OK - so interviews aren't a bundle of laughs. Most of us hate going into a room full of strangers and boasting about ourselves, whilst we answer the weird questions that they throw at us. But, if you are truly serious about progressing your career, you need to solve the interview challenge. There are 3 fundamentals to doing well in your interview - Prepare, Present well and possess Positive thinking. The first step is the introduction.
The interview intro may be a tricky customer and one that may easily get away from you. Once you move into that chamber of horrors often addressed as the interview room, youre on your own, never sure if you are saying or executing the right thing. The stronger you endeavor to loosen up the more nervous you seem to feel. Just stringing up a reasonable sentence together seems like one of the labours of Hercules. Of course the room is unbearably hot and your mouth is outstandingly dry so your tongue puffs up, cutting off the air to your mind. Panic grips you. Finally, just as you are about to turn on your heels and make an undignified dash for the nearest emergency exit, the sympathetic interviewer extends a friendly hand and welcomes you. Now what do you do?
Do not panic. You can come through this with elegance and style. Stay calm and keep logical. If you have prepared properly - this will be dead easy. If you haven't prepared properly, know that you have said hello hundreds of times and got it right - most of the time. They don't know who you are so whatever you say, will be judged only on the hear and now. They wont be prejudiced by what Janice from telecoms said or anything like that - so you can decide how you want to come across. Remember to be punctual, dress respectfully and ensure that you are clean and tidily presented. Practice your style of answering in front of the mirror to help boost your confidence. Once you are comfortable in talking to yourself in the privacy of your own room, try practicing your answers in front of a colleague or friend.
Once you have got over the initial introductions, be prepared for them to offer you something to eat or drink. Be wary of accepting their generosity, which may be meant with kindness. Practically, the more variables that enter the picture the more potential there is for things to go wrong. Even holding a cup of coffee may reveal your nerves in a tremor and if you were to spill it... I know that you will be extremely thirsty as your salivary glands will seem to be on strike, but I would suggest that you politely decline any offer of a drink.
According to certain eminent psychologists, who study such things, the first few minutes of any interview are crucial in determining the final outcome. It seems that first impressions really do count. With the preliminaries over, its time to tackle the main event. By this stage of the game youll either be brimming with confidence or desperate for the lavatory, a cigarette and a family-sized candy bar. Whatever happens you must stay focussed on the task at hand. 105 seconds is all the time youre going to get to make the right impression. The key is not to panic. DONT PANIC! If youre properly prepared then nothing can go wrong. You should know exactly what questions to ask, what to say, and when to say it. Try to anticipate the questions the interviewer is likely to ask, and have your answers ready. But remember, before answering pause for a moment. It looks more natural. Keep your delivery clear, consistent, positive, short and simple; then you wont go far wrong. And try not to get sidetracked or go off at a tangent.
Interviews aren't really the onerous process that you may believe them to be. It is simply a meeting between two parties. The outcome of the meeting will be of huge importance to both sides - so they are likely to be just as fearful as you - but in a different way. They will not want to make a mistake in 5 minutes, that they will go on to regret for the months to come. Trust the process and trust the individuals. Stay focussed on achieving your goals and see what happens. If you aren't successful, then make sure that you get some feedback on your performance so that you can move on positively.
Typically, just as you start to relax and feel youre building a rapport with your interviewer youll find the whole torturous process suddenly coming to an end. And its now, at the end of the interview that you face your biggest challenge. As your confidence levels climb its tempting to drop your guard and divert from your original interview strategy. Resist this impulse. Technically known as end-of-interview euphoria you must fight the urge to say something witty or clever. In the intoxicatingly thin air of your newly found confidence the chances are that your wit and cleverness will be interpreted as glibness or even rudeness. Take it from someone who has suffered this fate; fight your urges and keep your mouth shut without youre asked a direct question.
It's important to keep performing right until the end. Don't let your guard down at this late stage. Before you get up - engage eye contact with the panel and smile. Say thank you to them and stand up carefully. Make a note of any hazards that might trip you up. Determine the best route out of the room and follow that route with a sureness of foot. Congratulations. - 15254
The interview intro may be a tricky customer and one that may easily get away from you. Once you move into that chamber of horrors often addressed as the interview room, youre on your own, never sure if you are saying or executing the right thing. The stronger you endeavor to loosen up the more nervous you seem to feel. Just stringing up a reasonable sentence together seems like one of the labours of Hercules. Of course the room is unbearably hot and your mouth is outstandingly dry so your tongue puffs up, cutting off the air to your mind. Panic grips you. Finally, just as you are about to turn on your heels and make an undignified dash for the nearest emergency exit, the sympathetic interviewer extends a friendly hand and welcomes you. Now what do you do?
Do not panic. You can come through this with elegance and style. Stay calm and keep logical. If you have prepared properly - this will be dead easy. If you haven't prepared properly, know that you have said hello hundreds of times and got it right - most of the time. They don't know who you are so whatever you say, will be judged only on the hear and now. They wont be prejudiced by what Janice from telecoms said or anything like that - so you can decide how you want to come across. Remember to be punctual, dress respectfully and ensure that you are clean and tidily presented. Practice your style of answering in front of the mirror to help boost your confidence. Once you are comfortable in talking to yourself in the privacy of your own room, try practicing your answers in front of a colleague or friend.
Once you have got over the initial introductions, be prepared for them to offer you something to eat or drink. Be wary of accepting their generosity, which may be meant with kindness. Practically, the more variables that enter the picture the more potential there is for things to go wrong. Even holding a cup of coffee may reveal your nerves in a tremor and if you were to spill it... I know that you will be extremely thirsty as your salivary glands will seem to be on strike, but I would suggest that you politely decline any offer of a drink.
According to certain eminent psychologists, who study such things, the first few minutes of any interview are crucial in determining the final outcome. It seems that first impressions really do count. With the preliminaries over, its time to tackle the main event. By this stage of the game youll either be brimming with confidence or desperate for the lavatory, a cigarette and a family-sized candy bar. Whatever happens you must stay focussed on the task at hand. 105 seconds is all the time youre going to get to make the right impression. The key is not to panic. DONT PANIC! If youre properly prepared then nothing can go wrong. You should know exactly what questions to ask, what to say, and when to say it. Try to anticipate the questions the interviewer is likely to ask, and have your answers ready. But remember, before answering pause for a moment. It looks more natural. Keep your delivery clear, consistent, positive, short and simple; then you wont go far wrong. And try not to get sidetracked or go off at a tangent.
Interviews aren't really the onerous process that you may believe them to be. It is simply a meeting between two parties. The outcome of the meeting will be of huge importance to both sides - so they are likely to be just as fearful as you - but in a different way. They will not want to make a mistake in 5 minutes, that they will go on to regret for the months to come. Trust the process and trust the individuals. Stay focussed on achieving your goals and see what happens. If you aren't successful, then make sure that you get some feedback on your performance so that you can move on positively.
Typically, just as you start to relax and feel youre building a rapport with your interviewer youll find the whole torturous process suddenly coming to an end. And its now, at the end of the interview that you face your biggest challenge. As your confidence levels climb its tempting to drop your guard and divert from your original interview strategy. Resist this impulse. Technically known as end-of-interview euphoria you must fight the urge to say something witty or clever. In the intoxicatingly thin air of your newly found confidence the chances are that your wit and cleverness will be interpreted as glibness or even rudeness. Take it from someone who has suffered this fate; fight your urges and keep your mouth shut without youre asked a direct question.
It's important to keep performing right until the end. Don't let your guard down at this late stage. Before you get up - engage eye contact with the panel and smile. Say thank you to them and stand up carefully. Make a note of any hazards that might trip you up. Determine the best route out of the room and follow that route with a sureness of foot. Congratulations. - 15254
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To learn more about how to prepare yourself for your interview have a look at this video on residency interviews
