The moment that can tip the balance in your favour or against you when it comes to getting a job is the job interview . The significant number of unemployed people means that recruiters are more incisive in their questions in order to select the most suitable person from the multitude of candidates. To make a good impression and not be overcome by nerves at awkward moments, you must prepare for the interview and take care of all the details.
The basis of any interview is the first impression. If you have already made your personal SWOT matrix, you are ready to apply for the position. Whether it is an interview via Skype or in person, I remind you of the basic rules that you must follow to start creating a good atmosphere:
Dress well: take care of the clothes you wear, but without losing your usual style. If you never wear a suit, don't wear one for an interview unless it's for an important position. Opt for sobriety and simplicity, but without losing your essence.
Be punctual: Arriving late is disrespectful and gives a bad impression of yourself. Think about the means of transport you will use in advance and calculate the time you will need to travel to the interview location. It doesn't matter if you arrive ten minutes early, the important thing is that you don't be late.
Find out about the company beforehand: you should find out on the Internet what the company does, what services it provides or what products it sells, what sectors it works in or who its competitors are. Find out about the company culture.
Study our CV : you must know your CV in detail so that you can present it when asked about your training and professional experience. Be clear about your career, achievements and skills. Adapt it to the needs of the company and its field of activity so that you appear to be the ideal candidate.
Once you've passed the first barrier, it's time for questions. At this point, the interviewer can choose from several strategies to create a dialogue: he can ask you direct questions, ask you to summarize your CV, or put you in real situations of the position you are applying for (for example, how you would solve a problem, or how you would deal with a customer or a complaint). Avoid talking about taboo subjects, such as sex, religion or politics.
If they have chosen to ask you questions, be careful not to ask questions that may be tedious or uncomfortable, or those that involve sharing personal information, such as your type of relationship, sexuality or illnesses. These questions are prohibited for ethical and data protection reasons, but they may try to obtain this information.
The 10 most awkward questions:
To stand out from the other candidates, it is essential to prepare thoroughly for the interview and be prepared for certain types of questions. It is advisable to have an answer to the most controversial aspects that tend to be repeated in most tests. Let's see which are the 10 most common ones and how to act in each case:
1. Why do you want to change jobs?:
You need to give a satisfactory answer without implying that you are desperate for a change of scenery. Talking about your desire to take on new challenges or the possibilities for professional improvement that the new company offers will help you get through the situation. You should never criticise the previous company. Example: "I appreciate everything the company gave me, however, it was time to go out and look for new options . "
2. Why were you fired from your last job?:
You must argue this well so as not to give a negative image of yourself or the company in question. It is essential to avoid criticism, bear in mind that one day they may be your ex-bosses and they do not want to know that you go around speaking badly about the company. Nobody wants someone in their business who will not hesitate to air their discontent if they are fired. Example: "When they hired me they told me it would be for a workload. Even so, I think that both parties were satisfied with the work done . "
3. How was your relationship with your former boss and coworkers?
This question is intended to find inconsistencies with what you may have answered regarding the job change or leaving the previous company. Focus on it in a positive way and show some of your strengths, such as your ability to work in a team, adapt to different environments, work under pressure, etc. Example: "The relationship with my previous boss was cordial, he was a very capable person and although we did not have the same vision of the business, we worked very well together."
4. Why do you want to work in our company?:
Here you will need to show that you know the company, its values, history and objectives. Obviously, the answer should focus on the company culture and the strongest points you have identified. Example: "I would like to work in a company like yours with a culture, product and solidity that fit what I am looking for . "
5. What are your greatest achievements?:
It is advisable to have some kind of answer prepared that shows your experience and the skills you want to highlight, such as creativity, initiative or leadership. You can also talk about how your job expectations fit with what the position offers. If you have a portfolio or a website that shows what you can do, now is the time to show it off.
Example: "I would highlight my creativity, honesty and tenacity, qualities that I think could work in your business model . "
6. What are your biggest flaws?:
Being too much of a perfectionist or a workaholic are the most common answers. Avoid clichés, i.e. citing a positive quality while passing it off as a negative one. If you have one, reinforce your answer with a real example to contrast it. Another alternative is to show your high level of demand with your work itself. Example: "I am extremely impatient. I expect my colleagues to show what they can do on the first try. If they fail, I tend to stop delegating and start doing everything myself . "
7. How do you see yourself in five years?:
The recruiter wants to know how the company fits into your future plan. Avoid answers like “I aspire to a general management position.” Answer with great self-confidence and highlight the opportunities for advancement that the company offers. Be as sincere as you can, but without harming yourself. Example: “Learning every day and developing my professional and human potential in a growing company . ”
8. Why should we hire you and not another candidate?
This is the key moment to succeed. They are asking you about your 'slogan', in short, about your Personal Brand . You must respond firmly and highlight your strengths in knowledge and languages, skills or experience. A good strategy is to give an example that serves to illustrate your strengths. Example: "In the last company where I worked, I had the opportunity to lead the sales department and increase sales by 12%... I am a committed person who strives to contribute his work capacity and his enthusiasm . "
9) What are your salary expectations?
Before the interview, it would be very useful to find out the salary range of the company's employees in order to offer a figure that is within their range. It is not good to offer a price that is too high, just as it is bad to offer a price that is too low, since it can be seen as an undervaluation of your own work and performance. Example: "I expect a salary that is in line with my contribution to the company and my responsibilities, which in the current labour market would be between 1,000-1,300 euros . "
10) Do you have any questions?
It is advisable to ask a few questions to make them feel interested. You should not leave the interview without having clarified all your doubts. Likewise, there are things that we should not ask, since it is a lawyers email database first contact. Questions such as whether you can work from home or have your own office are ruled out. Example: "What responsibilities will I have to assume daily?"
Job interview
In addition to responding appropriately to the questions you are asked, you must follow some guidelines that will give the interviewee a certain confidence in your personality:
Smile from the start to generate kindness and empathy. Maintain eye contact to facilitate communication and signal interest. Modulate your voice, slightly raising the tone. This is ideal for emphasizing an example of your work.
Be careful with gesticulation: Constantly moving your hands to explain can be distracting. Hand movements work well to deepen an idea or give strength to words.
Avoid looking down, as this will show little interest in what the recruiter is saying. Closing your hands or having your arms crossed denotes a lack of openness and insecurity. Asking too many questions can give the impression of insecurity about yourself or a lack of knowledge about the company. Also be careful about the way you sit. Don't lean back in your chair or sit on the edge. Choose an upright and comfortable posture.