Job Interview Manners

Job Interview Manners And Etiquette

It’s easy to make a silly mistake with job interview manners. It could offend the interviewer and count against you. Here are the Dos and Don'ts of job interview manners, to help you get it right.

Turn up early Not more than 15 minutes (or you'll be either inconveniencing someone or sitting, waiting in reception for a long time). Sit in the car park, if you need to! Not less than 5 minutes, or you may appear to be late. Being late is bad manners and can make an employer think you’d be late on all deadlines. Have a firm, but not vice-like handshake You only get one chance to make a first impression. Your handshake is one of the most important parts of a first impression. Treat everyone with respect You never know who is involved in the recruitment process. It’s common for even the receptionist to be asked their opinion of candidates. Watch your manners over lunch. The job interview isn’t confined to the meeting room. Don’t get caught unprepared Don’t spend most of the interview gushing about how much you want to work for the company, only to have to admit you haven’t even bothered to visit one of their stores… Researching the company shows you're enthusiastic and gives you a great head start. It’s bad manners to go to a job interview, unless you’re actually interested in the job. Respect the company culture – formal / less so It’s a job interview. No matter how much rapport you feel with the interviewer, you’re not in the pub with your mates. Be polite & courteous. Let the interviewer take the lead. Don’t Be A “No Show” If you're not really interested, have the decency to turn down the offer of the interview. Don't waste everybody's time. If you're going to cancel, let them know. Don't be a "no show". It takes a place away from a more suitable candidate. Remember it's a small world: you never know when you might need to do business with someone who was annoyed by your rudeness. Find out more about job interview etiquette.

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September 11, 2006 14:06 -

Using NLP in your job interview

Have you ever had the experience of a meeting that went particularly well, or a project that met every deadline and criteria? And yet there are times when it just doesn’t go as well?

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is like a switch you can flick, to make sure your successes become your new standard. It gives you an understanding of what made the difference in those situations and what the critical changes are, which would mean you can always perform to that level.

So just imagine the impact NLP could have on your job interview performance.

NLP is about how the way we think influences our behaviour and hence performance.

It's actually a set of simple, yet highly effective, tools and techniques that help us work with our subconscious mind. It’s an outstanding personal development tool.

How would I use NLP in a job interview?

• You can use NLP before the interview, to help you mentally prepare


• You can use NLP during the interview, to build rapport with the interviewer


• You can use NLP after the interview, to subtly influence the interviewer's final decision

If you're interested in finding out more about NLP, we've just published reviews of two of the best NLP books out there.

Whether you're completely new to NLP or even if you've been on an introductory NLP training course, these NLP books are well worth reading.

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September 7, 2006 09:37 -

The Interview's Over - What Next?

So the interview's over.

You breathe a sigh of relief and get on with everyday life, hoping you'll get the "you're hired" letter in the post.

Bad idea.

???

If you want to practically double your chances of getting to the next round or being offered the job, you need to follow up.

Think about it. If you go to a great party or someone gives you a present, you call or write to them to say thank you. It's good manners. Think about how that makes the other person feel - appreciated and they know you care.

So why not do the same for your job interview?

Just imagine you're the interviewer. You've read hundreds of CVs and interviewed at least 10 candidates. Who will stick in your mind? The one you heard from most recently.

Taking a few minutes to thank the interviewer for their time and remind them why you're keen about the job is a simple, effective way of staying fresh in their mind. And it can positively influence their decision.

Should you phone or write?

Top tip: don't email them. Emails get lost in the day-to-day stress of work. They won't notice it, even if they do read it.

You should either phone or write a real letter.

Writing is probably best, as it can be hard to catch people by phone and get their attention.

Print your letter on good quality paper and hand address the envelope. Hand-written envelopes with stamps get opened more often, because they're not usually junk mail.

What should I write?

• Thank them for their time
• Tell them you enjoyed meeting them and finding more about the role
• Confirm that you're very interested in the job and would like the opportunity to discuss it further with them
• Is there anything you thought of on the way home that you wished you had mentioned? Tell them!

Make your tone professional. Ask a friend or colleague to read the letter for a second opinion, before you send it.

A simple, short thank you letter is something so few people bother to send, it'll make you stand out from the other candidates.

If you'd like more ideas about what to write, Jimmy Sweeney has created a free e-book on cover letters and thank you letters. Get your free job interview thank you letter e-book now.

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August 23, 2006 19:36 -

"Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?"

Want to know the right answer?

This is perhaps one of the most dreaded job interview questions - and the most dangerous. Yet it's common. Most interviewers will ask it at some stage.

And it's a question that works on many levels.

Don't be fooled into thinking they actually want to know the answer.

Ok, of course they do, but the interviewer will be looking for so much more.

They'll be watching your body language, listening for changes in your tone of voice, and trying to work out whether you're telling the truth.

This question often brings out the truth about your last job. So your hour of raving about how wonderful your work is and how talented you are can fall apart at this point, if you're not careful.

Job interview candidates often, literally, break out in a sweat, when they hear this question.

Very few of us are completely comfortable with our reason for job-hunting. It's as though we're scared the interviewer will judge us. So we come up with something twee like "I realised I needed more of a challenge than my current company could offer," when what we really mean is we hate our boss and couldn't take another day of their moaning.

What makes a good reply to this question?

If possible, don't answer it!

I don't mean ignore the interviewer. I mean be clever and turn the question around. Instead of talking about all the reasons you want to leave your old job, talk about what's attracting you to the new one.

So instead of trying to find a good way of explaining you were:

• Fired
• Made redundant
• Felt you had to quit to save your sanity
• Bored & stuck in a dead-end role
• After a big fat pay rise you knew your company wouldn't give you

... or whatever else your reason...

... talk about the specific aspects of the new role that you would most enjoy. Explain what attracts you to the company. Make sure they know you're there to stay, and not waiting for something better to come along. Talk about how the role fits with your long term career plans (with that company).

This is a really important question to practise before your interview, so you sound genuine with your response. Just in case you have a really tricky interviewer, make sure you've covered both sides of the answer in your preparation: why you want the new job and why you want the old one.

Final Top Tip

Don't say anything you wouldn't say to your current employer. It's a small world out there and you never know who the interview might be having dinner with on Friday...

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