Interviewing 101: 5 Tips For a Successful Job Interview
The job interview process can be arduous. You have to learn all you can about the company, prove that you can do the job and keep you game face on. But you also have to know ‘why’ someone is interviewing you. Phone screeners, HR interviewers and hiring managers all have their purpose. Remember, they know exactly what they are looking for. They are not hiring the best person they can find, they are looking to protect the company/department from the wrong fit. You need to keep this in mind because:
- An interviewer, like a recruiter, screens out. Your resume passed muster and now the interviewing process begins — to see if you can do the job but also to see what kind of person you are and will you fit in or not.
- Interviews will trick you to find out information. Be wary of small talk where you might let your guard down. If an interviewers shares a personal story, you don’t need to comment on it or agree/disagree with an anecdote of your own. Personal information should not be shared.
- You might not say anything but your body will. Body language is extremely important in an interview.
- Most questions are structured so you will give a negative answer. Interviewers are trying to find out ‘what really happened.’ Even negative questions can and should be answered in a positive manner.
- An interview is about marketing yourself. Don’t go into the nitty, gritty details. You are selling the package!
As far as the interview process goes, it is not a friendly experience. It’s an organization’s chance to check you out, to see if you fit in with their culture and to catch anything that potentially might hurt them.
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