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How to Prepare for a Job Interview
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In the lead up to a big game, professional athletes visualize success, double-check their equipment or listen to a favorite song on their headphones – all before heading into competition. The minutes before you leave your house for that big job interview might not contain the same level of intensity, but mental preparation can still mean the difference between victory (getting the job) and defeat (back to the classifieds).
Experts recommend that job hunters visualize in their minds how the interview will go. A little edginess before an interview can be helpful if it makes you alert and energized, but too much anxiety can be disastrous. Practicing deep breathing or repeating a tranquil word like "calm" are popular methods people use to get themselves ready for a tense situation. And, again, mental preparation well in advance of an interview is key.
To gain confidence, executive coaches advise you write down several of your greatest accomplishments and then list the skills you used to achieve them. If you know your skills and how you make a difference, it will be easier to talk about them in an interview setting.
The same logic applies to your weaknesses. Long before the day of the interview, candidates should think of solid answers to three questions they don't want to be asked. Write them down if you have to and go over them several times. This will go a long way toward relieving anxiety.
And what about everyone's most hated question – how old are you? Most interviewers are savvy enough to know it's illegal to directly ask, but often you'll get a question such as, "What year did you graduate from college?" that indirectly probes at your age. If you tell the truth, the interviewer then knows your age and may not want to hire you because of it. If you say you don't want to answer the question, you could come across poorly and may make the interviewer uncomfortable.
Here's how you can finesse the situation. First, assume the interviewer doesn't have ulterior motives. Instead, figure that he or she is trying to learn something, albeit clumsily, about your ability to do the job. So listen to the question, then ask your own question in return to determine the interviewer's underlying agenda.
For instance, you could respond, "I'm curious to know why you are asking me this. Are you worried that my skills might be out of date?" or "That's an interesting question. Are you probing to learn about the applicability of my skills or my course work?" The interviewer should then respond with the reason for the question, which allows you to say something good about yourself. Frame your response as a showcase of what you've learned and prove that your training is current.
Pre-interview assessment tests are another source of anxiety – or annoyance – for many heading into an interview. Candidates should take the assessments seriously, even if they feel they aren't necessary. And clear your schedule. Ask recruiters about how long a pre-employment assessment might take, as you may need to devote anywhere from a few minutes to several hours of your time. You can also familiarize yourself with pre-employment assessments by taking free ones on the Web, such as eTest Inc., a pre-employment testing and assessment company in Atlanta. Practice tests can help you feel more comfortable for when it's your turn in the hot seat.
Knowing you look your best for an interview creates confidence as well. Be sure to get that suit pressed well in advance of the big day, break in your shoes and don't go overboard with flashy accessories or designer touches. Feeling rushed or worrying you might be late can throw off your mojo, too, so it's a good idea to give yourself more travel time than you think you need.
Overall, before a big interview, psychological and career experts agree that it's important to focus on the positive. The bottom line? Always think about, talk about, and practice exactly what you want to happen.
Famous Job Interviews Through the Ages
At job interviews, particularly when young people are involved, the applicant is frequently asked: "What is your greatest weakness?"
This is a rude, intrusive question, and nobody should be required to answer it. It is a trick question designed to put the applicant at a disadvantage. It is just one step up from "When did you stop beating your wife? I mean, your partner. Let me rephrase that: When did you stop beating your significant other?"
Nishant Choski
From Queenan: "What's my greatest weakness?" is un-American to ask.
For starters, the presumption that people have weaknesses is un-American. It is defeatist and sad. The whole point of being American is to feel invincible, that one is incapable of being improved upon. Just ask Jamie Dimon. Or Barack Obama. This isn't Albania we're running here.
Imagine asking George Washington or Susan B. Anthony, "What is your greatest weakness?" What kind of an answer do you think you would get out of George Patton or Geronimo or Lady Gaga? It is a demeaning question that invites a response like "I am completely invulnerable except when exposed to large chunks of kryptonite" or "I sometimes slap peoples' faces when they ask me rude questions."
Friends familiar with the dark, insidious and cruel world of human resources assure me that such questions are ubiquitous, part of the interviewer's script. Another dandy is, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" Who asks a person just starting out in life a question like that? Or, even worse, a person reaching the end of his career?
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" an Egyptian HR firm might have asked the young Moses shortly before he parted the Red Sea. "Wandering around the desert, I guess" would be the response. "And that's where I expect to be 40 years from now, too."
Or, as Jean Valjean of "Les Misérables" might put it: "Ten years from now? Probably getting ready to serve the last nine years of my sentence. I'm doing the big dix-neuf."
To put this in perspective, here are some other idiotic questions that pop up during interviews, with responses by famous historical or literary figures.
Describe a difficult situation at work and how you handled it.
"My boss had two sets of books, and the Feds wanted to see the real numbers. No way I was going behind Big Al's back. So I told 'em: I don't see nothing; I don't hear nothing; I don't know nothing." (Al Capone's CPA)
Describe a situation where you think your boss should have taken your advice. "I told her, I told her: Do not use the words 'Let them eat cake.' I told her to say: 'Sure. Fresh bread for all.' Or better yet, 'Anyone for éclairs?' But she just wouldn't listen." (Marie Antoinette's lady-in-waiting)
Describe your worst boss. "My boss used to murder his wives and then ask me to write the press release explaining why Anne Boleyn or Kathryn Howard would not be at the costume ball that Friday. It was a very tricky situation and required a lot of finesse on the part of yours truly." (Thomas Cromwell)
Tell the truth: Are you overqualified for this job? "Since I am applying for a job as a galley slave, I would have to say no." (Ben-Hur)
Do you take work home with you? "Well, duh! I mean, I am a spy." (Mata Hari)
What sort of compensation are you looking for? What would it take to make you happy? "Booty would be nice. Swag, booty, what have you. Ill-gotten gains would also be okay." (Genghis Khan)
Why should we hire you instead of the other highly qualified candidate? "I don't think my brother's going to make it to the interview today." (Cain)
Have you ever gotten angry at work? "I got really mad when General Lee told me to lead that charge at Gettysburg. I just didn't think it was a good idea. But it wasn't the only time he made us do something stupid, so I let it go." (George Pickett)
What have you learned from your mistakes? "For best results, stay out of Russia, especially in December." (Napoleon Bonaparte)
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