20.3 Performance
Once you have prepared mentally and gathered information for the interview, it’s time to prepare for the interaction during the interview.
Dress the Part
Dress your best. In most business cultures, dressing professionally is a sign of respect, conveying that you care about the position and that you want to make a good impression.
Here are the basics:
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- Wear your best professional clothing.
- Try on the complete outfit to make sure you’re comfortable. Does it fit? Stay in place? Can you sit down, shake hands, and move comfortably? You don’t want your clothing to distract you or the interviewer.
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Even if you know the work environment is casual, you should dress “up” for the interview—more professionally than you would if you worked there. The exception would be if you are explicitly told not to—for instance, if the recruiter specifies that you should dress “business casual.”
Don’t Come Empty-Handed
Arriving at the interview with important documents and notes shows that you are prepared and thinking ahead. Organize all your materials in a nice folder or folio—presentation matters! Print out several clean copies of your résumé and any other documents you might want to reference, like the job or internship description or your references. You should also bring a few samples of your work, if possible, documents you’ve prepared or artifacts from projects.
Make the most out of all of that research and preparation by bringing notes. A nice notebook or paper and a pen are perfectly acceptable for you to have in the interview, and they can help you feel more focused by getting some of the information out of your head and organized on paper.
Follow these guidelines:
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- Be organized. Re-write or type and print your notes so you can easily find the information you need. You don’t want to be shuffling through scraps of paper.
- Keep it simple. Write down keywords, brief phrases and ideas that will jog your memory, not a complete script.
- Prepare questions for the interviewer. You typically have the opportunity to ask these questions at the end of the interview.
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Body Language & Interaction
As a general rule, it’s important to be observant and take your cues from the interviewer. Reflect their tone and pay attention to the dynamic they set. Are they very formal and professional or more conversational? It’s okay to make small talk, but you want to follow the lead of the interviewer.
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- Shake hands. Most of the time, these professional interactions will begin with a handshake. Be prepared with a firm (but not too firm!) and confident handshake. It never hurts to practice!
- Be conscious of your posture. You will want to sit up straight and avoid crossing your arms in front of your chest.
- Make eye contact. Look at the interviewer while they ask you questions and give them non-verbal cues—smiling, nodding—when appropriate. Make it clear that you understand what they’re saying, that you’re listening.
- Speak clearly and thoughtfully. Adjust your volume for the environment and make sure the interviewer can hear and understand you easily. Don’t rush yourself and take the time to deliver thoughtful responses. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question.
- Project calm. Fidgeting and extra movement can make you seem nervous even if you aren’t. Be aware of your tendencies and try to minimize them. If you know you fidget, try to keep your hands folded and avoid clicking or tapping the pen. Don’t wear jewelry that you will play with or that will make noise while you move. Wear your hair in a way that will not tempt you to touch or play with it constantly. If seated at a table, sit towards the front of the chair and plant your feet on the floor. It can help keep you steady.
- Be yourself. With all of the previous tips in mind, you also need to feel comfortable and like yourself. If you are enthusiastic, if you talk with your hands, if you are shy, that’s fine. You just need to be the most engaged, professional version of yourself you can be in order to show the interviewer what you are capable of in the workplace.
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Common Interview Questions
Employment interviews involve a degree of uniformity across their many representations. Here are some common questions you are likely to be asked in an employment interview:
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- Tell me about yourself.
- Have you ever done this type of work before?
- Out of all the candidates, why should we hire you?
- What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
- What do you consider to be your biggest professional achievement?
- Give me an example of a time when you worked under pressure.
- Tell me about a time you encountered (X) type of problem at work. How did you solve the problem?
- Why did you leave your last job?/ Why do you want to leave your current job?
- How has your education and/or experience prepared you for this job?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What are your long-term goals? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
- Do you have any questions?
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When you are asked a question in the interview, look for its purpose as well as its literal meaning. “Tell me about yourself” is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and explain what makes you perfect for the position. The employer is looking for someone who can address their needs. Figure 20.1 provides an example of how you can respond to that question.
Figure 20.1 | Example Response to Tell Me About Yourself
In the same way, responses about your strengths are not an opening to brag, and your weakness not an invitation to confess. If your weakness is a tendency toward perfectionism, and the job you are applying for involves a detail orientation, you can highlight how your weaknesses may serve you well in the position.
Figure 20.2 | Example Response to What are your weaknesses?
Interviewers may ask behavioural questions to learn how you reacted in past situations as this will give them a good indication of how you will react in similar situations in the future. Figure 20.2 provides an example of how you can respond to that question. Here are some common behavioural questions:
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Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.
- Share an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision. What did you do?
- Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss. How did you resolve it?
- Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
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When responding to behavioural questions, use the STAR method. With this method, you answer the question by explaining the Situation, Task, Action and the Result. Figure 20.3 explains the STAR method in detail.
You can also anticipate that the last few minutes will be set aside for you to ask your questions. This is your opportunity to learn more about the problems or challenges that the position will be addressing, allowing you a final opportunity to reinforce a positive message with the audience. Keep your questions simple, your attitude positive, and communicate your interest.
At the same time as you are being interviewed, know that you too are interviewing the prospective employer. If you have done your homework you may already know what the organization is all about, but you may still be unsure whether it is the right fit for you. Listen and learn from what is said as well as what is not said, and you will add to your knowledge base for wise decision-making in the future.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
In addition to revealing your knowledge of the company, questions to the interviewer are also an opportunity for you to figure out if the employer and the company culture are a good fit for you. Think carefully about what matters to you, what would allow you to do your best work, and try to ask questions that will give you insight into those factors.
The following are some questions you can ask the interviewer:
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- What are the primary tasks or responsibilities for a person in this position? What does a day in this job look like? Is travel required? Overtime?
- What is the orientation or training process?
- What are the goals/priorities for a person in this position? How will success be measured?
- What is the company’s assessment and review process?
- Does the company support professional development activities?
- How does this position fit within the team/department? What is the reporting structure?
- How would you describe the company culture or team dynamic?
- What is this company’s approach to management?
- What are the company’s overall goals and priorities and how do those affect someone in this department/position?
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NOTE: This is not typically the best time to ask about salary and benefits. This is your opportunity to learn about the workplace and the position—the environment, how it’s structured, and employee support programs.
Figure 20.4 summarizes the interview process.