How To Nail or Fail Job Interviews
From my experience, job interviews can be unpredictable. I once had an hour-long interview with a panel of five people for a part-time retail job in a bookshop. I got the job, but only after my career aspirations had been analyzed to death.
And I once had a five-minute interview in Germany for an English teaching job (my first) with the most prestigious language school in town. I got that job too, but I was amazed at how little time they spent talking to me.
I’ve also interviewed people for jobs as they sat shaking in front of me.
The truth is, job interviews can be nasty, demeaning procedures. You’re judged by your appearance, your responses, your body language, and anything else that comes to light in the 20-minute-odd meeting. Then you have to wait for the verdict, which can take weeks or even months.
But the thing that surprised me most when I interviewed job applicants was that 90% had not prepared. They knew little about the company; they provided weak answers to important questions; their resume was filled with typos and other errors (and the job they wanted involved writing and editing!).
I am not an expert when it comes to finding a job, but I’ve had enough experience to relay this advice:
- Research the company
- Prepare your answers to expected questions
- Think long and hard about why you want the job
- Think long and hard about what you have to offer
- Get your resume proof-read or professionally made over
- Prepare some smart questions to ask
- Take along any references, examples of your work etc to win them over
- Send a brief thank-you email after the interview
- Follow up (politely) if you don’t hear back
- If you miss out, ask for feedback and if appropriate ask to be considered for future openings
That’s my 2c, but I’d be happy to hear yours. PS. Being headhunted is awesome but doesn’t happen every day.
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
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as a professional employment counsellor, your advice for interviews is spot on! Do what she says!
July 5th, 2007 at 3:31 pmHooray!
July 5th, 2007 at 3:55 pmon top of that, show your enthusiasm or atleast that you are passionate about something - anything.
the last person they want to hire is someone who is dull, lifeless, complains a lot and mopes around the office.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:35 pmReplying a little late here I realise but your article seems to have provided some rather salient and useful pointers.
Research into the company before hand can make the difference between the applicant appearing disinterested in the entire process and that of being prepared and eager to learn more about the company they hope to work for.
When competing against other candidates, the amount of preperation done before hand may just make a difference.
August 17th, 2008 at 8:25 am