Excellent Tips for 2007 Part 4
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Monster’s Contributing Writer, Carole Martin has 10 Tips to Boost Your Interview IQ. Take a look and see what you think. She began by discussing the need for preparation. I absolutely believe that if you "Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail". Here is the last edition of this article. I have added my two cents as a coaching tip. Enjoy!
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8. Take Care to Answer the Questions
When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don’t answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.
Coaching Tip: This tip highlights the value of having a dossier of who you are and what you bring to the table. Your preparation prior to the interview will ensure that you have the answers to the questions the interviewer will ask. If you are uncomfortable answering questions in the interview, you are not prepared. There is a book called, 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions by Ron Fry.It is my favorite book about interviewing. I have been reading this book since 1994. This book is a jewel and will help you get prepared. Read Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 and do what Ron Fry recommends. It will revolutionize the way you walk into an interview. I will share more about this book at another time.
9. Ask Questions
When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. It is extremely important to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the interview and asking for additional information.
Coaching Tip: Another aspect of preparation is identifying some key questions you want to ask the interviewer prior to interview. Whether you have one interview or 5 interviews, you must walk into each interview ready and willing to ask questions. It is the responsibility of the interviewer to confirm that you are the best candidate for the job, but you are equally responsible to confirm that the company you are interviewing with is the organization where you want to work. You will never know, unless you ask some specific questions. Understanding the organizational climate, and the organizational values should be high on your list. More to come about this topic as well.
10. Don’t Appear Desperate
When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C’s during the interview: calm, cool and confident. You should know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too.
Coaching Tip: It seems appropriate to me to reiterate the need for preparation yet again. If you invest time in preparing for the interview, you will not have to worry about being desperate. If you find that you are desperate to get a job, go to work somewhere so that you have an income. Temp jobs are great for generating income until you find the organization and/or job you are looking for on a long-term basis.
As you embark on this New Year, I want to challenge you to invest 80-90 percent of your job search time, preparing for the interview. Look for organizations you think you want to work. Look for specific jobs that interest you and fit your skill set. The most important thing I tell those I coach, is get to know you. "You are the product and your goal is to get the JOB!." In order to get the job, you must know the product you want to sell to the interviewer. Get the book I mentioned above, by Ron Fry. It is an excellent resource that will help you prepare for the interview. I personally believe it the best book on the market. There are lots of resources out there. Lots of people like me that operate as a Career Coach. Read the book, talk to a career coach, go get the job!
Have an AWESOME New Year!
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POSTED IN: Coach's Cornor, Preparation & Planning, The Interview
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