Psychology: Wise job-seeker is prepared, polite |
| Psychology: Wise job-seeker is prepared, polite Posted: 06 Mar 2011 02:56 AM PST He desperately needed a job and scheduled an interview. Yet he approached the interview with little knowledge on how to make his presentation effective. That morning, he woke up late — leaving inadequate time to groom and dress. When he arrived at the company, he was 15 minutes late. He rudely grabbed the new-employment questionnaire from a secretary, then tossed it on her desk after he completed it. When he met the human-resources manager, he slouched in his chair and failed to make eye contact. The interview was barely under way when his cell phone rang and disrupted the manager's questions. When describing his duties and performance at his previous job, the applicant talked in a cocky and arrogant manner, demeaning his former employer. He didn't get the job. Here are suggestions on ways to create a good impression in a job interview: • Be on time. • Dress neatly, exhibit good body language and facial expressions, and make eye contact with the interviewer. • Turn off your cell phone before the interview begins. • Be respectful and pleasant to support-staff members. They often have significant input to the "boss," so don't take them lightly. • Ask important questions, but don't dominate the conversation. • Speak clearly and not too rapidly. • Don't bad-mouth former employers. Your comments should focus on the present and the future, not the past. • Coming across as a braggart won't serve you well. Instead, show interest and enthusiasm; when appropriate, show a sense of humor. • At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer, smile and shake hands. • Write a thank-you note to the interviewer and express your hope to hear from the company in the future. Hap LeCrone, a Cox News Service columnist, is a clinical psychologist. Write him at 4555 Lake Shore Dr., Waco, TX 76710; or send e-mail. hlecrone@aol.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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