Reprint From Column in Palm Beach Post, Sunday, July, 2003 Toby Chabon Berger
Show a winning hand by practicing answers, behavior in advance
Afraid to shake hands with an interviewer because your palms are sweaty or your hands are ice cold? Even though job seekers look forward to being interviewed, the actual interview brings on the emotions often seen on the TV show, “Fear Factor”. Candidates interviews with fear or anxiety because it is the culmination of many months of research, answering hundreds of ads, letter writing, and extensive networking. Feeling as if your whole life may depend on one meeting with a person whom you never met need not be problematic. Since you know in advance that you will face questions about skills, qualifications, and accomplishments, often combined with issues of dress, etiquette, and non-verbal skills, there is no need for panic. Research, preparation, and practice will do the trick.
No one knows you better than yourself; therefore, anticipate the interview as an opportunity to share information about your achievements, experiences, and skills with another person. It’ should be a two way communication process. You, in turn, will be seeking information about the company.
It’s wise to prepare in advance the ever present “tell me about yourself” question so that it highlights your background as it relates to that particular job. Interviewers are not interested in where you were born or where you went to high school. Use key words that promote your work history, skills and accomplishments to increase your chance of keeping the interviewer energized.
John Barry, Managing Consultant of Drake Beam Morin, Boca Raton says, “Some interviewers don’t like to interview and some may not do it often enough to feel comfortable with the process.” Employers may be just as apprehensive as you. Their decision is a test of their judgment.
“And, if the interviewer stops asking questions, don’t fear the silence that usually makes people uncomfortable,” says Jenny Flaugh, Manager of Employment and Compensation, Martin Memorial Health Systems in Stuart .She also says, “Silence is a good time to rethink your answers and to prepare yourself mentally for the next question. It may also be the perfect time for you to ask questions that you have prepared in advance about the needs, problems, and future plans of the company.
Researching information about the company, its future plans, problems facing them and industry trends will lead you to the next step of stacking the deck in your favor, preparation.. Preparing for the interview includes visualizing the experience from beginning to end and practicing answers to potential questions incorporating relevant information from research. This leads to a presentation as a confident, skilled, highly trained “best fit” person for the job.
Jenny Flaugh says, “We use the behavioral interviewing system with candidates. Behavior based interviewing focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are job related. This method is based on the premise that past behavior predicts future behavior. Answers should reflect accomplishments and examples of when you went above and beyond expectations.”
Questions also focus on eliciting information that includes problems you have handled, actions you have taken, and the results. Knowing that, list potential answers on 3x5 note cards and read them often. In that way, they remain fresh in your mind. A word of caution, keep your responses brief. Nothing is worse in an interview than a rambling response without an end in sight. If interviewers need more information, they will ask for it.
“Beware of interviewers who spend the entire fifty five minutes set aside for an interview selling the company without ever asking you any questions,” says John Barry “If that happens, try to break in politely to say, ‘Let me tell you something about me and how I would add value to this company’. “
Both, Jenny Flaugh and John Barry, agree that dressing for interviews in South Florida, has rules. Barry says, “It is important to dress up, even if the work environment is a casual one. Dark suits, blazers or sport coats for men and women are necessary to appear professional even on hot sunny days. My other advice is to make certain shoes are shined and heels in good repair. Women should avoid sandals and bare legs.” Finally, John Barry says, “ be polite to the receptionist or administrative assistant. He or she often cast a deciding vote. Treating anyone disrespectfully, will come back to haunt you.”
Jenny Flaugh says, “First impressions are very important. Your appearance will indicate to the interviewer that you have made a special effort to make a good first impression. Trendy clothing does not send a professional message.”
There are always questions that are difficult to answer. “If they are ADA or EEO restricted questions, asking you your age, marital status, and if you have children, the interviewer may be inexperienced and not realize that requesting that information is off limits. “Handle this situation with tact,” Barry says. “Shift the answer to the benefits of hiring someone with your abilities.”
No matter how well qualified you are, there are certain factors that will knock you out of the competition. Tracy Stickley, Director of Human Resources, Shumacher Automotive, West Palm Beach says, “my pet peeves are:
· What are you going to do for me attitude and how much will you pay me?
· Answering cell phone during the interview
· Gum chewing
· Limp handshake and poor eye contact
· Uncompleted applications
· No questions about the company
· Improper Dress
She also says, “ I am also put off by candidates who are told the date of the hiring decision, yet begin calling the next day.”
The odds can be in your favor to win the jackpot when you research, prepare and practice.
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