How to successfully pass a job interview?

Every person has had an interview at least once in their life. And one cannot but agree that this is one of the most important stages in hiring. Writing a resume and posting it on job sites is not as difficult as proving to a potential employer that you are the right person. However, what to say, how to behave and how to correctly answer tricky questions? Let's try to understand everything in more detail.

So, let's say the employer is already interested in your candidacy, but before calling you for an interview, he will most likely have a short telephone conversation with you. This is a great opportunity for you to prove yourself and show all your good qualities.

If you are sending your resume to a large firm, then most likely you will have to talk with an employee of the recruiting department, or the so-called HR manager. Be as polite as possible and be sure to remember or write down the name and title of the person you are talking to.

Most often, during a telephone conversation, the candidate's personal data is clarified, general questions are asked about the previous place of work and about the position for which he is applying. There is nothing difficult or terrible about it. But still, after you've submitted your resume, keep your passport and notebook handy in case of a sudden call from your employer.

Here's a list of things you should definitely do during a phone conversation.

1. Check with the interlocutor for which position the company is inviting you.If, after having explained to you in general terms your future responsibilities and requirements, it became clear that you are not suitable for this vacancy or it does not suit you, you should immediately politely refuse, explaining the reason and apologizing. If you don't, then the time you spend on this job will be wasted.
2. If you do agree to be interviewed, write down in your diary the exact address of the company, the time of the meeting, and the full name of the person you interviewed. This will not only be tactful on your part, but it will also help you later if you suddenly forget the address.
3. If you have a face-to-face interview, if possible, find out the name of your prospective interviewer. During the first meeting with him, you will be able to refer to him by name and patronymic, and not cold "you". This will help you to raise his level of trust in you from the first minutes.

Remember that in general your the conversation should be positive and correct. Hichars of many companies point out that just the voice of many potential employees can be used to determine whether they are ready for a future position or not. Try to smile whenever possible., as this not only gives you confidence, but also helps to win over the interlocutor.

When scheduling your interview date, make sure you have no other appointments on that date.... If there are any and it is impossible to avoid them, then plan them with a difference of at least 2-3 hours. This will not only allow you to be punctual, but it will also give you time to mentally prepare for the upcoming conversation.

If you don’t know how you can tactfully refuse an appointment, then here is a universal template that can be used in such situations: “Thank you for the interest shown in my candidacy and the time you have given me, but I have to refuse your offer because ... "

As soon as possible and clearly explain the reason for the refusal. So the likelihood that you will be offered a more suitable job is much higher.

The first thing to do before going to your interview is to at least roughly imagine how it will go. Answer yourself a few basic questions.

1. Will it be a one-on-one or a group conversation?
2. How important does the employer attach to the job seeker's appearance?
3. Will this be a classic interview or any non-standard questions and situations possible? The latter is usually typical for modern and more progressive companies, as well as companies related to the field of IT and high technologies.

   Once you've roughly figured out what the interview will be like, it's time to start the actual preparation.

Write down everything you can tell about yourself on a piece of paper in advance. Its positive and negative qualities. On a separate line, write down your features that successfully distinguish you from other applicants. Feel free to praise yourself too much. But it is not worth hiding your negative sides or bad habits, since in the process of work they will manifest themselves in one way or another.

Try to gather as much positive information about yourself as possible. Your awards and certificates from school, college or university, articles about you in the local newspaper, or at least a letter of recommendation from your previous job. All this will allow you not only to distinguish yourself, but you yourself will feel more confident. It is also worth adding a few examples of your work to your portfolio, if your profession allows it.

On the last day before your interview, try not to think about anything related to it.You give yourself this time to relax before a difficult day and to show yourself as efficiently as possible. It allows you to calm down, which means you feel better and more confident in the meeting.

Also take the time to do a little research about the company itself. Find out some of the nuances.

1. What does the company do, what kind of services it provides or produces products, what is its target audience and approximate turnover.
2. The age of the company and its generalized history. When there was a downturn in demand or productivity, whether the company was at a heavy loss and for how long.
3. The composition of the company's management.
4. General data on staff turnover. To do this, you can compare the approximate number of employees with the number of vacancies.
5. Firm type. Is it commercial or state-owned. This directly affects your future earnings.
6. Find mentions of the company in the media. Highlight the main keys for yourself. Which is more, positive or negative?

It is worth paying attention to the general recommendations before the interview.

1. Don't drink alcohol for at least two days before your interview. The smell of alcohol will immediately repel, and the credibility of such a candidate will significantly decrease.
2. Try not to drink a lot. It would be silly if you show up for a meeting and the first thing you look for in the building is a toilet.
3. Go to bed 1.5-2 hours earlier. Most likely, before an important day, you will not be able to fall asleep quickly, and this time will allow you to compensate for the lack of sleep.

There are several aspects to consider when applying for a job. This applies not only to your appearance or speech, but also to such points as basic punctuality and behavior. Such seemingly simple and inconspicuous things largely determine your chances of a successful interview.

According to numerous studies, non-verbal behavior accounts for 93% of the impression an employer has of you. These are gestures, facial expressions and other signals that you cannot or can only partially control.

The main rule of communication with the interviewer is the correspondence of what you say with the way you behave... An insecure and shy person who shrinks at every word of the interviewer is unlikely to inspire the same trust as a confident interlocutor talking about his successes and best qualities.

Try to calm down and relax. If you feel that your whole body is tense, and you cannot cope with it in any way, before entering the office, lightly massage your face with your palms, but do not rub it, otherwise it will turn red. This little exercise will help relax the muscles in your face so that it will appear more relaxed during dialogue.

Make sure to smile when you talk. Of course, you don't have to sit with a silly smile throughout the interview, but when the other person asks you, don't be too lazy to smile at him.

If you lower your head to read or write something, you break eye contact with the other person. It is extremely undesirable to do this, as this will adversely affect the further decision-making on his part.

Never use negative gestures., do not cross your arms or put them in your pockets, do not use your index finger or clench your fists. This can disrupt the communication environment and undermine your credibility.

In the case of an interview, the famous phrase "They are met by their clothes, but they are seen off according to their minds" is more suitable than ever. The first thing the interviewer will pay attention to is your appearance.

But it's also important not to overdo it. It is not necessary to buy an expensive suit and shoes for your last money, to do your hair and so on.In many modern companies, this kind of appearance has long been discouraged, and it will also give away your excitement, which clearly does not make you look your best. The main thing in choosing a suit is that you should be comfortable and comfortable in it.

For men, a loose shirt and trousers are suitable. If desired, you can put on a jacket on the shirt, and also complement the image with a bow tie. If you are not wearing classic shoes, simple semi-athletic lace-up boots or moccasins are fine substitutes.

For a woman, a knee-length dress or skirt and blouses in calm tones will be appropriate. They can be either one-color or with a large or medium pattern. For those who prefer trousers, there are options for combining classic trousers with fitted shirts. Shoes should be selected with low or medium heels. Never go to an interview in stiletto heels, this creates the impression of being vulgar.

Even if you get a job in an IT companywhere dress code requirements are not so high, it is worth giving up ripped jeans and wrinkled T-shirts. Opt for dark colored trousers or jeans. For cases where a strictly formal style of dress does not suit exactly the same as a free one, there is a smart casual style of its own.

Try not to overestimate your tone of voice, it creates the feeling that you are afraid of the interlocutor and are trying to adapt to him. The same goes for the speed of speech. If you start to speak too quickly, deliberately slow down. But you should not hesitate too much. You risk not only losing the interlocutor's attention, but also tire him out. 120 wpm is quite comfortable speed... For practice, before the interview, write a short text of about this length and try to read it aloud in a minute.

This will make the other person want to trust you. Speak loudly and clearly enough, but do not shout, otherwise it may be perceived as aggression. If you have problems with diction or stutter, try to learn in advance to speak clearly and clearly at least a few universal phrasesthat you might find useful.

It makes no sense to say that it is in no way possible to be late, since this is already known. Ideally, if you are there 3-5 minutes before the start. Appearing too early can be perceived as being too hasty, hesitant, or hesitant.

If, for example, you are lost in an unfamiliar area, stuck in a traffic jam or cannot find a parking space. They will also come in handy if it suddenly turns out that you need to issue a pass to the office.

An interview is, first of all, a dialogue between two specialists, applicants interested in each other. Therefore, you, just like your interlocutor, have every right to ask him any questions that interest you.

1. What kind of person are you looking for? This question will give you the information you need about the qualities of the preferred candidate that you can highlight in your story about yourself, as well as give a general understanding of the company's needs.
2. What is important to you when choosing a candidate? By doing this, you clarify what qualities have a leading role in the selection of applications and the choice of a person.
3. Ask for an example of the tasks that will be given to you if you do get hired.
4. It is very important to agree on when you can wait for a response. Be prepared for an ambiguous answer. Due to the large number of applications, the employer sometimes simply cannot answer you quickly. So be prepared to be patient.

Feel free to ask questions. The more you learn about the job ahead at the interview stage, the fewer surprises there will be in the future if it is successful.

The most important rule to mention right away is honesty. Whatever questions you are asked, under no circumstances lie.

Rare interviews take place without uncomfortable questions from the recruiter. They can be the reasons for dismissal from the previous place of work, conflicts with colleagues or bosses, etc. Some employers even ask you to talk about the biggest setback in your life. Remember, they are not doing this to humiliate you, but to understand how great your experience is and what kind of stressful situations you have already encountered.

Don't use negative phrases. Talk about the past in a neutral or positive way. This will not only show your restraint, but also prove to the recruiter that you can get along with the team.

It is better to prepare a plan for self-presentation in advance. Be sure to mention the educational institutions where you studied and your past jobs.

If you have no work experience, this is not a big deal. The fact that you have not worked for another company in this field of activity does not mean that you have no experience.... This can be a project you did in college or college, as well as your personal accomplishments and experiences. If your work record is empty, but there were any side projects or informal employment in the area where you are looking for work, do not forget to mention this.

Also prepare an answer to the standard question "Why do you want to work with us?" Here, an important role is played by how much information you managed to find out about the company. Demonstrate your knowledge and do not forget to mention at least the greatest achievements of the company.

Besides, you may be asked if you have had any interviews. In this case, do not get lost and do not go into details. Suffice it to say that you also go through other interviews for a similar position, but it is in this company that you will be able to develop one or another of your qualities or skills.

Feel free to answer questions about your personal life, but don't share too much. Only the minimum necessary to assess your future development strategy and priorities. Answer the question about the desired salary clearly.

The interviewer can ask you a variety of logical and other tasks, like the one where you need to sell a pen.... It is typical for job interviews for realtors, sales consultants and sales representatives.

Consider the most common mistakes made when hiring.

1. Criticism of the previous bosses. Don't say bad things about your previous employer. Everything that you say about him, the interviewer will project onto himself and is unlikely to be satisfied with what he heard.
2. Speak strictly to the point. Do not go into minor details that are not relevant to the interview. Do not avoid talking about personal topics, but do not pay more attention to them than necessary.
3. Listen carefully... No one likes it when the other person interrupts or takes the dialogue lightly. In the case of an interview, this is even more important.
4. Do not be silent. If you have to literally pull information out of you, this will not allow the interlocutor to fully assess your abilities. Of course, you don't need to talk incessantly either. Just keep balance and try to avoid awkward pauses.
5. When talking about something specific, give examples. For example, if you are talking about a quality of your own, give an example of a situation where you were able to make the most of it.
6. Don't lie. Any lie will surface sooner or later, and only you will suffer from this.
7. Do not criticize the employer or his company. You didn't come to the interview to get her off her knees, so refrain from all kinds of advice.
8. And the most important thing - keep tact and good form... Remember to say hello, say goodbye, and say thank you and please.

Experienced psychologists provide guidance that you can use when interviewing.

• Proficiency in professional slang. It is a common misconception that HR managers do not understand anything about the work of a company, but are simply engaged in recruiting people. They know perfectly well how everything works from the inside, which means that if you use several professional expressions in your story, this will be counted to you as an undoubted plus.
• Develop general erudition. If in a conversation you refer to useful books, articles and other sources of information related to your position, this will help to win over the interlocutor and create the impression of an intelligent and well-read employee. This is extremely important if you are applying for high positions or positions related to intellectual work.
• Learn to market yourself wisely. The more positive qualities you find in yourself, the better you can tell your employer about them.
• Make and Learn a List of Answers to Common Questions like "Who do you see yourself in 5 years" or "What are your best qualities?" This will allow you not only not to waste time on the interview in vain, but also to feel more confident.
• There are topics that you shouldn't talk about during your interview. These include, for example, retelling your own resume, skills that are not important in a future job, personal goals in life.
• Don't be afraid to take the initiative.... If the recruiter doesn't ask any questions, then he wants to hear from you something other than what you have already said. In this case, try to tell as fully as possible about yourself, your goals.