The latest figures suggest that 92% of employers use interviews to select their employees.
Interviewers typically make their minds up in the first four to five minutes of the interview – so making a positive first impression is vital.
Most interviewers remember what happens at the beginning and the end of the interview and tend to forget what happens in the middle. This is known in occupational psychology as the primacy-recency effect.
Different interviewers set different standards. Some ask easy questions; others deliberately try to catch you out. This isn’t particularly fair, but it is the way it is. So be on your guard.
Interviewers tend to be more influenced by negative information than by positive. It is estimated that you need to provide four positive points to make up for one negative – thus, be very careful about admitting weaknesses, as these can be difficult to counter.
Interviewers tend not to be good at assessing real personality. This means that a good performance can be extremely influential, especially if you appear to be a sociable and outgoing person.
Many job applicants misrepresent their true status, background and experience. This is true for both upper and lower entry employees. One survey reported by Inc. magazine indicates the following about job applicants:
15% of all job applicants falsify academic qualifications.
10% falsely upgrade their academic qualifications.
35% claim specific achievements or experiences that are untrue.
70% indulge in puffery
12% have some kind of criminal record, including serious automobile convictions.
The process:[/b]
Before the Interview[/b]
1) Determine your options - Which skills are vital as opposed to convenient.
2) If other people are going to be involved in the interview process, make sure they have taken the time to prepare for the interview. Each person should have a couple of overlap questions to provide insight on the prospective employee's responses.
3) Have company information available for candidates.
4) Allow plenty of time for the interview.
5) Have detailed information about the candidate.
6) Assemble all the papers
7) Learn all you can about the employer
8) Define what you want or want to offer
During the Interview[/b]
1) Interview the person, not the skill set.
Ask questions that are, broad, open-ended, job-related, objective, meaningful, direct, clear, understood & related.
2) Be open and honest with the candidate.
3) Tell the candidate what to expect in the hiring process.
4) Tell them your expectations: career advancement, training, duties, experience expected, the direction the department is headed in.
5) Show the candidate where they would fit into the organization.
6) Don't talk money.
Closing the Interview [/b]
1) Insure that you and the candidate have concluded on common ground.
2) Ask if she/he has any other questions.
3) At the end of the interview, if you are interested in the candidate, let them know.
4) Review the next steps with a clear and honest timetable (and stick to it).
5) Be friendly and honest to the end of the interview; don't give false encouragement or go into details for rejection.
After the Interview[/b]
1) Take time to update the next person in the interview process.
2) Discuss the candidate’s reaction and interest.
3) Rate the applicant on a 1-5 scale as a potential employee.
It is advisable to send a thank you letter to the person(s) who interviewed you within twenty-four hours after the interview. It reinforces your interest in the position and can serve as an additional opportunity to separate you from the other candidates by recalling a notable topic or attribute discussed in your interview.
Anyways show confidence during the survey, have a positive attitude, work on your body language, don’t overdo anything, tell things straight and be direct.
To do well at the interview you will need to convince the interviewer you are technically qualified to do the job. You will also need to show that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company's organizational structure and the team in which you will work.