Be Yourself On Interviews |
|
Email | Add Comment | Read Comments
|
|
|
|
Interviews are stressful and scary. Will they like you? Will you wear the right thing, say the right thing, or just get the whole thing right?
When I speak to my clients about why they did not get a job they wanted, they tell me they were nervous. They could do the job and do it well, but the interviewer didn't see it. Or, them. If this is happening to you, and companies aren't seeing the real you, it's because you are not showing it to them.
It's important to be yourself on interviews. If you pretend to be someone else, or employers do not see the real you, you may (or may not) get the job, but it won't be too long before you are looking for another one.
So, How Can You Be Yourself? Follow These 4 Steps Below.
1. Let Go of Fear
If you are more concerned with getting it right, then you will end up getting it wrong. Interviews are a two way street. Employers see if they like you and you see if you like them. If you just want to be "selected" for the job, then you don't get to shine. Let go of what could happen wrong and focus on what on could go right. You are perfect for the job. You know it in your gut. So go in there and show them what you got. It's OK to be afraid; you just don't want that fear to get in the way.
2. Prepare, Over-Prepare, and Then Let It Go
It's important to prepare for an interview. You want to know about the company, what they do, and what you can do to help them reach their goals. But at some point, preparation stops and you take over. Think about a time you had a challenging situation at work. You thought about the solution and came up with a way to tackle the problem. But at some point, you had to let that all go, and "you" took over. That's when you were the most effective. You can't plan for everything, so don't. Trust that you will do great on your interview, and you will be able to handle whatever unexpected challenge comes your way. Your reward for trusting yourself, and being yourself, is a successful interviewing experience.
3. Be Helpful
Everyone wants to be seen as someone who can do a job well. But if the interview is only about you, and you are only concerned about you, the interviewer will be wondering about them. Take the focus off yourself and instead put your energies on the person you are talking to. Find out about them; what they want and what's important to them. Sometimes when I debrief a client after an interview, I ask what the interviewer struggled with the most. Most don't know. When you go into helpful mode, you forget about yourself, and your concentration shifts to the other person. This is when the real you comes out.
4. Ask Questions
Interviews are a give and take. You are asked questions and then you ask questions in return. Answers to your questions help you feel better. And, they take the edge off. Most people are afraid of the unknown. Although you may want the job on paper, the company, its policies, and the people who work there are unknown to you. Questions help you get answers that put you at ease. And when you are calmer, the real you can come out.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Posted by: Dorie
I'm impressed! Cool post!
|
|
|
Posted by: Fleta
You've covered all the bases with this answer!
|
|
|
Posted by: Jeannie
This is a great post!
|
|
|
Posted by: Luiz Vasconcellos
Hi Deborah,I really appreciated your article. I am a seasoned professional and after moving to another country and having to restart my career again, I became a true ace in interviews. My success rate in receiving job offers once I start talking to the clients has been above 95%. Many of these offers do not materialize due to other issues related to having temporarily to work on a corp-to-corp contract basis, unhealthy weather in the job location, unsatisfactory salary or benefits offered later (as I do not discuss it upfront), etc. OK, you got the picture.The bottom line is: You have hit the target right on! An interview is really a chance for BOTH parties to know each other. You need to know to whom you are talking to before you do it, so research in order to: 1) make the questions that provide you with ENOUGH insights about the company and the job/project, and 2) Make some true positive comments BEFORE the interviewer can ask them, so that they are FELT as 100% genuine (it's a risk but it's worthwhile if you know your job), and from them the interviewer, know or deduct that you have what it takes, gradually building an educated favorable view of yourself.Right at the beginning of the interview try to FEEL (not exactly listen) the interviewer's point of view (by the NATURE of the topics approached) and concerns (noting the pauses in speech), and AGREE with him/her by repeating these concerns, to make him/her sure you understood well. That is a good communication rule and means respecting his/her role.You are also right in NEVER being afraid of saying: I do NOT know this ... but I am sure I can learn, or... I am sure I can quickly handle what's necessary to do it perfectly. NOBODY knows everything no matter how much you learn! Really educated people know they know very little! An alternative is to offer help to find someone that can help YOU (for some time) doing what you do not know, or who can help the company if they do not find you a good fit. This really works marvels! Do NOT vacillate for a second when asked about your skills, or they will be felt as unsatisfactory. You know or you do not, ... but say if you can learn IF this is true!Make sincere comments and give a couple of sincere laughs whenever possible. This really takes out the stress from you AND the interviewer (but do not extrapolate).Express your achievements putting the ACTION words that appear in job descriptions you want, in your resume and CV (make both) - and prepare a website whenever possible - this helps a lot!Kind regards and much luck,Luiz Cruz
|
|
|
Posted by: Joel
This information is critical. It is important to be yourself because it is better for them to not hire you because you were yourself, than to hire you because you were not being yourself and then for them to find that out later.I also can't emphasize enough the importance of preparation. Be ready and then trust your preparation. Make sure you know your stuff and then be confidant that you do.
|
|
|
Posted by: April Bullock
Thanks for all the help! Interviewing is also a job and the more you know going in the better chance you have of walking out with the job. I was laid off in July 2010, I have been looking for a job since. I have been interviewing but no job yet. This information is so helpful.
|
|
|
Posted by: Matanat Abadzade
Simple, clear & helpful. Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email | Add Comment | Read Comments
|
|
|
