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August 15, 2012
Mastering Your Interview
Nothing beats getting a call back for your dream job.
But to land that coveted gig, you first have to overcome the dreaded job interview.
Unfortunately, HR professionals say the most common mistake is interviewees wearing inappropriate attire, and 26 percent appear unprepared for their interview.
Other candidate errors include lacking basic company information, having negative body language, and not preparing questions to ask at the end.
Find out about the company’s cultural nuances before interviewing, says Kate Benson, president of Martens & Heads, an executive recruitment consultancy.
“This is what really makes or breaks success – short and long-term.” Find out what the company stands for, about the work environment and the company’s evolution to be better primed.
The bonus? Your research helps you to determine if the company is a good fit for you.
Another top tip: Don’t let one mistake throw off your game. Try calming techniques to help stay focused and relaxed.
Saying thank you after the interview is essential. It leaves a lasting impression on the interviewer and the extra effort emphasizes your determination.
Prepare yourself, relax and stay focused. Good luck!
Bonus PINK Link: Increase your interview odds with a rockin’ resume.
How’d you nail your last interview?
By Felicia Edlin
"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as much as I dream can I be.” Karen Ravn
*Supporting images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Michal Marcol and Ambro
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Comments
Why Won't They Hire Me?
I'm honestly tired of going to interviews. If I had a dollar or more for every time I go and don't get the job, I wouldn't be rich but I definitely would have a lot more money. I'm pursuing the singing/songwriter field of business, but since I am not with a particular company I have to work a 9-5 to (i.e.Admin, receptionist, clerical) support my music until I make it "big". When I do go to interviews, I'm not nervous, I just show my outgoing personality without going overboard or loosing my professionalism. I ask questions after interviews and nail the questions they ask me. Sometimes I wonder if is it because I'm black and have a lot of experience, but my name suggest otherwise? I say that because all the jobs I interview are all Caucasian and they have one black or none. I never been one to talk about race, because my husband is not black. That doesn't mean the world X color out since Obama. Its frustrating! Which is why I signed up for this site to seek professional guidance. I try to see and think outside of the box. I really don't want to go back to being a server ( waitress) since I did go to school for Medical Administrative Assistant. Please Help! I don't know what else to do?
Confidence
I nailed my last interview because I did my homework like I was studying for a final exam. I not only knew a lot about the company, but I worked to connect aspects of the company to my work experience. To show I can help move the department through to the next phase.
I read so much about the company that I KNEW they were moving to another phase. (wink)
Misinterpreted stat...
I thought that "40 % of interviewees wear innappropriate attire" seemed really high, so I looked at the research report.
The actual stat is: "HR respondents identified the following as the most common mistakes that an applicant can make during an interview: inappropriate attire (39.9%)"
So, this is the most common mistake you can make, not that 40% of interviewees actually do it...
Amended Stat
Noted with thanks. We have amended to reflect this.
Mastering Your Interview
I found the Mastering Your Interview article missed a key opportunity to discuss appropriate attire. Stating that "Unfortunately, 40 percent of interviewees wear inappropriate attire..." without any suggestions on what to wear and what not to wear did nothing to help women land their dream job. When throwing out common pitfalls, you should provide pointers on how to avoid them. Otherwise, the article is nothing more that trivia.