What You Should and Should Not Do at Job Interviews
Now, some of you may be thinking, "I have already heard it all about what I should and should not do at job interviews." But you may not have heard about the following:
Many employers are turning to unconventional methods of filtering out potential employees, since for each job advertised, there is such fierce competition. One CEO paid the shortlist of potential employees to work for an afternoon in his warehouse. He had them rotate through different workstations, each with different tasks. He also threw in several challenges: assigning one task that would deliberately take less time than allotted, so that he could observe how candidates would spend the rest of the time. He also "accidentally" left a big broom on the floor at the entrance to the warehouse. Which one of the candidates, if any, would pick it up and put it away? The outcome was very revealing – it showed who was predisposed to doing the minimum amount of work necessary and who worked diligently and took initiative. In the end, he hired the one person who picked up the broom and put it away.
These employers do not put much stock in resumes, which are so self-serving with the candidates presenting only their best side. Many resumes are not even written by the candidates themselves. Interviews do not reveal a whole lot either because candidates can'thoroughly prepare themselves to handle most interview questions. So employers are using additional methods to help them select the most suitable employee. Many use group interviews, request ahead of time that the candidate prepare and deliver a presentation, and ask unexpected and challenging questions such as, "Which freezes faster – an ice cube tray filled with hot water or cold water?" They may also ask the candidate to prove that they can do what they say. If they are hiring a blog writer, for example, they will present the candidate with a client profile and ask the candidate to write three blog posts for that company. Some employers even conduct group interviews, bringing several candidates into a room and interviewing them together.
So, what can you do to shine in unconventional interview situations?
- Do your homework. Check out the company website to determine its mission and values. Try to find out the interview format. Perhaps search some chat room or newsgroup for information about the company.
- Expect the unexpected. Go through some role-playing exercises. Be prepared to demonstrate your skills on the spot.
- Learn to handle challenges. Interviewers are looking to see how you react, and whether you can'think on your feet and outside the box. Remain calm. Buy extra thinking time by asking for clarification of a question.
- Strike a balance. Offer a firm handshake. Do not be too assertive nor too timid. Prepare a few intelligent questions that you can ask the interviewer. Make eye contact, smile and nod when others speak. Actively participate but also be a good listener.
- Avoid looking desperate. Arrive 15 minutes early, no more; otherwise, you look desperate and disrespectful of the interviewer's time.
- Avoid all negative talk. Even small talk that verges on the negative is not acceptable.
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One thought on “What You Should and Should Not Do at Job Interviews”
Where are uses of these filtering methods documented? If I wanted to read more on them, where could I look?