If asked to make a list of the most unpleasant things for us, most of us would put the job interview close to things like having to have your wisdom tooth removed. Having to discuss our merits with a potential boss is not a lot of fun, especially since we are always afraid that we might go wrong. However, if we follow certain basic rules, we can avoid much of the anxiety that comes with finding a job.
Here are some guidelines to help you get to that challenging position, remember: what has been said "… treasure wisdom within your bosom,….. but if you are prepared, you will not fear."
Write a good resume
There is no mystery about resumes, experts have written a lot about this topic, so go to a library and read some books that can guide you. Write a page or two and make your resume look neat and clean by using wide margins and plenty of white space.
Don't be over the top
Do not hurry with your mouth or your heart rush
Avoid standing out from the crowd by adopting an overly individualistic attitude, eccentric tactics for attracting attention are generally unaffected. For example: an ill-advised applicant sent her resume to a publicity agency along with a photo of her dressed as a superman: of course she couldn't fly. Another applicant eager to get the position sent her resume to the president of the company and then cornered her at the door of her private residence to find out if she had received it. The President had not only received him but was also furious with her for disturbing him at home. There is only one way to stand out from the rest: Being Systematic and Professional.
Always send original copies
Nothing irritates people doing an interview more than receiving a standard letter with their name written above; They think that you must have applied to all the companies in the city. Of course there is no reason why you cannot do it. Several years ago when teacher jobs were scarce near mid-March (by that time most teaching positions are filled) an ambitious teacher typed a letter and her resume a hundred times and sent them to almost every private school in the city. Since she sent only original letters, each of those schools thought she had a special interest in them.
The result: while ten did not answer eighty-one answered that they had no vacancies, the other nine called her to interview her. The teacher got three offers to work while other much more experienced teachers were queuing up in the ranks of the unemployed.
Investigate
Research must be oriented according to the position sought, the type of machines or tools, computer systems, type of telephone exchange, knowledge of the products produced, etc. are very important data at the time of taking person. Find and read everything that has been published about the company in newspapers and magazines.
If possible ask the advertising or public relations department to provide you with the latest brochures that have been edited. Then when the person doing the interview mentions a topic, you will be able to say quickly, for example: “Yes, I have read about this in… Don't Forget This Rule is one of the Most Important.
Dress like you would at work
The choice of clothing will depend on whether you are going to apply for a job in a restaurant, a bank, a store, or a factory. But when you apply for a job in a company, it is best to wear a suit or jacket and tie, skirt and blazer or a simple dress. It is also convenient to carry a small portfolio that will avoid rummaging through our pockets or wallet for ten minutes to find a piece of information, our CV or anything else. Although you have already sent your CV, it is always good to carry a few more copies.
Use gestures
From a recent study, the interviewer usually decides whether or not the applicant will have the job in the First Four Minutes of the Interview. Therefore use gestures to create a good initial impression.
Act positively, joyfully and confidently. Come in and shake hands warmly. Sit close to the person who is going to interview you. Avoid nervous habits such as nail biting or playing with hair. Sit up straight and take an interest in what they are talking about. Talk looking into the other person's eyes.
Don't be insecure
Be polite, but not shy, either, don't stare, or stand until the person interviewing you sits down first. Also don't speak in a whisper or be afraid to ask a question. Feel Safe and Pass it on.
But don't be too jovial either
There is a very narrow line between being too correct and being too familiar. Humor and jokes can be the best way to miss out on a great job opportunity.
Have a conversation repertoire
While some people who do the interviews are strictly professional, others like to chat. Be prepared to talk about current issues, such as economic crises or the current state of the market, and also base your opinions on real events.
Also don't let casual questions like "What are your hobbies?" catch him off guard. An avid reader was so stunned when his interviewer asked him what books he had read lately, that he couldn't remember a single title. Be attentive and ready to answer, it is your opportunity to "Shine".
Be prepared to answer these questions
Could you tell me something about yourself? "This is your opportunity. You can start by relating your professional and cultural background to your interlocutor, then mention your special skills and qualities.
To highlight which of these talents you possess, ask yourself what are the things that others praise about you. Is your balance in moments of tension? His brilliant deductions? Is his workplace impeccably organized? If these qualities make him stand out from others, talk about them.
The way in which you answer the questions that begin with "Why?" Indicates to your interlocutor how you think and communicate your ideas. Why did you choose this job? Why do you want to work for our company. Why did you leave school or university? Why did you quit your job after only six months? Be prepared to inform the decisions you made.
What are your worst flaws? Never say "I don't have any" or "I have so many that I wouldn't know where to start." This difficult question deserves a skillful answer; Relate an experience with a mistake that you have had recently and tell how you got ahead and how this will not affect your work in this company, how you got ahead, it is what interests you the most, for example; “I used to have so much work that I had to stay in the office until ten o'clock at night, but I am taking a course on time management and now I use my time more effectively”, or also, “I hate having to type long lists of numbers. That was my problem in a previous job (in which I had to type statistics) that is the reason why I am applying for a position for sale to the public.
Be alert for intentional breaks
Be careful of questions that don't really seem like questions, such as "The Intentional Pause." Some interlocutors may simply stare silently after you have answered a question, waiting for something else to be told. If you do not want to continue talking, turn your attention to another topic asking such questions as: What happened to the last person who held this position?
Be cautious
No matter how understanding your interviewer may seem: don't tell him about all your personal problems, past failures, or problems in other jobs. Comments like: "We all have problems at some time", may very well be a technique to try to discover its weak points. Be Discreet.
Never speak ill of your previous employer
Even if you don't like your current job at all, try to speak positively about it. Say for example: “I want to find a job where I can have more responsibility. But don't say: I quit because old Fernández treated me like a slave.
Be realistic about salary
Never ask what the Salary or fringe benefits are as soon as the interview begins. Eventually the person who interviews you will tell you how much they are going to pay you or what is the salary you are seeking. Try to value yourself within the market figures. Many of the aspects of a certain job (opportunity to gain experience, distance from home, promotion, training, etc.) can be as important as the salary paid. A case to consider:
A young designer was hired to work as an administrative employee. Six months later her Boss put her in charge of a six-person team and asked her to design a complete sports wardrobe for the fall season. The young woman was furious, they had given her all that extra responsibility and they were paying her the same. "I'm going to ask him to double my salary or I'll quit." One day she yelled at another more experienced designer. Luckily this companion convinced her to stay a few months and gain the precious experience. After this you could earn a much higher salary.
Do not lie
If you were fired from a job where you only worked for a month or two, you may not put it on your resume. But if you were fired from a Job you were interested in mentioning. Be honest. Interviewers will generally consult with previous employers. If they discover that you lied, they will consider you untrustworthy and could fire you even after taking it.
Interview the interviewer
An interview should not be one-sided. To find out if you really want the job ask questions. Ask what happened to the person who previously held that position, if they were promoted to a better position, or if it is a new position, it means that there are possibilities of progress. If the previous person left the job, you can ask why? Make sure your questions convey your wishes and interests.
End the interview in a pleasant way
Don't linger at the door, trying to find one last reason why you should get that job. Also, don't show up in the office after you've left to say, “Oh, I forgot there's something else to…”, if you remember something you should have mentioned, write it down and leave the note the next day for the person who was your interviewer.
Send a thank you note
Most people don't, so that would make you stand out from the crowd. Thank the person who interviewed you for your time and comment again on how interested you are in getting that job.
Keep looking permanently
Don't walk around your house waiting for the phone to ring. The accumulated anxiety will consume all your energy for the search. Even after receiving a verbal agreement, if you have a chance keep looking, go to other interviews.
A young lady thought that she had finally been hired for a junior secretary job in a medium-sized company. When she went to do (as she understood) the incorporation papers, she found out that she would be interviewed again, this time by the CEO.
If you don't get the job, don't blame yourself
It may not be your fault. A serious study carried out by an Occupational Psychology Company found that getting a job or not depends largely on how the person who interviewed "fell" on it. Maybe you will remind him of his worst enemy, or an old girlfriend. Or it could also happen that this position was for the grandson of the Company Director.
So if you couldn't get the position you wanted, take the classified ads again and start again. There will always be another opportunity to get a decent job, perhaps better than the last opportunity you missed.
And with the experience you have in interviews, you will surely get it, the logical desperation for lack of employment is not a good counselor.
In the following webinar, Professor José Díaz Canseco presents the keys to face a job interview, answering, among others, the following questions: What are the guidelines to be followed to be chosen? How do we do a good interview based on the profile of the interviewer? And how do we prepare?
