|
5 Tips To Rescue a Sinking Interview
by Nathan Newberger
This http://www.WorkTree.com career article by Nathan Newberger gives job
seekers some important pointers to save a sinking interview.
You're 10 minutes late, you spilled coffee on your shirt, and your
ice breaking joke only created an awkward silence. You say to
yourself, "I am doomed," and give up before the interview has even
started. Confidence, charm, and honesty can still salvage this train-
wreck of an interview. Instead of getting beaten by bad luck, take a
deep breath, relax, and smile.
This month's newsletter addresses 5 methods for turning an interview
around. So don't panic, there is still hope.
These following topics will be covered:
1. Be Upfront
2. Ask Questions
3. Get Feedback
4. Try Flattery
5. Move On
5 TIPS TO RESCUE A SINKING INTERVIEW!
1. BE UPFRONT
The last thing an interviewer wants to hear is a list of excuses he
has heard a thousand times before. Trying to cover your tracks like
this is just a waste of breath and could potentially insult your
interviewer's intelligence.
Take a different approach. Replace a list of excuses with the
following sequence of events.
- Identify the Problem First - tell the interviewer about the
mistake before he can address it.
- Admit fault - apologize for the problem and recognize your
shortcomings as the cause.
- Explain Typical Behavior - let the interview know that mistakes,
like being late, are freak occurrences and that you normally don't
make them.
2. ASK QUESTIONS
Occasionally, you may start to feel uncomfortable during an
interview. If you do not manage to regain composure, the interview
will only go downhill. Taking focus away from you buys time.
Sometimes turning the tables can also turn the interview around.
Asking questions will force the interviewer to talk and possibly
mention characteristics he is looking for. In keeping questions as a
back up plan, be sure to:
- Prepare - come up with some questions ahead of time and make sure
they are appropriate to the particular company and position.
- Pay Attention - don't just ask a question and then zone out as you
regroup. The interviewer could be giving you valuable information
or ask you a question in response.
3. GET FEEDBACK
One easy way to lose your cool is to get halfway through answering a
question only to discover that the interviewer is bored beyond
belief. There is no need to be scared…yet. This is another place
where questions can help.
Instead of using questions to get comfortable, use questions to get
information. Your response may not be answering the right question,
the question may have been unclear, or you may be spouting an
incoherent nonsense. If you are caught in this situation:
- Stop - Do not be afraid to break mid-answer to ask a clarification
question.
- Be Direct - if clarification does not put you at ease, ask the
interviewer if he has any concerns about you as a candidate for the
position.
4. TRY FLATTERY
A good mood is contagious. If you can get the interviewer into a
happier state of mind, you may manage to give the mood of the entire
interview a boost. Plus, nobody minds the occasional compliment.
Whether it's a nice word about the company, the office, or the
culture, a compliment can go a long way in a rough interview.
Choosing which compliments to pay, however, is not a simple task.
Take to heart these suggestions before you start dropping kind words:
- Show Preparation - consider paying a compliment that shows you
have done research on the company, such as commenting on a shift in
strategy or other recent business decision.
- Be sincere - a compliment has the ability to make you appear to be
an upbeat person; do not let a poor attitude offset that.
- Don't Push It - compliments should not be too numerous, too
personal, or too emphatic; eventually an interviewer will see
through your ploy.
5. MOVE ON
Sometimes you can be fully qualified, answer every question
perfectly, and make all the right decisions, but still get a cold
shoulder from an interviewer. At these times, you have to remember:
it's not your fault.
No matter how confident and qualified you are, you are not in
complete control of the interview. You have bad days from time to
time. Interviewers can have bad days too, and that can affect your
interview. It's not fair, but it's the truth. An interview could be
going badly due to no fault of your own.
This is when your best bet is to just keep trying and move on.
Maintain your composure and continue with the interview as if nothing
is wrong. You may be able to pull the interviewer out of his rut; at
the very least, you will still appear confident and professional.
That never hurts.
CONCLUSION
You win some and you lose some, not every interview will be flawless.
Learning to stop an interview from being a disaster can put you far
ahead of the competition. So the next time you are in an interview,
remember: if it feels like things can't get any worse, it means
things can get better.
This article can be read online and shared with others directly at:
http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/tips-to-rescue-a-sinking-interview.html
Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger,
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.com
"Helping You Find More Jobs Faster"
WorkTree Success Story
"Worktree is a powerful tool, I have found lots of "data" here and it
has been a valuable asset in my job search. Thanks for being there
for me and for the service you provide, it has been an investment
well spent." .....Randy K.
 E-Mail This Article To A Friend!
About The Author
Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at http://www.WorkTree.com Nathan has over 10 years
experience in staffing and human resources. He has worked both as a recruiter and career counselor.
Mr. Newberger has been the Managing Editor at http://www.WorkTree.com for the past 5 years and his
articles have helped thousands of job seekers.
Re-Print Guidelines
Permission is granted to reproduce any of these articles but the article content CANNOT be altered and credit must be
given to the author and also an active link to http://www.WorkTree.com.
As a courtesy, please email Nathan at support@worktree.com if you decide to use any of his articles.
|
|