Succeed on Your Next Job Interview

There you are, standing in the Spartan reception area with the miserable receptionist eyeing you warily as she hands you an application form to fill out. Your hot, sweaty and uncomfortable from having rushed around like a maniac, half-walking half-sprinting from your current crappy job to catch that Downtown B train which you hoped would speed you to your 2.00pm appointment. The train has had its obligatory delay and the screaming-masses have done all that they can to hinder your progress, but finally you make it to your destination. You stand in the Lobby clumsily putting on your tie whilst showing your ID to the Security Guard who makes a funny remark as you sign the in/out book but you're not in the mood to smile. With your resume neatly tucked under one arm you rush the elevator and prepare yourself for another in a seemingly endless parade of interviews. The morose receptionist has buzzed you in and does you the considerable honor of finally getting off the phone with one of her dizzy friends and so now here you are filling out yet another form for yet another job that is already giving you bad vibes.

That's pretty much how all my interviews started off. The whole process is nothing less than excruciating. Trying to fake excitement and enthusiasm for the 5th interview you've been to in two weeks is a difficult challenge but you have to keep slogging along. The odds will eventually work in your favor and you'll get that elusive great job.

Here are some hints/ideas to consider during your interview(s):

The Handshake

It's the opening bell of the interviewing process and the handshake can be trickier than you'd think. Everybody wants a firm handshake but you have to very quickly gauge and customize your handshake depending on the shaker-ee. For instance if the person proffering their hand is a burly 6'4" monster then you can attempt to give him (or her come to that!) as forceful a grip as possible without fear of overdoing it. On the other hand I've been interviewed by quite a few dainty women (& dainty men too, let's not get sexist here!) and I have found that in these circumstances it is better just to get a good full hand placement without putting on too much pressure. Let them decide the shake-strengh and then you can match accordingly. Handshaking seems to be the domain of the testosterone-laden manly man and we (men that is, for I am such) put more emphasis on it than the fairer of the species. Also, do not beat the interviewer to the punch with the handshake. Tis better to receive than give as far as handshakes go. You don't want to look overly confident or take away their ability to greet. Basically don't pre-empt the shake. It is the interviewer's prerogative to initiate the shake and who knows they may have a 'Monk' like phobia regarding your sinfully dirty mitts.

The Questions:

Of course every job is different but you'll find some very basic questions that are nearly always seem to crop up interviews, here they are with some answers that might help you.

Q: Tell me your worst working qualities?
A: I think that I am too helpful at times

Conclusion: You haven't given yourself any negative points with this answer, whilst showing that you are a willing worker. Never actually tell them something bad about yourself. Make a positive your worst working quality.

Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years form now?
A: I'd like to see myself firmly established with the Company. If in the course of those 10 years the opportunity arises for me to progress within the Company then I would certainly be interested in taking that step.

Conclusion: It shows that you are a Company man. You're reassuring them that you expect to still be with their Company 10 years from now. You haven't mentioned going beyond the position that you're going for but have made the statement that you would be eager to progress should you be given the opportunity.

Q: Are you a people person
A: Just saying 'Yes' clearly shows you are lying, because nobody is a people-person. People suck in general and clients and sales-people doubly so. However you can't just so 'No' either. It's best to hit the middle ground with something benign, along the lines of 'Oh yes, I know how to deal with people' or 'I've had plenty of experience, I don't have any trouble dealing with clients, salespeople' etc.

Q: Will you sleep with me?
A: The answer should invariably be no, depending on the hotness of the interviewer.

Here are some things you might want to keep in mind during the course of the interview:

Eye contact: Always try to keep reasonable eye contact. Make sure they know you are listening when they're talking. Of course you can go overboard with this, so try not to stare them out, which I have been guilty of on occasion.

Don't relax: Don't be fooled if the interviewer seems overly relaxed. It doesn't mean that you can relax. You still have to be professional so don't get caught in the trap of trying to downbeat things just because they appear so very amiable. You can place a funny if you like but try to veer away from being the smart-ass entertainer.

Don't Ramble: This is difficult. Try to keep your answers succinct and to the point. Don't veer off into talk for talk's sake. Try to avoid saying 'Hmm' and 'err' and definitely 'you know what I mean'. If they see that your thinking about the question rather than just blabbering away it should leave a better impression.

Questions: Ask all the necessary questions that pertain to the job. Don't keep asking about all the benefits, holidays, plans. The interviewer will usually impart this information anyway so just learn to shut your trap. If they see you for a 2nd interview then likely as not you're a shoe-in for the job and you can ask these questions then.

Violence: Do not attack, stab, prod, kick, wound, injure, curse, hit, punch or pound on the person giving the interview. If they call you back for a second interview and tell you that you haven't got the job, then and only then can you beat the crap out of them.

Finally let me encourage you to stay positive and focused both during the interview and whilst conducting your job-search. Jobs that I've thought I'd be a shoe-in for have turned out to be turkeys whereas jobs that I hardly gave any credence to turned out to be diamonds in the rough. You will get there in the end. Just believe that you are going to get the job and it will eventually come to you.