simply say that whatever they offer is fine. The best thing to do is research the average salary and justify the expectations by emphasizing any knowledge, skills and abilities that stand out above other candidates.
These questions are common, but there are many more to address. Take some time to research them online or speak to an employment counsellor. Every little bit helps. Hopefully, this guide has given some good insight that will help when job hunting. Be friendly, be prepared and be confident.
Introduction to the Interview
Many employment counselors will say that an employer makes a decision within the first few minutes of the interview. This is often true, so making a good introduction is essential, since it lays a foundation of credibility.
First off, start with a smile and a good handshake. Never simply grab the employer’s hand and shake it loosely. Keep it firm, as this shows strength and confidence.
Second, greet the person warmly. Thank him for the opportunity and show enthusiasm. Employers are judging the candidate’s actions, looking for little signs of interest.
A final tip that may not be as well known is the concept of personal space. When bringing a briefcase, resume, portfolio, etc. NEVER simply place it on the interviewer’s desk. The desk is the interviewer's workspace, and invading it without permission is a major faux pas. If interviewers want to see any documents, they will ask for them.
Interview Body Language
Body language is extremely important for a successful interview. Believe it or not, any professional interviewer will quickly notice signs of poor confidence, sloppiness or anything else negative by simply reading someone’s actions.
One thing to keep in mind is to sit up straight with the shoulders square. Avoid slouching, because it is a telltale sign of low self-esteem, which is something no employer wants to deal with. A confident employee is more likely to be productive, take initiative and offer new ideas.
Eye contact is also highly important. Make sure to keep the eyes focused on the employer as much as possible. Looking away can be interpreted as intimidation or even dishonesty.
Third, avoid fidgeting, scratching, sniffling or any other subtle things like that. Employers do not like them because they are often distracting and again indicate poor confidence. Be aware of this, and if fidgeting is a real issue, try keeping both hands on the lap.
Competing With Others During an Interview
What makes a person stand out is the likelihood that he will succeed. Naturally, hiring managers do not want to choose someone who will fall short and force them to search for a new person. In order to sound as marketable as possible, it is important to show the interviewer three main things: knowledge, skills and abilities.
Knowledge refers to learned information that gives a person the ability to perform a job. Knowledge is unique to the position in question. For example, the knowledge required to be a Human Resources Assistant would include things like health and safety, interview techniques and labor laws.
Skills refer to something that is observable or can be measured. Like knowledge, it is someone learned but it is not job specific, so it can be carried from one position to the next, such as spreadsheets, word processing and computer networking.
Abilities involve personal strengths that will help an employee succeed. Like skills, they are not job specific. Unlike skills, however, abilities are usually attributed to one’s personal strengths. Some examples include multitasking, working well with others and leadership.
Remember that during the interview it is important to not only mention knowledge, skills and abilities, but to link them to the job. This will show the interviewer how an individual is going to help the organization as a whole.
Another thing to keep in mind is that of all the above three things, abilities are the most important. Knowledge and skills can be learned through training, but abilities such as organization and teamwork are usually inherent to a person. This is why being more qualified does not necessarily guarantee a job. Do not simply give the employer information about the field in question. Instead, focus on abilities and their potential use.
Interview Success
The biggest key to a successful interview is preparation. Make sure to research the company and get to know it well. More often than not, an employer will ask questions to test if the candidate has familiarized himself with the organization. It is a simple yet crucial way of showing interest.
Interview Questions
An employer will ask a lot of questions during an interview, but there are some common ones that a person can rehearse as part of their preparation.
Tell me about yourself?– This is something they will often ask. This is an opportunity to outline key knowledge, skills and abilities. This is also when things like education should be mentioned.
What do you know about [the organization]? – At this point, they want to see how well the candidate how well the candidate has researched and shown interest in the company. This is fairly open ended, so mention as many key points as possible.
What kind of experience do you have? – Outline any jobs or other important roles and link them to the job in question. Explain how they will help the organization as a whole.
Why do you want to work for us?– Draw from previous research and explain the characteristics of the company that make it appealing. The key here is to be honest. They are trying to assess the candidate’s fit with the organization.
What would you say is your biggest strength? – There are many good answers, but focus only on abilities here. Mention things such as teamwork, multitasking, organization, etc.
What is your biggest weakness? – This is always a difficult question to answer. Take a weakness and turn it into something positive. For example indicate any steps being taken to help correct the problem, or how it has become a valuable learning experience that will be useful later on.
What are your salary expectations? – This is another difficult question to answer, but there is one rule: NEVER simply say that whatever they offer is fine. The best thing to do is research the average salary and justify the expectations by emphasizing any knowledge, skills and abilities that stand out above other candidates.
These questions are common, but there are many more to address. Take some time to research them online or speak to an employment counsellor. Every little bit helps. Hopefully, this guide has given some good insight that will help when job hunting. Be friendly, be prepared and be confident.
Comments