In a job interview, interviewers’ questions go beyond, “What are your weaknesses” to encompass non-spoken questions – are you intelligent, level-headed and friendly, for example. Let’s take a deeper look into how your communication style during a job interview translates to the interviewer and how you’re “answering” these unspoken questions: Can you communicate effectively? The level of detail you put into your responses paint the picture of how you’ll communicate at work. Are you succinct or do you ramble? Do you provide too little detail to understand the context or scope of your response? Do you use the type of vocabulary and clarity of thought that they want used when employees communicate with their best customers? Are you a confident, reasonably relaxed person? Interviews are one of the most stressful situations that we put ourselves into voluntarily, so feeling somewhat stressed is normal. Interviewers want candidates who can handle that level of stress with grace and they’ll look for verbal and nonverbal cues to assess your level of emotional security, sincerity and maturity. Your handshake, eye contact, posture and facial expressions all shape how the interviewer sees you. Are you truly interested in the job? Simply applying for a job isn’t enough to convince employers that you can see a future with the company. Employers favor candidates who love them, their products or their services, but how do you convince them that the opportunity represents a long-term fit? Or that you care enough to excel in the job? Help the interviewer see that the job makes good sense for your career path and why you’d be excited to take the position will help to allay their concerns. Did you bring smart questions? When an interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” the answer is not, “No!” The questions you ask will speak to your curiosity, your research of the company and your desire to contribute. What you ask will tell a lot about who you are, and the kind of employee you are likely to become if hired. Here are some ideas for what to ask your interviewer: • What was your first job with this company? • What is your favorite part about working here? • How will you know that the person you select was the right choice? • What are the top three things that need to be accomplished in this role? What tools are available to achieve those goals? Politely keep asking questions until you have exhausted your list or until they stop asking if you have any further questions. Do you care about the interviewer? The position is open because they need more help. The more you can do to portray yourself as interested in helping the better. Ask questions to learn what the hiring manager’s pain points are and include ways in which you can help when you answer their questions.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 00:14:31 +0000
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