Job Interviews – Why are they so difficult?

Why?

It is potentially a life altering event for the applicant and a significant risk / reward moment for an organisation.

Yup, everybody is experiencing apprehension on a significant level.

What do you do to overcome all this?

Before the interview – DO HOMEWORK!!!!!!

The more you know about the company, the candidate the job, the requirements, the expectations and the process the calmer you will be. Plan the route there carefully, dress appropriately, arrive early and know who it is that you will meet.

Yes I know, this advice you can get from your mother…… 

NOW for the good stuff – - -

The Interview

Be polite and get comfy (as much as you can) and notice that everybody is slightly nervous.

There will be introductions, short explanations of why everybody is there. There may even be chit-chat to get everybody relaxed. Don’t unravel with too much chatter.

Then it starts, they would like to know stuff about you.

One word -> BRIEF (Keep it short, they shouldn’t care about your cousins dog and it’s weird skin condition.)

Now for the hardest part:

RULE 1

Turn the conversation around. Find out what they need……

RULE 2

Listen – If you do this the right way, they will tell you the following:

• What they need – usually in order of importance
• What they want – usually in order of preference
• What they wish for – usually in order of desirability

Try everything you know to distinguish these things (while listening) and remember the things that you can pick up as being important.

RULE 3

Before you open your mouth to answer – Decide – DO I WANT THIS?

If no, thank them for their time and effort. They will be curious as to why you have made this choice. Tell them – briefly. Exiting now would leave a lasting impression on them and ON YOU. Very few things boosts an ego more that the ability to effectively choose and act upon that decision. This is more difficult than it sounds, but you will respect yourself in the morning……

If yes, then start by addressing THEIR needs, and wants and wishes. They are the ones doing the hiring; they want to hear how someone will address their needs. Be brutally honest – if there is something u can’t do (or you are not sure you can do) tell them.

RULE 4

Each one of these elements that they are looking for requires a mixture of three things – Skill –Knowledge – Attitude.

Address each of their needs, wants and desires showing how you will employ these elements to address their problems. This may take some time – take it, it is yours…….

RULE 5

Make it abundantly clear that you WANT THIS JOB. Ask them directly to give you the chance to prove the statements that you have made. If you want this badly enough, remuneration, amount of leave days and other “technicalities” will fall by the wayside.

You are here to hook them, GET THE SALE. The rest of the stuff will follow…..

RULE 6

Walk away. It is DONE. They will call or they won’t. You have done your thing. It they choose someone else – good luck to that person and them.

Rule 7

Irrespective of how things went – be proud of what you did. You can be critical, but only to the extent that it will improve the next interview.