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.
Being told that you were unsuccessful in interview is a brutal blow but it is important to view each interview as a learning experience, quickly identify where you fell down and make the necessary changes to ensure that next time round you get over the line. To help you critically assess your performance, I have outlined below the five most common interview mistakes.
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.
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:
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Take Control of Your Future & Unlock Your Full Potential. I work with clients face-to-face and on skype or zoom.
Could you benefit from interview coaching?
Maybe you haven’t interviewed in several years and you’re rusty or you’re already good at interviews but want to get that extra edge to land you the job.
