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Job interviews in many organizations are getting sophisticated
these days. Psychological tests, role plays, and challenges
to one's "quick intelligence" and street smarts are often
part of the package. While it's impossible to anticipate everything
you may encounter, here are ten tips that will help you negotiate
the interview process successfully.-prepare.
- There's an important principle that will enable you to
be much more confident. It's called, "over-preparing". It
goes like this: Plan your strategy--your answers to all
the possible questions you may be asked or the challenges
that may be thrown at you- and then practice, practice,
practice. Role play and repeat your best responses until
they are completely natural, until they simply roll off
your tongue with the apparent spontaneity that comes only
with successive repetition.
- If your interview is resume-based (you've had to supply
a resume either before or concurrently), have the facts
of your stated objective, relevant experience, education,
etc. thoroughly memorized and mentally supported.
- As to your job objective, be clear on what you want, as
well as what you don't want. There's little room in the
job market for the applicant who's willing to take anything;
he or she will usually get nothing!
- If, for example, you've taken extra course work to qualify
for a particular position, license, or certification, tie
it into your narrative, e.g., " When I took my course work
for my CPA, I learned that ..." Build on your resume, but
don't refer directly to it (assuming the interviewer has
it in his or her possession); make sure the connections
are there, but do it subtly.
- You're almost certain to be hit with questions pertaining
to your strengths and weaknesses. Know your strengths and
emphasize those that relate specifically to the position
for which you're being considered. If, for example, you're
applying for a sales position, you might describe one of
your strengths (if it's true) as follows: "I've made a study
of personality types and I've learned to quickly type people
in terms of the kinds of approaches that might best attract
them." Be prepared, in this case, to back up your claim
if the interviewer suddenly asks: "What type would you say
I am?"
- Describe your weaknesses as strengths. This is tricky,
so let's think about why the question is asked. The interviewer
probably wants to learn several things about you with this
question, such as: whether or not you are arrogant ("I really
don't think I have any weaknesses"), whether you know yourself
("Well, I've never really thought about that".), and finally,
what you are doing to eliminate your weaknesses. Here are
two ways to answer this question so that you leave a positive
impression in the mind of the interviewer:-
1. Show that, in overcoming a weakness, you've learned.
2. Pick a weakness that is really a strength.
- So many people have been laid off through no fault of
their own in the past ten years that it's no longer a stigma
to have been fired--unless it was for justifiable cause
(e.g. you punched your boss). Answer directly, but without
a "charge" in your voice. Expressing your bitterness over
being let go tells the interviewer (rightly or wrongly)
that you can't accept the realities of modern free enterprise
-- that downsizing is acceptable and often necessary.
- This is a sleeper because, on the face of it, the question
doesn't seem to have much to do with the immediate interview.
Today, however, many organizations are looking for people
who DO have standards regarding their personal and professional
lives, who can articulate them clearly and concisely, and
who live by them. In this case, the briefer, the better.
"I delegate my weaknesses". "I don 't take on projects unless
I can give them 100% commitment." "I respond in specifics
and avoid meaningless generalities." "I am committed to
life-long learning and growth."
- The applicant who will take anything offered is unlikely
to win any but the most temporary of positions. A competent
interviewer (there are some) will respect your efforts to
assess the organization and the position in terms of whether
or not it meets YOUR requirements. And you owe it to yourself
to have defined before hand, what you ideally want and what
you are willing to settle for, under certain conditions.
For example, you might really want a salary of $75,000 to
begin with, but you'd be willing to take less if the opportunities
for growth are clearly in the picture.
- Don't allow yourself to be badgered by the salary issue.
Even today, it's still not uncommon to hear the old refrain:
"Our policy is not to pay a new employee more than X% higher
than he/she is currently making." Sorry, that doesn't fly.
The real issue, and the only one at stake here, is whether
or not your prospective employer is willing to pay WHAT
YOU ARE WORTH. And, your worth is a function of the job
itself and your capability and willingness to perform it.
In most organizations, there are clear parameters for a
given job, a range of salary that is adjustable depending
upon the market and the applicant's experience. In most
cases, unless you are very good, you will have to work within
those limits. But, within the limits, what you are worth
is a matter of mutual agreement based on you're own knowledge
of your worth and your ability to convince those interviewing
you. So, to sum it up: Know the range of compensation for
the job you're seeking, make your own realistic determination
of what you're worth, and then be prepared to stand your
ground.
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