Hear "You're Hired" During a Recession: It's All Up To You
Dr. Arlene R. Barro
December 27, 2008
You´ve been told how to dress for an interview. The big day is here. You look in the mirror and say, "I look great." That´s fine, but are you really ready to go on stage? An interview is a performance: like it or not. Let´s get you ready to go on stage. The interview game you´re going to play is called WIN Without Competing. To WIN, master a set of strategies incorporated in the Right Fit Method which are the rules of the game.
Here´s how to use the Right Fit Method to de-mystify three disastrous myths and shine during the interview.
Myth 1: Employers prefer to interview candidates who are quiet, non-assertive, and unobtrusive.
Right Fit: Employers are not looking to hire robots. They want to hire Right Fits. Walk into the interview with a brisk pace to show that you are energetic, goal directed, and enthusiastic. During the interview, do not sit like a bump on a log waiting for the employer to extract the information like a dentist extracts a tooth. Speak up! It´s all up to you.
Myth 2: Employers prefer to take charge of the interview.
Right Fit: Not really. You must to take charge of the interview to show that you are assertive, dynamic, and enthusiastic. The employer needs to visualize you doing the job. Volunteer information about yourself to communicate why you are the Right Fit for the job. Think of yourself as the "seller" and the employer as the "buyer." Ask questions to learn more about the position. Then, take what you learned and demonstrate how you match the specs. It´s all up to you.
Myth 3: Employers expect you to answer every question that they ask and you must respond quickly.
Right Fit: Perhaps they do but you need to decide whether the question is appropriate. If you do not want to respond, then think of something polite to say to end the probing. If you can, try to read between the lines and determine what they really want to know so you can answer the "real" question, not the question that was asked. Answering personal question such as "Are you married?" or "What does your spouse do?" "Do you have children?" are not supposed to be asked. If a job requires a lot of travel, employers may ask these questions to help determine if you´re the Right Fit. They may be concerned that your personal situation could impact on your job performance. Reassure them that you can balance your professional and personal life. It´s all up to you.
To hear "you´re hired" during a recession, play the WIN Without Competing! game, master the Right Fit Method and remember "It´s all up to you."
WIN Without Competing! is the life mantra of Arlene R. Barro, PhD, a UCLA-trained educator, educational psychologist and a nationally recognized search consultant and career coach. Dr. Arlene Barro's guiding beacon is to "set a standard against which no one can compete." This high standard underscores her success in each of her career challenges and has enabled her to effect important and lasting innovation in this country and globally. Dr. Arlene's Right Fit Method, the subject of her book WIN Without Competing!, is the key to capturing employer attention and hearing "You're Hired."
Here´s how to use the Right Fit Method to de-mystify three disastrous myths and shine during the interview.
Myth 1: Employers prefer to interview candidates who are quiet, non-assertive, and unobtrusive.
Right Fit: Employers are not looking to hire robots. They want to hire Right Fits. Walk into the interview with a brisk pace to show that you are energetic, goal directed, and enthusiastic. During the interview, do not sit like a bump on a log waiting for the employer to extract the information like a dentist extracts a tooth. Speak up! It´s all up to you.
Myth 2: Employers prefer to take charge of the interview.
Right Fit: Not really. You must to take charge of the interview to show that you are assertive, dynamic, and enthusiastic. The employer needs to visualize you doing the job. Volunteer information about yourself to communicate why you are the Right Fit for the job. Think of yourself as the "seller" and the employer as the "buyer." Ask questions to learn more about the position. Then, take what you learned and demonstrate how you match the specs. It´s all up to you.
Myth 3: Employers expect you to answer every question that they ask and you must respond quickly.
Right Fit: Perhaps they do but you need to decide whether the question is appropriate. If you do not want to respond, then think of something polite to say to end the probing. If you can, try to read between the lines and determine what they really want to know so you can answer the "real" question, not the question that was asked. Answering personal question such as "Are you married?" or "What does your spouse do?" "Do you have children?" are not supposed to be asked. If a job requires a lot of travel, employers may ask these questions to help determine if you´re the Right Fit. They may be concerned that your personal situation could impact on your job performance. Reassure them that you can balance your professional and personal life. It´s all up to you.
To hear "you´re hired" during a recession, play the WIN Without Competing! game, master the Right Fit Method and remember "It´s all up to you."
WIN Without Competing! is the life mantra of Arlene R. Barro, PhD, a UCLA-trained educator, educational psychologist and a nationally recognized search consultant and career coach. Dr. Arlene Barro's guiding beacon is to "set a standard against which no one can compete." This high standard underscores her success in each of her career challenges and has enabled her to effect important and lasting innovation in this country and globally. Dr. Arlene's Right Fit Method, the subject of her book WIN Without Competing!, is the key to capturing employer attention and hearing "You're Hired."
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