How to Act During a Job Interview
Everyone knows that interviews are nerve-wracking, but how you act during the interview process can make or break your chances of getting the job. A lot of people tend to second-guess themselves and fear what they’re saying even before they say it. However, it is possible to overcome this fear and still land a great job with confidence in your personality. These are some things you should know about how to act during an interview:
- Find out what kinds of questions the interviewer will be asking ahead of time so that you don't forget any crucial details. Practice your responses to these questions in front of the mirror or with a friend who will give you feedback on how you can improve your answers.
- When you're at the interview, stand up straight and look people in the eye as you talk. People respect someone who keeps eye contact and gives off a powerful personal presence.
- Smile when it's appropriate, but don't use an unnaturally wide grin to try and appear more friendly. Instead, let your smile be natural and relaxed. In fact, studies show that when we see someone smile at us, it's hard not to respond in kind with a corresponding smile of our own. This can make you appear more likable and trustworthy to the interviewer.
- Get to the interview early. You don't want to show up late because it shows a lack of consideration for the other person's time. Even if you're lost and running late, call the employer and let them know.
- Before you start talking, let the interviewer finish talking and don't interrupt them. If they ask you a question and you have to think it over before answering, that's fine. Just give yourself some time and then answer them as thoroughly as possible. Also, watch what you say and how you say it-no swearing or inappropriate jokes because it may hurt your chances of getting hired.
- During the interview, think about how you want to see yourself in the position that you're applying for. Think of some stories/situations in which you have exemplified this and then share these with the interviewer. The best part is that if you make it a point to do so while talking, your story will come across naturally instead of sounding awkward.
- Be prepared with questions to ask the interviewer at the end of your session together. A study shows that only 7% of people ask questions during an interview, so by asking questions you can show them how interested you are in their company and demonstrate good problem solving skills and curiosity.
- Take notes during the interview and then ask yourself questions about your notes after the interview has ended. Do you have any unanswered questions or observations?
Conducting an effective job interview is just like conducting a good conversation with a friend. It is crucial that you listen carefully to what the other person is saying and respond accordingly. You can't be afraid of making mistakes because it is important to show off who you are as a person and what makes you different from other candidates, but it's also important to listen to others instead of letting your own thoughts run wild. Interviewing techniques like these should help you land a great job without being too nervous or scared of committing mistakes that may hurt your chances. These are important skills to have when it comes to interviewing and they can help you feel more comfortable with the interview process.
Source: thegrommet.com/blog/2013/06/how-to-act-during-a-job-interview/ [ARTICLE END]
REVIEW OF LESSON 1
In this lesson we learned about how to act during an interview, keeping in mind that we want to make a good impression on the interviewer and be remembered for being a joy to talk to as well as knowledgeable in our field of expertise. We also made a list of questions we wanted to ask and practiced some of those questions in front of a mirror.
THE MY PRACTICE JOURNAL:
I made note of key points as I went along in the lesson, there were so many things to take in, but I think this goes along with what I have been talking about lately being more mindful (changing my perspective of things) as well as practicing listening. By writing down key points and making sure to practice the skill did make me get better at it, plus it was interesting and fun to talk through some action plans with myself.
This was a great lesson, it really hit home and made me really think about myself as well as how I want to show up to an interview and how I want to act. This is a skill that will be very helpful for me in the future to keep in mind when I am interviewing for jobs and it has only been two lessons into the course already.
LINK: Lesson 1 Overview - The Interview Process http://www.skillshare.com/courses/interviewing-skills-for-dummies/lesson-1 [ARTICLE BEGIN]
Communication is such an important aspect of life, especially life in the workplace. The ability to effectively communicate with our colleagues is one of the most important skills we can develop. However, communication-based skills are not just for business and professional situations. We can use them in our personal relationships, with family members, and even in the classroom.[LIST] [LI]Being able to effectively communicate with close friends aids greatly in our relationship with them.
The ability to communicate effectively depends on a combination of both verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Verbal means having the skill of speaking clearly and concisely; without confusion or sidetracking us from the initial topic at hand. Nonverbal communication is just that; communicating without using words. Oftentimes this type of communication clears up questions or uncertainties that may arise due to incorrect interpretations of a verbal message.[/LI] [LI]Having effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills is a fundamental part of our success in the workplace. We are able to better relate to co-workers and clients, decreasing the amount of miscommunication, misunderstanding and frustration between us.[/LI] [LI]Whether we plan on networking with business partners or trying to attract a potential employer's attention, nonverbal skills are extremely important in our ability to create a positive first impression. By using eye contact, expression, body language and voice tone appropriately we can try to make a positive first impression. Eyes: Visual communication is one of the most important forms of communication. The way we choose to use our eyes in an interview conveys a lot about how assertive or confident we are. We can use our eyes to show any emotion that we may be feeling at the time. By choosing to take note of their expressions and showing interest in them, we are giving off the idea that they are more interesting than they actually are and this could potentially lead others to believe that they have more knowledge then they actually do.
Conclusion: Eyes are a very important aspect of communication, we can use them to show others that we are interested in what they are saying. By looking them directly in the eye and making eye contact we do not appear to be nervous or afraid of speaking with them, which is a very good way to communicate your authority and confidence in yourself. [LI]Body Language: Speaking without words is only one form of communication. Body language can sometimes be even more important than verbal communication when it comes to showing how confident or unsure you may feel about your ability to effectively communicate with others in an interview situation. Nonverbal expressions can include such things as gestures, posture, facial expressions and even smells and sensations (which is called 'olfaction'.