The Dreaded Job Interview
Posted on November 07, 2015 by Terry DellaVecchia, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
You just received that long awaited phone call that said they've scheduled you for an interview... Let's get you prepared and ready to rock it out!
Does going on an interview terrify you? You have sweaty palms, your shirt is sticking to you so there is no way you could take your jacket off, and you just keep thinking “am I good enough, will they like me?”
How would it feel to be able to calmly shake the interviewer’s hand without wiping yours on your pants or skirt first? How would it feel to be able to have a two-way conversation with the interviewer and hold your own, not feeling intimidated or unprepared?
Here is some practical advice to build your confidence in advance of the meeting so that you’re comfortable and feel like you are on an even playing field.
Let’s first remember that you must have done something right since you were called for an interview. That means your resume hit the points listed in the job description and you are qualified. Kudos to you! You’ve made it over the first hurdle.
Now it’s preparation time. That means you research the company, get comfortable with why you applied in the first place. You work on your story – the story that will sell yourself. How do you stand out? What makes you qualified for this job, over all other applicants? You need to sell YOU.
And while you’re thinking about how to sell yourself, think about your communication skills. Make sure you look people in the eyes while speaking. If that isn’t a strong suit, role-play with your family or friends, you can even practice in front of a mirror. Ensure you can effectively speak about your accomplishments that show how and where you would fit into the organization. Again, if that makes you uncomfortable, practice, practice and more practice. Be comfortable with yourself and the interviewer will be comfortable with you too.
Back to your research on the company, why should they hire you if you’re not interested in the organization? Businesses hire people to fill a need. During the interview ask about the main issues the company would like to solve. Remark on something you’ve read on their website, or an article that was posted about them. Show them you’ve invested some time and effort.
Lastly, remember you’re interviewing them too. They need to sell you on working for them as much as you need to sell yourself. And don’t ever forget that it’s just conversation. So, be the awesome, uniquely qualified individual they can’t do without.
