Do you go to interviews with the intention of putting up a great performance? Is your focus on making an
impression? No wonder you get tensed up. An interview is not to be considered a drama where you
have to put up a performance rather as a discussion session where you can gain information about the job
and the role and provide information on how you can help. The recruiter is there to understand whether you
would fit the role and assist the company to achieve its goals. If you can help them understand how you
can provide value then the interview is a success whether ultimately you are hired or not.
The right perspective of jobs
Most people go to interviews with the belief that they have to compete and make a good impression and the
company will hand over the job to them. What is a job? A job is a service you perform for an individual
or company in return for which you are paid money (salary). You are providing your time and efforts in
helping the company reach its goals for which the company pays you. The more the value you provide
the company the more compensation you can potentially receive. If the company feels that you can
provide value they will hire you not out of sympathy or out of admiration but out of their need to achieve
their goals.
How to view an interview
If you think clearly then you will understand that the interview is nothing but a meeting between the employer and the prospective employee. The purpose of the interview is to understand what each wants and see if there is a right fit. Some people think that an interview means that you have to put on a show or that you have to portray something that you are not.This is not the right approach because once the employer finds out that you are not what you seemed to be they will be eager to kick you out at the first chance. In such a situation workplace can become intolerable.
The right way to see the interview is to view it as a honest discussion and an opportunity to understand what the employer wants and see if you fit that need.
This approach takes the tension out of the interview and you will be able to think clearly and speak without
fear. Yes, they might ask you some questions that can seem a little intrusive or pushy; they might ask you to
do something to verify that what you have portrayed yourself as is accurate. You can take this all in the
spirit of cooperation because they are just trying to know you fully and see if you can be of use to the
organisation.
Answer questions honestly and tell them why you are suited the for the position. You too make it a point
ask questions and clarify things so that you also have a clear picture about the company its culture and its
operations.
Make sure that you have researched the company and know what they need. You should come off of the
interview with the feeling that you understand the company and form your own conclusions.
How to use this idea
When you prepare for an interview try to put yourself in the manager's shoes. Try to understand their needs
e.g. Achieving targets, making profits, get more clients etc. The job description will give hints on what they
are looking for. Now look at yourself and try to see in what way you can help them do that. Make a list of
skills and experiences that you bring to the table that the company would find useful. Maybe you have great
communication skills they can use or you have experience and knowledge is a specific process. Put it down on paper. Once you have a list of at least 5 ways in which you can be useful to the company you can then do a few mock interviews so that you can present your proposition clearly.
How will this help you?
Your focus now changes from yourself and your performance to the needs of the company. You will notice that this alone takes a away a lot of tension and knowing that you have something of value to offer makes you confident. During the interview you will be able to give the answers the interviewers are looking for thus helping them make a decision more quickly. If after understanding the requirement you feel that you might not be the person they are looking for then tell them that. You will gain their respect and admiration and they will call you back when they have something that suits you. It has happened many times before and you save your time and theirs too.
Be bold and forthright these are qualities that will impress anybody!
impression? No wonder you get tensed up. An interview is not to be considered a drama where you
have to put up a performance rather as a discussion session where you can gain information about the job
and the role and provide information on how you can help. The recruiter is there to understand whether you
would fit the role and assist the company to achieve its goals. If you can help them understand how you
can provide value then the interview is a success whether ultimately you are hired or not.
The right perspective of jobs
Most people go to interviews with the belief that they have to compete and make a good impression and the
company will hand over the job to them. What is a job? A job is a service you perform for an individual
or company in return for which you are paid money (salary). You are providing your time and efforts in
helping the company reach its goals for which the company pays you. The more the value you provide
the company the more compensation you can potentially receive. If the company feels that you can
provide value they will hire you not out of sympathy or out of admiration but out of their need to achieve
their goals.
How to view an interview
If you think clearly then you will understand that the interview is nothing but a meeting between the employer and the prospective employee. The purpose of the interview is to understand what each wants and see if there is a right fit. Some people think that an interview means that you have to put on a show or that you have to portray something that you are not.This is not the right approach because once the employer finds out that you are not what you seemed to be they will be eager to kick you out at the first chance. In such a situation workplace can become intolerable.
The right way to see the interview is to view it as a honest discussion and an opportunity to understand what the employer wants and see if you fit that need.
This approach takes the tension out of the interview and you will be able to think clearly and speak without
fear. Yes, they might ask you some questions that can seem a little intrusive or pushy; they might ask you to
do something to verify that what you have portrayed yourself as is accurate. You can take this all in the
spirit of cooperation because they are just trying to know you fully and see if you can be of use to the
organisation.
Answer questions honestly and tell them why you are suited the for the position. You too make it a point
ask questions and clarify things so that you also have a clear picture about the company its culture and its
operations.
Make sure that you have researched the company and know what they need. You should come off of the
interview with the feeling that you understand the company and form your own conclusions.
How to use this idea
When you prepare for an interview try to put yourself in the manager's shoes. Try to understand their needs
e.g. Achieving targets, making profits, get more clients etc. The job description will give hints on what they
are looking for. Now look at yourself and try to see in what way you can help them do that. Make a list of
skills and experiences that you bring to the table that the company would find useful. Maybe you have great
communication skills they can use or you have experience and knowledge is a specific process. Put it down on paper. Once you have a list of at least 5 ways in which you can be useful to the company you can then do a few mock interviews so that you can present your proposition clearly.
How will this help you?
Your focus now changes from yourself and your performance to the needs of the company. You will notice that this alone takes a away a lot of tension and knowing that you have something of value to offer makes you confident. During the interview you will be able to give the answers the interviewers are looking for thus helping them make a decision more quickly. If after understanding the requirement you feel that you might not be the person they are looking for then tell them that. You will gain their respect and admiration and they will call you back when they have something that suits you. It has happened many times before and you save your time and theirs too.
Be bold and forthright these are qualities that will impress anybody!
No comments:
Post a Comment