Job Interview Techniques - Winning Ways

Let’s be honest, a job interview is about as much fun as tooth extraction without the anaesthetic. However, if you really want the job then you have to bite the bullet and endure the interview. Having ‘a good interview’ is all about preparation, presentation and positive thinking. Interviews are all basically much the same and start with the introductions.

The interview introduction can easily get away from you if you are not on the ball. Once you enter the interrogation chamber, you’re on your own, and you are never quite sure if you’re saying or doing the right thing. It seems that the more you try to relax the more nervous you become. Stringing a few words together into a coherent sentence seems to be beyond your powers of concentration. Of course the room has been pre-heated to unbearable levels and you begin to sweat. Your mouth is unusually dry. This causes your tongue to swell which cuts off the supply of oxygen to your brain. Panic begins to take over. Then, just at the point where you are about to run screaming from the room, the kindly interviewer extends a friendly hand and welcomes you.

Have you been there too? Don’t panic. Introductions don’t have to be such stressful episodes. In fact, approached in the right way they can be easy and fun. You just need to stop and think about it rationally. Consider the situation for a moment. You are meeting someone for the first time; it’s a clean sheet, there are no preconceptions to get in the way. This person actually wants you to be the ideal candidate for the job. They are under stress too. They have to find the right candidate for the position. If you are that candidate, it means their search is over. They can relax and get back to doing all the other things they have to do. All you have to do is be punctual, dress appropriately, check your teeth for remnants of your last meal, be yourself and make sure you’re wearing industrial strength deodorant. What could be easier? You could practice beforehand, to build up your confidence, by introducing yourself in front of the bathroom mirror. It’s probably better to practice this in the comfort of your own home rather than in the washroom of your local hostelry, where introducing yourself to fellow patrons might be seen to be a little odd.

Now you have got past the introductions, your next challenge is to deal with the offer of refreshments. A cup of tea or coffee may seem quite innocuous in itself, but let loose on an unsuspecting interviewee it can wreak havoc. Juggling a hot beverage in a flimsy plastic cup while trying to convince a stranger of your talents is not a good idea. Even if you think it adds to your kudos by demonstrating your ability to multitask, your decision to accept or decline this circus challenge is a tricky call. On the one hand you don’t want to appear ungracious, but on the other hand the inherent risks are high. Noisy slurping or gulping certainly won’t impress your interviewer while spilling hot coffee down the front of your white shirt and oatmeal business suit is a crisis likely to affect even the coolest candidate’s composure. So, if you find your frayed  nerves have left your mouth as dry as dust simply ask for a glass of water. It’s probably the safest option.

According to psychologists, who apparently had nothing better to do but study such things, the first two minutes of an interview are critical in deciding the final outcome. So, first impressions really do count, but let’s assume you are still in with a shout so far. By the time you’ve got this far you’ll either be brimming with confidence or desperate for an escape route, the lavatory, a cigarette and a stiff drink! Whatever state you may be in, you have to stay focused. According to those clever psychology people, you only have 105 seconds left to make or break this interview. The key now is to stay in control. There is no need to panic. If you’ve prepared thoroughly for the interview nothing can go wrong. You should know exactly what questions to ask, what to say, and when to say it. Try to anticipate the questions the interviewer is likely to ask, and have your answers ready. But remember, before answering pause for a moment. It looks more natural. Keep your delivery clear, consistent, positive, short and simple; then you won’t go far wrong. And try not to get sidetracked or go off at a tangent.

As the interview goes on, you will start to relax and feel you’re building a rapport with your interviewer. This is usually just at the point where the whole torturous process suddenly comes to an end. Your confidence level has been climbing from an all time low at the beginning of the interview and has now reached dizzying heights. It is now that you face the biggest challenge. You have entered the zone technically known as ‘end-of-interview euphoria’. You will be overcome by the urge to say something witty or clever. You must resist this impulse. This is not the time or the place to demonstrate your comedic talents. In the intoxicatingly thin air at the zenith of your newly found confidence it is likely that your wit and cleverness will be interpreted as glibness or even rudeness. Take it from someone who has suffered this fate; fight your urges, save your comedy routine for another time and keep your mouth shut.

Resisting this temptation to finish with a big finale is vital. It is much safer by far to conclude your interview with a thank you, a smile and a gentle reminder of your contact details. All that remains now is for you to leave. Before you consider standing up, make sure that everything is out of harm’s way. If you accepted the circus challenge earlier, and you are not now wearing your beverage, the chances are that your half empty cup is within reach. Remember if it can be knocked over it will be knocked over. Although you will probably be desperate to make your escape, at this last delicate stage of the proceedings it’s advisable not to run. Hazards will be randomly distributed to embarrass you and tripping over the wastebasket, upsetting the coffee table or ripping the telephone line out of its wall-socket are not usually recommended ways to secure a position. The chances are they will go against you. In my experience it’s always been best practice to leave your potential new employer’s office building, fixtures and fittings just as you found them. Follow these recommendations and you’ll walk out of there with a new job in the bag. Well done. Alternatively, tomorrow’s another day and another interview.