To many job seekers, "stress" is synonymous with "job interview."
Job seekers stress over landing an interview. Then they stress over preparing for it. And then they stress over what to wear, what to say, if the interviewer will like them and more.
But the worst stress of all often occurs during the interview. This is the stress that can cause you to blow it. It can make you freeze, panic, chatter aimlessly, lose your train of thought or perspire profusely.
So how can job seekers keep cool when it counts? Relax. A few simple
techniques can help calm frayed nerves and sooth interview jitters.
Early Warning
Timing is everything: Don't cause yourself undue stress before a big interview.
Arrive about 10 minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin.
If you arrive too early, you'll sit and wait and worry. And if you arrive too late, you may find yourself racing in the door, your heart already pounding from a last-minute dash.
A ten-minute, pre-interview break will give you an opportunity to catch your breath and acclimate to your surroundings. It's enough time, but not too much time.
Picture This
You can make your dream a reality. Use your imagination to stay calm during a job interview.
Visualization is a relaxation technique in which you create a mental image of a stressful or challenging situation. Then you imagine yourself succeeding in the situation. By doing so, you're mentally preparing to handle the event in real life.
You can practice visualistion in the days, hours or even minutes before an interview. Simply close your eyes and breathe deeply. Picture yourself greeting the interviewer confidently and answering tough questions with ease.
Practice succeeding in your imagination, and soon you'll be doing it in reality.
Relax
A relaxed job candidate is a confident job candidate.
Show the interviewer that you're calm, composed and in command during an interview. He's likely to assume that you'll be rock-solid on the job too.
Use these tips to stay relaxed during an interview:
Breathing deeply and slowly (and quietly, of course).
Sit up straight and don't cross your legs or arms.
Speak slowly and pause for breath often.
Keeps your hands and jaw relaxed; no clenching.
Smile -- it really is contagious!
Pause, Don't Panic
In every interview, there comes a moment that doesn't go according to plan. There's an awkward silence. You stumble over your words. You flub a tough question.
Don't panic. Now's the time to put your relaxation skills into overdrive.
It's much easier to control fear and panic as it starts to build than to calm yourself down once they've begun to spiral out of control.
When you feel yourself starting to panic and lose focus, pause. Tell yourself silently that you can do this. Take a deep breath. Refocus. And then resume interviewing.
A quick ten-second pause can be all you need to regain your composure and get back in control. And the interviewer likely won't even notice.
Everyone loves to get this phone call: "This is Jane Doe. I'm calling to invite you in for interview."
Your pulse races: A job interview!
It isn't until the night before the interview that your stomach drops, a feeling of slight dread sets in and you ask yourself, "What am I going to wear?" "What am I going to say?"
You've got a case of the pre-interview jitters: A good sign that you haven't spent enough time preparing.
Getting ready for an interview should begin at least three days before the interview is scheduled to take place. This week, we'll run down the top things you should do before the big day arrives.
The Clothes Make the Job Seeker
Make sure your interview clothes are clean and pressed a few days beforehand.
The last thing you want to worry about the night before an interview is pleading with your drycleaner or getting burned by a hot iron.
Also, make sure you have a neutral coloured umbrella on-hand in case of rain.
Don't Forget Your Resumes!
Make good-quality copies of your resume on a nice grade of paper. Take more copies than you will possibly need -- just in case. Store the copies in a folder where they will stay clean and unwrinkled.
Organise your portfolio, tear sheets, professional reference lists or any other papers you think your prospective employer would like to see.
Make sure your purse or briefcase is stocked with everything else you'll need: A working pen (no pencils!), a notebook, breath mints, a comb, the umbrella mentioned and some tissues.
Practice Makes Perfect
Like most things, people get better at interviewing with a little practice.
Dedicate one night prior to the interview to a mock Q & A. You can set this up with a friend or conduct the interview yourself with a list of frequently-asked interview questions and a mirror.
Don't panic if, during the actual interview, you are not asked any of the questions you practiced. The point of practicing is to "warm up" to the process of answering questions on the fly.
Do Your Homework
Spend at least two days before the interview researching the company. Take notes. Memorise important facts.
A little preparation goes a long way. A couple of hours researching the company and practicing answers to interview questions can give you that extra bit of confidence you need to ace the interview.
Interview No-Nos !
When you're on a romantic dinner date, you try to avoid "mood killers" -- talking with a mouth full of food, cursing an ex-lover, or complaining about a foot ailment. During a job interview, you have to avoid similar spoilers if you want to make a good impression.
Here are 10 of the most common "advantage killers" and how you can steer clear of them during your next job interview.
1. Not knowing your aim . Too often candidates think their purpose in an interview is simply to ask for a job. Your goals are to demonstrate how you are a good fit for the organization, and to assess whether the job is really right for you.
2. Being too needy . Neediness is probably the No. 1 advantage-killer in an interview. Remind yourself before walking in the door: you do not need this job. You do need food, you do need air, and you do need water. Keep things in perspective.
3. Lousy nonverbal communication . This is about demonstrating confidence. Your first impression makes the difference. When you enter the interview room, stand up straight, make eye contact, and offer a strong handshake with your interviewer. If necessary, jot their name on your notepad as soon as you seat yourself. Do the same for any other individual you are meeting with.
4. Compromising your position . You should always participate in the interview as an equal, not a subordinate, of the person conducting the interview. Often this is a subtle matter of self-perception, so remind yourself before the interview.
5. Falling into the answers-only rut. An interview is a conversation. Don't just answer their questions. Prepare stories to highlight your accomplishments, which will be your moments to shine. When you do answer any questions, make sure that you answer immediately and follow up with a question of your own, if at all possible.
6. Rambling. Telling your interviewer more than they need to know could be fatal. Your stories should be 60 to 90 seconds long and they should have a relevant point. Focus, focus, focus. Stick with your rehearsed stories, your research, and the questions you need to ask. Don't fill up the silence with unnecessary talk.
7. Being overly familiar . A good interviewer will be skilled enough to put you at ease within the first 10 minutes of the interview. That doesn't mean that they have become your best friend. Don't let your guard down. You're there to interview them and get answers to your questions. Treat this from start to finish as the professional business meeting that it is.
8. Making incorrect assumptions . Points are not deducted at the interview for asking questions when you don't understand something. Don't guess at what your interviewer means. Effective interviewing is all about collecting information in real time, taking good notes, and responding only to the actual facts you've collected. If you find yourself making assumptions or guessing about something that was said, stop and ask for clarification before you answer.
9. Getting emotional . At times the interviewer may hit a nerve or consciously try to provoke you into an "outburst." Don't fall for it. Clear your mind of any fears or expectations, so you can maintain a calm, open-minded perspective at all times. When emotions enter into an interview, failure follows.
10. Not asking specific questions . You want to find out more about what this job is really about and whether you want it. Arrive with a list of several prepared questions about the company, the position, and the people who work there. Ask questions that begin with "what," "how," and "why." Avoid simple yes/no questions. Get your interviewer talking as much as possible, then take notes. Most interviewers are unimpressed by someone who has no questions
Telephone Interviews
Some employers use phone calls to pre-screen candidates before offering in-person interviews.
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Some employers also conduct interviews by telephone � they usually tell you this and formally schedule the telephone interview in advance, but some may informally do this without warning.
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If the employer catches you at a bad time and you can't speak, don't hesitate to politely explain this and offer to call back at a time convenient to the employer.
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Bottom line is that you are always being evaluated on your telephone conduct. So...
Sound hireable on the telephone:
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Remember that tone of voice carries a lot of weight in a telephone conversation.
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You don't have facial expressions, body language, and other non-verbal elements coming through in a phone conversation. However, silly as it may seem, smiling while you speak on the phone can make you sound more pleasant.
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Ask friends (who will tell you the truth) how you sound on the phone. They know you, but an employer doesn't. Do you sound cordial or aloof, articulate or fumbling, interested or gloomy?
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Practice how you speak on the phone.
Preparing for the difficult Interview Questions
You know they're coming: Those seemingly unanswerable questions that pop up during job interviews.
You can't clam up. And you don't want to stutter and stammer. So what's a job seeker to do?
The 'Future' Question
Otherwise known as the "big picture" question, the future question goes something like this: "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
The best tactic: Talk about your values.
Don't get too detailed about your specific career plan. Instead, discuss things that are important to you professionally and how you plan to achieve them. If growth is a goal, mention that. You can also talk about challenge, another value that employers prize in their employees.
The 'Salary' Question
Most people will tell you that whoever answers this question first loses. But that's not necessarily true.
When an interviewer asks your salary requirement, try first to gently deflect the question by inquiring about the salary for the position.
If the interviewer presses you for a number, give a range. To decide on a range, think about the salary you want, your salary at your most recent position and the industry-standard salary for the job.
The bottom line: The salary question is one of the most important, so you should prepare for it in advance and plan what to say.
The 'Why' Question
There's a fine line between boastful and confident. And you need to learn it.
When an interviewer asks you why they should hire you, you're going to have speak confidently and honestly about your abilities. But you should avoid sounding overly boastful.
Aim for earnest and prepare by practicing. That's right: Stand in front of the mirror and acknowledge your abilities and accomplishments to your reflection. Tell yourself: I have a very strong work ethic. I have integrity. I have excellent industry contacts. I aggressively pursue my goals.
It's sometimes hard to praise yourself, but after a few sessions you'll sound sincere.
The Seemingly Silly Question
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? What if you were a car? Or an animal?
These type of questions can bring your interview to a screeching halt.
First, don't panic. Pause and take a deep breath. Then remind yourself that there's no "right" answer to these questions. The job isn't hinging on whether you choose to be a spruce versus an oak.
Interviewers usually ask these questions to see how you react under pressure and how well you handle the unexpected. It's not so important what type of tree (or car, or animal) you choose as that you explain your choice in a way that makes you look favourable.
So, be a spruce -- because you want to reach new heights in your career. Or be an oak -- because you plan to put down roots at the company. Either way, you'll get it right.
2nd INTERVIEWS:
Congratulations! You wowed your prospective employers on your first interview and have been called back for an encore. So, how will the second interview be different from the first?
This time around, expect to spend more time at the company, talk to more people, individually and collectively, and have your skills and personality scrutinized more closely.
The Employer's Point of View
From an employer's perspective, the second interview is a chance to closely evaluate a candidate's abilities and interpersonal skills. Your prospective employer wants to see that you can do the job and work well with colleagues.
Be aware that many employers bring in several candidates on the same day to streamline the second interview process. Your challenge is to distinguish yourself from the other candidates.
To show you're a good fit with the company, focus on explaining how your abilities and experiences would enable you to do the job. Be specific. Offer concrete examples that highlight your competence and compatibility.
Who You'll Meet
On your first interview, you probably met with one or two people. This time, be prepared to meet several more over the course of the day, including potential managers, coworkers and other staff members.
You may meet individually with several people, who will most likely ask you similar questions. Keep your answers consistent but mix up your delivery so that your answers don't sound stale or staged. If possible, before the interview acquire a list of the people you'll be meeting with and do a little research on each one. Then ask questions that show your knowledge of each person.
If you meet with a panel or group, be sure to make eye contact with both the individual asking the question and the group as a whole.
Steps for Follow Up
It's rare to receive an offer on the spot, but it does happen occasionally. If the feedback is consistently positive over the course of the day, you may get a job offer at the end of the interview. If that happens, don't make a hasty decision. Ask for time to think about it.
If you don't get an offer, be sure to immediately send a brief thank you note to every person you spoke with. Some companies make hiring decisions in a matter of days, but many can take weeks to make their final choice.
Be patient, be flexible and be ready for an offer or an invitation for yet another interview.
The government made some significant announcements about changes to the National Minimum Wage in May.
The announcement of the new rates was delayed from February to May to allow the Low Pay Commission's (LPC) recommendations to take into account the latest possible economic evidence. Chairman of the LPC George Bain said: "These are very challenging times for the UK and unprecedented economic circumstances for the minimum wage. We believe that the Low Pay Commission's recommendations are appropriate for this economic climate. They reflect the need to protect low-paid workers' jobs as well as their earnings."
The Government also announced in May that the counting of tips to supplement employees' pay is to be banned. Since the National Minimum Wage Act came into force in 1999, it has been legal for the use of service charges, gratuities and cover charges to count towards the payment of the national minimum wage in certain circumstances. Following a consultation with businesses, trade unions and other organisations, the government has ruled that in future tips can no longer be used towards the payment of the minimum wage in line with public expectations. This new piece of legislation will come into effect in October. Tips, gratuities, cover charge and service charge all fall under an update to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) guidelines. For more information download the Government response to the consultation on service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges at the BERR website. -
Adult wage for under 21s in pipeline As well as the rate changes to take effect this year, the government has accepted an LPC recommendation that the adult rate of the minimum wage should be extended to 21-year-olds. This will be implemented from October 2010.