Job interview skills

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Written by: Dave Sparkman

“How many of you think you could stand to become a better listener?” said the workshop facilitator, as he raised his own hand. Every participant’s hand went up in response to join his.

That was the opening question in our culture workshops to set up a brief teaching into listening skills. For every workshop I attended or facilitated, whenever that question was asked, 100% of the hands went up, including my own.

The charter text in Scripture advising toward good listening might be James 1:19 “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” Additional verses counter to listening further support the need for it:

• Proverbs 18:2 “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
• Proverbs 18:13 “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”

So why is it that, if you’re like most people, we all think we could stand to become better listeners? Add to that the Scriptural admonitions, and it would seem apparent we should simply learn it and do it. Aha! Like many things in life, easier said than done!

Of the hundreds of people I’ve helped prep for an upcoming interview, none of them ever asked me to help them with their ability to listen. Instead, it was prepping them on what to say and how to say it. Yet an interview, like any other dialogue exchange, consists of talking AND listening. So, in the midst of all the advice we’ve given on what to say in response to an interview question, we thought it only appropriate to share some tips on listening.

The consultants I worked with for culture workshops were from Senn Delaney, and they outlined 5 Levels of Listening. There are other models, of course, but I found categorizing my listening, or lack thereof, according to these 5 levels helped me differentiate my own behaviors in a way to improve my listening skills.

The first level of listening is non-listening. Literally: Not. Listening. At. All. Hank Ketcham once said, “Just because I didn’t do what you told me, doesn’t mean I wasn’t listening to you!” This could be due to distractions or not quite hearing the person adequately, but this first level should be easy to get beyond. Yet, how often have I found myself not paying attention to what someone else was trying to tell me? Gulp! Too often!

The second level of listening is listening to tell my own story.  For example, you tell me that you just got back from vacation and start telling me about it. Odds are very, very high that I’m not fully listening, but instead I’m mentally recalling my own vacation story to share with you once you stop talking. When an interviewer is sharing some information about him/herself, we might reflexively go to self-prepping for the “Tell me about yourself” question we think will follow. Inevitably, we will not capture all the information that is being shared with us. Beth Rowlett captured this level well with, “If you’re thinking of what to say next, you’re not listening.”

The third level of listening is listening to agree or disagree. We are absorbing the information, but only with the means by which we can defend our point of view. Pick any topic where there are at least two viable opinions, and that topic can easily be hijacked into the judgment style of listening. For example, in a discussion about assessment tools, you may not have found the Meyers Briggs tool to be that useful, but if the interviewer, for whatever reason, seems to be an advocate and would like to hear your opinion about it, be sure you’re not defaulting to simply listening to agree or disagree. Reach for Level 5 Listening!

The fourth level of listening is listening for application. What this means is that you’re listening only for the sound bites of what you can actually apply in real time rather than absorbing the whole of what is being said/asked. While on the surface, this level may appear to be sufficient, many nuances may be missed along the way that can better support the application you’d like to make. Let’s say the interviewer starts down the path to ask you a STAR story about conflict resolution, at least with what you think you heard. But the reality is that the interviewer is really digging to see how adaptable you are in high stress situations. You may end up going down a path in your answer that leaves the interviewer thinking you are coming from a different planet!

The fifth level of listening is listening to understand. Stephen R. Covey famously said, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” This level of listening entails actively engaging with the speaker and empathizing with what he /she is saying. You’re not just hearing the words, but you’re actually comprehending the entirety of the message the speaker is trying to convey.

This fifth level is no small accomplishment! Francois de La Rochefoucauld described it this way. “To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.” How many times have we heard someone described as a wonderful conversationalist when the reality is that he/she is just a very good listener.

Publilius Syrus (First Century BC, Maxim 914) – – “Let a fool hold his tongue and he will pass for a sage.”

Let’s be wise when we do have an opportunity to speak by being great listeners! Blessings!

Sometimes we simply do not have the luxury of several days preparation ahead of a job interview. When faced with a last minute interview try these ten essential advice tips.

1. Be enthusiastic; whether your interview is formal or informal, be enthusiastic and take a positive outlook throughout the entire process (even if you feel it has not gone well in parts).
2. Show loyalty; loyalty is highly valued in any company and when it comes to discussing previous employers draw on positives and never speak negatively of them.
3. Be natural; don’t worry about pausing before you answer a question, it shows you can think and are not delivering rehearsed answers.
4. Be honest; try not to embellish or waffle through answers, it’s always better to admit you don’t know the answer to something. Be honest about any shortcomings and expand on how you can overcome them through training or coaching.
5. Avoid emotion; for example if you have left a position on bad terms, provide a concise, positive and factual account. Try to avoid any emotional explanation and never blame others. If your position became untenable and you moved on, then bear in mind that most employers will agree that this was the best course of action.
6. Think ahead; prepare to be asked for previous examples which are relevant to the role and behavioural fit. Expect some related exploratory questions to point 5 (if appropriate to you) about how you would fit into their organisation and what you have learnt from the situation. Provide examples of how you have successfully dealt with similar issues in the past and a comprehensive account of how you avoid personality disputes coupled with a clear statement that you have firmly put those events behind you.
7. Ask key questions; interviews are also an opportunity for you to query the areas that are important to you; the general rule is to not enquire about salary / conditions at first stage interview and focus on pertinent questions that are important to you. For example, company priorities over the next 12 months, the challenges the job-holder can expect and how the role is likely to develop.
8. State your interest; explain exactly what interests you about the job, how you can contribute and how it fits with your career goals. Stating that you ‘want to’ contribute to an organisation will be viewed in a positive light. Furthermore, stating that you perform and thrive best when you are passionate about a job is recommended, so show you are passionate about it and draw on some of your research on the role and the company.
9. Ask a closing question: the final recommended question is, “Do you have any doubts about my ability to perform highly in this role?” This will give you an excellent opportunity to overcome any reservations or to explain in more detail any points that have been wrongly assumed or misunderstood. Should the interviewer state that they have no doubts or reservations, then that is your opportunity to reiterate your interest in the role and enquire as to the next stage in the process.
10. Thank the interviewer; email the interviewer the following day a very brief note to thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the job.

Dan Sculthorp is a Director of the recruitment organisation Opex Selection (www.opexselection.com), specialists in recruiting Improvement Champions; Lean, Six Sigma and Business Process Improvement professionals (permanent and interim) across the UK and worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4481232

With the tough competition nowadays, a job interview invitation doesn’t come as often as you need or want. Thus when you get one, make sure you put your best foot forward to impress the interviewer. Learn to answer questions properly and use your body gestures to ace the interview and land your target job.

Be Enthusiastic!

While your skills and solid experience will surely take you to greater career heights, a large dose of enthusiasm will most likely seal the deal. Take note, however, that boasting and storytelling are completely two different things.

One of the best ways to illustrate your eagerness without coming across as a desperate candidate is to prepare your arsenal of true stories highlighting your accomplishments, skills, and strengths. Describe a situation where you used your knowledge, skills and abilities, and let the interviewer draw conclusions from it.

Learn About the Organization’s Culture

Go ahead and look up everything there is to know about the organization you’re after. Know their culture by watching available online videos and asking those who work for the company. If the organization’s culture is different from what you were used to, you do not have to exactly follow such social norms. It is, however, important to be aware of an organization’s culture so you can come up with strategies which could further help you ace an interview.

Fake It ’til You Make It

A job interview basically measures two things: how fit you are for the job and how confident you are. While nervousness and a bit of anxiety are quite natural during interviews, projecting self-confidence is an excellent way for you to show your potential employer that you are right for the job.

In order to feel confident during your job interview, read your resume and cover letter beforehand. If you know every information you include in the document, you don’t have to worry about anything. If you’re still not fully confident, you might as well fake it until you make it.

Let Your Body to Do the Talking

Your body language is a huge factor to consider when you want to ace interviews. Maintain good posture, have good eye contact, and smile. No one wants to interview someone who slouches with a stone cold expression. Lastly, a firm handshake to complement your genuine your smile will certainly propel you to landing your dream job.

Spin the Interview Into a Conversation

Turning the interview into a conversation between two professionals is a huge plus. You can achieve this by asking the right questions and supporting it with your stories as mentioned above.

Take Your Portfolio with You

If the job you’re after requires you to show off work samples, then take your portfolio with you by all means. Several recruiters allow candidates to do a quick presentation of their work during the interview. By making an effort to come up with a presentation, it shows that you are a step ahead of the other candidates.

Involve Everyone

This is applicable if you are about to go on a group interview. While the other candidates are your competitors, involving everyone could actually help you get a spot for a one-on-one interview. Apart from standing out from the rest of the group, you get to appear as a natural leader by addressing other candidates during an interview. Address people by their name and try to ask them about their thoughts and ideas.

While a comprehensive resume and cover letter could take you to an interview, the interview itself is the deal breaker. For more information on how to ace a job interview, download this free comprehensive guide which provides more detailed strategies to do better in your next round of interviews.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7703689

After impressing your potential employer with your CV and cover letter, now comes the most difficult yet important part – learning how to face an interview. Here are some basic interview tips that will help you prepare to give an excellent interview.

Be prepared

Learn all the important information you need to know about the organisation you will be interviewing for by visiting their website. Check out the required skills of the job you’re interviewing for and see whether you meet them or not.

If you don’t have all the skills then get ready to demonstrate the skills you have and list the places or instances where you have demonstrated them. The interviewer will predict your future behaviour from your past behaviour.

Travel should be planned

You should plan your travel to the place of interview well in advance in order to avoid getting lost or missing a train. Some circumstances may be out of your control but you can always be prepared for the unexpected.

It is advisable to inform the interviewer if you are going to be late for the interview. Leave early if you are not sure of the location so that you will be prepared and calm before the interview.

Prepare some questions you wish to ask the interviewer

Asking the interviewer one or two questions gives them an idea that you have researched the organisation and are interested in working for them. You can also ask them about their own experiences of working for the organisation.

Don’t panic

It is common to be nervous before an interview. But if things do not ago as planned, don’t panic. If you are not sure about a question, think about it for some time. Take deep breaths until you feel at ease.

In case you do not know the answer to a question, tell your interviewers that you are not sure. It is not shameful to admit that you do not know. For all you know, that question may have been to check if you have the right skills and motivation.

Be yourself

Do not try to be someone you are not. Act natural as yourself. Give them a true picture of the person you are. Show them your true personality and be relaxed.

Pay attention to your body language

Do not play with your hair, pen or bite nails when you are tense. Sit up straight and look the interviewer in the eye. A certain amount of eye contact makes you look confident, while too much can make you seem creepy. Use just the right amount to create a good impression.

Make a good first impression

Some basic interview dress tips include your attire for the interview, which should be appropriate, but not uncomfortable. Your handshake should be firm and you must maintain eye contact while shaking hands. First impressions last long.

Listen and answer

You will have prepared for a number of frequently asked interview questions. Listen carefully and think before you answer them. If you don’t understand the question, ask them to repeat it.

Change examples

If the interviewer asks you to demonstrate your communication skills, talents and other abilities, answer them with different examples and not the same one you used before. Think of various examples from outside work and university.

Look interested

Show your interest in what the interviewer is saying by smiling and nodding. Looking bored and not maintaining eye contact shows the interviewer that you are not interested in working for them.

Now that you know how to prepare for your interview, go ahead and make a great brilliant impression.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8023927