Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
How NOT to interview for a job
Whether by choice or not, taking a position with a new company can present exciting opportunities and could quite likely lead to an increase in income. Naturally, you've got to get hired first – and an interview is the apex of that hiring process.
I'd like to help you avoid crashing and burning in an interview. You may laugh, but according to a couple HR friends I had the opportunity to chat with, the following happens all the time.
Waiting for the interview to begin:
How to CRASH and BURN…
– Wander aimlessly around the room, sit down and get up repeatedly.
– Show annoyance at waiting or boredom and lack of enthusiasm.
– Talk loudly on your phone. Comment about stupid waiting is. When they call you in, take your time putting your phone away.
– Ask to use the restroom and disappear for an extraordinary amount of time. You wait – they wait. That's fair.
– Bother the front desk person with endless questions. After all, they are there for people that come in, right?
How to LAND IT…
– Speak politely, sit where they indicate, and stay quiet and patient.
– Smile and show enthusiasm for the opportunity.
– If you are nervous and having a hard time sitting still, calm your nerves by sitting up straight in a chair, and taking several slow, deep belly breaths.
– Avoid your phone. Period. Silence it or even turn it off. You want to show that the interview is the most important thing to you right now – not the pictures of your neighbor's son's best friend's new puppy.
– If your nerves do make the restroom necessary, ask politely and be quick about your trip.
– Realize the interview starts before you go in. Never assume the front desk or an assistant doesn’t have any pull and how you act while waiting won't matter. They often have more influence than you think.
During the interview:
How to CRASH and BURN…
– Chew gum; even smack it. Play with a pen or your keys; maybe display your talent with a little song. Who wouldn't be impressed with Jingle Bells on a Bic?
– Make odd faces when you're asked questions. Show confusion, uncertainty, and lack of energy.
– Seem unprepared and take a long time to answer questions about your own life and goals. Be careful not to convey any dreams or passions in life. If you do, they might actually expect some kind of work out of you.
– Say, “Umm” and “I don't know” to as many questions as possible. That way, you dodge all responsibility.
– If you do have to provide real information, be as brief and vague as possible. One word answers are perfect.
How to LAND IT…
– Don't chew gum or play with anything. Keeping your hands and mouth empty will keep bad nervous habits at bay. If you don't know your nervous habits, ask the people who know you best, so you can work on not showing them.
– Also ask people if you make any odd facial expressions or grimaces when you’re nervous or while you’re thinking. You could be surprised at the faces you make and never even knew it.
– Craft your answers to common interview questions. Put a positive spin on them and show good energy –without sounding like you ate sunshine and rainbows for breakfast. Overdoing it makes you seem fake, and will cause the interviewer to ponder whether the answers you give are genuine or not.
– Be straightforward and thorough, but don't ramble. Remember, if you can’t even speak concisely about yourself and your own life, the interviewer won’t have any confidence you can handle the job.
Answering the most critical question…
Phrased similarly to “Why are you leaving your current job? or “Tell me about your past experience”.
How to CRASH and BURN…
– List, in great detail, every wrong and inconvenience you can remember. Blame everyone, especially management. Leave no doubt as to how badly you can't wait to get out of your current position.
How to LAND IT…
– Unless you’re interviewing for a job as a critic, don’t be critical. Never verbally run down any employer, co-worker, or company. You’ll only cast yourself as a fault-finder, rather than a solution-finder. Be ready for this type of question.
Ending the interview:
How to CRASH and BURN…
– Ask about the pay without the interviewer bringing it up. It's crucial to know if they are worthy of your time.
– Shake the interviewer's hand too long, too hard, or even consider the limp-wristed, royalty shake – just to reinforce how great you are and how lucky they would be to have you.
How to LAND IT…
– Simply thank the interviewer for the opportunity and exit with a firm, quick handshake. Not too loose, not too hard, not too long. Then wait for the call that you got the job.
