The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck.

Antony Robbins

Having followed the interview preparedness guidance in ____, we are now almost ready to conduct the interview! This lesson is intentionally brief lesson 12.01 make space for the time to practice interviewing during exercise 12.02. Before we jump into the actual interview, we would be remiss if we did not mention physical presentation and interview format.

Dress for success

As established during lesson 7.02, physical appearance is part and parcel of the concept of register. That is to say, the level of formality pertinent to the situation and environment. Designer Tom Ford spoke directly to this connection when he said “Dressing well is a form of good manners.”

Whilst you should always feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing to a job interview, it is important to dress appropriately. The definition of what constitutes “appropriate dress” should be explored and ascertained. This should be done in step one of the planning process, during the act of getting to know the organization you are applying to.

Interview formats

The recruiting organization may use a variety of interviewing techniques and formats in their selection process. While it is unlikely that the candidate will be informed of the format the interview will take ahead of time, you should be aware and prepared for the different possibilities. Interviews can take a number of forms including,

One to one interviews - between a representative of the employer and the candidate.

Panel interviews - between two or more representatives of the employer and the candidate.

Group interviews - a number of potential candidates being observed completing activities and interacting with others by the employer. Multiple candidates may also be interviewed simultaneously by a panel of interviewers.

The skills and knowledge required for an effective interview are the same regardless of the format. We will take a look at these next.

Acing interviews

One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.

Benjamin Disraeli

There is no secret to acing or excelling at interviews. Interviews are simply an act of professional communication; this entire course has been dedicated to that. Here we will summarize the key advice given throughout this program that will serve you well before, during, and after the interview.

  • Before

    • Be prepared
      • Do your research and follow the 6 steps in 12.01
      • Use visualization - experience the process and emotions ahead of time. Take the time to sit quietly and visualize yourself performing highly. (lesson and exercise 9.01)

  • During

    • Be fully present
      • When you are actively aware of what’s actually happening in your environment, you will be naturally more confident and better able to adapt and pivot should any unexpected difficulties occur. (lesson 9.02).
      • Relax and enjoy it - an interview is another opportunity to practice your communication skills. Taking deep, calming breaths and absorbing the sounds, smells, and sights in your environment will allow you to better engage with your audience. (lesson 9.02).
      • Pay attention to verbal and non verbal signals Remember 93% of all messages are delivered not through our word choices but through the non verbal signals we give and our tone, register, and gestures. (lesson 2.2)
        • Smile and make eye contact.
        • Take your hands out of your pockets and keep an open posture.
        • Make sure your back is not to anyone.
        • Actively listen to the interviewers questions and reactions with your ears, body, and gut.
    • Be authentic and the best version of yourself
      • The best way to connect with a recruiter is to honour their time. We can do this by being confident in who we are and passionate about what we have to say (lesson 9.02).
    • Remember tone and register (lesson 2.1)
      • Optimize your use of tone throughout your interview with expression and intonation.
    • Don’t be afraid to pause
      • Remember to slow down and breathe. Use summary and paraphrasing to check that you understand the questions being asked and give yourself time to think (lesson 9.02).

  • After

    • Thank them for their time in person and in an email
      • Good manners are crucial in every culture and organization. Stand out for the right reasons by sending a professionally written thank you email (lesson 7.01).
    • Conduct self feedback and ask for feedback of how you did
      • Don’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge what you did well and identify what you would do differently next time. In your thank you email, consider asking the recruiter for feedback of your performance (lesson 10.02).
    • Study the results of the feedback and act on this new knowledge
      • Remember the power of the four stage communication process is the equal emphasis on plan, do, study, and act. Prior to the interview is plan, during is do. Study and act are both after the interview (lesson 5.01).

Last but not least, communication and interviewing are skills that improve with practice. You may not be a world class communicator straight away or an interviewing maverick your first time out. With time, planning, and practice, you can develop into your own best, professional communication hero!

Exercise

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