WorkWise Advice™
Mildred L. Culp
While landing an interview is one of the most difficult parts of job seeking, conducting a successful interview isn’t much easier. Why? Self-consciousness and nerves can undo you.
You can read all of the books on interviewing techniques and do everything the books tell you to do. You can be a walking expert on interviewing but still not get a job. If you can’t leave most of your uncomfortable emotions outside the interviewer’s door, you’ll sabotage yourself. In that case, you can only hope that the employer both understands your discomfort and can see beyond it to the person you really are. That’s a lot to ask of any interviewer who’s busy getting information from you and attempting to assess your personality to find a “fit” with potential co-workers.
You should know that the interviewer may be even more nervous than you are. Remember, his job is to represent the company well and find the best talent possible.
Avoid “informational” interviews. If you’re serious about finding work, let employers see that seriousness. You’re not just collecting a bunch of contacts to impress yourself.
When you speak with the employer over the telephone, don’t say that you’re looking for a job. Instead, imply that that’s what you want by stating that you want to discuss how experiences in college could help the company increase sales or efficiency and reduce costs. Select a benefit that makes sense, given your skills.
On the day of the interview, prepare yourself emotionally. Follow your usual routine for the day, but intersperse a few calming moments. Take deep breaths as the day progresses. When you arrive at the company and get out of your car, take one. As you walk to the receptionist, take another. Do the same as you walk into the interviewer’s office, then sit up straight so you can take other occasional deep breaths without being detected. Controlling yourself is the first step toward controlling the situation.