HOW WILL YOU DO THE INTERVIEW?

Prospects in the job search are starting to look up. In a tight budget world, people (people = hiring companies / the job seeker) are no longer spending money for trips to interview. That means if you are relocating or interviewed by headquarters, you may be interviewing remotely. Whether your relocation is because you are a recent graduate (or about to be) or finding little job resources locally, this is your opportunity.

One of the ways companies are doing more with less is to interview you first by telephone or do a video interview. This lower budget approach does all the screening for the company at much less cost. That interview cost is significant for the company and for the job seeker.

Get Your Game On

How do you get your game on? If you were interviewing in person, in their office, you’d probably shower, dress, put your application materials in your portfolio and go. You’d review your materials before you got out of the car, have a few examples of your accomplishments at the ready and smile! Do all that for your telephone interview too. Put a mirror in front of where you’ll be sitting for the call. Use it to remind yourself to smile into the phone. The smile will carry across the phone lines. Be enthusiastic; convey your passion for the job in your tone of voice. They can only evaluate what you put in your voice.

Getting Ready for Your Close-up

If you’re video interviewing, you’ll follow the same guidelines. Because they can see you! Even if you know they will only see you from the waist up or table up, dress all of you. People have different mannerisms when they are “dressed up” from their everyday attire. You want to signal you are taking this seriously.

Where do you do this video interview? That depends. You can use a place that advertises video conferencing ability, such as my local Kinko’s Copy shop, or your local library. Or, ask your local college or university if you can use theirs. The last choice I would make is home.

Run a short practice session with a friend. How does it look? Things to consider are quality (picture & sound) and background. The background should be plain and non-distracting. That might be a great picture on the wall, but does it look like it is sprouting out of your head? Is the lighting too harsh or not enough? Warn family and friends/roommates that you’ll be interviewing, so they don’t disturb you. Hang a sign. Many of these variables are removed by using a video conferencing facility.

Another tip is do not sit too close to the camera. It can be distorting and it is the equivalent of leaning in too close to the interviewer. Even if you are alone in the room, they can see you. Stay in character. Stay professional.

Remember, they are trying to weed out weak candidates. The hiring manager might ask you to solve a problem or ask what you’d do in certain situations. These may be real or hypothetical. They may not be solvable. They are looking for your thought process as you go through the problem, and how you handle yourself. You may be asked to do a presentation to other candidates or a panel. The point may be how you treat people in addition to what you present. Give everyone individual and professional attention. Call people by name. Relax into it and be your normal, pleasant self.

If you need help getting ready for the interview, don’t hesitate to contact me. We can work together to practice and get you polished for your interview.

All things are possible,

Elisabeth

Elisabeth Adler-Lund

Executive and Life Coaching

Telephone: 916 • 803•1494

E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com