| Topic : how to prepare for interview |
|
|
|
||
|
Activity:
22 comments
1094 views
last activity : 07 06 2010 20:18:04 +0000
|
||
|
|
AVOID SIX COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES
Tip # 1: Don't discuss pay too early
As the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if you are not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make any other questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don't wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for a second interview.
Tip # 2: Talk tech to techies only
Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. My previous supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put the man to sleep was to begin any story that had to do with computers.
When I interviewed for a previous position, the department manager actually had a technically savvy person participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I saw this tactic being used, I knew it was not a time to try to impress with a lot of techno babble.
Answer questions about your work history briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying.
Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourself
If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position.
I once interviewed a young man for a retail sales position in a software store. When I asked about his opinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about "the revolution of UNIX" and loosening the grip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on to a paramilitary group. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller for Microsoft.
Chances are, you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so you don't want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feel about a product, be honest, but don't preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions.
Tip # 4: Don't climb the advancement ladder in the interview
If you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, "How fast can I get out of this job?" Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. If you are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourself unless the interviewer asks or unless it is somehow already known that you'll be advancing quickly. Remember that what you say now can come back to haunt you later. You don't want to brag to someone who might be under your wing after a promotion.
Further, you never know what may happen if you actually get the job. Learn to accept and adapt and, above all, be happy you have a job. Due to downsizing, a former coworker of mine did not move into the network administration position she wanted and was expecting to get. The bitterness fostered by her broken expectations eventually caused her to resign. In the tight job market of the time-similar to the one now-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant.
Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption
Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can't spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job?
I have conducted training classes with people who, when asked to turn off their phones and pagers during class, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating.
If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn't important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job.
Tip # 6: Remember to say thank you
Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it's vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who's awaiting the manager's next move.
Just after you've completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing.
It may seem like a small detail, but the experts will tell you that this tried-and-true tactic really makes an impact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notes in her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person one of these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home.
Tip # 1: Don't discuss pay too early
As the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if you are not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make any other questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don't wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for a second interview.
Tip # 2: Talk tech to techies only
Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. My previous supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put the man to sleep was to begin any story that had to do with computers.
When I interviewed for a previous position, the department manager actually had a technically savvy person participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I saw this tactic being used, I knew it was not a time to try to impress with a lot of techno babble.
Answer questions about your work history briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying.
Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourself
If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position.
I once interviewed a young man for a retail sales position in a software store. When I asked about his opinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about "the revolution of UNIX" and loosening the grip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on to a paramilitary group. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller for Microsoft.
Chances are, you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so you don't want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feel about a product, be honest, but don't preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions.
Tip # 4: Don't climb the advancement ladder in the interview
If you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, "How fast can I get out of this job?" Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. If you are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourself unless the interviewer asks or unless it is somehow already known that you'll be advancing quickly. Remember that what you say now can come back to haunt you later. You don't want to brag to someone who might be under your wing after a promotion.
Further, you never know what may happen if you actually get the job. Learn to accept and adapt and, above all, be happy you have a job. Due to downsizing, a former coworker of mine did not move into the network administration position she wanted and was expecting to get. The bitterness fostered by her broken expectations eventually caused her to resign. In the tight job market of the time-similar to the one now-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant.
Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption
Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can't spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job?
I have conducted training classes with people who, when asked to turn off their phones and pagers during class, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating.
If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn't important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job.
Tip # 6: Remember to say thank you
Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it's vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who's awaiting the manager's next move.
Just after you've completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing.
It may seem like a small detail, but the experts will tell you that this tried-and-true tactic really makes an impact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notes in her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person one of these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home.
22 comments on "dont do in interviews"
Sort by:
Most Recent
Top Rated
Commented by
AMOD KUMAR YADAV, Manager - Projects Sales & Marketing, RDK INTERNATIONAL LIGHTING LLC
| 01 31 2009 08:01:55 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Vinayarajan KV, Head/VP/GM-Sales Tech
| 11 10 2008 10:24:28 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
raj, Area Sales Manager, JLL.Patna
| 11 09 2008 08:31:39 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
varsha mishra, technical Manager(QMS), rfrac
| 10 09 2008 12:41:01 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
Abhishek Tiwari, Network Admin/System Admin, STPL INC.
| 10 07 2008 09:56:59 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
Deepali Gulati, Sales/BD Manager, Nvish Solutions Pvt. Ltd
| 10 07 2008 09:29:23 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
syed inkesaruddin, project manager - FTTx, al-sharq office co,riyadh,KSA.
| 10 01 2008 15:57:15 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
Bopanna, Head - SCM, Himatsingka Seide Limited
| 09 18 2008 23:00:15 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
sagi srinivasa rao, Sales/BD Manager Inteq software Pvt Ltd
| 07 23 2008 02:39:55 +0000
Report Abuse
Not Rated
Commented by
Pavan Kampli, Specialist Acquired Products
| 06 30 2008 03:42:13 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +6
Commented by
Deepak Malaviya, DGM-Marketing, NRB Bearings Ltd.
| 06 29 2008 21:53:29 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Upendra Pratap Singh, Head/VP/GM-R&D, SAIL,Bokaro Steel Plant
| 06 29 2008 07:07:08 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Anoopkumar Sharma, Construction Engineer
| 06 29 2008 02:21:58 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
shyam paliwal, Ass Training manager, Pfizer Ltd
| 06 21 2008 22:09:50 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Ekta Sehgal, Training Manager, Corporate Trainings
| 06 21 2008 04:45:20 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
dhiraj, costing-engg. afcons
| 06 19 2008 21:29:32 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
GuruPrasad K S, HR Executive Shreyas Technologies
| 06 11 2008 19:50:45 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +2
Commented by
vagish mani tripathi, Construction-Construction Management Bl Kashyap ltd
| 06 09 2008 04:19:39 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +2
Commented by
Vinod Yadav, Marketing Manager, AEZ Group of Companies
| 06 06 2008 20:50:43 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Hari Prasad K, Head - e-Infrastructure and Security
| 05 30 2008 23:09:08 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Maheswaran A, Client Account Manager, Adecco
| 05 28 2008 01:06:02 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Commented by
Shaman Kumar, Executive - IT (Tech Support Engineer, Swaraj Mazda Limited)
| 05 27 2008 21:11:02 +0000
Report Abuse
Rating : +1
Found the article
"dont do in interviews"
interesting ?
Share with your connections and communities
A Global Executive Search Firm
- Create a Confidential Career profile online!
- Get Advised on Career Planning!
- Access to the Best Career Options
Viewers also viewed
|
|
Confidence vs Reference |
|
|
601 referals
20 arguments,
481 views
|
|
|
|
Agree vs Disagree |
|
|
2453 referals
53 arguments,
1220 views
|
|
|
Managers themselves have very poor marks vs It is a pure case of reservation for lower castes |
|
|
2569 referals
13 arguments,
364 views
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Knowledge (106)
|
|
Father I want you to marry a girl of my choice Son I will chose my own bride Father But the girl... |
|
|
0 referals
2 comments,
124 views
|
|
|
CORRUPTION INSTITUTE OF INDIA (CII) (World's best C- School on the World Corruption Index... |
|
|
423 referals
4 comments,
100 views
|
|
|
Samsung a giant market players in Electronics items, as well Samsung is now playing very... |
|
|
179 referals
8 comments,
164 views
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsored Jobs
More From Author
SPC is providing integrated solutions for temp staffing/contract/ staff outsourcing for various segments of industry and corporate. SPC provides Human resource to various companies who want to outsource their certain non-core activities to some... |
would you like to participate in campus recruitment drives this year all over india with spc? |