Do you know that “92% of US Adults fear Job Interviews”. But YOU need not Anymore!
9 Solid Interview techniques
Research has shown that the main fears experienced by job seekers attending a job interview are:
- Fear of Job Interview: While 92% of Americans said “at least one thing” about job interviews is stressful.
- Fear of being late: Workers in the South were more likely than those in the Midwest to choose “to be late for the interview” as their top fear (17%).
- Fear of making Poor Impression: Making “a poor first impression” during a job interview is the biggest fear of American workers aged 18 to 34, who are more likely than those aged 45 to 54 to say such (10%).
Keeping all these in mind, we present to you 9 Solid Easy Time-Tested Job Interview techniques for You! Reading these powerful and easy techniques. you will acquire game-changing knowledge for interviews namely as follow:
- How to get a Job?
- How to quit a Job getting a brand-new one?
- How to prepare for a Job Interview?
- Know the subtle nuances of “A Job Interview”.
- Plus, how to prepare the right answers?
- Positive Mental Preparation for “A Job Interview”
- Anticipate the probable questions you will be asked.
- Next, how to direct your interview to your strengths?
- Strike the right bargain without being deemed an impostor.
- Finally, knowing all these will make you love your interviews. Best of Luck!
“9 solid Easy Time-Tested Job Interview techniques to get a high paying Job.“
Once upon a time, I had this rather “Bindas Attractive Smart” close friend of mine.
She was a seasoned World War I veteran. She was the kind of person, who could walk right into the middle of any relationship like a cool summer breeze, and exit without a single scratch on her mind, body, and soul.
I was a great admirer of her both in terms of physical and mental assets. In one word, she was “Cool” as they say.
Post our MBA, we had those intense job interview sessions which she unfailingly cleared without much ado.
I begged and pleaded with her to tell me her mind-blowing miraculous trick as my interviews were going nowhere. “You imagine all of them naked and then your interview takes off.”
Aha! Pearls of Wisdom!
She said finally relenting, giving a novice like me pearls of rare worldly wisdom. It was a shocker though and it set me reflecting that it was a pretty gender-less-looking technique like Michael Jackson and pondered whether I could practice something as crude as that considering my gender barriers.
Anyway, I got very curious and when the next big MNC interview was over, I innocently asked her, “Did you do it to the Motu (the fat one), Did you do it to the Old tired snooty Hag? Did you do it to the sweet sixteen looking one? What about the good-looking Stud?” Did you undress mentally the innocent-looking one too?…
Resultant: She screamed at my warped mind… “Stop it…Please Stop it, …it did not work this time…I kind of liked the good-looking guy and we exchanged numbers, but my job interview was not OK”. My immature search for that elusive interview technique & strategy was nipped in the bud and vanished into the thin air.
Job Interviews give people jitters. It makes you sweat and nervous sometimes.
No wonder 92% of Americans say that at least one thing about job interviews is stressful.
The fact that you cannot anticipate what will be asked, make people sleep less and do some pretty weird things.
Interviews give some people jitters and sleepless nights…
The latest I heard was an Engineering student locking herself up in a bathroom protecting herself from the pains of a mock interview session on the campus.
Anyway, after all my interviews and talking to managers at the rate of 5-15 a day, I have come to a hopefully insightful stage in my life where I love interviews and we all need to love this poor thing called “A Job interview.”
In this write-up, I make an attempt to give my friends a few workable techniques and define why we need to reverse our thinking.
1. Reverse your thinking and attitude: “I love Job Interviews…Job Interview is a great place to talk.”
Let me start with what one of the greatest geniuses Einstein had to say about knowing – I do not know everything, but I do know where to find it if I need to use it. If Einstein did not know everything then, we can also afford not to know everything. All I am trying to tell you is that you will be measured by your capability to comprehend, apply and practice management and not how information-wise you are.
Any organization that picks people on superficial knowledge like quiz masters will definitely suffer in the long run and such selection is not my forte.
And finally remember, if you are not selected, it is for your own good, as you will have a horrible time post-joining if the fitment is not exact.
Interview Tip No. 1: Relax because, for heaven’s sake, even you cannot know everything!
2. Reverse your thinking & attitude: “Job Interview is an energizing great activity“
Second, normally anyone who talks about himself is loathed and termed as an egomaniac.
But, at the same, time every one of us likes to speak about ourselves when given an opportunity.
Just think for once, Interview is a venue where people are all geared to hear about you, your career, and your achievement meaning this is fun without the tag egomaniac unless you overdo it and kill your own interview.
“I love Interviews…A Job Interview is an energizing great activity... I get paid more for talking about myself.”
Probably, this is the only place in the world where we get paid more to talk about ourselves. Imagine what fun!
Interview Tip No. 2: Think that a Job interview is an energizing great activity. All people want is to know about you and pay you more if you do it right.
One insight I can share with you about senior professionals, achievers, is that they can coolly walk into any job interview anytime and walk away with the job. The sole reason is that they have the right soft skills for any interaction, and it also means that they love interviews or discussions.
3. Power your Interview: “I just love to achieve; I delivered before and will deliver this time.”
Normally people speak without much thinking about what they speak, thinking that it is the greatest pitch in the world to get a job. Well, we need to be a little bit specific here. I suggest a very old sales technique here which many have used and succeeded. To demonstrate, if you are a fresher, you will face questions like: Where did you do your summer project? It looks like a pretty harmless question but the right answer in the form of a power statement can mold your destiny. I am producing a few probable responses: First One, “I did my summers with HSBC Bank” OR
Alternatively, “I did my summers with HSBC Bank, a global banking major” OR
Third One, “I did my summers with HSBC Bank, a global banking major, and I bought in funds (deposit) of USD 5 million in two months as a part of direct sales team”.
If you have read the above options, the last answer is the best because it is a power statement that is likely to power your job interview positively.
Think of yourself as a product with attributes and benefits.
Then, keep a handy set of power statements on your achievements that are relevant and of use to your prospective employer.
This is likely to create a more positive impact than any other technique.
Here, you need to prepare a few statements of your past achievements and practice them out loud.
Interview Tip No. 3: Power your interview with plenty of power statements.
4. Control & Direct your Job Interview: “I love to talk about my Relevant Achievements and Strengths.”
Once, I was interviewing for a Senior Client Servicing (Sales & Marketing) Position for an MNC brand and the interviewed lady when asked about her achievements told me that she had won some prestigious international recipe contest.
Our conversation there veered toward recipes and the food quality in Kathmandu restaurants. My knowledge of recipes and the right place to eat was refreshed and blessed.
I did try to veer out of our recipe session and talk about branding. But she was relentless on recipes…Thanks to that lady.
But did she land the job? Hell…No. Now, we were not looking for a “Chef”.
The point I am making here is that you can direct and control the kind of discussion that will take place in your interview. Always mention achievements and experience that match the prospective employer’s list.
The employer, when giving you a chance to speak, is only wanting to know “With your past experience what can you do for us “.
Interview Tip No. 4: Do not direct your interview to irrelevant experience or weaknesses.
5. Take charge of the golden opportunities: “I love the questions you ask, I’m prepared.”
Most of the questions that are asked can be anticipated. These are the golden opportunities. Most interviews start off with a warm-up question like “Tell me about yourself”.
Personally, I love this question and I do come prepared with this one thoroughly.
The most likely next is also “What do you know about our company ?“. With websites online, you would be stupid enough not to be able to mesmerize your interviewer with how much you know about his company.
I literally had to stop one candidate and I admitted there are things that he knows more about my company than I do as an employee.
Then, I inquired how he managed to be so informed. ” Sir, I just copied the company website, did a cut-paste job into my computer, printed it out, and read it like a prayer every morning.”
Wow, we recruited him, and he performed well. Currently, he is in the US as a senior manager.
Importantly, if you are good in those first two minutes…. Only two minutes can decide your fate…
You can help your job interviewer decide positively on your candidature in two minutes like a Chinese noodle pack.
But if the job interviewer has a negative inkling about your candidature or has some doubts about your capabilities, then, the questions that are difficult will raise their heads.
One of my friends was asked about Municipality laws when he was being interviewed for the Head of Economics department post.
Later, we realized that the interview panel member who raised these questions was siding with another candidate through tacit understanding.
But this is an unlikely situation in most private sector job interviews. Below, I produce a set of questions that you need to prepare for in advance; basic yet the most important.
The Golden Opportunities….in a JOB Interview!
Always in an Interview, there are warm-up questions, anticipate and prepare. Here is a foolproof small list.
- Tell us about yourself.
- Tell us about your organization.
- What do you know about us?
- How do you fit the role?
- Why should we give you the job?
- What can you do for us?
- Why did you choose this career?
- Tell us how you motivate your team etc…
- How do you see yourself in the next 5 or 10 years?
- Tell us about one achievement in your life.
You can add to the list but keep it to basics and it does not need a Harvard Graduate to do so.
Here, I would like to share something very interesting. One of my clients in Mumbai had an 89-story complex project in Bandra. I was entrusted to interview engineers for the project from the Senior to Middle level.
After the warm-up sessions, I had to check their technical competence as civil engineers. One way was to ask basic questions on measurement which is a must-have skill in civil engineering.
Let me share a simple question, “How do we measure the volume of a Right Circular Cylinder?”
You will be surprised to know that at least 50 % failed to answer some of these basic technical questions.
Interview Tip No. 5: For God’s sake at least know the answer to these basic questions if you are serious about your job change.
6. Smile & Smile & Smile: A Happy Person is a successful person…
When I was a school kid studying in Class 10, our family friend (Mr. Mathur, a top-ranking IAS bureaucrat in Delhi) came to visit us. Mr. Mathur was on various boards of selection (Recruitment).
During the course of his visit, a young student, Carolina, also dropped by as she was my neighbor.
Carolina had topped a very reputed national university in Political Science master’s program that summer. Mr. Mathur congratulated Carolina on her excellent performance and enquired about her future plans.
The young woman proudly announced that she is an IAS aspirant. The young university topper left after conversing about how to prepare for IAS for some time. Post Carol’s departure, I asked Mr. Mathur what he thinks about Carolina’s chance of passing the IAS exam.
Mr. Mathur to my shock said “Nil…Zero”.
“A University Topper cannot get through the IAS Exam, …?” I asked Mr. Mathur.
An unhappy upset face is not right!
Mr. Mathur replied, ” I did not see her smile at all and she looks so arrogant “. True to Mr. Mathur’s prediction Carolina quit trying for IAS after three attempts … This was a lesson learned early in life for me.
Aha! Smiling is very important and a must!
- So, remember to enter the interview room with a smile, and keep on a pleasant smile. (that exudes confidence and not vain pride or ego)
- Do not smirk or give the irritated look even when irritated and never ever give the high and mighty look or your interview will be over in that fleeting second.
- And at the end of the job interview, bring in a sunshine smile and offer the most grateful “Thank You” that you can conjure like a magician…
Interview Tip No. 6: Smile, it does not cost you a penny, make the atmosphere happy and lively…
7. Be dressed for the occasion.
“92% of US Adults fear Job Interviews” but YOU need not Anymore!. This will guide you with 9 Easy steps to a positive Job Interview. All your fears will disappear. Read Now
Being Well Dressed means you mean Business.
Wear a tie if the culture demands it. Wear a suit if required. It shows that you are serious… and you mean business.
Job Interviewers always love a well-dressed interviewee.
It is going to be very negative as it will make you feel awkward and conscious of yourself all the time.
Check with friends if required if a particular dress is working.
Interview Tip No. 7: Dress properly and try out your attire in front of a mirror. Love yourself.
8. Economics of Demand and Supply…Create a sense of scarcity!
Now, let me tell you something about demand and supply and your attitude. An economist knows high supply, less demand, and low price. A recruiter also knows low supply, high demand, and high price.
Obviously, if you are an experienced professional, you know what I am talking about. One, what expectation do you quote? and two, how hard do you play, and is it worthwhile?
I am answering the first one first. Please quote a hike/expectation which is grounded in reality. Here, you can put in some research to find out the compensation levels in the organization that you plan to join.
And quite a realistic hike so that you at least make it to the next interview rounds. This will ensure that you are at least shortlisted for a second interview.
The Second one is more important, recruiting organizations are not too keen to recruit candidates who are ready to move anytime-anywhere-anyplace-any cost.
The reason is that you can do the same upon joining your new organization and you may be a non-performer in your present organization and so looking for a change.
You can quip something like this: ” I am not very keen on a change as I am happy with my current organization, but I am still exploring possibilities.” So, it is quite worth playing hard to get a little. But, don’t go overboard, though.
Interview Tip No. 8: You are only exploring possibilities…You are a scarce resource!
Insider tip: Recruiters love to steal good resources from their competitors… and post a statement like the one I gave you above, you might find that the recruiter might actively pursue you to change your mind.
“92% of US Adults fear Job Interviews” but YOU need not Anymore! This will guide you with 9 Easy steps to a positive Job Interview. All your fears will disappear. Read Now
9. Never be late or too early!
Interview Tip No. 9: A very important one. Be on time for your interview. Never ever be late.
Now that “You love Interviews …And you know the rules…You are going to be a confirmed winner”.
Cheers, and Best of Luck to your new journey in landing the next higher role.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alok Baruah is a Senior experienced Marketing Communications- Human Resources- Academic professional with wide, rich, and diverse experiences in Management, Entrepreneurship & Academics. Blogging is his passion and first love. Currently, Alok Baruah is a serial entrepreneur and owner of Campion A1. The author can be reached at: [email protected]
ABOUT CAMPION A1:
Established in 2010, Campion A1 is one of oldest tuition center in Tezpur. Over the past 14 years, Campion A1 has transformed the lives of hundreds of students in their pursuit of a better career.
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