6 minute read
Be Yourself
The arT of being inTerviewed is much simpler Than you may Think.
by spyros yiassemides ba, msc, fca, partner yiassemides & co
When I was taking my first steps in the world of accounting, many were the times that I found myself in the interviewee’s seat. Being inexperienced with the whole process, I asked the two people on earth that I trusted the most – my mom and pop – for advice on how to best approach my interviews. Their words still echo in my mind, fourteen years after they were first uttered. They said to me, “Son, just go in there and be yourself. Nothing more, nothing less.” And so I did. Like clockwork, I would go into my interviews wearing my best smile, sit opposite the interviewer and answer all the questions that came my way in the sincerest manner. I would find myself relaxed in my seat, and not as stressed as everybody kept telling me that I should be feeling when facing a potential employer. The fact that I wasn’t pressed to project an image, rather than my true self, helped me to concentrate on what was really important to the person asking the questions – honest answers, backed up by solid facts. And, while I didn’t always get the job, what I did get in return, every single time, was the appreciation of the person sitting across from me. For candour always earns you full marks in a conversation, whether it be a casual chat or an interview for a dream job. Some years down the road, I found myself at the other end of the table. Having progressed in my career, I was given the opportunity to screen potential new recruits and ask them certain questions, with a view to contributing to the final hiring decision. With a renewed sense of professional purpose, I set out to read all those fresh faces as effectively as possible. This time, I was the one asking all the questions, so I had to make sure that they were the right ones. What I was looking for, though, couldn’t be given to me in the form of spoken words. I was looking for signs of honesty, for those particular clues that attest to one’s genuine character. I was in search of sincerity, and I was successful in some instances, unlucky in others.
I have many friends that work in the HR departments of their organizations. This positions them at the forefront of the comings and goings of their firms’ human resources. As one of my friends aptly puts it, “I am the first person they see when they initially come in and the last one when they leave the company.” Talking to them over coffee regarding their role has often revealed some interesting facts. They have told me of candidates who have come into the interview glowing, aced every question, their answers and body language making promises of a bright future in the firm, and then they discovered some months down the road that these seeming hot shots were nothing more than slackers, looking to take the path of least resistance for a good salary cheque. They have also told me of others who were reluctantly hired as they didn’t tick all the boxes on the interview questionnaire but who then progressed through the ranks to become top performers in their organization. All that glitters is not gold, I guess, and vice versa. If you have an interview coming up, here are seven tips that stem from my friends’ experience in the HR field, to help you make the most of your time in the interviewee’s chair: 1. Keep it simple: When talking to the person sitting across from you, do so in a language that is easy to understand. Stick with vocabulary essentials – no need to use fancy words, with a view to impressing your interviewer. Engage in conversation as you would on any other occasion. Just don’t overdo it by thinking that you are in a coffee session with your best pals and let too much slang slip out!
2. Maintain eye contact (most of the
time): Looking your interviewer in the eye tells him/her that you are confident and assertive, while also being friendly and approachable. A balance, though, should be struck between maintaining eye contact and looking away, as too much of the former will give the wrong impression. Brief breaks and reconnections are essential in maintaining communicational chemistry with the person(s) in the room. 3. Dress for the occasion: A nice suit or dress will go a long way in creating that much-needed first impression that
starts you off on the right foot. Avoid a dress-to-impress mentality – after all, you are going to an interview, not to a beauty contest. Pick blue as your main colour, to appear confident, honest and reliable, and combine it with red as an accent colour, to highlight your assertiveness. 4. Do your homework: Study the particulars of the organization and the position for which you are applying before going in. Learn them inside-out. Go onto the company website and devour its content. You don’t want to be caught off-guard by being asked an inside question to which you have no answer. Letting prospective employers know that you have done your homework, shows them that you care about the position and you really want to be the one that gets the gig. 5. Don’t be late: Apart from being rude, if you arrive late for an interview, it shows people that you don’t really care whether you get the job or not. Prepare for the unexpected and leave home early, so that you allow enough time for any unforeseen incidents that may come into play. In the worst case scenario, you get there early, and you spend some time in the waiting room, flipping through business magazines on a very comfy sofa! 6. Ask questions back: Wait until the interviewer has no more questions for you, then reverse the roles and start asking him/ her things that are relevant to the position for which you are being interviewed. In this way, you take on a more active role in the whole process which, coupled with your pertinent initiative, will stand you in good stead to be perceived favourably as a candidate exhibiting a genuine interest in his/her potential role. 7. Be sincere in your answers: Whatever you are asked, always give a straight answer. Even if you think that, what you are saying may not be what the interviewer wants to hear, as it may lack spectacle or gravitas, tell it as it is – do not garnish your answers with anything extra over and above the truth. Exaggerations and false claims will backfire every single time.
Going for an interview is always taxing on the nerves. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Sufficient preparation, coupled with a sincere smile, can take the edge off the impending agony. Employers look for that one candidate who will make promises at the interview and deliver on the job. Nothing more, nothing less, as my parents taught me.
