Have you ever made any of these interview mistakes?

The folks from Stevens Henager College sent us over this infographic that they put together on the Top 10 Job Interview mistakes.

On first read you might think that you’d never do any of these things…but many are pitfalls that are quite easy to fall into.

We thought well worth sharing with you. Good to think about if you’re headed out to an interview.

interview_top10_shc

 

If you ever have or do – don’t despair!

Career Tip To Go: Learn from the experience and just be that little bit more prepared next time!

Just to let you know – we don’t have any affiliation with Stevens Henager – but we’re happy to share thoughtful work.

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11 types of job interviews and how to survive them

She's come preparedby Alice Young

If you’re looking for a new job, your first job, or a change in career, chances are you will be “subject to” a selection process.

I use the term “subject to” deliberately, as when you’re experiencing it, more often than not it feels like it’s being “done to you”.

And yes, there is a War for Talent going on, and yes that should mean that every company is focused on hiring great people (just like you), and should have thought long and hard about their selection process and whether it is fit for purpose.  But unfortunately so many companies get this WRONG.

So what might you face if you’re looking for a job, and what can you do to get through it?

The Agency Recruitment Interview

Many companies use external recruiters rather than doing their recruitment themselves.  For you as an applicant this can be an issue as many recruiters are sales-people rather than “talent attraction specialists”, and so it can be difficult to even get to an interview.  And if you do get one, you may be surprised by the lack of knowledge the recruiter has of a job that you’ve either been doing for years and know inside-out, or have done all the research on and been working towards in your career (and know inside-out).

Tip for surviving: own the interview.

Take the recruiter through why you’re appropriate for the role.  Ask at the end whether there’s any extra information that they need.  Ask how you rate against the other applicants they’ve seen and whether there’s any reason you wouldn’t be put forward to their client.  Follow up two days later.  If you want the job, also use your networks to ensure that the hiring manager knows that you’ve applied, and see if you can get recommended to them directly.  Don’t sideline the recruiter, but use your networks in parallel to the recruiter process.

Fortune favors the brave so don’t be shy!

The Behavioral Interview

The acknowledged favorite of the in-house recruitment team, is the “behavioral interview”.  This is based around questions formulated so that you the interviewee provide examples of what you have done in your career to-date.  The premise is that the past dictates the future and questions are centered around the SBI model – situation, behavior, impact.

Tip for surviving: this is a formula, so practice it.

It’s actually quite helpful for your interview preparation (even if the interview isn’t behavioral) to think along the SBI lines as you will find you have to remember what the outcome of your inputs’ was (which it’s easy to forget to relay when you’re nervous and in the throes of an interview).  For you it will feel a formulaic experience, and somewhat stifled, but go with it.

The Circles of Hell

Yes this analogy is relevant, because you need the patience of a saint and the resilience of a marathon runner to survive this one.  This is the process where you are interviewed no less than 3 times and maybe up to 7; followed by some sort of test; followed by reference checks, oh and then they tell you they’ll pay $20k less than your last role, right at the end!

Tip for surviving: decide if you want to.

These companies claim they’re being thorough, but if they can’t make a hiring decision in less than X meetings, how do they get any business done?  Life’s too short for this sort of “rigor”, unless of course you’re rigorous too 🙂

The Fireside Chat

This one often feels easier than the others, because it’s just a chat right?  Like we’re buddies, aren’t we?  We’ll meet informally and have a coffee, and you can tell me a bit about you and we’ll talk through the job etc

Tip for surviving: don’t believe this isn’t an assessment, it is, it’s just a sneaky, unstructured, and off-piste, assessment.

And it’s off-putting, because it feels a bit rude to go into “interview mode” doesn’t it?  So reframe the situation for yourself by considering what it is that this manager needs this role to do.  And talk to that.  Demonstrate how you can make life easy for them.  Make their pain disappear and the job will be yours.

The Panel Interview

Commonly used in organizations that want to demonstrate that they’re unbiased i.e. government, panel interviews can be intimidating.  Sitting across a table being eyeballed by three or four strangers, it just feels pretty scary doesn’t it?

Tip for surviving: When a question is asked, smile and look at each interviewer before responding to and maintaining eye contact with the person that asked the question.  When you are finished, smile again and look at each interviewer again.  The point here is to include everyone with your body language, even though you have one point of focus in answering the question.  Caution – don’t go overboard with looking around, do it in a measured way (or else you might look a bit unbalanced!).

The Storytelling Interview

For me this is one of the trickiest interviews – usually this interviewer has been with the company for a while and has had little interview training.  Consequently, they use up 60 – 80% of the interview telling you anecdotes, stories, information (if you’re lucky).

Tip for surviving: concentrate on this interviewer’s drivers which are usually their passion for the company and the role.  Politely interrupt just as they’ve finished a story with: “That really resonates, when I was at ……”.  Tell a story of your own that shows you at your best and how you can contribute in this role.  Do this often and don’t feel guilty about it.  Remember, this interview is for you to relay information about you and your experience.

The Internal Interview

This one is tough because you know everyone.  And they know you.  So there’s no room for those little white lies about how brilliant you are.  And your mind starts playing games that they know all your inadequacies, your “development areas”.

Tip for surviving: approach it like it is an external interview and give examples, because unless they’ve been doing your job, they don’t know you.  And remember you have the advantage over external applicants because you know how the systems work, how to navigate the internal politics, are already passionate about the company so why wouldn’t you get the job?

Believe in yourself!

The Assessment Day

Usually used by companies who are hiring multiple roles, these test your substantive skill-set plus your resilience, intelligence, and social skills all over the course of a half or full day.

Tip for surviving: concentrate, and be yourself.

Yes it can be intimidating being in a room of 100 people knowing 10 are going to get “the job”, but focus on what it is you’re being asked to do and deliver to that.  And don’t forget, that your “social” skills will be being assessed at all times, so engage with those around you (unless that really isn’t you, in which case this job probably isn’t either).  Even if you don’t get an offer, you’ll learn something from the process.

The redundant TEST as final stage

This generally happens more the further up the career ladder you go.  Interviewing for a CEO job and they want to test your excel skills – really, really?

Tip for surviving: take a breath and go with it.  Get the job and change the tests!

The free work trial

This is commonly used in America and is a bit cheeky as they get a day’s labor for free; you have to demonstrate how you operate.

Tip for surviving: approach it as a learning experience – you don’t need to know everything, but you do have to show that you know enough, and how you’d go about working through the stuff that you don’t know.  As an experience it might also give you enough information to realize you don’t want to work there!  Try before you buy.

The really, really disorganized process

Who hasn’t been through one of these?  You’re all excited about the job, you get the interview, you ace it, the company loves you, they want to move you to the next stage in the process and then you get THE CALL.  The call that says: a) the hiring manager’s gone on holiday for a month, b) the budget’s been cut but they’ll be hiring again soon so they hope you’ll still be available, c) the new ……… has decided that they need ……… (insert random skill-set that has nothing to do with the job), d) they know they told you that this was the end of the process, but they’ve just decided that they need you to meet with another 2 people/ do a test/ walk to the moon (delete as appropriate).

Tip for surviving: disappointing as it may feel, cut and run.

Their lack of organization is their loss as you can’t hang around, there’s a war for talent going on out there and you are a highly sought after commodity.  Next.

Of course this doesn’t cover every interview type out there, but the above are standard selection processes that you are likely to experience at different stages in your career.

So the final “killer tip” for maintaining your sanity as you go through this process, is not to forget that this is a two-way street and that you are selecting the company just as much as they are selecting you.  I’d encourage you to only put your fantastic skills and personality to use in a company that feels like home, that shares your values and where you feel you can achieve a balance between what you give and what you get.

And remember, sometimes it is good luck not to get “the job” (even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time!).

Happy searching!

 

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11 Tips to Prepare for a Job Interview

By Nicole Cameron

A job interview is the time to shine and let your prospective employer know what you are capable of.

A job interview is the time to shine and let your prospective employer know what you are capable of.

Finding a new job can be stressful, but also very exciting.

A fresh start and a new opportunity to learn and deliver.

If you are at the interview stage, you have passed the hardest part- getting the interview in the first place.

The interview itself is the time to shine and let your prospective employer know exactly what you are capable of.

Here’s some tips to help:

1. Dress for the occasion.

If you are going to an office job/ corporate interview, look the part. A smart suit, appropriate length with neat hair and day appropriate make-up is key. Navy blue has been shown to be a good color for communication. A splash of color such as red indicates confidence. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, within an appropriate code. Obviously if you are interviewing for a more physical role, you might consider your dress options, but it is better to be more formal/ overdressed in an interview than under dressed or too casual.

2. First impressions.

First impressions count. Make sure you have a confident handshake and hold eye contact. Have your opening line practiced- even it is just a simple “nice to meet you and thank you for seeing me”. This will help avoid awkward first moments.

3. Be confident and assured, but not overbearing.

Enough said.

4. Listen, listen, listen.

Listen with your ears and ensure your body language is open. Lean forward and make sure your arms are not crossed. This indicates you are genuinely listening. Eye contact is key.

5. Ask considered questions.

Prepare at least two questions about the role or the company to show you are interested in what they do and the role.

6. You will be asked to tell them about your experience.

Be prepared to highlight your career succinctly and with examples that are most relevant to the role you are applying for. Don’t be shy at talking about your achievements. The competition will.

7. Do your homework.

Research the company and the people you are interviewing with. Knowing their experience and progressions will help you angle your responses appropriately. I once completely bombed an interview in a role that would have been perfect for me as I didn’t have time to research the program I was interviewing for. When asked how my skills would apply to that particular program I completely froze. I had no idea. Needless to say I did not get the role, but I learned a valuable lesson!

8. Take a clean copy of your credentials.

It is likely they have seen your resume, but it never helps to take a few copies that look professional with you. This might prompt further discussion about your strengths and experience.

9. Do not talk negatively of your former places of employment.

No matter what happened, or why you are moving on, don’t go to the ins and outs of politics or personality conflicts. Be prepared to talk about the need to undertake a new challenge. If you talk about a former employer in a negative way, chances are you will do it when you leave your next company too!

10. Be friendly.

At the end of the day, people want to work with people they will get along with.

11. Flexibility.When is the right time for the conversation?

If it comes up in your interview, don’t be shy about the fact you have a family. In some roles, I did not want to spend a week every month overseas, so I had to put it on the table early. The job wasn’t right for me. If it is a high priority for you, talk about it early in terms of “is the company family friendly” way. You don’t want to waste your time or theirs. If it is a minor point, then save the discussion to a later meeting in which you are talking about salary and conditions.

Good luck! If you get the job, it is meant to be. If you don’t, keep trying. The perfect job will be just around the corner.

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