Career Advice: How To Manage A Job Interview For Maximum Impact

You can take full advantage of your job interviews by planning and preparing every step of the proces

First of all, be aware of the six criteria by which most interviewers will rate your interview skills and qualifications for the job.

1. Personal impression you make: neatness in dress and manner; self-confidence; and maturity.

2. Preparation for the interview: knowledge about the business of the potential employer; list of questions to ask the interviewer.

3. Communication skills, written and oral.

4. Attitude: enthusiasm, sincerity and interest in the opportunity.

5. Competence: education and experience.

6. Personal chemistry: suitability and "fit" with the culture of the organization.

By way of preparation, learn as much as you can about the kind of interviews the company usually conducts. Are they formal or informal? Are they deliberately stressful? Should you expect "tricky" questions? How long do the sessions last? Are you likely to be interviewed by more than one person?

Get a fix on the people who will be conducting the interview. You can review the history of the company and its current activities as reported in the news media to develop this kind of information. Seek out others who have been interviewed by the company, as well as those who work there or do business with the firm.

What is the environment like? How do people dress?

Use Negative Thinking In Your Planning

Negative thinking has an important role to play. Ask yourself what could ruin your chance to get the job?

1. Being late for the appointment.

2. Making a negative physical appearance in dress, neatness and posture; reflecting low energy or a lackadaisical attitude.

3. Informal and overly familiar behavior; trying to be humorous.

4. Letting attention and eye contact wander.

5. Being unprepared, indifferent and unresponsive.

6. Telling of life experiences that don't relate to the opportunity and dropping names.

7. Being overly concern with benefits and compensation.

8. Talking too much; interrupting; not listening.

9. Being evasive; not being able to explain voids in career history.

10. Criticizing past employers.

11. Failing to ask intelligent questions about the job.

12. Being overconfident or under confident.

Interviewing Is A Two-Way Process

Be guided that interviewing is like any other form of communications process. It's two-way: sending and receiving messages. It is unfortunate that many people spend too much time sending and too little time listening.

Here are five tips that will help you improve your listening skills:

1. Be aware that waiting your turn to speak is not listening.

2. Concentrate all of your attention on what the interviewer is saying. Listen to the words as well as the spaces of silence.

3. Assure the interviewer you are interested and that you are listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding your head and occasionally acknowledging you understand.

4. Concentrate on the facts. Collect them carefully. Take notes. Don't get diverted by looking for hidden meanings. You'll have time to analyze what you hear and see later.

5. Don't let the interviewer's mannerisms and personal appearance sidetrack you. Ignore statements that are biased or irritating.


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To get more common sense career advice on how to advance your career during tough times, sign up at http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com for a free subscription to Ramon Greenwood's widely read e-newsletter and participate in his blog. He coaches from a successful career as Senior VP at American Express, author of career-related books, and a senior executive/consultant in Fortune 500 companies.