Yesterday my friend mentioned that she’s not good at job interview while we were having a drink. I told her that I should write a blog post about this since I’ve been conducting interview hundreds of times in my management career.
Interviewing is a sales process whereby you “sell” yourself to your potential employer. So how can you “sell” yourself in an interview effectively? Let me share some pointers with you.
Dress Correctly
I’ve interview people who come in with shorts and slippers. The first impression I get is that this person is not serious about the job. Although out of courtesy I will usually continue with the interview, his chance of interview success is practically zero.
Dress smart to impress your future employer. It shows your respect for both the employer and the company that you wish to join.
Body Language
- Sit straight and lean forward
- Look your interviewer in the eyes when answering questions
- Put your hands on the table
- Smile
In Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), these are positive body gestures that show the interviewer that you have nothing to hide and are interested in what he has got to offer.
I’ve interviewed people who hold on to their bags the entire interview and they sent a signal that they are not interested and want to get this interview over and done with. Of course, they were never called back for a second interview.
Being an Asset
I like it when people ask me about the salary. I will often answer with a question, “How much do you think you are worth?”
Share with your interviewer how can you contribute positively to the company based on your experience, learning and so on.
If you can contribute and grow the company, you don’t have to worry about salary. In fact, companies are willing to pay top executive astronomical salaries just to retain these talents. Proof your worth first.
Honesty
Needless to say, honesty is the best policy. Let me disclose the greatest interview secret to you. For every question your interviewer asks you, he already knows the answer.
Never try to bluff your way through. As an interviewer, I am always polite not to expose you when I know you are bluffing. But you can see that smile on me because I’ve seen through your little tricks.
If you don’t know, say so.
Add on by saying you are willing to learn. Of course, too much of this kills your interview too.
To conclude, I would say to “sell” yourself best is to know yourself first. Be composed during a job interview and focus on exploring opportunities to develop a long term relationship with the company.
There are plenty of job opportunities, find the one that create synergy between you and your future company. Good luck!
