Presenting Gerard le Roux's ...
JOB INTERVIEW SUCCESS "Basic and advanced strategies to help you eliminate mistakes and succeed in job interviews." By Gerard le Roux Professional CV Writer & Job Search Coach. Contributing Author to “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0” by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E Perry. Guest on 702, Cape Talk 567, SAfm, KayaFM. Guest Speaker at UCT Graduate School of Business, Central University of Technology. Author of “Job Search Fast Track – Dynamite for Job Hunters”. Leader of the Career & Success INNER CIRCLE.
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic
So You've Got an Interview? Nice! Here are some critical points to take a careful look at to help you succeed.
1. The Interview Success Checklist So you go for an interview … And afterward a friend asks, “So, how did it go?” And you say “Ja, I thought it went okay? But I don’t know really.” After 3 weeks and not getting any feedback you wonder, “What went wrong?” Here are some things that could have gone wrong. It’s worth going through the list below and doing an analysis - for the purposes of improving your interview skills – either BEFORE or AFTER an interview. Some of these items are ‘no brainers’ but any employer or recruiter will tell you a string of horror stories where great people make the most basic errors and these faults cast a dark shadow of doubt and uncertainty over even the best professional expertise. In a competitive market you have to get the basics right. Ask yourself: [Next to each question I’ve provided a comment (bad news/good news) which will guide you to understanding how the point might affect the interview.] 1. Did I arrive on time? (Bad news if you didn’t. Aim to arrive NOT early or late but on time. "On time" means 5 minutes early. Arriving earlier or later is just impolite, unprofessional and won't create the right impression.) 2. Did I arrive feeling harassed and rushed … or fairly calm? (It’s hard to hide that rushed feeling bad news if you had it. Good news if you were in control, on time, had a few moments to relax and breathe before you faced the fire.) 3. Did I give the receptionist a pleasant smile and greeting? (If you did good news! Bad news if you were rude, irritated, abrupt, had "attitude" when asked to fill in another form. Or if you flirted with the receptionist – true story - often receptionists pass on their impressions to the interviewer.) 4. How did the initial meeting/greeting with the interviewer go? Did I look them in the eyes and smile? Was my handshake firm? (Good news if you were comfortable and confident. Bad news if you shuffled, mumbled, broke into a sweat or fumbled with your bag, phone, papers, and keys, or if you brought your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/neighbour along to the interview. 5. How was I dressed? Was I dressed more casually than the interviewer? (Bad news if you weren’t smart. It's better to err on the side of smartness than on the side of sloppiness. Rather be more conservative. This is not the time for short-short skirts, revealing clothing, bold colours, old faded jeans with holes, creased shirts, etc. In rare instances the company culture may dictate otherwise, but generally a neat, conservative look is best.) 6. Did I have strong perfume/aftershave on? (Bad news if you did - it’s too overpowering. Interview rooms are often quite small. So a strong perfume becomes unpleasant – no matter what you paid for it. What it does is focus attention away from your professional skills/expertise/knowledge and onto a negative factor. You really want the interviewer to concentrate on YOU, what YOU have to offer, and the BENEFITS YOU will provide the company with. NOT on your perfume.)
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic 7. Was my breath fresh and my teeth clean? (Bad, bad news if it wasn’t fresh and your teeth were, in fact, not clean. Smoker's breath. Lunch breath. Coffee breath. Halitosis – rotten breath. Cheese breath. Just avoid them all. Good career tip: Spare tooth brush, small tube of toothpaste in your bag, 2 minutes before a meeting do a quick brush/clean.) 8. Were my shoes polished? (Some interviewers have this as their ‘pet’ deciding factor - bad news if they weren’t. Not the most important thing in the world but if your shoes are dull and scuffed, it says something about you. And it's not good.) 9. What did my bag and its contents look like? Neat and organised or bulging with papers, keys, phone, lunch, etc? (Good news if it was organised and professional. An employer would be completely correct in assuming that if your bag is disorganised, your desk, computer, files will be too. Why wouldn't they be? Aside from that it's a distraction to you and them – bad news.) 10. How did I feel answering the interviewer’s questions? Did I ‘um’ and ‘er’? Or did I give brief, to the point answers? (Good news if you were calm, composed and felt in control and well prepared. Preparing by trying to predict the questions you may be asked and formulating answers is a good practice.) 11. Did I give any specific examples of good work I’d done? (Examples make you more believable the more specific the better - good news if you did. There's just something about an interviewee who substantiates his answers with examples.) 12. When asked about my strengths - did I give a good confident answer with examples to back my answers up? (Good news if you did. It's all very well saying you're, for example, a "hard worker". Most people give that as one of their strengths. But it's rare for anyone to back that up by giving an example of a recent project they worked on which required a big overtime commitment.) 13. When asked about my weaknesses - did I answer in a positive way? (Good news if you did. What's meant by "in a positive way"? In a way that shows you've given attention to the weakness, have mastered it, overcome it. Or show how you cope with it. Keep it professional. It's not a "confessional". Don't make it too personal. Also think of what weaknesses your references are likely to raise when questioned, raise them upfront and put a positive spin on them by explaining how you've improved.) 14. Did I ask more than one or two questions about the company, department or position? (Bad news if all you did was ask “how much will I get paid?” - show an interest, find out what the key challenges are in the position, in the company, industry, department. Ask the interviewer how long they've been in the company, how they enjoy working there – show some personal interest. Although be careful – some interviewers are very closed up – you'll have to judge how far to go with each interviewer on a case-by-case basis.) 15. Did I continue to smile in the interview? (Good news if you did - you didn’t just put it on for the greeting. It wasn't put on. It's you. You may have to do some work on YOU to get this right. But to be sure, confidence can be built.) 16. Did I listen intently to everything? (Bad, bad news if you didn’t carefully pay attention. Make sure you understand every question. Don't make assumptions. Rather ask clarifying questions. You risk going off the point and boring the interviewer. You also risk being labeled as someone who doesn't listen. It's a key communication skill. And communication is a cornerstone business skill.) 17. Did I feel like I was waffling a lot? (Bad news if you did - keeping things brief shows focus, good preparation and you come across as someone who thinks clearly. Do a post interview de-briefing. Look at the questions you found tough, think of how you could have improved your answers, make the change and do better next time.)
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic 18. Did I make a clear statement at any stage about how I felt I could be of benefit in the position being discussed? (After all this is what the company wants - some benefit from hiring you – so tell them clearly what it is! So good news if you did. If you're asked, "So why should we hire you?", it's a perfect opportunity to give your concise, clear benefit statement. Or if you don't get the chance during the interview, why not say, at the conclusion, "There's just one more thing I'd like to say", then give your statement confidently. It's bound to have great effect.) 19. At any point did I get the feeling that the interviewer was bored or not attentive? (A bad news sign. Are you waffling? Are you talking too much? Are you addressing the needs of the interviewer or are you off the point? And don't be seduced into waffling by awkward silences. Silence beats waffle.) 20. Did I leave only after asking politely if I could follow up on a certain date? (Good news. It shows assertiveness and a desire to wrap up loose ends – good business skills/qualities to have.) 21. Did I send a thank you note to the interviewer? (Good news if you did. It could make all the difference and frequently does. It's not "sucking up." Well it shouldn't be. Don't "gush" in your letter. Make it quick. Refer quickly to the 3 key reasons why you're a good candidate for the job and that you appreciated the opportunity to apply.) So how’d you do? The whole idea is to identify some weak areas to work on - and think of ways to improve. Take the weak area and discuss it with a trusted friend or colleague - then practice before your next interview. But remember, too, that there’s a lot ‘stuff’ that goes on behind the scenes that we have no control over. There are people involved in hiring decisions. And as long as that’s the case there always will be those ‘mystery’ situations where someone else gets the job you wanted - even when you’re more experienced and qualified for it. Remember – there'll be more interviews and more opportunities to shine. Make sure you're prepared.
NEXT: Using Questions Holds the Key to Interview Success.
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic
2. Using Questions Holds the Key to Interview Success Did you know that there’re 3 types of questions you should pay unfailing attention to when you’re facing a job interview? 3 Types of questions. That’s right. And if you neglect any 1 of the 3 ... if you don’t have the answers, if you haven’t prepared ... you’re damaging your chances of hearing those nice words ... “Hi - great news - you got the job!” Let’s take a look. Question Type#1: Questions about the company/potential employer. Here are some examples: •
What’s the company history?
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How do they actually make money?
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What’s their reputation and how have they built it?
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How do they go about their business?
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What’s their biggest accomplishment?
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What’s their biggest failure?
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What do they value in their people?
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What do I have that fits with what they’re trying to do?
Why are these important? 1) Your background knowledge shows you’re interested in the company - and the interview is not “just another interview” for you; 2) The research will help you identify where you can help make a difference - and you’ll tailor your presentation to focus on the most relevant aspects of your experience. Where to find answers: The company website, their sales/marketing material, the press (do a Google search), and here’s an insider tip, especially if it’s a smallish or medium sized company - call up the company beforehand, ask for someone in Sales, just be honest, tell them your situation, ask for 5 minutes of their time, ask your questions (Sales people are always in helpful mode). Question Type#2: Tough Interview Questions. Here are some examples: •
Tell me about yourself?
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What are your strengths/weaknesses?
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Tell me about your biggest failure?
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Why are you a good candidate for this position?
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How would you tackle this job?
Why are these important? Interviewers ask them for 2 main reasons. 1) They know they’re tough and want to test how you deal with them under pressure. 2) They want to know the answers - to see how you’ll fit into the role.
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic Where to find answers? Deep, deep inside yourself! In preparation (know that you WILL face these sort of questions in one form or another) you’ll want to give short, to the point, honest answers. Rehearse with friends or family - or find a mentor with some business experience who can guide you. Question Type#3: Questions to ASK! Here are some examples: •
How did the vacancy arise? (You're looking for some background info on the challenges you'll be facing if you take up the position. And you're also looking for ways to tailor the way you present yourself – you want to be the solution to their problem – so you have to understand the problem first.)
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What are some of the failures in the position so far? (Background info again for the same reasons.)
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What are some of the successes in the position/department so far? (With this question you get a better idea of what 'turns them on', what they're really looking for. Once you know you'll be able to focus your answers to show how you are/have what they're looking for.)
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What would you like to see the new person accomplish in the first 3 months? (Ask it and you'll know what your target is. You'll also come across as someone who is target oriented, focussed, and driven to make a difference.)
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What does Management value most in the person filling the role? (See above.)
A warning! Ask these questions in your own words. And know why they’re good questions - if you don’t, don’t ask them. You don’t want the interviewer saying - “what do you mean?” and then you say “uum, I’m not really sure!?”. Okay? Why are they important? They ‘mine’ crucial information. They provide insight and help you to tailor your presentation to suit the client. They show confidence. They show you want to get to the heart of the position in order to provide a solution. Not many other applicants will ask them. Right - so there they are. 3 Types of questions. All very important to help you land that job.
NEXT: 10 Interview Success Strategies
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic [Now for a bit of a mash-up of the above advice with some additional insights. I packaged this article a while back and although there’s a bit of repetition here it’s worthwhile.]
3. 10 Interview Success Strategies Basically no-one likes the prospect of being interviewed. Hey, sometimes it works out ok. But it's the not knowing what to expect ... the prospect of some tough interviewer 'hitting' you with all these awkward questions ... feeling uncomfortable ... not knowing what to say ... umming and erring ... or the dreadful feeling that you're waffling on too long. It may be a panel interview – with like, 4 or 5 interviewers casting their beady eyes and ears on you. It may be a line manager, it may be HR, it may follow a pre-defined script, it may be loose and relaxed. Questions may be asked to throw you off guard. It may focus on your soft skills, management skills, technical skills, ability to work in a team, your attitude. Anything. Or perhaps it's some snotty-nosed little punk that's interviews you – he doesn't know you. He doesn't understand what you do - or what difference you can make. But because he's a link from where you are to where you want to be, you indulge his little power-trip, attitude and incompetence.
Sometimes it goes ok. Sometimes it's a total waste of time. Sometimes you ace it. Sometimes you just don't know. That's interviewing for you.
Ok – so let's examine some key ideas on how you can get yourself ready, walk in, and "take it away" successfully. Interview Success #1: Preparation-Position The first bit of info you need in order to prepare properly is what position you're applying for. What's the title? What's the role or function? You've got to have some idea. Avoid taking the "I'll take anything that comes up" job hunting strategy. It's for losers. Winners are focussed, they know what they want, they don't leave things to chance. So, know what position you're interviewing for. Then your homework begins. Brainstorm the position – what will it likely involve? What will the different duties be? How does the position fit into the success of the department or organisation? What will likely be what's expected of you in the role? If you're struggling to come up with ideas – speak to someone who fills a similar role or speak to more experienced people to get ideas. Why do this? 2 Reasons. Your mind will be getting itself ready, getting into the groove of the role/subject for discussion. And secondly, knowledge like this will give you the basis for knowing what's likely to be discussed in the interview, and therefore you'll be able to prepare more thoroughly. More on this later. Interview Success #2: Preparation-Company "Do some research on the company." Nothing new here. So you visit their website take a look around and there you go – you've done "some research on the company". Right? Wrong.
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic Now first – most often when going to agency interviews they won't divulge the name of the employing company at all until perhaps the last minute before your company interview. That's typical. And infuriating. Anyway ... let's take two angles on this subject. 1) When you know the name of the company. When researching the company, here's what you're looking for: •
How do they make money? What processes are involved? Where do you fit in?
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What news is there – what's recently been launched, what new technology is affecting their business or sector, what contracts have been won, what's the industry outlook?
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What problems, challenges, obstacles and competition are being faced?
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What keeps the business people in this sector awake at night - worrying?
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What could be ‘hurting’ them - their efficiency, smooth running of company/department etc?
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Where are they losing money/efficiency/clients/profits/time and why?
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In what areas do you see yourself fitting in and making a strong contribution?
Here's your purpose: Knowledge is power. It impresses. It helps you to envision how you can help make things better – don't leave that to the last minute, or to the interview room. Your mind needs time to process what you learn and come up with answers that could make all the difference. Check out websites, speak to contacts, read relevant trade journals – gather your intelligence. 2) If you don't know the name of the company. Here's what you should try: Push the recruiter hard for information on the company. Tell them you don't necessarily want the name but you want as much info as possible to prepare properly – remind him/her tactfully that they stand to make a big commission if you get the job. But if no luck with that – you'll have to ask some questions in the interview with the employer. Tell the interviewer how you were not told the company name until the last minute – then ask if you can just quickly discuss the company (see questions above in scenario 1). It's not much but it's something. Just don't forget to do it. Interview Success #3: Preparation-Attitude This point is brief but crucial. Manage your expectations. Don't expect that you're going to get the job. You probably won't. Harsh? Maybe. But the statistics show it. Negative? Yes, a little, but by 'negative' I don't mean insolent, cynical, bitter, depressed, down on yourself, or pessimistic. The job market is just like that – people get hired for all sorts of crazy reasons – you may be the best person for the job – but you won't get hired. It happens. All the time. So just understand that that's how it works. The benefit of being a little 'negative' in your attitude? You'll feel more relaxed. It's a mistake to rest all your hopes on one interview to get your next job. Prepare as if it's the only interview – but don't invest too much in the result (one way or the other) of that one interview. It's much better for your nerves and stress levels to line up as many interviews as possible. Interview Success #4: Preparation-Key Questions So you know the position. You know the company. In your experience, using common sense too, what are the 5 key tasks/functions and outcomes you'll likely be asked to deliver if given that job?
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic Done it? Ok – well there you have a rough blueprint of what's likely to be explored in the interview. The interviewer will be trying to establish whether you can deliver on those 5 key things or not. As a person of some experience yourself (or in discussion with someone who has) what questions would you logically raise if you were in the interviewer's seat? What would you want to know? What examples would you ask for? What would you be looking for and how would you go about extracting it? Brainstorm, discuss – get clarity. Again, get your mind in the groove – so that when you face the 'fire' of the interview, you're ready and waiting. Interview Success #5: Preparation-Answers So you know the position. You know the company. You have a good idea of what questions will be asked. Now – how do you answer? Just two tips here: 1) Keep it short. Don't be intimidated by long silences. They're a tool used by the interviewer to make you go on and on and divulge irrelevant, sometimes compromising information which is then interpreted as representing the "real" you. So, answer the question quickly. Then shut up. Don't waffle. Rather ask the interviewer if they'd like you to expand on any one facet. Let them lead you. Don't assume you know what information they want – you'll risk being very dull and boring, and totally off track. 2) Use lots of examples in your answers. They add credibility. They add interest and believability. It's all good. How to do it? Use the P – A – R formula. Problem faced. Action taken. Results achieved. Tell a little story. But keep it short. And be specific when dealing with results – use figures, percentages, situation before vs. situation after, etc. Answers given in this fashion are a strong persuader. Use it. Interview Success #6: Timing Be early. But on-time early. Not "what's this person doing here an hour early?" early. Be 5 minutes early. Not 45 minutes early. Get to the building as early as you like – but don't walk in to the office earlier than 5 minutes early. Too early has an air of desperation about it. Of course, on the other hand, don't be late. You'll feel rushed, sweaty, and you'll have no time to catch a breath and compose yourself. Interview Success #7: Appearance Here are some points – obviously for unusual jobs, like fashion model, musician, etc you'll have to use your own discretion, but here are some general rules: •
Dress up rather than down.
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Be smart rather than casual.
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Don't be flashy, be conservative.
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Be clean.
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Brush/comb your hair.
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Be fresh – not sloppy, not jaded, not stale or worn.
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Wear deodorant. Although DON'T wear perfume/aftershave. Just don't. In the confines of a small interview room it can be overpowering. It's irritating for the interviewer to go around the rest of the day with your aftershave ever present on their hands or papers or desk, etc.
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Don't smoke just before the interview. In fact don't smoke at all. It's such a big turn off to a non-smoker that it could just prejudice your chances (you may get one of those "you're overqualified" type feedbacks).
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Take a tooth-brush/paste and use it before the interview.
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic •
Don't try to be sexy and don't dress sexy. Don't wear short skirts. Don't reveal your cleavage. It may be your best asset – but really, if you want to be taken seriously, rather tone it down. Invest in an expensive suit/outfit. Be professional.
Hopefully the things above are "obvious" to you – but in my experience interviewing people – somehow these things were forgotten by many, many people. Interview Success #8: Send the Right Signals Following on from the above, but on a behaviour theme: Practice your smile. Practice a firm (and dry) handshake. Practice looking people in the eye – not in a weird, prolonged way – but just enough to look confident, friendly and strong. Show propriety – orderliness, politeness, be agreeable, show courtesy and decorum, be modest, well mannered, etc. Sure, you want to be yourself, and confident, but just reign it in a little, ok, until you've established more of a relationship. And guys, don't flirt with the receptionist. Sit upright. Don't lean back or forward. Be relaxed but not sloppy. You want to come across as a nice person to have around – not as a risk, liability or overwhelming. Interview Success #9: Questions to Ask Yep – asking questions is important. But only if you ask the right ones. There may be questions burning in your bones, like "what's the money!?" but resist, resist, resist asking them, the time to ask them is once interest has been established from both sides (2nd or 3rd interview perhaps). Although the one exception is money – it's good to establish early (the recruiter or HR person will want to establish this too) that the position is compatible with your expectations. But rather focus most attention on questions like these: •
How did the vacancy arise?
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What are some of the failures in the position so far?
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What are some of the successes in the position/department so far?
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What would you like to see the new person accomplish in the first 3 months?
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What does Management value most in the person filling the role?
WARNING! Ask these questions in your own words. And know why they’re good questions - if you don’t, don’t ask them. You don’t want the interviewer saying - “what do you mean?” and then you say “uum, I’m not really sure!?”. Okay? Why are they important? They ‘mine’ crucial information. They provide insight and help you to tailor your presentation to suit the client. They show confidence. They show you want to get to the heart of the position in order to provide a solution. Not many other applicants will ask them, so you'll stand out. Interview Success #10: Answering Tough Interview Questions There are any number of tough questions. And any number of slick answers that could work or backfire badly. The bottom line is – the interviewer knows it's a tough question. They're expecting it to be uncomfortable for you. So the first thing you should do is smile and take a breath. Listen carefully to the question (every question in fact), make sure you've understood it correctly, ask for clarification if required, and then take a moment to gather your thoughts. Don't hurry your answers. Here are some examples:
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WOW!CV | The Job Search Clinic •
Why do you want to work here? – Don't make stuff up. Only speak from your research and about things that have truly impressed you. Otherwise just say, well I haven't really seen enough of the company to answer that – but my first impressions have been good so far (give impressions).
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So tell me about yourself? – Give 5 seconds on your personal life, give 20 seconds on your professional history/life, give 5 seconds on some interests you have, a little bit of trivia to end off with.
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What are your strengths and weaknesses? – For strengths, focus on 2 or 3 qualities you have – and be prepared to back them up with examples. Keep your comments relevant to the position you're interviewing for. Regarding weaknesses – 1) Focus on an area that you're lacking in for that position, perhaps a lack of knowledge of a computer program the company uses or specific/unique body of knowledge – a lack that can be easily addressed/developed through a course or by reading a book. Or 2) Take a weakness from your distant past – discuss briefly how you've remedied it over the years so that it's no longer a problem.
It's useful to have a mentor, someone you respect, someone with experience who can guide, test, and coach you. It'll be time well spent. Right, so you don't like being interviewed. But if you're better prepared. If you know what to expect and how to deal with the challenges then you'll be more effective, you'll get better results, and you'll land better job offers.
More resources to help you: •
FREE Job Search eCourse - get “12 Breakthrough Job Search Secrets – to end your stalled and frustrating job hunt now” by just sending an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com. My automated service will immediately send it to you.
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“High Impact Quick Fixes - some of the best, quickest, most powerful straight-talking job hunting advice you'll ever get." Help for your CV, your cover letters and interviews. Also included: “How to Write a 2 Page CV” guide. All this is added on as an extra to the free job search ecourse – all you have to do is send an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com
Gerard le Roux - Professional CV Writer & Job Search Coach. Contributing Author to “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0” by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E Perry. Guest on 702, Cape Talk 567, SAfm, KayaFM. Guest Speaker at UCT Graduate School of Business, Central University of Technology. Author of “Job Search Fast Track – Dynamite for Job Hunters”. Leader of the Career & Success INNER CIRCLE.
FREE Job Search eCourse Get “12 Breakthrough Job Search Secrets – to end your stalled and frustrating job hunt now” by just sending an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com. My automated service will immediately send it to you. www.jobsearching.co.za | www.wowcv.net | Mobile 083 744 5454 | E-Mail gerard@jobsearching.co.za 11