Succeeding at your job interview
12 January 2012
Read by 2014 persons
Your CV and cover letter hit the mark, and a recruiter has invited you for an interview. Lexpress.fr gives you tips to avoid tripping up.
Before the interview
- To avoid being too stressed during your job interview, find out as much as possible about the company and the position you are applying for. Browse its website, read articles about the company, try to identify its values...
- Some questions inevitably come up: What can you bring to our company? How do you see the position? What are your motivations? Tell me your strengths and weaknesses... To avoid being caught off guard during the interview and to appear confident, prepare your answers and list what you want to say or not say.
- If you have the opportunity, practice with a friend: expressing your desires out loud often helps clarify your thoughts. If not, take our test Practice for job interviews.
The day of the interview
- Dress properly. There is no standard outfit for an interview -it depends on the dress code of the profession you practice- but generally, opt for a simple and classic outfit.
- Be on time. Leave early to allow for any unforeseen events. You can also check out the location the day before to make sure you don't get lost.
- Look relaxed. Be smiling, natural, stand tall, look your interviewer in the eyes. "Some people, when faced with an awkward or embarrassing question, start coughing, blushing, looking at the floor, playing with their hair, wringing their hands... recruiters are generally experts at noticing these unconscious gestures, even if they are imperceptible movements such as small muscle movements. The best way to combat this unconscious behavior is to practice in advance so that you are comfortable in any circumstance", assures Daniel Porot in The Job Interview in 200 Questions.
- Highlight your strengths. You need to make recruiters want to take you onto their team. During the interview, argue your answers and give specific examples of your previous achievements. Also prioritize action verbs such as "I achieved", "I implemented", "I developed". But highlighting yourself doesn't mean lying or even being evasive. A speech that sounds false is a deal breaker for recruiters.
- The recruiter doesn't have a monopoly on questioning! Don't hesitate to ask questions to get more details about the position, the company and the working conditions. This shows your interviewer that you are interested in the job.
After the interview
- Follow up: At the end of your interview, ask your interviewer when they plan to give you an answer. If they haven't called you on the day, wait a day or two before following up: they may be behind on their files. If you don't know when they should answer you, wait a week before calling back.
Lexpress.fr
Posted online January 12, 2012.
Before the interview
- To avoid being too stressed during your job interview, find out as much as possible about the company and the position you are applying for. Browse its website, read articles about the company, try to identify its values...
- Some questions inevitably come up: What can you bring to our company? How do you see the position? What are your motivations? Tell me your strengths and weaknesses... To avoid being caught off guard during the interview and to appear confident, prepare your answers and list what you want to say or not say.
- If you have the opportunity, practice with a friend: expressing your desires out loud often helps clarify your thoughts. If not, take our test Practice for job interviews.
The day of the interview
- Dress properly. There is no standard outfit for an interview -it depends on the dress code of the profession you practice- but generally, opt for a simple and classic outfit.
- Be on time. Leave early to allow for any unforeseen events. You can also check out the location the day before to make sure you don't get lost.
- Look relaxed. Be smiling, natural, stand tall, look your interviewer in the eyes. "Some people, when faced with an awkward or embarrassing question, start coughing, blushing, looking at the floor, playing with their hair, wringing their hands... recruiters are generally experts at noticing these unconscious gestures, even if they are imperceptible movements such as small muscle movements. The best way to combat this unconscious behavior is to practice in advance so that you are comfortable in any circumstance", assures Daniel Porot in The Job Interview in 200 Questions.
- Highlight your strengths. You need to make recruiters want to take you onto their team. During the interview, argue your answers and give specific examples of your previous achievements. Also prioritize action verbs such as "I achieved", "I implemented", "I developed". But highlighting yourself doesn't mean lying or even being evasive. A speech that sounds false is a deal breaker for recruiters.
- The recruiter doesn't have a monopoly on questioning! Don't hesitate to ask questions to get more details about the position, the company and the working conditions. This shows your interviewer that you are interested in the job.
After the interview
- Follow up: At the end of your interview, ask your interviewer when they plan to give you an answer. If they haven't called you on the day, wait a day or two before following up: they may be behind on their files. If you don't know when they should answer you, wait a week before calling back.
Lexpress.fr
Posted online January 12, 2012.
