The Interview -- The Moment of Truth (Make It Work To Your Advantage!) Cathie Quimson 26.07.

2012

Your phone rings, you answer it and tadaaaah...you have confirmed to attend an interview with your dream company. They want to know YOU, the author of the interesting resume. The much-awaited interview is that precious opportunity to prove that you are as good as what you have claimed in your resume. So you tell yourself to do three things: PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE! Upon arriving at the venue, you presumably would have done a good amount of research about your dream company and perhaps theexecutive position (in the Philippines or in other region) you have been very excited to clinch. Then, the moment of truth comes i.e., the face-to-face interview. All the preparations you have done starts to flash in your mind, thus: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. First impressions are made in the first 30 seconds. As you walk in, establish a good eye contact and extend a hand shake. Remember the name of the interviewer. Mention his or her name at least twice to help establish rapport. Be alert to analyze the questions so as to give the appropriate answers. If you are not sure about the question, have it clarified before answering. Elaborate on your answers-- this will make the interviewer appreciate the depth of your relevant experience.

If the questions are behavioral in nature, it helps to use the S-T-A-R technique when responding. Thus: 1. Provide a specific Situation or T ask that you have encountered, the Action you took that highlights your participation or involvement and the Result of your actions. 2. Remember, the STAR technique calls for answers anchored on your actual experience, i.e., on "what you actually did"; not on "what you will do". Your response should thus provide ample explanations on what problem you wanted to solve, the decisions you took and processes you performed, and then the actual result or outcome of such actions. 3. Typically, such questions are aimed at getting an insight on such intangibles as leadership skills, management style, propensities for team work, problem solving, customer service, ability to work under pressure and the like. Questions pertaining to your motivation to explore new employment opportunities can be critical depending on how you answer them. Approach such questions in a truthful yet positive manner. Interviewer looks for a highly motivated and optimistic candidate. Putting your previous company in a bad light can hurt your chances. Towards the end of the interview, be prepared with your own questions about the position and the company as this is an indication of your interest level. Inquire on the next steps of the recruitment process and when to expect a feedback. If the given time passes without an advice, a brief email follow-up is appropriate. In a professional and courteous manner, let the interviewer know that you are still interested and waiting for the result. By keeping in mind these simple reminders, the probability of you WINNING that job would be higher. Good luck!