"We'll show you the difference" 

   Executive Search - Management Consultants

There is only one first impression

• Physical appearance has lost more potential jobs than having the wrong answers or saying the wrong thing. This simply means that you are clean and dressed appropriately in respect of your interviewer.  Always wear a suit or formal business attire as mentioned earlier and make sure your morning coffee didn’t spill on your newly starched shirt or blouse.

• Act calm and collected.  If you are nervous it will come through immediately and it will in turn make the interviewer nervous.  If you don’t control your nerves you will have the fastest interview on record.  Everyone is nervous but the winners can overcome this long enough to make an impression.  No one wants to see their employees nervous in front of prospective clients so try your hardest to remain calm during the interview process.

• When seated always face the interviewer and sit comfortably but without crossing your legs.  Crossing your legs shows disrespect for your interviewer.  You might as well put your feet up on the desk.  Look into the interviewers eyes without glaring.  This shows character and strength and will leave the interviewer with a very good Impression.

• Put your hands casually on the desk in front of you as if leaning forward with great enthusiasm in everything the interviewer says.  This is easily done if you try to remember to keep your back from touching the back of the chair.

• Most importantly prepare a list of questions for the interviewer to answer. This will show that you have done your homework and that you mean business. 

• If the interviewer is asking questions of you as if they are reading from a list, try to change the direction of the interview to more of a conversation rather than answering yes/no questions.  Unless you are an absolute perfect fit (which no one ever is) there is no way you can make an impact on the interviewer by answering questions in this format.  Make sure you don't turn the answers into short stories or your interviewer may tell you the commonly used "Thank you, we'll get back to you" signal which means get out of my office.

• Do not discuss compensation during the first interview and if asked what your current compensation is, evade answering by simple distraction by saying something like “Well what type of compensation are you able to pay for the right candidate?”.  This will usually bring a smile to the face of the interviewer and either the subject will change or it will continue with you being asked the same question in a different way.  At this point you can answer by saying “If I made enough I wouldn’t be here talking with you.” And follow up with a smile.  If they come at you again for more details you should ask them if they wouldn’t mind talking about money later in the process because everything doesn’t revolve around money.  There are other things to consider such as the type of position, the responsibilities involved, the expectations, the team you will be working with, is everyone working toward the same goal, what about the managers of the company and their goals, where the company wants to be in a few years, what differentiates them from their competition and the opportunity for personal career growth within the company. If our needs and wishes match using this criteria then the money usually works out as well. This usually stops the interviewer in their tracks.  If it doesn’t then just answer the question.

Be aware of your time and don't talk too much

• It's always a good idea to ask the interviewer how much time has been set aside for the meeting so you can plan ahead leaving enough time to trial close at the end of the meeting. This is crucial for if your closing is not strong you probably will not be invited back for the next step in the interview process.   Your goal is to impress the interviewer and make him/her like you but also to make sure you get to the next step.

• Always remember that communication is supposed to be two-ways so let them speak as well. Also don't EVER interrupt the interviewer when he/she is talking. Give him/her the opportunity to complete their question even if you already know what they are asking.  There is nothing more disturbing than to have someone pretend to read your mind.

• It is important to listen to the question asked fully, then to answer it specifically without wandering. Keep your answers to two to three minutes at the most. When you limit your time, you tend to stay more focused. It is very easy to stray off the subject and ramble about things irrelevant to the job if your answer is too long.

• Concentrate on the interview.  Make sure all questions are answered precisely, accurately and honestly.  If the interviewer loosens up and starts telling you jokes or something personal, be polite but don’t fall for this trick.  Stay focused and professional at all times.  It is hard to know whether the interviewer is testing you or not so our advice is to stay on course through the first interview but feel free to show some of your personality during the meeting so the interviewer doesn’t think you are a computer or something worse.

• The best interviews have a “give and take” atmosphere. To do this, you need to ask questions and try to draw out your interviewer rather than talking about yourself nonstop. When it comes to talking during an interview, sometimes less is more. A general rule is you should speak one-third of the time and definitely no more than half of the time. When it is your turn to speak, do not hesitate to talk about yourself.

• Telephone screening is becoming quite common. You need to be prepared for phone interviews just as you would a face to face interview. These calls may last 15 minutes to 1 and a half hours depending on your answers and fit for the job. It is helpful if you have thought about questions likely to be asked during the screening and prepared your answers.  And, it’s helpful to sit up straight on the edge of your chair… the interviewer can’t see your professionalism but it does come through on the phone!

Put up with rejection

• If you are rejected from the company, you may feel hurt, angry or fed up. Instead of being stuck in feeling rejected, take back the power by staying proactive.  Be positive and shake the interviewer hand prior to leaving thanking them for their time.. If you really wanted to work for that particular company, sit down and write a letter. Remind them of all the positive points you could bring to the organization. Let them know you are still interested in working for the company if something should change or open up

Face the feedback

• If you ask for feedback from an interviewer, be prepared to hear things that could be upsetting. You should listen carefully, and take notes to refer to and react to appropriately and professionally. Do not argue or defend yourself. Last, do not forget to thank the interviewer. Then, take the advice and think about changing some techniques to improve on your next interview.

Follow the interviewer

• During the interview, your interviewer is giving you information that can guide you on how to behave during the meeting. Observe your interviewer's style. Listen very carefully, and let him/her know that you have been listening by asking good questions and making good comments. Answer questions by providing the information asked for.

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