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12.
Not Knowing Your Own Strengths.
Researching
the company is only half your pre-interview homework assignment. You
have to research yourself as well. "You must know your own background
so thoroughly that you are prepared to answer any question about it
without hesitation and in enough detail to satisfy the interview,"
explains Arthur R. Pell in How To Sell Yourself On An Interview (Monarch Press,
1982). "Hesitating, being vague on certain points, or groping for
proper words destroys the effect you are trying to create." Make a list
of ten work-related things you do well or know a lot about. Then,
during your interview rehearsal, come up with graceful ways to bring
them up.
13.
Asking Too Many Questions.
If
you were the interviewer, would you hire someone who hijacked the
entire interview and put you on the defensive?
14.
Not Asking Any.
On
the other hand, when the interviewer asks, "What questions do you
have?" saying that he/she has covered the subject so well you don't
have a thing to ask about is a bad idea too. It makes you look
uninterested, unimaginative or both. "Let's say you're interviewing for
a job in real estate sales," suggests Dr. Marvelle S. Colby, who
teaches career decision-making skills at both New York University and
Marymount Manhattan College. "You go in, having done some research on
the market and ask, "Do you expect the market in this area to stay
strong?"
15.
Inquiring About Benefits Too Soon.
Ask
not what the company can do for you but what you can do for the company
- at least at this point in the selection process. If you seem more
interested in the three-week vacation policy or the new dental plan
than in actual job duties, the prospective boss may develop serious
concerns about your priorities. Naturally, you have a right to know
about the benefits package you'll be offered, but chances are the
personnel representative or hiring manager will bring it up on his/her
own. After all, an attractive benefits plan is a selling point for
them. If this doesn't happen, you can broach the subject when salary
negotiations begin. Explain that the offer you'll accept depends on the
value of the whole compensation package (salary, benefits, bonuses and
any other payments).
16.
Revealing Your Price Tag.
Did
you ever fall in love with an article of clothing before checking to
see how much it cost? It may have taught you to look at the tag right
away so, in case the price is out of the question, you can reject the
garment mentally before getting your heart set on it. Things work the
same way in a job search. Let these people discover how wonderful you
are before you tell them how much you cost. If they try to sneak a
premature peek at your price tag, Marvelle Colby recommends that you
say something like, "Yes, I have some salary thoughts, but I need to
know more about what this job entails."
17.
Crying Discrimination
The
problem is, not everyone involved in the hiring process knows exactly
which questions aren't allowed -- and in complete innocence they may
bring up a forbidden issue. Don't jump up and scream accusations.
Instead, reassure him/her that you can handle all your
responsibilities. Even if the intentions aren't honorable, a dramatic
protest is unlikely to get you the job. If you don't get hired, then
you can file a complaint. If you do, you can bring up the issue later
as a full-fledged employee -- and make important changes from the
inside.
18.
Bad-Mouthing Your Boss
Never,
never, never say anything negative about a person or company you worked
for in the past. It brands you a complainer.
19.
Name Dropping
Attempts
to play "who do you know" with your interviewer have an unfortunate
tendency to backfire. Drop the name of someone at the company and it
could turn out to the the hiring manager's worst enemy. Announce that
you went to school with the chairman of the board's daughter, Felicia,
and it can come off as elitism. Even worse, the interviewer may wonder
why Felicia didn't ask her dad to put in a good word for you. A much
better way to use inside contacts: Ask them to recommend or introduce
you to the powers that be.
20.
Energy Failure
It
doesn't matter if you only slept four hours last night and are coming
down with a cold. When you get to the interview, you have to appear
bright-eyed and eager. Job candidates with lackluster attitudes rarely
get the offer. Mental energy is what it takes, so psych yourself up
before making your entrance. Some lecturers and TV talk show guests do
it by playing lively music right before going on. If that's impossible,
just play an upbeat tune in your head. Think of yourself as an
entertainer and know that the show must go on.
21.
Handshake Failure
A
limp or otherwise distasteful handshake is like bad breath, one of
those things that even your best friends may never tell you about. So
try this: Go to a trusted buddy and say, "If I were going to develop
the world's most perfect handshake, would I make mine a little firmer,
a little more gentle, a little shorter, longer or what?" Then shake her
or his hand to demonstrate.
22.
Glancing At Your Watch
Clock
watching gives the impression that you're late for a more important
date. Avoid that problem by asking when you set up the appointment, how
much time you should allow for the interview. If the interviewer asks,
"Will you have time to stay today and meet with our vice president?"
then you can check the time and make a decision.
23.
Playing The Hero/Heroine
In
999 jobs out of 1,000, you're being called in to work as part of a
team, not to make a single-handed rescue of a botched effort. Never
convey the message, "You guys have really messed it up, but I can show
you how to turn this company around." Instead, stress how well your
talents and experience would mesh with those of others in the
department or division.
24.
Losing Your Cool
Expect
the unexpected. Occasionally, interviewers have been known to test job
applicants by surprising them with loaded questions or blunt comments,
such as "What makes you think you can handle this job when people with
twice your experience don't have the nerve to apply?" Remain calm, even
though your injured ego may be fleeing for the nearest exit. Some
companies like to see just how professional and unflappable you can be
under fire.
25.
Following These Instructions
Now
that you've absorbed the "do's and don'ts" of the job interview, feel
free to set the rules aside and concentrate on what a fine job you'll
do if these people have the good sense to hire you. Then relax and just be
yourself.
*Information
courtesy Thomas Staffing
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