How to Improve Interview Techniques
No matter how sparkling the credentials or deep the motivation, there's one hoop that can seldom be bypassed when hunting for a job--the job interview.
Personal interviews allow potential employers to evaluate candidates not only on presentation and speaking skills, but intangibles including whether a candidate resonates with the company mission, or how well a candidate might meld with current employees. No matter the skill level, there are definite ways to improve interview techniques.
Things You'll Need
- Clean, professional clothes
- Grooming supplies
- Tape recorder or video camera
- Current newspaper
- Quality stationery
- List of questions
Instructions
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Prepare for the physical first impression. Aim for immaculate grooming, perhaps including a manicure, shoeshine and gleaming, organized briefcase. A perfect first impression can be marred when a candidate rummages around in a messy purse or briefcase to fish out a wrinkled business card. Everything counts.
Women may choose to wear a conservatively-cut suit in black, navy or charcoal gray. Avoid sleeveless shirts, choosing instead a button-down blouse made from a classic material, such as cotton or silk. Clean, low-heeled pumps finish the look.
Men may also wear a conservatively-cut suit with a simple, neutral-tone button-down shirt. Select a traditional silk tie, avoiding busy prints or loud colors. Socks should coordinate with the suit's colors. Select polished dress shoes rather than boots.
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Be aware of body language. Nonverbal communication can speak much louder than words. Offer a firm handshake, consistent and friendly eye contact, and straight posture whether seated or standing. Position the body so that it mirrors the interviewer. Avoid fidgeting, touching the hair or face.
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Know the company. Be prepared to offer three to five carefully selected comments demonstrating intimate knowledge of the company's mission, recent accomplishments, future goals and industry standing. For example, if the company's vice president was recently quoted in an industry magazine about the company's plan to expand to the overseas market, mention the quote and describe why this seems like a smart move.
If possible, read a high quality newspaper that morning and offer a comment relating a current event to the company's position. For example, someone interviewing with a green energy company might note that the company could be well positioned to benefit from the pending energy stimulus bill described in that morning's newspaper.
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Practice. Make a list of common interview questions from personal experience, or from friends and colleagues. Make an audio recording of personal answers to common questions or ask a friend to role-play an interview and create a video of the process.
Common interview questions ask a candidate to evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses, describe his attitude toward teamwork and collaboration, identify short-term and long-term goals, highlight professional achievements and evaluate the potential for contributing to a company's mission.
Try answering these questions on paper by making lists of key points, and then practice stringing these points together in a natural way. The goal is to sound knowledgeable, but not overly rehearsed. Recall moments of personally fulfilling professional accomplishments, and try to infuse responses with genuine passion and pride.
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Watch for the unexpected question. No matter how well prepared, candidates sometimes face a difficult or unexpected question. Avoid rushing into a thoughtless response. Instead, repeat the question, and compliment the interviewer on a particularly discerning question. Always be honest. When in doubt, keep the answer short.
For example, candidates are sometimes unsure how to answer a question relating to personal weaknesses in the professional realm. Don't fall into the trap of confessing to work "too hard" or being a perfectionist. Interviewers can view this common answer as less than perfectly candid. Instead, describe a time when a misstep on the job allowed you to become a stronger team player or more creative thinker. Demonstrating the ability to identify and work toward self-growth turns previous errors into opportunities for improvement.
Watch how television talk show celebrity guests intermingle charm with factual answers when responding to questions from the host, especially when caught off-guard. A graceful smile goes a long way when deflecting an overly intrusive question.
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Follow up. It's classy to send a thank-you note, by snail mail or email, expressing appreciation that the company has taken the time for the interview. Offer to answer any additional questions, and wish them well. Use quality stationery.
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Tips & Warnings
Prepare a short list of two to three questions to ask when the interviewer concludes by asking if there are any questions.
Be genuine. False laughter and insincere responses will likely be discerned immediately during a job interview.
Remember to breathe when talking. During a job interview, breathing naturally slows the conversational speed, allowing more time for thought and better developed responses.
Avoid making personal compliments to the interviewer in the hopes of scoring points during the job interview. This is inappropriate behavior that can make people feel uncomfortable.
Don't bring up financial or salary requirements during the job interview. These will be discussed later should a job be offered.
References
- Photo Credit business image by david levasseur from Fotolia.com
