Return to work job interview skills
People often say: "You shouldn't judge others" and "You can't judge a book by its cover"
But the truth is the just the opposite. You must judge others (ie you must judge whether to do business with them or not).
They must judge you (they must judge whether to hire you or not).
The only means they have to make such a judgement is by the evidence of their senses.
They will judge you based upon the evidence of three things:
- Everything they see you do.
- Everything they hear you say.
- How all that makes them feel.
It is your job to manage your communication so that the interviewer:
- Sees you at your best.
- Hears you at your best.
- Feel a sense of confidence in you.
During a job interview, the panel of judges will make a decision about your future
The judging panel are interested in you only to the degree that you can demonstrate evidence that you will add value to their organisation.
- They won't give you the job simply because you really need it.
- They won't give you the job simply because you really want it.
- They won't give you the job simply because you are highly qualified to do it.
Why not?
Because Llke everyone else, the judging panel are mostly "self-interested individuals".
They are looking to hire those people who are likely to add value to their situation.
Your number one task is to give them sufficient evidence to believe you are the person who will add value and simultaneously show that you won't be the cause of any trouble, cost or misfortune.
We all share the same tools of communication
We all communicate through: words, voice tone and body language and through our attitudes.
Words...
Obviously you use words to communicate, But
- Which words do you use?
- How well do you use language?
- Are you able to express your meaning or not?
During interview situations some people let themselves down by using the wrong words
Examples
- They swear in situations when they should not swear.
- They run down their previous employer, to their prospective employer.
- They talk for too long about the bad luck and upsets that they have had to suffer.
- They even embroider the truth or tell lies in order to make their past look more impressive.
Reverse these trends:
- 1. Don't use profane or slang language whilst in an interview situations.
You can never know whose sensibilities you are offending.
Why risk it? - Never run down or denigrate your previous employer:
When you do that, you demonstrate your willingness to run down your employer, which is something that your prospective employer will not value in you. - Don't talk for too long about the bad luck and upsets that you have had to suffer
If you do, you advertise the fact that you go sick or that you may be "unlucky" these are not attractive for any future employer. - Don't tell lies
I learned from a business leader that if he sees any sign of fabrication in an application he immediately eliminates the candidate:
"From the very start, fabrication of any element of an application shows the candidate to be untrustworthy".
Never embroider the truth or tell lies in order to make their past look more impressive.
Your mission
Your mission is to orchestrate your performance so as to leave the best possible impression in the minds of your listeners:
We call this process: "Impression management".
Learn to talk only about the positives
Make a list of the positive attributes in your personality and character.
This means the things that are over and above your education.
Make a list of your beneficial attributes.
Obviously that means that you should talk about your formal qualifications.
But it means more than that.
Make a list of all your positive character traits:
- Your enthusiasm
- Your high degree of honesty
- Your high degree of team spirit
- Your ability to learn new skills
- Your ability to master new technology as it comes onto the market
- Your willingness to add value to the organisation in any way that you can
Make a list of at least ten attributes that will give the judging panel reason to believe that you are good for the organisation.
Practice talking about your positive attributes, so that you can make a good case for the judges hiring you: even though you may not be the most highly educated person who is applying.
Try to create one illustrative story that will prove each attribute.
This procedure demands that you discover ten true illustrative stories that you can draw upon to prove your suitability and value adding potential.
Make your list so as to be relevant to the needs of the organisation you are trying to impress.
impression management
Impression management is a job interview process where you plan and control your words, voice and body language to give proof that you add value, show you cause no risk, and build trust with the panel. Without this active shaping of signals, the panel must guess your worth and may judge you poorly.
CG4D Definition
Context: Job interviews
Genus: Process
- Needs clear planning of the signals you send
- Uses words, voice tone and body language as main tools
- Shows the employer that you add value and are reliable
- Matches your behaviour to the needs of the role and company
Article Summary
At a return to work interview, employers judge your words, tone and body language in seconds; manage each sign, skip negative talk and give clear, true stories that show how you add value and solve their problems.