Some people find interviews as a very big deal.
They will be in full of tension and anxious about attending an
interview for a job or anything. If we take it in a "win-draw"
mentality and give some kind of attention at the time of interview,
we can overcome an interview easily. So here goes.
1. Attitude is everything.
If you're smiling, excited and optimistic, you've already
won half the battle. If you're cold, distant and uninterested,
you've already lost 99% of the battle. 2. Be yourself. If you act like someone
else and they like you, they don't actually like YOU.
They like the person you're pretending to be. If you end
up getting a job there, you won't be able to keep up the
frontage for very long anyway. Honesty and authenticity
are very appealing characteristics. If both parties stay
true to themselves, they'll know if they're right for
each other. And in the end, that's usually what matters
most. 3. Relax. Interviews are not really interviews
at all. They're conversations. Treat them like conversations,
and the tension will slowly dissolve. Remember: when you
walk into that office, you don't have the job to begin
with. In theory, you have nothing to lose. You either
come out way ahead or back where you started. If you approach
the situation with a "win-draw" mentality, most
of the pressure will fall by the wayside. 4. Appearance counts. Before you meet
people, virtually the only judgment you can make is based
on aesthetics. What you're wearing matters. What they're
wearing matters. How you sit, stand, shake hands, hold
your pen and walk up the stairs counts. Not enormously,
but enough. First impressions are huge.
5. Fit is crucial.
All the smarts, skills and experience in the world mean
nothing without the right fit. If your values aren't aligned
with those of the company, you're doomed. If you like
to have fun and they're always serious, don't even bother.
Seriously. The more you fit in, the more you'll want to
come back every day and bust your butt. If you're always
at odds with your coworkers, you're going to hate your
job. Simple as that. 6. Liking means more than talent. The
days of standing in line and putting decals on widgets
is over. People don't hire you because you're capable.
They hire you because they want to work with you. If you
don't get along, and get along well, the interview will
probably be fruitless. 7. Be persistent. It's incredibly easy
to get lazy, give up and feel sorry for yourself. People
will turn you down, never call you back, and forget your
name over and over again. None of that matters. What matters
is perseverance. If you can't handle losing a few battles
along the way, you're in for a tough road ahead. Getting
a job is like winning a war. It takes patience, planning,
time, effort, dedication and a little bit of luck.
8. Bring an insane amount
of (intelligent) questions. Nothing feels worse that not
being prepared. If you don't bring loads of questions,
you're not prepared. At some point, the interviewer will
ask you what you want to know. For the record, you want
to know everything. Be curious. Be interested. Be engrossed.
Ask your question, and then get ready to listen. Don't
think of what you're going to say next. Just soak up every
word like a giant sponge. The more questions you ask,
the more you'll get out of the experience. And as a bonus,
they'll know you care deeply about their business. When
you care about what they care about, you both start to
align, and that's when the magic happens.
9. Focus on their needs, not yours. It's tempting
to sell ourselves, to talk about how great we are, and
to show off our past experiences. But guess what. No one
cares. What they really care about is how your "amazingness"
will translate into success for their company. Don't focus
on your talents, focus on what your talents will do for
them.
10. Blogging will give you a huge leg up.
Blogging forces you to analyze, collaborate and create
solutions. It also gives you plenty of ideas for improving
customer experiences, businesses and relationships.
These skills (among countless others) will give you
confidence, poise, energy and know-how when it comes
time to explain yourself. Your insights will be sharper,
your thinking will be deeper, and your ability to express
your opinions clearly and concisely will be much stronger.
Blogging will prepare you better than any "How-To"
book in the world.