In an interview, be yourself!
6 January 2015
Read by 3215 persons
Far from the academic world, a job interview has nothing in common with an oral exam. It is one of the highlights of the recruitment process. The success of the exercise is based above all on a good professional project, real preparation and a touch of spontaneity.
The interview allows the recruiter to detect personalities behind profiles that are often very similar on paper. They question the validity of a candidacy for a position to be filled. On your side, the interview will help you better understand the position to see if it matches your aspirations and your professional project. It's an exchange. For it to be fruitful, you must know the terms of the announcement or the highlights of the profile sought, keep a critical mind and have gathered as much information as possible about the company. Of course, you must present yourself in your best light: punctual, neat, respectful of your interlocutor.
This meeting can take different forms. It can take place with one or more interlocutors, be individual or collective, with or without tests, sometimes followed by simulations that complement the interview itself. The course and atmosphere are linked to the recruiters. Some are interventionist, even directive, others readily leave the floor. The typical interview does not exist, so you have to adapt.
Be interested in the company's needs and show that you understand them. Rephrase the key points in a positive, brief and concise way. Make the link with the strengths of your application. Be active. You have to listen, answer, ask... A structured dialogue is a sign of maturity and motivation. But, be yourself! You must accept your successes as well as your failures. And adapt to the behavior of your interlocutor. Questions of remuneration, hours, restaurant vouchers... should only be addressed if the context allows it. Similarly, it is not a question of overwhelming your interlocutor with your knowledge. Pierre, a young engineer, experienced this: "I'm sure I was rejected because I knew the results, history and projects of the group better than the manager who was interviewing me"...
At the end of the interview, summarize the important information from the exchange, ask what the next steps will be, who should contact you again, when, and of course, thank you for the time and attention you have been given.
Apec.fr
Published January 5, 2015.
Posted online January 6, 2015.
The interview allows the recruiter to detect personalities behind profiles that are often very similar on paper. They question the validity of a candidacy for a position to be filled. On your side, the interview will help you better understand the position to see if it matches your aspirations and your professional project. It's an exchange. For it to be fruitful, you must know the terms of the announcement or the highlights of the profile sought, keep a critical mind and have gathered as much information as possible about the company. Of course, you must present yourself in your best light: punctual, neat, respectful of your interlocutor.
This meeting can take different forms. It can take place with one or more interlocutors, be individual or collective, with or without tests, sometimes followed by simulations that complement the interview itself. The course and atmosphere are linked to the recruiters. Some are interventionist, even directive, others readily leave the floor. The typical interview does not exist, so you have to adapt.
Be interested in the company's needs and show that you understand them. Rephrase the key points in a positive, brief and concise way. Make the link with the strengths of your application. Be active. You have to listen, answer, ask... A structured dialogue is a sign of maturity and motivation. But, be yourself! You must accept your successes as well as your failures. And adapt to the behavior of your interlocutor. Questions of remuneration, hours, restaurant vouchers... should only be addressed if the context allows it. Similarly, it is not a question of overwhelming your interlocutor with your knowledge. Pierre, a young engineer, experienced this: "I'm sure I was rejected because I knew the results, history and projects of the group better than the manager who was interviewing me"...
At the end of the interview, summarize the important information from the exchange, ask what the next steps will be, who should contact you again, when, and of course, thank you for the time and attention you have been given.
Apec.fr
Published January 5, 2015.
Posted online January 6, 2015.
