When it comes to Interviewing, it is all in the Details...
We all know interviewing is nerve racking and the job market is still fierce! It is time to sweat the small stuff during an interview, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “The New Job Is in the Details” by Joan Lublin.
Numerous hiring managers are not considering candidates for hire due to the slightest interviewing mistakes, especially with the job market being so competitive with a 6-to-1 ratio of jobseekers-to-jobs.
There are many horror stories of interviews gone bad because either the candidate didn’t prepare, was careless, or just really nervous.
“Compared with two years ago, about 20% more candidates interviewed by our clients are not getting offers because of gaffes made due to their high anxiety,” says a president and chief executive officer of PrincetonOne in Lublin’s article.
Small interview errors are becoming more common. What are the best solutions for these small interview snafus? Prepare better for interviews and remember that minor things count. Below are a few danger zones where small slip ups can derail your chances:
Don’t push the fashion envelope in a job interview, a point some people do not take into consideration. In the article, a women wore a low cut dress that exposed cleavage and a tattoo. She was interviewing for a position at a small hospital in a conservative town. Needless to say, she did not get the position.
Attire, of course, is important in an interview. Make sure you look professional!
Where an interview involves a meal, do not order the most expensive item on the menu. Remember to say “please” and “thank you” to the server and host. Try and relax, listen, and participate in the conversation.
In Lublin's article, a VP of a technology and management consultancy remembers a candidate who jogged 12 blocks from a train station to the office of a client for an interview. “Overheated and soaked, he asked if the company had shower facilities that he might use before the interview started,” he stated. Nevertheless, the company lacked showers and wouldn’t reschedule the meeting.
This is a perfect example of not planning ahead. Make sure you arrive early which will allow you to mentally prep for the interview and practice deep breathing or dry sweaty palms.
Show enthusiasm in an interview, but there are limits. One candidate cited by Lublin waved his hands wildly during an interview knocking over a water bottle (thankfully it was sealed!), but later sent a coffee mug flying across the table! This nervous gesture can display a lack of confidence in your abilities. Make sure to keep it together.
Pay attention in the interview. Lublin tells of one candidate who mispronounced the interviewer's name four times, even after being corrected three times! It was probably a case of the nerves, but that candidate didn’t end of getting the position.
So to recap: Make sure you fully prepare for an interview. Recruiters and Hiring Managers expect a candidate to be able to describe their previous work history in detail. You’d be astonished how many people fumble when asked about their previous positions during an interview. Don’t be one of them! Make sure to refresh your memory by looking over your resume so you are fully prepared. You can utilize the work inventory form provided by Staffing Solutions, Inc. to help you. Ask us about this form today!
Remember: Your overall presentation sends a strong message of who you are!
posted by misenberg @ 7:05 AM
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