Give the Job Interviewers What They Want to Hear
Job interviews. Each interviewer thinks that they are using new and novel
techniques. Really it all goes down to the book they read this week or most
likely last year.
Once you realize that there is little originality in interview techniques your
ability to succeed in interviews and hence jobs and promotions offered to you
will soar .and you will be on the gravy train so to speak.
In the end it
is all about giving the interviewer what is that they want to hear.
Management guru Riteway Strokon notes that the skill of getting through
university is to learn to give back to the professor what he told in different
words – and importantly words that he understands. So it is with passing
interviews.
There is very little originality in interview techniques and questions no matter
how elaborate and intimidating the interviewer and interview seems. If ever get
an honest out of way real interview this is the tip off that this is either the
company with its style of management or the superior you can work with and for
to prosper.
First of all read
and reread the ad or posting carefully. What are they looking for?
What skills and traits are desired both by the organization and the ad? Do you
have those traits or will you have to groom them. Reread the ad to ascertain the
“corporate culture”. How could you fit into that society so to speak? How would
you present yourself both in appearance, attitude and answers to better fit the
interview mold?
Further along the path of
interview preparation, research the company either as if you were buying one of
the company’s expensive products or purchasing a large block of stock. The
internet affords the easiest and quickest ever means of initial research.
. If you use google as your
search engine of choice try using other search engines – such as MSN or Yahoo.
You can even try a search engine of search engines – a Meta search engine such
as Dogpile . Look at the links leading to firm’s WebPages.
Are there links leading from
customers for tech support or product information? Who are their major
customers? Often the real dirt and info on a company can be obtained from
competitors. The best source of information about a Tylenol sales manager would
be from their competition – that is someone who sells aspirin for example. Call
tech support for the company to check customer service levels as well as the
over demeanor and morale of company. If possible such as for retail stores try
to talk to some real employees of the firm. What you are looking for is
consistency in approach and philosophy all the way down the line and happy
satisfied employees and customers. For example the job listing may be all about
“targeting and core customer base”. However if you spot that the company is not
targeted that their advertising as well as focus is all over the map with no
discernable focus and that major customers are unhappy and are ready to jump
ship then this is not a good sign for you.
Just as you are playing a game at
presentation in the interview process management often has to play a similar
game with their supervisors who may be clueless. Look at what was the most major
and vital industry to the American economy that was the automobile industry. It
used to be said “What is good for General Motors (GM) is good for America. Now
the American car industry with its insulated senior management is on its way to
hell in a hand basket. Or at least with senior management is still being served
executive meals on white linen far away from any employee cafeteria or worker
lunchbox. Management may be shown a video or given a course and be clueless
about basic concepts in life that your 4 year old nephew knows instinctively
Preparation is the key to successful job
interviews. Lastly it is always a good idea not to laugh at the incongruity of
the interviewer’s questions and answer questions with a straight face while
maintaining eye contact.
Bill Piker
www.acetraining.net