How to Survive a Job Interview
Helen Tang
August 04, 2005
You are thrilled that you got an interview. You hang up the phone and your mind busily formulating the sentences you are going to say at the interview. And you wonder what you are going to wear, what kind of question they are going to ask, and what your answers should be. You couldn’t stop thinking about it, and when the time finally comes, you found yourself already weary. Sounds familiar? Here are some tips I learnt from being a job applicant as well as an interviewer:
1. Be prepared – Research the company’s website and learn as much as you can about its produce, services, customers, history, etc. Even though you may learn all these at the interview, your foreknowledge will impress the interviewer, showing that you are serious about working for the company. You will also be able to ask more relevant questions and save time for other things.
2. Be Honest – Don’t lie about anything. Why? Because you have to remember your lies from now on. Since a lie does not have a real memory base, it is easily forgotten after a while. If you are hired, what you have said at the interview may hunt you. Either you have to tell new lies, or admit that you have lied. Bother will have painful consequences.
3. Be Humble – Remember that the people who interview you will work with you for many years to come. They don’t want to hire someone who is full of himself. Even if you are a true genus, a humble attitude could win them over and willingly follow you after you are hired.
4. Follow, Not Lead the Conversation – You are the one who wants the job, not the people who interview you. They have higher status, not you. Trying to lead the conversation gives the impression that you are a controlling person, and not good at following. A good leader is a good follower – he understands that the whole is more important than a part, thus he follows when necessary, and leads when needed.
5. Respect Yourself – Don’t laugh at the bad jokes that humiliate you. People who interview you may not be respectful, or they are testing you. Try to please them this way is a big mistake. Respect yourself and they may learn to respect you. If they don’t, you may not want to work with them at all.
6. It’s a Two-Way Street – Remember that you are interviewing them as well, as your future colleagues. So ask questions, it shows that you are seriously interested in working with them in this particular company, not just a paying job in any company.
7. Show that You Are a Good Team Player – These days the interviewers may include a problem and try to solve it with you and see if you fit in as a team player. Listen carefully and contribute. Argue your case but try to see the pro and con in each solutions from the team.
Last and not the least – relax and be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you are not.
Good luck.
1. Be prepared – Research the company’s website and learn as much as you can about its produce, services, customers, history, etc. Even though you may learn all these at the interview, your foreknowledge will impress the interviewer, showing that you are serious about working for the company. You will also be able to ask more relevant questions and save time for other things.
2. Be Honest – Don’t lie about anything. Why? Because you have to remember your lies from now on. Since a lie does not have a real memory base, it is easily forgotten after a while. If you are hired, what you have said at the interview may hunt you. Either you have to tell new lies, or admit that you have lied. Bother will have painful consequences.
3. Be Humble – Remember that the people who interview you will work with you for many years to come. They don’t want to hire someone who is full of himself. Even if you are a true genus, a humble attitude could win them over and willingly follow you after you are hired.
4. Follow, Not Lead the Conversation – You are the one who wants the job, not the people who interview you. They have higher status, not you. Trying to lead the conversation gives the impression that you are a controlling person, and not good at following. A good leader is a good follower – he understands that the whole is more important than a part, thus he follows when necessary, and leads when needed.
5. Respect Yourself – Don’t laugh at the bad jokes that humiliate you. People who interview you may not be respectful, or they are testing you. Try to please them this way is a big mistake. Respect yourself and they may learn to respect you. If they don’t, you may not want to work with them at all.
6. It’s a Two-Way Street – Remember that you are interviewing them as well, as your future colleagues. So ask questions, it shows that you are seriously interested in working with them in this particular company, not just a paying job in any company.
7. Show that You Are a Good Team Player – These days the interviewers may include a problem and try to solve it with you and see if you fit in as a team player. Listen carefully and contribute. Argue your case but try to see the pro and con in each solutions from the team.
Last and not the least – relax and be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you are not.
Good luck.
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