5 essential keys to succeeding in your job interviews
26 November 2014
Read by 2910 persons
There are thousands of books and articles presenting techniques and tips to help candidates find a job. You can read almost anything and its opposite. Between what to do and what not to do, it is sometimes very difficult to find your way.
What is valid for some is not valid for others. There are of course major trends, but what do recruiters think today?
During the last 3 days, I met about thirty recruiters. My profession is passionate about being at the heart of the following topic: behaviors and lies during job interviews.
These meetings also allow me to take the temperature of the market, to understand recruitment processes and the new requirements of companies (and their HR).
Evaluating a candidate is a rather complex process and the data to be taken into account are numerous. Added to this is the pressure to find the right candidate, the lack of time and the difficulty of identifying sincere candidates from those who lie and cheat. Yes, it exists! Candidates do not hesitate at all to present completely false resumes, or to argue about experiences and positions they have never held. In short, the risk of error can be significant.
Many recruiters trust their gut feeling!
Behind personality tests, rigorous analysis of the resume and decryption of experiences and skills, perception (and therefore irrationality) can play a significant part in the decision-making process. "I have a good feeling about him" or "I don't have a good feeling about him". This may seem surprising, but many recruiters admit to relying on their instincts.
The following 5 keys were mentioned several times during these 3 days. These are fundamental elements to take into account in order to put all the chances on your side and succeed in your job interviews.
I have already talked about this in other articles and in my books, but it is more than necessary to repeat them.
"Form is often more important than substance"
Perception plays a significant part in our lives.
This is even truer in recruitment. Your resume contains factual information such as your education, your experience, etc. But your way of presenting yourself, of managing the relationship and of establishing human contact could have much more weight than you think in this somewhat special relationship that is the job interview.
It is essential to make a good impression from the first contact with the company.
This does not start on the day of the interview, but from the first email or the first telephone contact. Of course, the first impression and all your behavior throughout the interview will condition the recruiter's final feeling.
Master all your communication (words and behaviors) at each interview and show an image of stability and coherence.
If the recruitment process requires you to meet several people in the company (and perhaps several times the same HR), it is obvious that you will have to show the same image. Your way of communicating could betray your state of mind and your thoughts. If you want to show a professional image that inspires confidence, you will have to master your communication with each interlocutor as best as possible. Lack of coherence in your verbal and non-verbal communication could betray you and show that you are playing a role. So avoid sending contradictory messages.
Tell the truth: if you lie, it will show (especially if the recruiter has been well trained)
What you will show, voluntarily and involuntarily, will play in your favor or not. Our brain is programmed to analyze in real time behaviors and communication in the relationship. Little lies or big exaggerations, your behavior could betray you! Even excellent liars always end up letting behavioral leaks slip that will show that they don't believe what they are saying...
Dare to talk about your salary.
For some recruiters, a candidate who does not address the subject of remuneration is directly eliminated! This can be perceived as a lack of motivation.
If you want to work, it's to earn money, right? So, talk about it, be interested in your salary because it will follow you throughout your life in the company.
There are of course other important elements to take into account, but if you are already able to master these 5 keys, you will already be able to score some points.
Rest assured, if you don't please one, you will always have a chance to please others. It's all a matter of perception and therefore trust.
Eric Goulard.
Huffingtonpost.fr
Published on November 20, 2014.
Posted online on November 26, 2014.
What is valid for some is not valid for others. There are of course major trends, but what do recruiters think today?
During the last 3 days, I met about thirty recruiters. My profession is passionate about being at the heart of the following topic: behaviors and lies during job interviews.
These meetings also allow me to take the temperature of the market, to understand recruitment processes and the new requirements of companies (and their HR).
Evaluating a candidate is a rather complex process and the data to be taken into account are numerous. Added to this is the pressure to find the right candidate, the lack of time and the difficulty of identifying sincere candidates from those who lie and cheat. Yes, it exists! Candidates do not hesitate at all to present completely false resumes, or to argue about experiences and positions they have never held. In short, the risk of error can be significant.
Many recruiters trust their gut feeling!
Behind personality tests, rigorous analysis of the resume and decryption of experiences and skills, perception (and therefore irrationality) can play a significant part in the decision-making process. "I have a good feeling about him" or "I don't have a good feeling about him". This may seem surprising, but many recruiters admit to relying on their instincts.
The following 5 keys were mentioned several times during these 3 days. These are fundamental elements to take into account in order to put all the chances on your side and succeed in your job interviews.
I have already talked about this in other articles and in my books, but it is more than necessary to repeat them.
"Form is often more important than substance"
Perception plays a significant part in our lives.
This is even truer in recruitment. Your resume contains factual information such as your education, your experience, etc. But your way of presenting yourself, of managing the relationship and of establishing human contact could have much more weight than you think in this somewhat special relationship that is the job interview.
It is essential to make a good impression from the first contact with the company.
This does not start on the day of the interview, but from the first email or the first telephone contact. Of course, the first impression and all your behavior throughout the interview will condition the recruiter's final feeling.
Master all your communication (words and behaviors) at each interview and show an image of stability and coherence.
If the recruitment process requires you to meet several people in the company (and perhaps several times the same HR), it is obvious that you will have to show the same image. Your way of communicating could betray your state of mind and your thoughts. If you want to show a professional image that inspires confidence, you will have to master your communication with each interlocutor as best as possible. Lack of coherence in your verbal and non-verbal communication could betray you and show that you are playing a role. So avoid sending contradictory messages.
Tell the truth: if you lie, it will show (especially if the recruiter has been well trained)
What you will show, voluntarily and involuntarily, will play in your favor or not. Our brain is programmed to analyze in real time behaviors and communication in the relationship. Little lies or big exaggerations, your behavior could betray you! Even excellent liars always end up letting behavioral leaks slip that will show that they don't believe what they are saying...
Dare to talk about your salary.
For some recruiters, a candidate who does not address the subject of remuneration is directly eliminated! This can be perceived as a lack of motivation.
If you want to work, it's to earn money, right? So, talk about it, be interested in your salary because it will follow you throughout your life in the company.
There are of course other important elements to take into account, but if you are already able to master these 5 keys, you will already be able to score some points.
Rest assured, if you don't please one, you will always have a chance to please others. It's all a matter of perception and therefore trust.
Eric Goulard.
Huffingtonpost.fr
Published on November 20, 2014.
Posted online on November 26, 2014.
