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http://artofmanliness.com/2008/02/19/make-yourself-stick-with-these-first-impression-tips/ -
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These tips are perfect, you would be surprised how many people have no clue how to interview well.
I might add: write a polite (but not obsequious) thank you note as a follow-up.
I don't think I would have picked that word to make a point about proper grammar and vocabulary, but that's just me.
Thanks for the feedback X. I definitely want this site to be a place where more abstract ideas about manliness are discussed and covered. Those posts take more time and research and Im also a law student right now, so they will be interspersed with man skills posts. I think both are important. I want the site to be a place not only for abstract manliness, but the practical sort of things many men have forgotten or have given up on.
I am taking note of this as part of my lessons for my elder girls who should be joining the rat race soon,.
Regards
You're right. These tips are relevant for everyone. Tell your daughters good luck with the rat race.
I completely agree with you on the thank you note. That can make the difference between getting a call back or not. Thanks for the addition!
No doubt, your blog is great. Impressive that you are running this while in law school. I will continue to be a loyal subscriber because your posts are substantial, and like you said, well researched and time is invested in them, unlike many other blogs.
You are being hired for your skills but also your personality, most people forget the latter.
"...do GO give..."
Well you blew that first impression.
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2146727
I think this article should be:
"Why you have a shit job, and how to change that"
Why your job blows: You didn't fucking listen to anything your interviewer said, you were too concerned with appearing physically fit and nodding to listen to what the hell you were being told. Then your boss realized that you weren't listening, you just wanted to look like you were, and he through your resume in with the list of other hundreds of people who did the same thing.
Do you think Steve Jobs showed up at his job interview wondering whether he used the interviewer's name enough times? Is that how great men are made... by using these "cheats" to confuse people into trusting them?
This is bogus.
-Brad
Don't fake who you aren't.
If they don't like it, you wont enjoy working with them.
If they like beer and you don't bring any, they will look for someone who seems to like beer.
For interviewing, the key is to go in with confidence. When you're confident, everything else falls into place. You can actually focus on being a normal human being rather than worrying about what to say, how many times to establish eye contact, or whatever...so rehearse a few common interview questions, practice talking about your past employment history (using quantifiable examples of what you accomplished), and verbalize (aloud!) why you're a good fit for the job------before you actually sit down for the interview (duh).
I work in sales. We sometimes play a game involving trying to use the customer's name as much as possible. It is very hard (you feel like an idiot) but disturbingly effective - the number of sales you get doing it is shocking.
@ lollerkeet- I'll have to remember that. Personally, I start to get annoyed when people overuse my name when I'm talking with them. Maybe because it's a tip that they're trying to sell me something.
@ rascal999- You're right. Being yourself is key. hopefully these tips can help you be your "better self."
@ ed- Thanks for reminding us to smile.
@ bob- I've known lots of people who try too hard to be funny in interviews or when they're first meeting people. Always backfires.
In interviewing I find that nothing gets you to the short list of candidates more effectively than establishing a subtle sense of fraternity with the fellow interviewing you. In today's p.c. world this can't be done overtly or in a exclusionary/discriminatory fashion, but that subtle hint that you'll be a good man to fit into the team, get the work done, and perhaps have a beer with after a big project can be important to a lot of people.
How to do this is tricky. If you're experienced in the field, give some examples that show you've been through some of the same things as they have. If a friend works there, offer a quick (appropriate) quip about your history. I'd say that it's sort of like getting a drink at a new bar.
In this day of digital everything something via snail mail, a hand written letter via snail mail will make one stand from the crowd.
Save the cute toys, internet slang and lingo for face-book. I actually got one e-mail saying I was the "snizzle." While I thought the applicant was "hire-able" that one word took him out of the running. Am I a snob? Possibly, but why would I want to hire someone that wouldn't fit into my department. He can go off and become Snoop Dog after work.
Also look around the office, if you see hockey memorablila and you're a hockey fan, mention something to bond over that. Even a rival team, say you're a Rangers fan and the interviewer is a Flyers fan, you'll have something to break the ice.
Same with those with Military insignia, even something as innocuous as a picture of their family at Disneyland, the dog doing something cute.
The idea is not only to break the ice but to make the interviewer see you as human and a potential interesting and nice person. Over the years I've hired less qualified people because I've connected with them. A Harvard degree doesn't make for an interesting person - if I'm spending a good portion of my life at the office I would like it to be with pleasant (for the most part) people.
(disclaimer - I'm not picking specifically on Harvard, honest.)
-Can be a very dicey proposition. If you really see rapport, especially if They start to mirror you, or there's nodding, can work Really well if done lightly.
However, I've had it blow up more than once. There are some interviewers out there with no soul, apparently.
Whatevs.
I interview people for a major company, and I would say that one of my biggest things is how much do the people I'm interviewing already know about the company. If you come in blind, and not knowing what you're getting in to, they're likely to pick up on that. When someone I'm interviewing doesn't know much or anything about the company, I tend to think that they're not really that interested in the job. However, if you come in with an already developed, healthy knowledge of the company, they're going to be impressed by that. It will show that you've done some research, and that you've come in prepared.
In general, I think a lot of what goes into a successful interview--assuming that you have the qualifications, or close to them--is building rapport without obviously using rapport-building techniques. No one likes to be confronted with the fact that they're being manipulated (see the salesman vibe). I think this is more likely to happen if you have been, long before you sent in your resume or started a job search, cultivating genuine interest in other people. If you go in with that basic attitude and there is still no rapport, then that's a good sign that the organization is not for you. Even in these hard economic times, you're interviewing them as well as vice versa.
Oh, and one more particular thing: Assume you're being observed as soon as you come in sight of the employer's front door, and treat everyone you encounter with courtesy, kindness, and respect. If you're a gentleman you already know to do this. And the kind of organization that you want to work for will notice and value such things.
I worked as a front desk receptionist for a construction company for a while. They decided to do some hiring. They handed me a stack of blank applications and told me to give one to everyone who came in to apply. The potential employees filled them out while waiting in the lobby then gave them back to me.
I was supposed to write my first impression of them in the upper corner before setting them up for the interview. I was supposed to also say whether I would be comfortable if this person came into my home to do some work.
I gave a good review to most of the people, but there were a couple of guys who were extremely rude. They were upset because they were not going to be interviewed that same day and thought that by being rude they would get their way. Little did they know it probably cost them their chance at the job.
You never know who has a say in whether you get hired or not.
I go into an interview with the attitude "Why would I want to work here?" I have valuable, marketable skills and so I not only mirror my interviewer, but I also push them a bit to find out what makes this such a great place to work.
Interviewers can sense confidence, and if you walk in with your hat in your hand and an attitude of deference, I think it hurts your chances more than it helps.
If you've got good skills, make THEM impress you, not the other way around. I've never felt the need to prove myself excessively to an employer, as I generally receive several job offers within a short timeframe.
It's a potential business arrangement, and you should realize that you are on equal footing with the potential employer.
I once had an interviewer drill me mercilessly, making unreasonable requests and trying to test my technical skills on subjects that are difficult to demonstrate, and even having the gall to question me about their proprietary internal products! After about 10 minutes of grilling I stood up, shook his hand and said, "I'm sorry, this isn't the opportunity I'm seeking. Thanks for your time."
The interviewer backpedalled rapidly, apologizing profusely, but I just nodded, repeated myself, and left.
Do this once in your life..it'll boost you up tremendously!