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Category : Why wasn’t I successful?

Home /  Why wasn’t I successful?
 
ageism
Why wasn't I successful?, Interviewing for Executives, Re-energise your job search

How can you overcome ageism in interviews?

  • Laura-McGrath
  • January 22, 2021
  • ageism, unconscious bias

In our youth obsessed culture, what’s the best way to navigate unconscious bias in interviews? Acknowledging its existence is a good starting point. Many of us have internalised the idea that risk, energy and agility are the preserve of the young. Yet when you reflect more deeply, we all know people in their 20s who crave security and routine, preferring Netflix to running marathons. The reality is, there’s as much diversity in the over 40s as there is in the under 40s.

To ensure you don’t get blindsided by ageism in interviews, consider paying attention to the following five areas:

Flexibility

The elephant in the room for many interviewers is whether you can work well with leaders who are younger than you. A good way of addressing this in the interview is by highlighting where you’ve worked on projects with younger mangers. Emphasise how you enjoyed collaborating with them and what you learnt from them. This will help present you as a team player and someone who can adapt easily to new situations.

Language matters

Lead with passion not experience. Reframing experience as passion will position you as someone who’s dynamic and constantly looking to expand your knowledge. By doing this you’re recognising that your journey is never ending and that you welcome new ideas and other peoples’ perspectives.

Many organisations now embrace a collaborative style of management which values initiative and the team development.  In the interview position yourself as someone who champions this. Be aware of your language. Talk about how you “lead you team” instead of “managing your staff.” Emphasise how you empower people to reach their potential and find meaning in their work.   

Growth mind set

Having a natural curiosity and managing your learning and development is really important for employers. Skills get outdated very quickly so staying relevant through doing further education, attending seminars and going to networking events to stay abreast of industry trends is essential if you want to stay relevant.

Present yourself as a problem solver

When you’re researching the company, think critically about challenges they’re facing and what opportunities may exist. Use your network to speak to people in the company to get up to speed on current projects or developments. Strengthen your sector expertise by reading articles and meeting other contacts in their field.

By anticipating these challenges and highlighting how you’re addressed similar issues in the past, you’ll present yourself as a solutions focused, action oriented player.

Manage your image

Harvey Coleman in “Empowering Yourself. The Organisational Game Revealed.” attributes 30% of career success to image, so it’s worth paying attention to. Ask yourself what your clothes and body language are saying about you. If you’re not sure, ask a friend to give you honest feedback.

Conclusion

These steps will help you make that vital connection with the interview panel and spotlight the attention on why you’re the best fit for the role.

About the author

Laura McGrath is an Executive Coach with a background in recruitment and career coaching. She has a post graduate qualification in Executive Coaching from the IMI and has been a guest lecturer with Trinity College Dublin and TU Dublin. For more information call 087 669 1192.

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Body language, passion in interviews
Why wasn't I successful?

How to inject passion into your interview.

  • Laura-McGrath
  • October 22, 2020
  • interview tips, Body Language, executive interviews, interview success, rapport, interview techniques

“One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.” E M Forster, novelist.

Passion is a powerful force which allows us to perform at our best and achieve what we never thought was possible. It’s no wonder employers look for it in interviews.

In my career as an executive coach, I’ve found that many of my clients struggle to show this side of their personality. Yet tapping into your energy flow is really important, as it builds a strong rapport with the hiring manager and influences key decisions in your favour.

I’ve outlined below three approaches that will help you communicate your enthusiasm in a way that feels natural to you.

Telling stories

Many of my clients feel uneasy expressing themselves in a passionate way. If you’re a naturally soft spoken person with a low key style, telling impactful stories about the value you’ve added in previous roles can provide an alternative path to hook your audience.

If you’re still uncomfortable talking about your strengths, try instead highlighting what you love about your job. So for example instead of saying you’ve strong leadership skills, you could say that you really enjoy leading teams and getting the best out of people. You could then go on to give an example of where you led a team through a reorganisation, overcame significant resistance, kept a high team morale and increased productivity through upskilling and coaching.   

It’s all about the why

By explaining why you’re interested in working for a particular company, you’ll create a connection with the hiring manager. Explaining how your values align and why you’d love to be part of what they do is powerful. For example a client of mine was going for a management position in a homeless charity. By talking about the voluntary work they’d done in the sector, they showed a deep knowledge of the environment and how close it was to their heart. Likewise, a client going for a Head of Finance role in a gaming company familiarised themselves with their products. By playing the games they demonstrated both their love of the product and the level of their commitment to the role.

Be present

As part of the coaching process, I give my clients feedback on how their answers land on me. I often observe that they’re talking at me, not engaging with me.

It’s easy to fall into this trap. By over rehearsing, you risk going on autopilot. How can you avoid this? By staying in the moment. Modulating your tone of voice, bringing energy into your body, your facial features and allowing a level of spontaneity.

To help clients get into this zone, I ask them to tell me about the best holiday they’ve recently been on. Immediately they light up, smile, speak with enthusiasm, sit up straighter and start to exude energy. By doing this they effortlessly make an immediate connection with me. If you can replicate this presence in an interview, you’ll build a strong rapport and emotional connection with the interview panel.

Conclusion

It’s important to bring passion into an interview in a way that feels authentic to you. If these techniques feel strange to you at first, don’t panic. Bear in mind, that when your leave your comfort zone, it’s normal to feel awkward. This doesn’t mean that you’re not being true to yourself. You’re simply exploring a different version of yourself which will take time to settle into.

About the author

Laura is a qualified executive coach, EMCC Certified with over 20 years’ experience in executive search and recruitment.  She’s the owner of Interview Techniques, a leading provider of interview and career coaching services.  For a consultation, please call 087 669 1192 or go to www.interviewtechniques.ie.

 

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How to Shine at Zoom Interview
Why wasn't I successful?

How to shine in a Zoom Interview

  • Laura-McGrath
  • May 25, 2020
  • popular, virtual interview, zoom interview, skype, webex, microsoft teams

How to shine in a Zoom Interview

Hiring managers have adapted with speed to the new realities of social distancing and have moved from face to face to online interviews. To excel in virtual interviews, it’s important to realise that they’re a different beast. This new form of interview requires adapting your style in order to make them work effectively for you.

Here are 6 tips to help you maximise your presence in virtual interviews and to make that vital connection with the hiring manager.

Position of the camera

Preparation is critical. Ideally your screen should be 75-90 cm away from you so that your face and upper torso can be seen. To maximise your presence, the interviewer should be able to see read your body language. Using your full faculty of expression will help them forget that you’re not in the same physical space.

Time of day

When you’re deciding on where to position your laptop, bear in mind the time of day your meeting is scheduled for and your light source. Make sure that you’re not cast in shadows and that the light doesn’t fluctuate with the movement of the sun.

Stand Out

Remember, virtual interviews are 2D. To help create depth and to avoid fading into the background, wear something that creates a contrast.

Set the scene

Be mindful of your background. Cluttered rooms will make you seem disorganised. Distracting elements will pull attention away from you. Find a space where the background is simple, reflecting your professionalism.

Engage with the panel

It’s easy when doing a virtual interview to forget that you’re speaking to a real person. Creating a rapport is even more important on line as subtle eye and body movements may not be picked up. Smile, use your body language and tone of voice to create warmth and make that vital connection. Doing stretches or indeed going for a walk before the interview can help, as this will increase your energy levels and project dynamism.

Software

Familiarise yourself with the software being used – Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, Skype. They’re all slightly different and being familiar with their settings can give you more control. For example in zoom you can hide your self-cam (which can be distracting), or choose gallery view to allow you view all participants on the screen at the same time.

Conclusion

As it’s likely that virtual interviews will become a permanent feature of the recruitment process, adapting your style will help position yourself as a strong and adaptable communicator – someone who can flex and embrace change.

About the author

Laura is a qualified executive coach, EMCC Certified with over 20 years’ experience in executive search and recruitment.  She’s the owner of Interview Techniques, a leading provider of interview and career coaching services.  For a consultation, please call 087 669 1192 or go to www.interviewtechniques.ie.

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Interview Nerves
Why wasn't I successful?

Interview Nerves

  • Laura-McGrath
  • April 9, 2020
  • interview tips, interview coaching, popular, Interview Nerves, imposter syndrome, interview anxiety

Anxiety and fear of interviews is a common problem. As a business coach, I have worked with clients whose fear has crippled their career development and earning potential. My clients are very capable and know their anxiety is irrational but sometimes that’s not enough. It takes time and effort to understand and overcome such emotions but all is possible with the right help.

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Biggest Mistake in Interviews
Why wasn't I successful?

How can you pitch yourself as being the best person for the job?

  • Laura-McGrath
  • September 3, 2019
  • Promotion Interview, emotional intelligence, executive interview

What’s the biggest mistake we make in interviews?

Interviewing for the job we’re in, not the job we’re going for.

The easiest way to avoid falling into this trap is to approach the interview as you would any part of the business – strategically. Look for overlaps between your current role and the desired position, then show you’ve the abilities required to adapt to the higher level of responsibilities demanded.
Areas to look out for:

Stakeholder management:
Strategic input:
Emotional Intelligence:

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Interviewing for Introverts
Why wasn't I successful?

Interviewing for Introverts

  • Laura-McGrath
  • October 16, 2017
  • interview tips, Interview Nerves, Communication Skills, Manage Interviewer, Communication Questions, introvert

In a world where extrovert qualities are extolled, and society rewards those who are gregarious, dominant and comfortable in the spotlight; how can those of a quieter, more reflective disposition make an impact in interview and secure their career advancement.

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What your body language says about you.
Why wasn't I successful?

What your body language says about you

  • Laura-McGrath
  • September 22, 2017
  • interview tips, interview coaching, Body Language

Pictures speak louder than words…………………This is particularly true in an interview situation where body language plays a significant factor in determining whether an employer sees you as a trustworthy, confident, capable individual who has a future with their company.  Interestingly, research has shown that words by themselves account for only 7% of the impact of your message, a hefty 38% of the message is transmitted by tone of voice and the remaining 55% is communicated by body language.

As most of us have no idea how we are perceived by other people we underestimate the significance of non verbal forms of communication and how it can lessen the impact on what we are saying.  I have highlighted below, the four most common pitfalls for interviewees. By modifying your behaviour in these areas, you will dramatically increase your interview performance and your ability to influence the final outcome.

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Why wasn't I successful?

Dealing with Silence in Interviews

  • Laura-McGrath
  • September 22, 2017
  • interview tips, interview coaching

What do you do when the flow of conversation comes to a grinding halt in an interview?  It’s very easy to feel the weight of silence and the impulse to fill the gap can be hard to overcome.  Below are some useful tips to help you deal with these wordless moments:

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How to manage the interviewer
Why wasn't I successful?

How to manage the interviewer?

  • Laura-McGrath
  • September 22, 2017
  • interview tips, Manage Interviewer

Interviewing is a complex process where personal dynamics take centre stage.  By developing an awareness of the main personality types, you can help you improve your ability to adapt to the interviewer’s individual style. Developing such a flexible approach can impact on the direction and style of the interview and ultimately its outcome. 

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Overcoming Interview Nerves
Why wasn't I successful?

Overcoming Interview Nerves

  • Laura-McGrath
  • September 21, 2017
  • interview tips, interview coaching, Interview Nerves

Sweaty palms, racing heart, blood pumping through the veins.  Only 60 minutes to prove yourself and wipe the competition to the floor. Winner takes all, no prizes for runners up.  These days, interviews are a fraught process, brutally competitive and require nerves of steel. 

Many of these emotions are also experienced by athletes before entering a big competition.     Sports psychologists have been employed by world class athletes since the1988 Olympics, to help them manage the intense pressure that comes with competing in world championships.    In this article we will look at some of the mental exercises used by elite athletes to ensure they excel in their field and win that coveted gold medal.

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