The three stages of a job interview

The three stages of a job interview

1st stage: before the interview

Before a meeting, for the purpose of a job interview, it is important for the candidate to be well prepared. For example, the preparation stage includes:

• Research on the business and industry. Look for information on the company's website, social media, the printed press, from friends and acquaintances who work in the industry or collaborate with the company, in business guides, etc. This research will help you form a first opinion about the company you are going to interview. Take notes on anything you want to remember during the interview and that may be useful to you.
• Strengthening self-awareness. «Reflect» on yourself to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. A SWOT analysis of yourself is a good practice. Be as honest as you can with yourself. Ask a good friend or someone you trust to do such an analysis for you. Comparing the findings will be a good source of information that will help strengthen your self-knowledge. Be open, without prejudice to the other person's opinions.
• Boosting self-confidence. Think about and write down everything you have achieved so far in your professional and personal life. Choose one or two successful moments in your life that you feel proud of and comfortable talking about, in case you are asked by the hiring manager or the person giving the interview. Also, be prepared to answer questions about any unsuccessful moments. It is completely normal for every employee to have both successful and unsuccessful moments in their career. Feel free to describe such situations, through the lens of continuous improvement and development, focusing on the «lesson» you learned from this experience.
• Read related articles. Take some time to read relevant articles with job interview tips online, in Greek or English. Each one has something different to suggest for your preparation. Identify the questions that are often asked during an interview. Caution: Always check the source and author of the article.
• Related questions: Record and prepare to:
  • answer questions that you are likely to receive during the interview: Why are you interested in this job? What is your experience? Why do you want to change jobs? If we asked your boss, what would he tell us about you? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why should we choose you? Describe some of your successes/failures, etc.
  • ask questions about issues related to: your responsibilities, development prospects, the development opportunities offered by the employer, the selection process, etc.
• Rehearsal: Don't hesitate to ask a mentor or colleague, an experienced friend or older sibling for help in rehearsing. Divide the roles of interviewer (someone else) and interviewee (you), prepare questions and answers and start reenacting an interview. You can videotape it with your mobile phone if you want, then watch it and discuss your strengths and areas for improvement. Focus on points such as: your tone of voice, vocabulary, the "uhs" between your sentences, your breathing rate, your body movements, your readiness to answer and anything that may affect your professional image.
• Outward appearance: Make sure that your appearance is compatible with both the job you are interested in and your personality. Be yourself and not someone else you wish you were. If you manage to gather information about the culture of the company you are going to work for, it is a good idea to adapt your attire. For example, if you have information that there is a dress code that requires a tie for men and a blazer for women, it will be a wrong choice to show up to the interview in ripped jeans and a t-shirt, without, of course, this in itself means that it is something disastrous. Choose carefully the clothes and shoes that you will wear on the day of the interview.

Are you ready? Let's go for an interview!

2nd stage: During the interview

After a good preparation, it's time to give the interview.

Are you ready? Let's go!

If you’ve made an appointment to interview for the job you’re interested in, it means you’ve accomplished something important. The resume you sent made the hiring manager stand out from the countless resumes he or she receives every day. Well done! That’s just the beginning! Now it’s time to prove that you’re the right person for the job. How will you achieve this? Use the following best practices:

• Consistency: It is very important to be consistent and arrive on time. It is better to arrive five or ten minutes (no more) earlier than the scheduled time than to be late for your appointment. If you have a long distance to travel to get to the meeting point and need to travel by car or change two or three means of public transportation, make sure to start as early as possible. Lack of consistency in this first meeting can be a major reason for rejection, even if you have the qualifications required for the position.
• The first few minutes: The first impression is formed from the very first minutes, for some from the first seconds, of the meeting. A smile, a warm and firm handshake, the correct posture without nervous movements, maintaining eye contact at the moment of introduction, respect for the space, are some of the behaviors that can create a positive first impression from the first moment. When entering the interview room, wait to be offered a place to sit and avoid running to take the position you like. If they ask you, a glass of water is always a good option. Avoid smoking or eating, even if they offer you a cigarette or cookies. Make sure to keep your mobile phone in your bag or pocket and on silent during the interview.
• Stress management: It's normal to feel anxious during an interview for a job you want. Make sure your anxiety is functional for you, allowing you to think and answer the questions, and not dysfunctional, causing you to tremble and block your thoughts. Try to breathe normally, keep your voice steady, and don't draw out your words or put too many "eeeeee"s in between. Thinking «"This is a job that interests me and I really want it. The fact that I want this job does not necessarily mean that I have to win it. I will do my best to get hired, but even if I don't, that doesn't make me unworthy of being hired for another position. Through this process, I can get to know myself better and improve for the next interview."», is rational and helps to transform anxiety from dysfunctional to functional, or better yet, to a normal worry. Something that does not happen when you maintain intense irrational thoughts-demands and absolute beliefs. For example, the thought «"They absolutely must hire me for this job because I really want it. If they don't hire me, that would be devastating, I wouldn't be able to handle it and it would mean I'm not worthy."», contributes to greater self-disruption and does not help in effective stress management.
• Answers to questions: Make sure to listen actively to each question before answering. Avoid interrupting your interlocutor to give a hasty answer, because you think you understood the question he/she asked you. It is important to speak slowly and clearly and give specific answers to the questions you will receive. Avoid chatter and a lot of "sauce", thinking that this will impress. This is something for which you have prepared well (see Stage 1).^ο before the interview). If you don’t know something about what they ask you, don’t hesitate to admit it and show your sincere interest in learning. Accept the fact that no one knows everything and that is acceptable when it happens. Avoid expressing yourself in negative terms about your previous colleagues, clients, employers. Be sure to describe your previous work experience (if any) focusing on your responsibilities, the challenges you faced, your successes but also your failures and how you handled them. Show your enthusiasm by describing your experiences in positive words, for example: «"I'm excited about the idea...", "I like to enrich my knowledge...", "I enjoy teamwork...". Be honest with what you have accomplished so far.
• Ask questions: You can, at the end of the interview, also ask for information about what you want to know about the job position, such as: "«what will be the duties of the position in more detail? ", "what is a typical day like for the person in charge of the department……?" (add the department for which you are interviewing), «"What are the development prospects?", information about the team you will work with and anything else that is relevant to the job interview you are interested in. Make sure that the questions you ask are relevant to the industry, the company, the position you are interested in. This will show that you have prepared well and have been interested in looking for information. It is best to avoid asking about salary in the first interview, unless you are asked. Prefer to discuss it in the second interview. Finally, you may ask about the stages of the process for filling the position, the next steps and when you will receive information. Remember, smile and thank the person in charge for the opportunity they gave you.

Congratulations! You have completed the interview.

3rd stage: After the interview

Whether it's your first or your umpteenth interview, to find the job you love, it's worth giving yourself a thumbs up!

Start your self-assessment by recognizing the good points of this interview. Your posture, preparedness in your answers, patience and good stress management, if they went well, it is important to continue to apply them in subsequent interviews.

Continue with the points that didn't go as well as you would have liked. If, for example, you noticed that your voice had a tremor, you made excessive hand movements, your foot under the table moved back and forth as if it had a spring, your answers were not specific, you didn't use specific examples from your work life, and possibly some other points, it is necessary to improve them by the next interview. Remember the advice from 1^ο Stage: Before the interview.   

If the interview was scheduled by a Recruitment Consultant, it is a good idea to contact him/her and let him/her know whether you are still interested in the position or not. The specialized Consultant will inform you of the next steps, whether or not you are selected for the specific job position.

If you scheduled the interview directly with the company's Human Resources Manager, it is a good idea to wait for a response within the time period that they have set for you. If this time period has passed, you can contact them, following the method they have indicated (e.g. by phone or email) and politely ask about the stage the process is at. Avoid sending a personal message on your mobile phone or on any of the social media, even if you are logged in. Unless, of course, you have agreed to communicate via social media.

Even if the position you are interested in is not offered to you, it is important not to be disappointed and to continue to the next interview with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

Remember that every interview is a unique experience and an opportunity to improve and develop your skills and knowledge.

I hope you find the job you desire and turn your creative ideas into successful actions!

Good luck!

Zoi A. Lioliou 

Business Coach, Facilitator, Skills Development Consultant, Author
Email: info@coachinginaction.gr
Mobile: +306944948466