How to blitz your next interview Powerful interview techniques to help you outshine your competition

Common interview blunders +Limited research of the job and organisation - You present irrelevant information +Lack of preparation - You fail to demonstrate relevant skills +Failure to practice - You don’t make a memorable impression +Nerves get the better of you - You are remembered, for all the wrong reasons

Common candidate mistakes – feedback from hiring managers +51% said that candidates dressed inappropriately +49% said that candidates spoke negatively about former employer/company +48% said that candidates appeared disinterested +44% said that candidates appeared arrogant +30% said that candidates did not provide specific answers +29% said that candidates did not ask good questions [Careerbuilder.com – 2010]

4 key steps to a powerful interview +Probe +Prepare +Practice +Picture You’ve got the job! ProbePreparePracticePicture

Step One: Probe +Research the job and the organisation Advertisement | Job Description Company Website LinkedIn (Company and key staff members) ‘Google’ the company name Use the two-column template Job Requirements: My Relevant Skills: 1.Problem Solving 2.Adapt to change 1.(a) Challenge (b) Action (c) Results Identify an example to demonstrate your skills Corporate Jargon ie. Client vs patient

Step Two: Prepare +Be prepared for Behavioural Interviews Understand the C.A.R. principle [S.T.A.R. or P.A.R.] ChallengeActionResult What was happening? What steps did you take? What was the result? [Your examples go here]

Step Two: Prepare +Perform a personal S.W.O.T. analysis StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats

Step Two: Prepare - Strengths +Perform a personal S.W.O.T. analysis What are some of your strengths? What are you naturally good at that people often comment on? Which strengths are most relevant to the role/company? What’s one example you can use to showcase these strengths? StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats

Step Two: Prepare - Weaknesses +Perform a personal S.W.O.T. analysis What’s something you have struggled with, yet have taken the steps to overcome What were these steps? What have you noticed in terms of improvements since taking these steps? What positive impact have you noticed? StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats

Step Two: Prepare - Opportunities +Perform a personal S.W.O.T. analysis What additional skills, strengths, knowledge, experience do you offer that can be transferred to this role? How will this add value to your contribution to the company What is one example you can share to confirm transferability StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats

Step Two: Prepare - Threats +Perform a personal S.W.O.T. analysis Are there any areas that you feel you lack knowledge/experience? Break it down into competencies Where else (i.e. what examples can you think of that demonstrate you have these competencies? Share one example tying these competencies together and demonstrating transferability StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats

Step Two: Prepare +Have a number of solid questions prepared “What are the top 3 priorities the successful candidate will have to achieve within the first 90 days?” “Does your company have any policies with regards to attending training and PD opportunities?” “What are some of the stand-out reasons that you enjoy working for the company?” “How do I measure against the key characteristics of your ideal candidate?”

Step Three: Practice +Impact of communication 55% visual (body language, mannerisms) 38% auditory (tonality, pace, volume) 7% words +Build Rapport – make a great first impression +Practice makes perfect – rehearse your responses

YOU can impact the outcome… Belief ‘I’m not very talented and don’t really have any hope of getting through the interview.’ Why bother to research the company and practice my interview techniques? I just know the other candidates are going to far more experienced than me. I know I’m going to make a fool of myself. I feel so hopeless and uninterested. I don’t perform well at all in the interview I notice when I answer a question incorrectly I ruin all chances of impressing the interviewer I receive a ‘you were not successful’ letter in the mail I confirm and prove my belief to myself

Step Four: Picture How can you start changing your beliefs/thoughts? +Top athletes use visualisation to enhance their performance level. Find a quiet spot and begin to visualise yourself going well throughout the interview Imagine building rapport with the interviewer See yourself answering the questions easily and effortlessly Hear the interviewer congratulating you Also: Know that if you forget something or say something different from how you had practiced – it’s ok. MOVE ON Understand that this is one opportunity – there are many others out there Relax, be confident – NOT arrogant Remember, what you concentrate on expands. So will you concentrate on what you can bring to the table or will you focus on your nerves, or how you may forget what you are going to say …..

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