Business experts have very specific guidelines as far as interviews go. Ask certain questions, give firm handshakes, act super confident, don't stutter or "umm/uhh" too much. Be clear. Be concise. Blah blah.
Well, there's one thing that I've learned that no "expert" has ever said to me. Not once. Not ever.
Adapt.
It only takes about 2-5 minutes to figure out a person's general personality/general seriousness level. No matter what their personality is, sometimes you have to be a chameleon a bit, because you can't really tell what personality they prefer to listen to/look at (ya know, body expressions) until you see the looks on their faces while you're talking. Generally, if the interviewers are smiling, are engaged into what you're saying, or ask you a lot (or really just a few) questions that aren't super business-generic, then you're probably doing a good job at your interview.
You see, we don't want to come off as liars, right? We're not trying to be interview swindlers. What we're trying to do, as the interviewers, is find any semblance of control in the interview room.
Interviewers generally want all of the control. They want to give you hardball questions that really make you think. At the very least, they want to give you questions that make them feel smart and make you feel stupid. If this hasn't happened to you yet, it probably will at some point, so hang on to your hats (or hats, if you're a lady).
Panel interviews are the most fun. Unless you're interviewing for a sales position (by the way, don't), then a panel interview is basically one interviewee per a few interviewers. These are very challenging interviews for those who may not have had one before. It's understandable, too. No one in their right mind could ever be truly ready for these, because instead of one personality you, instead, need to adapt to multiple (kinda like you might have had to do with your ex. I digress...) For me, I learned that it's important to try to speak to all of them--meaning: use the best eye-contact deliverance that you can. Also, it's important to know who the head-hancho is. That is, the person who is ultimately going to be making the decision on your future in the end. This person you want to give specific attention to, and perhaps more of your eye-contact.
It's important to show your personality in these information exchanges, too. You're probably dressed in the best suit or dress that you own, so this might come across as a little difficult, because, ya know, that night-dress/party-rocker outfit you have at home is the only uniform your comfortable being personable in, but just do your best, yeah?
Lastly, the best thing you can do for yourself in an interview--no matter how bad you might want that job--is to be straight with them. When I say "adapt" I'm talking about your personality a bit so that you sort of make them like you, so that you're in more control of the interview. That's not what I'm talking about when I say "be straight." What I mean by that is: Tell them, honestly, what you want out of your life. You'd be surprised how well this comes across in interviews. Real, honest answers go a long way. I don't think interviewers nowadays want to hear those arbitrary, spoonfed responses that all those "experts" tell you to say.
For instance, I'm always asked in my interviews where I see myself in 5 years. I always respond with "I don't know..." but I explain that response as to why I'm not sure. Those interview "experts" tell you to never say that, and that you should always have a clear and definitive answer for this question.
I say that's bullshit, because that would mean you and every other interviewer is basically a robot that was programmed to say things that aren't even true. If you KNOW where you want to be in 5-10 years, I think you're kind of full of yourself. I mean, OK, if you really have an answer for that, fine. Go for it. All the power to you. Just make sure that your answer is real to you. Don't try and answer the question in a way that you think will make them happy. 9 times out of 10 when you're real with your interviewer(s) they are just as real with you. Maybe they even tell you that you might not fit into the position because of your higher aspirations or perhaps even lack of aspirations. Maybe they even offer you the job on the spot. Who knows? But either way is fine! There are companies/positions out there that are more like you and what you're looking for. It's definitely hard to be patient in this job market, but in order to be happy with the job you get, I really think you have to be patient.
It's sort of like dating, right? Heh heh, you wouldn't just leap into a relationship with someone you hardly know anything about just because their exterior is promising, right? Heh...
Yeah, don't answer that.
Oh, and good luck on those interviews.
Yeah, don't answer that.
Oh, and good luck on those interviews.
- PatInTheHat
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