How to take charge of an interview
- Published: 28 August 2008 08:01
- Last Updated: 27 August 2008 11:50
Climbing the career ladder is not a straightforward business, even when you have reached a senior level.
And going through the interview process can be one of the most frustrating of experiences, even if you have prepared brilliantly.
Why? Because sometimes an interview can take on a life of its own. Employers with an excellent equal opportunities policy can fall into the trap of attempting to conduct interviews that are identical, rather than simply ensuring that each candidate is treated equally.
All of which can mean you watch your job opportunity slipping away, as you field a succession of turgid or irrelevant questions. Here are some top tips which may help to save the day.
Be positive. Remember that the panel will glean a lot from your body language and the way you present yourself. Stay calm, meet the eye of each interviewer, and treat each question as a chance to prove how experienced and dynamic you are. If the questions seem to be limiting you, keep your achievements in mind and try to bring these into your answers.
Prepare for the worst. All of us have strengths and weaknesses. If there is anything on your application form which could be an Achilles heel, do your homework with special thoroughness. Be sure you have not one but several ways of both explaining this apparent glitch, and showing that you can more than compensate for this.
Assert yourself. If it is going so badly that the panel appears to be actively hostile, don't panic. Take a step back, and say 'it seems as if my answers are irritating you, is there anything I can do to be more responsive?' Or you can even ask to start a question again. You are there to show yourself in a good light, so don't let them put you off your stride.
Go for it. Be prepared to ask searching questions, which will enable you to make a decision about the post as well as demonstrating your incisiveness. If the interview has gone badly, asking penetrating, well-researched questions at the end could at least mitigate the damage, and you may learn something useful.
