Do you get so nervous during an interview that your stomach feels like you're sipping soup while jumping on a trampoline? Do you spend the hour fidgeting? Staring at your shoes? Worried you're over qualified . . . under qualified?
You're not alone!
Ninety-two percent of Americans experience high levels of anxiety during the interview process according to Jobvite, a company that tracks and collects data for recruiting and human resources professionals. Women suffer most from the jitters while men worry about their qualifications for the position.
Because most of my career has been spent in communication and human relations, I believe I bring a unique perspective to the art of the interview:
- Sixteen years with a hiring service - ten of them in human resources management.
- Two years as a production assistant for a large ad agency looking for and booking talent
- Six years producing a weekly newspaper column
- Forty years and hundreds of freelance articles
- Five years in radio
The first thing I'd like to do is dispel certain myths about Human Resources managers in corporate America:
Recruiters look forward to meeting candidates and want the applicant to feel as comfortable as possible. That's true. It's a long process and depending on the job description, many people and interviews may be involved. Have patience.
Hundreds of applicants may be applying for the same position. That's true. A well-trained HR team will read every one of the resumes they receive and sort them according to the candidate's talents and skill level. All resumes are kept for a period of time (usually six months). This is one reason it is so important for the candidate to present the most pristine resume possible. Typos do sway opinion.
It's all about the m-o-n-e-y. That's not true. It's about finding the most qualified candidate who shares the company's product vision. HR does not set salary for a company's positions. Most Fortune 500 companies have a scale based on three levels: entry, middle, and top. To negotiate for the highest wage in the appropriate level, a candidate needs to come to the interview armed with knowledge about his/her talents and the company's history, performance, and goals. Ask for a copy of the Company's Annual Report. It will help you decide the health of the company and if it's the career path you want to follow.
One of the most difficult attitudes for us to accept as candidates is that we are a product. A commodity to sell. Our skills equate to salary. We have self worth! Don't diminish it with thoughtlessly placed social media rants or expletives. HR does check.
One of the best books I've read on business management is John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It's ideal reading in a group session, especially in conjunction with the videos.
There are certain modes of behavior when applying for a job:
- Dress appropriately
- Be on time
- Use your manners
- Be prepared
- No texting/checking phone messages/making calls
- This may be your work family for a number of years, show you're interested
Remember, an interview is not one-sided. It's a conversation. The HR employees reflect the attitude of the company. Does it feel like the right fit for you? The ultimate choice is yours.
To learn more about award-winning author, Jo Ann V. Glim:
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
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