It’s time for the interview and you want the new job!
Here are some ways to impress your potential new boss.
Practice a real handshake. A handshake is the business greeting in America. Jellyfish need not apply here. A firm clasp is the handshake of preference.
Adopt a positive attitude and don’t interrupt! Smile and be enthusiastic and let the other person complete his sentence or idea before you respond. This requires patience. That’s why it is so difficult for the hard-driving sales professional to use this tip.
Plan your introduction and prepare to ask questions. Your self-introduction allows you to tell your employer who you are, and to give them a pleasant experience of you. Don’t be afraid to ask a few open-ended questions. These questions elicit a lengthy response rather than just a couple of words. It’s tough for you not to listen when you’ve just asked a question.
Silence is not necessarily golden. Have a few light conversations prepared. Hope for common areas of interest. Don’t answer quickly. This is difficult to use because so many people find silence uncomfortable. It’s amazing what employers tell you when you’re silent.
Mentally participate in the conversation. Summarize what you’ve heard. Since you want to gain the maximum information about your employer’s needs and motivations, you will want to structure your responses very carefully.
Have a Questioning Plan when you are negotiating. It’s important to have a goal in mind and to have a questioning plan that will help you achieve that goal.
- “What is most important to you concerning ……?”
- “What are the concerns or challenges you face in your business right now?”
- “What are some major objectives you would like me to achieve, assuming I’m offered the position?”
Give feedback. If you want the job, restate in your own words what you’ve just heard. This will also help you to draw conclusions and confirm your knowledge of all the job has to offer. Typically, a restatement begins with “So what you’re saying is…” “If I’m hearing you correctly…” or “What I hear you saying is…”
If you want the job? Most importantly! Ask for the job!
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am and is filed under Career News.
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