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Everyone has, at one point or
another, been faced with the prospect of sitting down
and speaking with one or more individuals who will
decide whether or not you have the skills and abilities
to become their newest employee.
The thought alone is enough to
make the strongest among us tremble and break into a
cold sweat. "It's not fair," you theorize. "One mistake
or misplaced adjective during the interview and I'm back
on the street, back at the end of the line, searching
for the one intangible which will bring me job security
and a financial well being. What did I do wrong?"
In an effort to give you that
one intangible, we sat down with three professionals who
make those hiring decisions on a daily basis. In return
for their anonymity, they have agreed to give us their
insights on how to master the interview.
The
Introduction
"I hate to say it, but I will
develop either a positive or negative attitude about an
applicant within the first minute of the interview",
comments Julia, a human resource manager with a large IT
consulting company. "The way an applicant addresses me
and how they introduce themselves leaves a lasting
impression on me. I'm looking for confidence and a quiet
sense of determination. I want to see a firm handshake
and I want them to look me straight in the eyes."
"Don't forget their attire,"
comments Robert, a businessman who owns four rental car
establishments and two restaurants in a busy
metropolitan area. "If an applicant, even one for an
entry-level position, does not come to the interview
properly attired, I will not consider them. If they
can't take the time or the consideration to be dressed
correctly for something as important as an interview, I
can only imagine what they would do on a daily basis."
All three professionals agree
that first impressions are important. Dressing properly,
displaying a subtle confidence and maintaining eye
contact with each interviewer is the first step.
Impress
Me
"I realize the interview process
ranks right up there with having a tooth pulled on the
enjoyment scale, but it's not easy for the interviewer
either," added Jonathan, a hiring professional for a
large healthcare association. "If an employee that I
hire does not produce, I'm the one with egg on my face.
If I make a few bad choices it will be me on the other
side of that table. Believe it or not, I'm not looking
to turn an applicant away, I'm looking for someone who
will impress the heck out of me and make my decision
easy."
"I agree with Jon," added Julia.
"My day is hard enough. I want someone who I will feel
confident about, someone who I know can do the job I
give him or her. I think any employer feels this way.
I'm afraid some applicants think we enjoy watching them
squirm and deciding their fate. Nothing could be further
from the truth."
Be
Prepared
Preparation for an interview is
vital, all three professionals agree. Exhibiting an aura
of confidence will come more naturally if you are
practiced in the art of the interview. Do mock
interviews with friends or family to familiarize
yourself with the procedure. The more times you
practice, the more relaxed and confident you will
become.
"If you want to impress me, tell
me something about my company or industry that shows me
what you can bring to the position," comments Jonathan.
"Someone who can demonstrate that this position means
enough to them that they will spend time gathering
information on my company, means that this person will
probably stay late on a Friday if the work requires it.
THAT will impress me!
"That reminds me of the time I
was hiring a general manager for one of my car rental
agencies," Robert added. "This woman came in armed with
industry figures that I didn't even know myself!
Needless to say, she is now in charge of two of my
establishments."
At the very minimum, each
interviewer expects the applicant to bring extra copies
of their resume and a completed job application form if
required.
Emphasize
The Positive
Now is not the time to be bashful
about your skills and abilities.
If you can't show the employer why you are the best
candidate for the position, well then you won't be.
While the interviewer may claim to be an astute judge of
character, they don't realize that you can manage a
multi-million dollar budget, prioritize workflow to
maximize production and streamline inventory to save
millions of dollars, unless you can show that on your
resume and reiterate that in the interview.
"The interview process is
short," commented Jonathan. "I want to know what this
person sitting in front of me can do for my company.
Tell me your skills and provide examples of what you
have done in the past. If you don't, I have 10 other
applicants who will. Be confident in yourself and if you
can convince me of your skills, the job is yours."
Robert went a step further. "The
hiring process is part deduction and part intuition. I
want to see your skills and talents laid out on a
resume, but I also need to see and hear you explain to
me why you are best suited for the position. I want to
be impressed with your delivery. If you can't sell
yourself, how can I expect you to sell my cars?"
It Starts
With The Resume
"As I'm sure you understand, Jim
- with you being in the industry, the entire hiring
process hinges upon the resume," Julia emphasized, and
both Robert and Jonathan agreed. "I see many, many
resumes during the week, ranging from the barely
intelligible to the professionally produced documents
like your company provides. The only way you will ever
see the inside of my office is if I like what I see on
your resume. It may be a bit harsh, but it's a reality
in today's business environment. What's on that piece of
paper could mean the difference between us landing that
million dollar account or not. It's no wonder my hair is
turning gray already!" The people in the room laughed,
with Jonathan agreeing and pointing to his thinning and
graying hair.
When mailing a resume to a
prospective employer, mail the document(s) in a manila
envelope and do NOT fold or staple the resume. The
employers also want to see a cover letter included. You
may attach a cover letter to the resume with a paper
clip in the upper left-hand corner.
"I will scan each resume
quickly, seeing whether or not it's even worth a closer
look," Robert added. "If I like the layout and looks of
the resume, I will then read it in greater detail. I
can't stress enough the importance of the resume."
In
Closing
While first impressions may
last, last impressions may be the first factor on
whether or not you show up for work on Monday.
"When the interview is coming to
an end, I will always ask the applicant if they have any
questions," remarked Jonathan. "If I had a nickel for
every time the response was "No, I think I'm fine", I'd
be rich. If you want to impress me, ASK QUESTIONS! Let
me rephrase that - ASK INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS! Believe it
or not, If you ask me what the long-range plans of the
association are, I will take that positively. I
recommend you go into the interview with two or three
questions in mind, than ask one or two additional
questions on follow-ups to the interview."
Ask the interviewer what
qualities they are looking for in their next employee.
Then tell them how you can best meet those needs. This
is an excellent way to explain why you are the best
person for the position.
At the completion of the
interview, stand up, shake each interviewer's hand and
thank them for taking the time to consider you for their
position opening.
Final
Thoughts
When each of the three hiring
professionals were asked what was the most important
aspect of the interviewing process they would like to
convey to our visitors, they each replied with a
different answer, thus validating the belief that the
interview is a subjective experience requiring that each
applicant utilize their talents to the fullest.
Julia: "Show me why I should
hire you."
Robert: "Come prepared."
Jonathan: "Ask questions and
give me intelligent answers."
Author of Expert's Interview
Advice and many other job and resume related articles -
James Aure would be honored to assist you with your
career resume, CV, cover letter and other job search
needs. Please contact James at
webmaster@aandaresume.com,
1-800-947-2410 or visit A and A Resume at
http://www.aandaresume.com.
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