In the heel of the hunt, convince them
Q: I have been headhunted for a position. It came completely out of the blue. I wasn’t that keen on it when they first approached me and was even a bit resentful that they managed to destabilise me in my current position. That said, it’s a very good job and it’s beginning to grow on […]
They’re your moves – claim them
Q: In my last interview, the interviewer rattled me by asking in a very unimpressed tone if I was a job hopper. He pointed to an eight-year period in my 20s when I had four different jobs. However, I look on that that as a very productive time in my career when I learned loads […]
Panel’s one-dimensional view hampered my chances
Q: I went for a job interview last week and felt the interview panel were unable or unwilling to see more in me than people management. The job required knowledge and experience of branding, public relations, project management and engagement with local authorities, government agencies and other public bodies. I’ve done all of that to […]
Knowing what they would like you to know
Q: I’m going for an interview next week. A friend who went for one there before said they asked her lots of questions about the company to check if she was fully familiar with what they do. It’s a marketing job in the hospitality sector and I’m just wondering what kind of questions they might […]
Go hard and make it pay
Q: Two jobs have come up in the same company. I’m very attracted to one of them and think I could land it and do a good job in it; the other one is not quite as interesting for me, but I could do it at a stretch. I’d probably get bored in it fairly […]
Get the best out of the candidate
I was interested in the collaborative interview style you recommended last week. Could you give me some more details on how this might play out? How might I, as an interviewer, conduct this kind of interview? My business is a tourism one and I am about to interview for a marketing manager to lead a […]
Take the pressure off and find the right candidate
A recruiter recently asked me which type of interview should be conducted to get the best out of candidates. My answer was that I wouldn’t slavishly follow any one style, but that I believe all interviews would ideally include a strong collaborative dimension. There are a number of definitions of the collaborative interview, and, by […]
Prepare, yes; learn off, no
Q: I’ve a big interview coming up and really want to put my best foot forward. I’ve started practicing already but I’m beginning to fear that I will sound too rehearsed. How do I avoid that? (DV, email). A: Avoid it by avoiding it: don’t be too rehearsed. Yes, practice, and practice lots, but avoid […]
Deep research pays dividends in job interviews
Q: This is sort of an ‘asking for a friend’ question, if you know what I mean. Of all the things people do poorly when preparing – or failing to prepare – for interviews, which, in your experience, is the most grievous? Is there one that you encounter repeatedly? (DF, email). A: I might give […]
Robotic approach can switch panel off
In any business contract, there are terms and conditions. Often overlooked or misunderstood are terms of endearment. Do they actually like doing business with you? The same applies in a job interview. While you needn’t bend and twist to suit their will, you should make every effort to present yourself as somebody they can get […]