Interview....
- Thread starter GT-Steve
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Nicest bit of advice I ever had was to email the person interviewing you shortly after the event to thank them for their time and say how interesting you found the company/job description etc. It not only shows you to be courteous and interested, but can help pop your name back into mind after a long day of interviews.
Probably doesn't work well in large corporations where a minion from HR interviews you against a criteria check list, but for interviews for smaller companies and/or with heads of department/managers, people who you will be directly reporting to, I think it is a nice touch.
The only other thing is confidence in your abilities to do the job.
Good luck!
Probably doesn't work well in large corporations where a minion from HR interviews you against a criteria check list, but for interviews for smaller companies and/or with heads of department/managers, people who you will be directly reporting to, I think it is a nice touch.
The only other thing is confidence in your abilities to do the job.
Good luck!
GT-Steve":24a11dlc said:David B":24a11dlc said:
Or worse still, it could've been a bloke rubbing a lump, under the table, in front of you..
Hmm. Actually, there's a vital interview tip - avoid making a bad impression and resist the temptation to indulge in a few frames of "pocket billiards" whilst in an interview.
David
stevec1975
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Perhaps try a 'few wee dabs' a la Spud from trainspotting?!
Oddly enough, I've had interviews that I didn't feel went well - and been offered the job(s), and interviews that I thought went very well, but I didn't.
Preparation and effort are still important, I feel, even in this day and age. Research and actually showing you've got interest and have made some effort.
As you've experienced, there are people who aren't very good at it, don't want to be doing it, perhaps are only going through the motions. But then there's something of a true-ism, there - many in work situations are put in positions they're ill-equipped for - or perhaps really don't want to be doing - yet it's dumped on them, and sometimes the just-in-time training / coaching / mentoring isn't just-in-time or anywhere sufficient- or perhaps totally non-existent.
Reading books on technique and body language can be helpful - it can help you appear at your best, as well as helping you read the situation.
I always think of an interview as a two-way thing - an opportuinity for them to find out about you, and you to sell yourself to them - and the reverse, and opportuinity for you to find out about them and for them to sell themselves, too. I always think that the psychology of the situation is probably best for you if you can maintain the perspective of it being just as important for them to sell the position to you too (even if it's not fully true - even if you'd snap their hands off for the job, or you just really need it).
Good interviewers try to have more of a conversation with you - to keep some flow going without it being / seeming artificial - so be aware of that, in how you respond - if you feel that they are having to go back to an agenda or list of questions, it may be they're not very good at it, or it may be that the interview isn't going to well, and perhaps you're not providing enough for them to tease out more things as it progresses.
In contrast, some interviews are very structured - the quandrant type assesments, and similar things, where their process requires much more of a recipe to follow. Remember in those situations, what they're looking for isn't how perfect you are, they are looking for all aspects - self-realisation, things you do well, but more importantly, things you don't do well, or could improve on - they may well want to see / understand how you deal with that, and how you respond to need to improve or develop something.
One other thing - when it comes to questions - ask some - even if there's not that much you don't know or understand about the job - ask them things that are a little challenging - in the same way as you'd not expect them to try simply stump you, don't do that - but ask them things like "What makes this a great place to work?" "What would you say to somebody to persuade them to work here?" "What do you like most about your job?" "What do you like least about your job?" - things like that help the psychology of the situation (more for you than them) but also, can be very revealling.
Personally, when I've being interviewed for a job I'd consider, I'd want to know what the interviewer thought about working there - why I should want to, and maybe some of the downsides.
Preparation and effort are still important, I feel, even in this day and age. Research and actually showing you've got interest and have made some effort.
As you've experienced, there are people who aren't very good at it, don't want to be doing it, perhaps are only going through the motions. But then there's something of a true-ism, there - many in work situations are put in positions they're ill-equipped for - or perhaps really don't want to be doing - yet it's dumped on them, and sometimes the just-in-time training / coaching / mentoring isn't just-in-time or anywhere sufficient- or perhaps totally non-existent.
Reading books on technique and body language can be helpful - it can help you appear at your best, as well as helping you read the situation.
I always think of an interview as a two-way thing - an opportuinity for them to find out about you, and you to sell yourself to them - and the reverse, and opportuinity for you to find out about them and for them to sell themselves, too. I always think that the psychology of the situation is probably best for you if you can maintain the perspective of it being just as important for them to sell the position to you too (even if it's not fully true - even if you'd snap their hands off for the job, or you just really need it).
Good interviewers try to have more of a conversation with you - to keep some flow going without it being / seeming artificial - so be aware of that, in how you respond - if you feel that they are having to go back to an agenda or list of questions, it may be they're not very good at it, or it may be that the interview isn't going to well, and perhaps you're not providing enough for them to tease out more things as it progresses.
In contrast, some interviews are very structured - the quandrant type assesments, and similar things, where their process requires much more of a recipe to follow. Remember in those situations, what they're looking for isn't how perfect you are, they are looking for all aspects - self-realisation, things you do well, but more importantly, things you don't do well, or could improve on - they may well want to see / understand how you deal with that, and how you respond to need to improve or develop something.
One other thing - when it comes to questions - ask some - even if there's not that much you don't know or understand about the job - ask them things that are a little challenging - in the same way as you'd not expect them to try simply stump you, don't do that - but ask them things like "What makes this a great place to work?" "What would you say to somebody to persuade them to work here?" "What do you like most about your job?" "What do you like least about your job?" - things like that help the psychology of the situation (more for you than them) but also, can be very revealling.
Personally, when I've being interviewed for a job I'd consider, I'd want to know what the interviewer thought about working there - why I should want to, and maybe some of the downsides.
JeRkY":1sz18p6k said:
And oddly when I interview people I hate when people do this.
The worst one was a guy who left a greetings card at the front desk on the way out, and even worse it had a message saying that if we didn't give him the post he could understand completely.
He didn't.
Neil":22xkdlqz said:
Good point there - the interview's just as much about weighing up a prospective employer. What might seem a brilliant opportunity in the advert could turn out to be a load of rubbish if the firm's facilities aren't up to scratch or you find that you wouldn't work well with possible future colleagues.
David
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GT-Steve":2stjdldw said:....Well, what a stark contrast to Wednesday's interview.
Really nice guy, really great looking company to be apart of..
I'm really excited, I hope it goes my way..
Hope you get it
sylus
Old School Grand Master
Have some knowledge of the company and their products and why you think you would be a good addition to their "team"
Be freindly and approachable but not too much in your face suck up bum lick type
and remember, the most important way to relax...either way you're gonna end up with a beer in your hand at the end of the day
and I hope Steve the interview you went for works out chap
Be freindly and approachable but not too much in your face suck up bum lick type
and remember, the most important way to relax...either way you're gonna end up with a beer in your hand at the end of the day
and I hope Steve the interview you went for works out chap
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