Effective Interviewing
How to Clinch the Job Through an Effective Interview
You know the saying "20 percent of your effort yields 80 percent of the results"? This is particular true when it comes to job interviews. To maximise your interviewing results, with a minimum amount of effort follow these proven steps:
- Identify the key tasks for the position.
- Brainstorm a few examples in those areas.
- Practice your responses.
The first step in preparing is to analyse the job description or advertisement for the position and pull out three to four most important key requirements for the job.
Once you have prioritised the positions responsibilities you will next need to brainstorm several examples of times when you have succeeded with those tasks. Helpful resources to identify possible examples could include your resume, performance reviews, or references.
Once you have identified these examples develop them into a "what, how and proof" story that will include the following details:
What
- What was going on? What happened to cause you to become involved in this activity? What problem needed to be solved, or what plan needed to be implemented?
How
- How did you handle the situation? How did you get the job done? Provide a step by step account of your actions.
Proof
- Prove that your efforts paid off, name some results
Practice to Improve your Performance
You have heard the saying, "practice makes perfect." Perfection is a big call, however practice can make a huge difference. After all "it's not the best person that gets the job its the one that prepares for the interview."
Research a list of potential interview questions, think through and write down your responses to these questions, practice your responses out loud. Start with the following list of interview questions and add more if you choose:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your best strengths?
- What weaknesses do you have that might hold you back in this job?
- Give me some examples of times when you have held similar responsibilities as those required for this job.
- What would your previous boss say about you?
- Why did you leave your last position? (Or, why are you leaving your current position?)
- What about this position appeals to you?
- What do you know about our company?
- What salary are you looking for?
- Why should I hire you?
Once you have worked out the basic content for your answers, practice, practice, practice until you feel comfortable. Trying to formulate and articulate answers for the first time in an interview can be a formula for failure, by practicing your response out loud, five times or more, you will significantly reduce your anxiety and improve your performance.
Finally
Deciding just to wing it on the day can seem far easier, that is, until you get into the interview and realise you don't know what to say! Investing just an hour or two in preparation can mean the difference between "You are not what we are looking for" and "You’re hired!"
