Obtaining your 'dream job' isn't a walk in the park. To achieve your goal, you need to competently and successfully present your skills and experience to a potential employer.
Many people find interviews nerve-wracking and too a point, intimidating. But, unfortunately, job interviews are the principal method which both the employer and the candidate judge each other.
The employer's objective is to qualify a candidate. The candidate's objective is to receive a job offer.
Which ever way you look at it, creating the right impression is necessary.
Prepare Yourself
Be prepared to talk about yourself, especially in a positive manner, in order to convince the interviewer that you're right for the job.
The only way to stand-out, is to present yourself, your qualifications, your personality and your potential more effectively than the other candidates. Clear your mind of other matters and focus on being positive, confident and likeable.
Dress Code
Be sensible about how you dress. First impressions count, so make the effort to dress smartly. Even if the office is filled with people wearing jeans and trainers all interviewers will prefer you to dress in a business like fashion.
Research
Use the Internet to find out more about your potential employer. Use a reliable internet search engine to search for the company web site and any articles surrounding the company. Find out as much as you can about the organisation, its history, its current situation and its future.
You and Your characteristics
Review everything you've done in the past for evidence of your strongest characteristics and be prepared to address weak areas or gaps in your CV. Be sure of the characteristics you wish to promote.
Rehearse
Ensure you know your CV inside out and thus you will be able to anticipate the questions you'll be asked. Make sure that you know what your responses will be and that they will flow. Be aware that some employers will have certain questions which you may not have anticipated. Aim to sound natural and conversational, not as though you're reading from a script.
Answering questions
All interviews involve the exchange of information. Here are some helpful pointers:
- Answer the question that has been asked, not what you want the interviewer to hear
- Answer questions honestly and directly
- Organise your answers
- Be brief without being abrupt
- Answer questions with interest and enthusiasm
- Be positive about your reason for leaving your current position
- Quantify the confidence other employers have placed in you
- Avoid speaking badly of past supervisors or employers
- Make the position you're interviewing for your chief objective
Handling Obstacles
There may be points in your career that could present obstacles to future employment if not handled correctly. The key is to endeavour to turn the negative into either a neutral or positive. For example:
If you were dismissed from your last job
Be sure that when you discuss this during the first interview, you provide emotionally neutral answers. When you respond to questions about the dismissal always include some lessons learned that will benefit future employers.
You were made redundant
Most interviewers have had some experience of candidates in redundancy situations. Try to emphasise that the redundancy was unrelated to you as a person and as an employee. The employer is generally curious about how you will react to adverse situations and here is a good opportunity to show that you're a survivor who makes the best of every situation.
Lacking Experience
When objections are raised to your experience, you must identify related experience or transferable skills that will convince them of your ability to do the job.
Over-Qualified
If you're deemed as being over-qualified, your first defence should be to re-confirm your best qualifications for the position. In other words, view the objection as another opportunity to sell your qualifications. If the interviewer is still unsure, probe more deeply into the resistance. Your main objective is to push the interviewer into rethinking their position and keeping an open mind.
The Close
There are three important things you need to remember when closing an interview, in addition to the courteous goodbyes and firm handshake:
- Firstly, any questions about the company that would affect whether you would want to spend further time interviewing, ask them now.
- If there is some important information about you that hasn't been mentioned that you feel is important to the interviewer, make that information known before you close.
- Find out what the next step will be and when it is likely to occur.
Talking Money
Your PPM Recruitment consultant is a trained intermediary, so talk openly with him or her. Share your concerns and expectations and call with comments or questions.
Want More Information?
To learn how PPM Recruitment can help you get the job you really want, contact your local branch.