The job market is exciting and often challenging to navigate
The job market is exciting and often challenging to navigate. Often the career that you have spent time studying for doesn’t work out. Or you have been there and done that – thank you, next. Whatever it is, there is a big pop of excitement when you see the job that you have been hankering after.
Think about the fact that there will be people more qualified than you, faster, younger, maybe even a more impressive resume… However, here are a few tips that will help you go to the top of the pile.
Top Tip: Unless you are a graphic designer and your resume is your work of art, then grab a template for a professional resume that looks the part.
The Day
It is go-time. Performance day. Hopefully, you have cleared your day, and this is the only thing that you have to do. From the second you open your eyes, is when ‘getting in the zone’ happens. If you listen to podcasts, pick out a particularly inspiring or motivational one for this morning. Get into a can-do, positive mind-set. You need to maintain this all day.
Previous to this moment, you will have made notes about the company and any recent and relevant news. It might not come up, but wouldn’t it be something if you could talk about the impact their merger will have on the local community. Don’t make new notes, because you will concentrate so hard on remembering them, you’ll forget the others.
In and Out
Your nerves might be jangling. And it isn’t practical to say – don’t be nervous. It is more realistic to talk about tips. In the days leading up to your interview, and certainly before the moment of – start taking slow deep breaths every time you feel nerves creeping in. Try to breathe in for 8 and out for four. Try to fit in ten minutes a day. It’s great for you after too, but for this, we are looking to get your focused and calmer.
Seconds
When you walk in the room, you have mere seconds to give your best impression. Put your hand out to greet your interviewers, and say hello – and your name, to them all. They will try to get some light chit chat in to calm your nerves, so go with it. IT will likely just be the weather, or the traffic something mundane but ultimately will take your mind off the interview for a moment. It is something we commonly talk to our friends and family about, so lends a moment of familiarity and calm.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Body Language
If you are arms crossed, legs crossed – you are giving a clear signal you aren’t open to this conversation – your interviewer will follow suit. Try to relax your shoulders and remain open. Mimicking the interviewer – with subtlety is a good idea too. Try to have an air of positivity and interest. While some people struggle with it, eye-contact isn’t an option for you. You need to speak directly to the person asking the questions.
If something goes wrong, don’t worry about it. Phones will go off, the door will get knocked, and you might realize that you have two different shoes on (check before you leave the house). You have a final moment to recover. When you get up to go, tell them you hope they have a great day and are successful and it has been a pleasure talking to them. Leave on a positive note, and that will be the final impression they get.
