Short of meeting a prospective mate's parents, there is
nothing more burdened with agenda than the common job
interview. We assess and judge people all the time, but
nowhere is this quite as expected and accepted as when a
job is on the line. A minefield of potential traps awaits
' you might forget something important, say the wrong thing
at the wrong time, or you may remind the interviewer of his
least favorite cousin. Chances are you've come prepared '
still, sometimes the chemistry is just all wrong.
In that case it's time to flash a few tricks of the
interviewing trade that just might save your Curriculum
Vitae from the dumpster:
- Maintain eye contact. Doing otherwise is like a
confession that you're nervous, and you don't want to show
a crack in your armor, even when it's made of tin foil.
- Speaking of armor: that suit that fit you so well three
Thanksgiving's ago might just need some tailoring now.
Remember that interviewers will look for any sign that
might disqualify you from the competition. And unless your
supreme software development skills would keep you hidden
away in a lab with other super-geeks, your 'interesting'
tie-shirt-suit pattern interplay may signal a lack of
nonverbal awareness that could leave a major wrinkle in the
interviewer's perception of you.
- Get right to it. Chit-chat is dangerous when you're not
firing on all cylinders. Focus on what you can do for the
company right now, and worry about him liking you later.
- Ask good questions. It shows you are prepared, it
increases your chances of being perceived as assertive, and
that you want this job, not just a job.
- Anticipate the unexpected. Each interview is different,
and from trick questions to background checks that rival
Homeland Security's, you might want to prepare for
worst-case scenario. Better to have a reasonable response
to that skeleton in your closet than the look of a deer in
headlights.
- Muster a genuine smile. You don't have to be Tom Cruise
to pull it off; just make sure your eyes smile too and you
may be forgiven a hundred interview sins, even on a day
when you're guilty of them all.
- Beware the pitch of your voice. Take it down a notch and
speak a bit slower than you normally would. Too slow and
you'll sound clueless, but a bit measured will make you
sound thoughtful.
- Be deliberate with your answers. The interviewer has a
lot more practice at this than you and may ask questions
that are designed to gauge your reactions. Count on it,
actually.
- Mind your body language, always striving to appear
relaxed. Maintain solid posture and avoid fidgeting. And
above all else, don't forget to breathe.
- Say My Name, Say My Name, is not just a song by Destiny's
Child. It's also a reminder for you to call the interviewer
by his or her name a couple of times before you exit. For
one thing, it shows you know how to connect on a basic
level. And secondly, it's a universal sign of respect.
- Make sure your parting handshake is particularly warm and
firm. Too firm and you're trying too hard. Too soft and
you're out of your element. Mildly firm gets you invited
back.
Interviewing is a game, and your opponent is a pro who is
far less nervous than you are. But for every Goliath there
is a David, and this just might be your slingshot day if
you keep these things in mind. If you can overcome your
nerves and take command of your exterior countenance, that
sound you hear just might be you scraping by.
----------------------------------------------------
Harrison Monarth is a New York Times bestselling author and
speaker, and is the President of GuruMaker - School of
Professional Speaking, a communications consulting firm
that coaches Fortune 500 executives, political candidates
and entrepreneurs in the art of influence, presentation and
message development. To purchase your copy of Harrison's
recent book The Confident Speaker, go to
http://www.theconfidentspeaker.com .
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