The Interview: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
18 December 2013
Read by 2525 persons
The interview is a highly emotional experience, and it's not easy to stay focused until the end, explains Leonard.
There I was, standing in my freshly polished leather shoes. I was waiting on the luxurious sofa in the reception area. The receptionist had informed HR of my arrival; she was typing on her keyboard and occasionally glancing at me. I wondered what the next few minutes of my life would be like. To pass the time, I reread an article about the company that had recently appeared in a specialized magazine.
The interviewer arrived and greeted me. It's incredible how much information you reveal about yourself simply in the way you say hello, in a firm handshake and direct gaze. This nonverbal communication, between the reception area and the meeting room, is almost as important as the content of the interview itself. I already felt like the interview had begun.
HR offered me a seat. I gratefully accepted the glass of water they offered. They put me at ease and gave me a company brochure.
And after two weeks of scouring the web for information, I looked at it with great interest. The conversation started around their main activities. Phew, the ice was broken!
The rest of the interview flew by. Careful, I had to stay clear-headed: even if HR encouraged it, familiarity was to be avoided at all costs. Every answer during the interview would allow them to imagine my behavior within the company.
Afterwards, I felt that the most important part of my preparation was refining the "typical questions", and particularly thinking about my weaknesses. It's true! It's always much harder to spontaneously talk about your weaknesses than your strengths.
Ultimately, a job interview requires a lot of preparation. The most useful advice I received: stay focused until the end and don't "give up".
Leonard.
Apec.fr
Published November 18, 2013.
Posted December 18, 2013.
There I was, standing in my freshly polished leather shoes. I was waiting on the luxurious sofa in the reception area. The receptionist had informed HR of my arrival; she was typing on her keyboard and occasionally glancing at me. I wondered what the next few minutes of my life would be like. To pass the time, I reread an article about the company that had recently appeared in a specialized magazine.
The interviewer arrived and greeted me. It's incredible how much information you reveal about yourself simply in the way you say hello, in a firm handshake and direct gaze. This nonverbal communication, between the reception area and the meeting room, is almost as important as the content of the interview itself. I already felt like the interview had begun.
HR offered me a seat. I gratefully accepted the glass of water they offered. They put me at ease and gave me a company brochure.
And after two weeks of scouring the web for information, I looked at it with great interest. The conversation started around their main activities. Phew, the ice was broken!
The rest of the interview flew by. Careful, I had to stay clear-headed: even if HR encouraged it, familiarity was to be avoided at all costs. Every answer during the interview would allow them to imagine my behavior within the company.
Afterwards, I felt that the most important part of my preparation was refining the "typical questions", and particularly thinking about my weaknesses. It's true! It's always much harder to spontaneously talk about your weaknesses than your strengths.
Ultimately, a job interview requires a lot of preparation. The most useful advice I received: stay focused until the end and don't "give up".
Leonard.
Apec.fr
Published November 18, 2013.
Posted December 18, 2013.
