Job application interview. How to behave correctly at an interview to get hired? How to make a good impression on an employer

All people have had to undergo an interview at least once in their lives. If earlier not all companies conducted interviews, now interviews are conducted almost everywhere. However, despite the importance of an interview, not all people know how to behave in an interview. An insecure employee who does not know how to present himself competently is unlikely to successfully pass this stage of hiring. To get the job you want and make a good impression in the interview, here are a few tips and tricks.

Preparing for an interview

In order for the interview to go smoothly and without problems, it is advisable to prepare for it.

• Prepare in advance for the most common questions, such as: “Why did you choose our company?”, “How do you imagine your life in a few years?”, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”, as well as questions about your education and previous jobs. Think in advance about the answer to the question: “Why did you leave your previous job?”

• Think over your image. You shouldn’t wear clothes that are too bright and flashy, but it doesn’t hurt to emphasize your individuality with interesting clothing items or accessories. It is customary to come to an interview in clothes of neutral colors, such as white, black, gray and beige. It is better to choose simple, but elegant clothes, and in no case pretentious.

• Find out as much information as possible about the company you will work for. A good employer will always appreciate a person who has familiarized himself with the activities of the organization before the interview. Thanks to this, you can make a favorable impression on your future boss.

• Get in a good mood. In the morning before the interview, listen to your favorite music, drink your favorite tea or coffee. Tune in to positivity and calm. If you're feeling overly nervous, drink calming herbal tea or do breathing exercises. A person who is too stiff and nervous during an interview makes a negative impression.

• If you have forgotten some information related to your specialty, then refresh your knowledge. First of all, any employer wants to see a competent, good specialist in his company. Everything is important: your work experience, place of education, participation in any conferences and forums. But do not forget that if you are tense and insecure, then your knowledge may not be able to help you. Therefore, do not neglect the tips outlined above.

How to behave during an interview?

• Smile and sincerity. Don't be afraid to smile. A smile always puts people at ease. Answer questions sincerely and don’t lie, because sooner or later the truth will come out.

• Showcase your skills. No need to be modest. It is very important to be able to adequately evaluate yourself. Show off your best projects, talk about your experience and don't think it's insignificant. Even the smallest things can be interesting to talk about.

• Ask questions. They choose not only you, but you too. Don’t feel like you’re in a subordinate position at the interview; you don’t owe this company anything yet. Therefore, ask everything that interests you. This way you can understand whether this place of work is suitable for you or not.

• Do not be nervous. There is no need to fiddle with the buttons on your blouse, twirl a pen in your hands, or run your eyes around the space. Take a few deep breaths and calm down. A calm person makes a more favorable impression. And excessive unevenness will only cause harm, as you will be tense: your voice may tremble, your palms may sweat, and your thoughts may become confused. There is no need for unnecessary nervousness.

• Speak with sense, feeling and arrangement. No need to chatter. Speak calmly, pause in your speech and watch your voice. Also, do not actively gesticulate during a conversation.

What to do if you weren't hired?

Don't despair. Refusal at an interview is not the end of life. Go to another interview, analyze your past and take into account all your mistakes. Despite the fact that an interview is always a nervous process, and we want to get a positive result, not everything always happens positively. You shouldn’t look for flaws in yourself after the first refusal. It’s worth thinking about when you went to many interviews, but never received a positive answer.

So, the most important thing is to act confident and friendly during the interview. Show your best side and you will definitely get your dream job. Be confident, calm and demonstrate yourself as a competent specialist in your field.

An interview is the first meeting with the employer or his representatives.

The purpose of this meeting is to obtain maximum information about the applicant and his suitability for the vacant position..

During the meeting, the potential employee’s task is to convince the other party that he has all the necessary qualities and make a positive impression.

That is why very often, as a job seeker, the question arises: how to behave at an interview in order to get hired?

It is equally important to understand how to behave during an interview with an employer. Let's start with preparing for this event.

Preparing for an interview

Before we talk in detail about how to behave during a job interview, let’s look at the stages of preparation. Let's talk about how to prepare for an interview and what mistakes you should avoid so as not to fail your job interview.

The first stage is a telephone conversation. Already during it, communication with a company representative begins. Be polite.

Even if a person is talking to you who will not be present at the meeting, he will convey his impression of your behavior during telephone conversations to his supervisor or manager. Write down the name and position of the person you will be meeting with and who is speaking to you on the phone. Sometimes a full-fledged interview can be carried out over the phone.

If you address the person interviewing you by name and patronymic immediately upon arrival, this will make a positive impression.

Specify the time and address of the conversation, and also be sure to ask for a telephone number for contact.

The second stage is the psychological mood for the meeting. Put your fears aside and don't panic. The fear of “failure” can play a cruel joke on you.

Therefore, no matter how scary it may be, understand that “failure” is not the end of your life and career. Psychologists advise holding the proposed meeting in front of a mirror, talking to your reflection, imagining your interlocutor in front of you.

How to impress an employer during an interview? Gaining confidence and showing it during a conversation is your main task.

The third stage is thinking over the appearance. Immediately put aside frilly, extravagant things, even if you look very good in them.

, it is better to wear a suit of neutral colors.

Do not use flashy jewelry in your outfit - they will distract your interlocutor.

Pay attention to the well-groomed nature of your hands; it is advisable to visit a nail salon the day before the meeting.

Do not use rich perfume aromas; the scent you give off should be as light as possible, rather even barely perceptible. Pay special attention to your hair.

The hairstyle should be neat, but just like the clothes, not extravagant. Put all the things you need for the interview in a solid folder.

The fourth stage is collecting information about the company. A clear idea of ​​the organization in which you will work is an important point not only for you. The fact that you were interested in the company in advance will please the employer and convince him that you want to work for him.

Visit the organization's website. Find out what products it sells or what services it offers. In addition to preparing for the meeting, this information will help you understand whether this particular work is really necessary for you.

Stage five – thinking through your answers to the employer’s questions. Think about how you will tell about yourself. You can prepare several stories from which the interlocutor will learn about your qualities and behavior in various situations.

Depending on the specialization of the company, guess and think about it so as not to get confused later.

Look over your resume again and think about what positions the employer will want to clarify or what to learn more about.

You should also be prepared for the fact that at the interview you may be offered or, as well as all kinds of and.

Behavior at an interview

So, now there is more information about how to behave during a job interview. You must arrive at the meeting on time, or better yet, a little earlier.

Being late is not acceptable, so think through your route in advance and calculate the time required for the journey.

It is better to visit the interview location the day before so that you have an accurate idea of ​​how long the journey will take. What to do if you are still late, read.

The first impression at a meeting is an important moment Especially if this is your first interview with an employer.

If you are asked to choose a seat, sit not strictly opposite the interlocutor, but at an angle of 45 degrees and half a turn. Don't sit close to your interlocutor. The distance between you should be 80-90 cm.

The pose of an exemplary student with his hands folded on the table is not the best option. Sit relaxed, but not imposingly. Don't cross one leg over the other or slump in your chair.

How to have a conversation?

How to behave during an interview with an employer? At the meeting, behave confidently and answer clearly. Do not use phrases: “I don’t know”, “maybe”, “as if”, “I’m not sure”, “probably” - all these expressions demonstrate lack of confidence in your abilities. This will help you make a good impression at the interview.

Actively use the verbs “can”, “can”, “possess”. If you don’t know the answer to a question, you don’t need to say “I’m an inexperienced worker,” “I’m a new person,” “I don’t know that.”

Instead, answer evasively: “I have not come across this information yet,” “I have not had to find myself in such situations,” “I will try to find out the information in the near future” - this will show that you are ready to develop and master new knowledge.

Don’t panic if you hear unexpected questions; perhaps the employee specifically wants to piss you off. Sometimes this is done intentionally to find out your behavior in a stressful situation.

If you feel like your interlocutor is putting too much pressure on you or openly provoking you, politely tell him about it, trying to remain calm and without raising your voice. It is especially important for an applicant to behave confidently in such a situation.

Gestures and facial expressions during a conversation are of considerable importance:

• do not cross your arms over your chest, do not fiddle with various objects during a conversation;
• do not keep your hands under the table, but do not swing them too actively;
• reinforce your words with restrained gestures;
• Smile often, but don't giggle or grin. At the same time, a constant and too wide smile is also not acceptable;
• If you don’t know what gestures to make, try to repeat those that the interlocutor makes.

This technique will allow you to demonstrate common interests and get a little closer to your interlocutor. But you shouldn’t copy all the gestures exactly, otherwise you will look like a monkey.

How to answer questions?

Your task is to convince your interlocutor that this job suits you best, and you have all the qualities necessary to perform it.

Calmness, confidence, goodwill - these are the three rules for answering questions. Do not treat the interview as an interrogation, behave as if you were having a normal conversation with people you know.

Listen to the question carefully and answer it exactly. Don't get distracted from the specific question and don't go sideways by starting to talk about something that you're not being asked about at the moment.

The main rule of answering is not to be rude, no matter what you are asked. If the question is unpleasant to you and concerns too personal information, politely refuse to answer it. But this applies only to those issues that are not related to professional activities.

Let's look at some popular topics and rules for answering questions:

You will definitely be asked about your previous place of work and the reasons for leaving.

Answer neutrally: “the salary was not satisfactory”, “far from home”, “there was no opportunity for career growth”, etc.

Never start scolding your boss or saying that you were picked on.

Don't say that you didn't work well with the team. These are the most important mistakes in job interviews.

When asked why you want to work for this company, you need to think about the answer in advance.. Find out all the positive aspects of the organization and mention them to the employer as positions that are attractive to you.

A popular question is why you should be hired for the position.. Answers must meet the requirements specified in the announcement. If you notice that the employer is not satisfied with some answer, say that you are a fast learner and will be able to master the necessary skills as quickly as possible.

The issue of wages is very important. Saying that the size of the remuneration does not matter to you and you are ready to work “for the idea” is a direct deception. If you are asked what you want, study the labor market and find out how much you can expect. Focus not on the maximum numbers, but those closest to the “ceiling”.

When asked where you see yourself after a few years of working in the company, you should not say that you would like to become a manager. Try to calculate in advance the opportunities for career growth in the organization and voice realistic plans. Read about how to answer tricky questions correctly.

Frequently asked questions about your professional failures. A career is impossible without them, so there’s no point in lying that everything has always worked out for you. Talk about the mistakes you made and what you learned from them. Don't make excuses or talk. That everything is the fault of colleagues or the boss. The ability to draw conclusions from mistakes is a wonderful professional quality, and your interlocutor will definitely appreciate it.

The main question for all candidates going for an interview is how to behave during the interview and what to say? During an interview, it is important not only to answer questions, but to ask them yourself. Questions should relate to your professional responsibilities, company rules and traditions.

Read about what questions are asked most often during an interview.

What should you not do during an interview? You should not arrange an interrogation by bombarding your interlocutor with a large number of questions. Your task is not so much to hear answers to questions, but to show your interest. Avoid asking questions that are stupid, irrelevant, or unrelated to work.

Also, during a job interview, you should not ask, for example, about the number of unmarried girls in the organization, or how corporate events are held. By doing this, you will immediately form a negative impression of yourself as a potential employee.

At the end of the interview, ask when and how you will be informed of the results. Ask when you can call the company yourself to find out the information.

Rules for the employer

Competent selection of personnel is the key to the success of any organization.

An interview is a way to find out everything about the professional and personal qualities of an applicant.

At the same time, your task is not to scare off a potential employee with your questions and behavior, but to encourage a frank conversation. Only in this case will you find out the information you are interested in as much as possible and select a suitable employee.

That is why you should adhere to the following rules:

Make a list of candidates and clearly communicate to them the requirements that you place on the employee.. After a potential employee appears, invite him to sit down.

It is advisable to invite him to choose a seat, rather than sit him on a specific chair opposite you. Just by the way the future employee sits down, you can form a definite opinion about him.

Start the meeting not with specific work issues, but with abstract topics. Your task at the beginning of a conversation is to win over your interlocutor, relax him and relieve tension. If the candidate shakes from your authoritative tone or harsh questions, you will not achieve any results.

Ask concise, clearly worded questions. Do not allow hints or half-hints, or questions of an overly personal nature.

After asking a question, listen to the answer to the end. Do not allow the applicant’s monologue to be interrupted, unless, of course, it goes on too long.

Don't show your superiority over the candidate. Demonstrating your social status is bad form. For an employee, you should be a colleague, and not an angry boss with snobby habits. At the same time, keep your distance, since the company cannot do without subordination.

Behave politely and as tactfully as possible. Don’t be rude to the applicant, don’t say that there are many like him, and you are “rummaging through them like garbage.” These are typical interview mistakes that employers often make.

At the end of the conversation, end the conversation logically and thank the applicant. Even if you liked the candidate, you should not admire him right away and say that he is an ideal option. Make it clear that your company is serious and certain strict requirements are imposed on employees.

If you immediately understand that a candidate is not suitable for you, be polite and do not abruptly interrupt the conversation.

Out of politeness, you should ask a few more questions, maintaining a friendly tone, and only then say goodbye. The candidate deserves you to listen to him, because he prepared for the meeting and spent time on the road. An interview with you, even if unsuccessful, is a kind of experience for him, even if for some reason it was not suitable for you.

The purpose of the interview for both parties is to achieve the desired results. Only mutual attentiveness, politeness and competent behavior will allow us to come to a solution: the candidate will find a job, and the employer will find an employee who satisfies him to the maximum with his qualities. Well, now you know exactly how to behave during an interview with an employer when applying for a job.

Watch the video: how to behave correctly during a job interview.

A job interview is a meeting between the employer and the applicant, based on the results of which a decision is made to hire a new employee. How about applying for a job? It is important to follow a number of simple rules.

The first “meeting” with the employer takes place over the telephone, when the issue of scheduling an interview is decided. The first opinion about the applicant is formed at this moment. Over the phone, you should clarify the full title of the position and ask basic questions about future work. Find out right away whether this job is right for you, and discuss those nuances that may stop your interest in the job. This will help save both your time and the employer's time. Unpromising meetings are rarely beneficial.

Write down the full name of the company, contact phone number, name of the interlocutor. Also check who will be conducting the interview. It is very good if, when you meet in person, you address him by his first and patronymic names. Don't forget to check the address of the office or other meeting place.

Immediately after the telephone conversation, begin thorough preparation for the meeting. Prepare your clothes, think over questions for the employer, read information on how to properly pass an interview.

So, you have resolved all the initial issues over the phone. Start preparing the necessary documents: create a resume and autobiography. Even if the employer did not require this, it is better to have it all on hand. In addition, prepare your passport, education diploma (or diplomas), existing certificates, IDs and other similar things. If one of the certifications is not relevant to the position you are seeking to fill at a given company, leave it at home.

Study well the activities of the company where you are going for an interview. When thinking about how to successfully pass an interview, remember that you must show the employer your interest in the job. Study the company’s website, find out everything about its activities and history. Even if you can’t apply this knowledge, it will certainly be useful to you in the future.

Those who arrive on time know how to conduct an interview correctly. If you are late, most likely you will have to say goodbye to your job. Plan your route for the interview in advance. It’s better to arrive early and wait in the corridor, taking off your excitement there and wiping the anxious sweat from your face. Along the way, think again about how you'll answer frequently asked questions, and prepare your own questions as well. The main thing is that the answers are truthful. It is undesirable to embellish the facts and make up something in order to present yourself in a more favorable light. Again, talk to the interlocutor in such a way that he understands that you are really interested in his company and working in it. You need to be very careful in answering questions about previous jobs, about your shortcomings and advantages, failures and achievements.

Based on the results of the interview, the head of the organization or another person responsible for personnel always draws conclusions not only about your professional suitability.

An experienced boss can already see at first glance whether the applicant will be able to join the team, whether he really has the experience indicated in the resume and whether he will be a reliable employee who, if necessary, will show initiative and will be ready to work not just for a salary, but in the interests of the company.

If the purpose of the interview was to obtain information about the employee's skills and experience, it could be limited to a written resume sent by mail.

Why then are personal official meetings with a potential employer so necessary, how to behave correctly during a job interview, what should not be said and done, so as not to say goodbye to your “dream job” after the first time?

First minutes (and sometimes seconds) allow the employer to evaluate you as a person– managers, without realizing it themselves, first of all look at the candidate as an individual, and only then as a specialist and subordinate.

In this case, the rule applies: “it is better to hire a good person for a position and train him in the process, than to work with a first-class specialist who will turn out to be useless in practice.”

1. Regardless of the position - warehouse employee, assistant secretary or head of the sales department - it is important to appear neat and in clean clothes for the interview. A pleasant appearance is always attractive.
2. Feel confident, but not arrogant: when crossing the threshold of the employer’s office, be prepared for both a friendly conversation and a formal interrogation. In any of these situations, it is important not to lose control of yourself.
3. An interview is not like a school exam where you only need to give correct answers. At a meeting with an employer, a variety of tricky and even strange at first glance questions are possible. You shouldn’t look for “correct answers” ​​on the Internet and cram them. The only category of questions that requires formulaic and precise answers is the one that touches on your previous experience, including accompanying titles, surnames and dates.
4. Many psychologists recommend smiling all the time during interviews, showing goodwill and friendliness. In practice, such behavior looks unnatural; moreover, such a serious process does not tolerate a joking attitude, and a constant smile on duty can create the impression of the candidate as an unbalanced person.

Interviews can take place in different settings: in a spacious, luxurious office, in an assembly hall, sometimes even on the street or in a noisy production workshop. Your task is to convince yourself that you are comfortable in this environment.

Managers and HR employees are themselves experienced psychologists, and if the interview takes place in some non-standard environment, it means that the employer wants to see your reaction to the environment, and most likely, it is in these or similar conditions that you will have to work.

What does the employer expect from the applicant?

The employee must have experience, professional knowledge and the ability to adapt, taking into account the specific characteristics of a particular organization, also It is desirable that the candidate for the position be able to get along with people. Meeting these requirements is not so difficult if you follow certain rules:

• Be prepared to answer questions about previous jobs and, if necessary, describe your responsibilities in detail.
• If possible, use professional vocabulary and terms - this is the only case when you don’t need to be afraid to show yourself smarter than your boss.
• Don't be surprised if your interlocutor unexpectedly interrupts you, simulating a situation that will be related to your work. For example, if you are driving to a meeting with a client in your car, it breaks down, and there is no one nearby who can help the woman deal with the problem.
• Whatever the direction of the interview, you should not touch on personal or abstract topics if you are not asked about it.

Naturally, The employer can get all the necessary information only from your answers to the questions, and you should be prepared that such information can be found out indirectly, by asking about things that seem foreign at first glance.

Important nuance: in some areas, managers often know each other, but this acquaintance can be either friendly or not very friendly.

Therefore, if you get a job in a leather clothing workshop in a small town and previously worked in a competing organization, most likely you will be asked about the reasons for leaving and about your personal attitude towards your former manager.

What to say at an interview about the reason for dismissal? Oddly enough, but This is one of those cases when you shouldn’t be frank and give a detailed answer.

Among them may be:

• a move that takes too long to get to work;
• the previous employer paid too little;
• you are no longer satisfied with the schedule;
• the organization closed or you were laid off (if this is true).

But do not refer to conflicts in the team or problems in communication with other employees. Even if this is so, such words can reveal a conflictual personality in you, and the manager will not feel insured that you will not experience the same difficulties in your new place.

Useful tips! What mistakes are often made during interviews? Watch the video:

In order to make a good first impression on an employer, you need to be very careful about your appearance. Our next video shows how to look the right way at an interview:

A worthy conclusion to the first stage of a long and difficult job search process will be an invitation to an interview.

How to pass an interview? How to behave? What to say at an interview? All these questions are of great concern to job applicants, and knowing the answers to them is one of the conditions for your employment. Before answering these questions, let’s first consider what an interview with an employer is.

A job interview is about finding out the applicant's experience., as well as his personal qualities, i.e. getting to know him.

An interview is a conversation between equal people, each of whom has his own position that has the right to exist, and a certain range of interests that can become common.

Even if you already have extensive job search experience, remember that It is necessary to prepare in advance for each new job interview.

As a rule, the most qualified specialists, who quite reasonably claim to have the best job, take a more responsible approach to interviews. Often, on the other hand, the lower the specialist’s bar, the less prepared he is for the interview. Therefore, whenever you receive an invitation for an interview, use the tips below:

A job interview should be viewed as a negotiation about a potential collaboration.

When building a partnership with a manager during an interview, it is important to:

• firstly, present yourself as a mature and formed personality, aware of your value and individuality (which increases your chances of success),
• secondly, it’s easier to accept a refusal, because in this case it will be the result of a difference of views, which cannot in any way diminish your dignity.

It will be easier for you to succeed in an interview if you:

• persistent
• stress-resistant
• friendly
• charming
• neat
• punctual
• responsible
• flexible (able to quickly adapt to the situation)
• are proactive

Behavior at an interview

• When you come to the office, try to be polite and patient with everyone.
• Conscientiously fill out all questionnaires and forms that are offered to you.
• Introduce yourself at the beginning of the interview. Ask what the name of the interlocutor is.
• Keep eye contact.
• Listen carefully to questions without interrupting the other person.
• If you are not sure that you understood the question well, do not hesitate to clarify ("Did I understand correctly that...").
• Avoid verbosity, answer to the point.
• Be objective and truthful, but don't be too revealing.
• When faced with the need to give negative information about yourself, do not deny facts that are true, but be sure to try to balance them with positive information about yourself.
• Behave with dignity, try not to give the impression of a loser or a distressed person; however, refrain from being provocative.
• If you are offered the opportunity to ask questions, be sure to ask, but don’t get carried away (2-3 questions).
• When asking questions, first of all be interested in the content of the work and the conditions for its successful completion.
• Avoid asking questions about pay at the first stage of the interview.
• Be sure to clarify how you will find out about the result of the interview, try to negotiate the right to call yourself.
• When concluding your interview, remember the usual rules of politeness.
• For many questions, you won’t have to prepare for an interview all over again each time. But on some points, each new employer needs to be approached taking into account its specifics; in order not to miss these features, time and effort are needed to prepare for the interview. However, remember that, first of all, the employer is interested in qualified specialists and professionals. Try to demonstrate your relevant qualities during the conversation.

And some more tips on how to pass a job interview:

• Before the interview, think about how you will dress. Appearance and demeanor are very important and practically determine the first impression.

  If you are going for an interview at a financial institution, choose a conservative business attire.

  If you are going to an interview with a construction organization or design firm, you can afford to dress in a more relaxed style.

  You can try to find out in advance whether the company has a business style or a more casual style of clothing, but in any case, it is better to dress more formally for the interview.

  If showing up to work in jeans is considered normal at this company, you can afford it when you start working, but you shouldn’t show up to an interview in a sweater and jeans.

  In any case, you should look neat and tidy.

  It is best for a woman to wear a formal suit or a fairly conservative dress for an interview, without going to extremes when choosing the length of the skirt, colors and decorations. Avoid wearing harsh perfume or cologne.

• Make sure in advance that you know how to get to the company building and where to leave the car. Leave the house early.
• Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. This will show that you respect the interviewer and value his time. If you are still late, try to call back and warn about the delay.
• Remember that when choosing from several equally qualified candidates, your ability to make a favorable impression during the interview will play a decisive role.
• Get a good night's sleep before going to the interview. Sleep-deprived people never make a good impression. Try to go to bed at your usual time, no earlier or later.
• Don't drink a lot of fluids. You may not be able to find a toilet in an unfamiliar organization and will feel bad during the interview.
• If you are introduced to someone, make every effort to correctly hear and remember that person's name. If you can immediately address your interlocutor by name, it will make a favorable impression. Asking again will reveal excessive nervousness.
• It is important to find out the duration of the interview and stick to the agreed time. This will help to correctly distribute the time between answers and questions, and determine the degree of detail of the answers.
• Be polite and friendly to everyone you meet in the office. Don't forget to smile when entering the interviewer's office.
• Don't forget how important body language is. Your handshake is no less important: your hand should be dry and warm; The handshake should be firm, but not too strong. Watch your posture, try to look into the eyes. However, do not take anything to extremes.
• Be sure to bring with you to the interview as many documents as possible confirming your qualifications, education and additional knowledge.
• If you are asked to fill out any forms, it is best to take them with you and return them as soon as possible. When working with them at home, practice on a rough draft. Remember that everything matters: literacy, blots, handwriting, and clarity of wording.
• Don’t forget, when ending the conversation, to agree on when and how you will learn about the results, and thank the interviewer.

When the interview is completed:

• You were asked to wait for an answer, promising to call. If the wait, in your opinion, is too long, do not hesitate to contact the company yourself. You may be rejected (if you know this, you can focus your search efforts on other properties). Or perhaps your call will allow the head of the company to solve the problem of choosing from many candidates in your favor.
• If you are still rejected, do not despair, because:
  • employers are people too and, like all normal people, they can make mistakes;
  • an interview, even if unsuccessful, is a coin in the treasury of your experience;
  • Well, who told you that this missed chance was your only one?

Appearance

You are going to your first meeting with an employer. According to the job description, everything suits you. Therefore, you prepare for the interview especially carefully: make amendments to your resume, mentally think through the answers to possible, including tricky, questions, and study the Russian-English phrasebook at night. Finally, you need to think about your appearance so that the employer has a favorable first impression of you.

Personal and corporate style

The style of clothing largely depends on the position and institution in which you are going to work.

• The closer your profession is to creativity, the fewer rules there are. A creative person needs to emphasize his individuality and, probably, it would not be very correct to give him advice - his creativity should prompt him.
• For representatives of conservative professions, the best option is fashionable classics. This means looking fashionable, but not provocative.

Accordingly, if you are going to work in a bank, you do not need to have a nose ring. And you don’t come to work at a nightclub buttoned up in a strict classic suit.

There is one win-win option. If you have not been to this institution before and are not familiar with its procedures, before deciding what to wear, take a walk in front of your future place of work and observe what people wear there. Try to appear in the same style during the interview.

Hairstyle

The quality of a haircut is immediately visible, especially on short hair, so before getting a job you should go to a salon where the haircut is not the cheapest.

• A business woman can stop at a haircut, because the longer the hair, the more time and money it takes to care for it. Ungroomed long hair is the worst thing you can imagine.
• Today it is fashionable to dye your hair in several colors. Let these be non-contrasting colors that smoothly flow into one another and create the feeling of one, but very beautiful and deep color. The haircut should look almost unstyled.
• Longer hair is in fashion for men compared to last season.

Costume

• Opt for the clothes in which you feel organic. This will give you confidence when talking to an employer, and you can fully focus on your business skills.
• The length of the skirt is a matter of figure and preference, however, when going to a serious organization, it is better to prefer the classic version of the skirt length for a business suit - to the middle of the knee.
• Pants should be rather wide.
• Jewelry and gold are acceptable, so you can safely complement your outfit with a large bracelet, ring and earrings. However, it is worth balancing your appearance and the amount of jewelry with the salary for which you are applying.
• Even in hot weather, ladies should abandon their neckline and cover their shoulders.
• A business suit implies closed shoes, that is, shoes, not sandals. It is unlikely that you will suffer from the heat, since decent places have air conditioning everywhere. Shoes, unlike a suit, can be of a bolder and more fashionable design, not necessarily classic.
• When going for an interview, it is better to avoid certain colors in clothing. Red can make your interlocutor feel aggressive, while brown can make you feel unsure of yourself.
• The color of clothing should be selected depending on the color of the hair and eyes, as well as the season. In summer, light colors: cream, light green, blue, beige. In winter, you can stay in beige or change into a darker suit. The combination of black and white is in fashion.
• You shouldn't dress too colorfully - you risk appearing frivolous.

Some advice for men:

• Avoid provocative tie colors. This detail in a business suit should be in the same tone as boots and socks.
• Black shoes are not worn with light-colored trousers, and vice versa.
• Many men do not attach importance to manicure, and in vain. If during a conversation you decide to smoke a cigarette, then your unkempt hands will immediately catch the eye of your interlocutor. By the way, when you first meet an employer, do not advertise your bad habit. Firstly, many organizations do not smoke, and secondly, a healthy lifestyle is in fashion.

Makeup and perfume

• Cosmetics should be in natural tones. And here it is appropriate to recall a principle that has long been abandoned, but is applicable when applying for a job: color matching of nail polish and lipstick.
• The perfume should be quite discreet; you should not use evening scents.

And finally, the most important thing during the interview- your self-confidence. You consider yourself a professional who deserves this place, right? So let it be read on your face, and success will not be long in coming.

Interview questions, which answers are better?

Interview questions: what's behind them?

Prepare carefully for an interview with an employer. Sometimes it resembles preparation for secret work. The job search is almost complete, and all that remains is to make the final push towards the desired goal. Before a meeting with an employer, manuals are studied, speculative dialogues are built, and answers to not yet asked questions are rehearsed.

An interview in its genre is least reminiscent of an exam, where for each question there is a single correct answer that the examiner knows for sure. An interview is a conversation between equal people, each of whom has his own position that has the right to exist, and a certain range of interests that can become common. And success at an interview does not depend on the ability to calculate the correct answers, but on the ability to be an interesting interlocutor.

Therefore, when asked how to answer questions at an interview, you can briefly answer - honestly. Often people are interested not only in what you say, but also in how you say it. Behind every question there is more than just a desire to find out something about you, but also your ability to conduct a dialogue, to be open to your interlocutor.

What is behind the employer's questions?

So, let's look at some frequently asked interview questions.

Tell us about your failures

Some people fall into a slight stupor after such a proposal. Some try to convince their interlocutor that his whole life is pure luck, others try to laugh it off, remembering his last marriage or the country in which he was destined to be born. But for the employer, rather, it is important not just to list the situations in which you failed, but to understand what you evaluate as a failure, whether you are able to talk about it, and how you overcome difficulties. None of us is immune from failures; everyone, including the person sitting opposite you, has had their ups and downs. And the value of life experience lies not in the number of years you have worked in a position, but in life experience, the ability to “get up” after failures, move forward after mistakes made, the reasonableness of decisions made and the ability not to step on the same rake. Only a person who is able to admit and draw conclusions from his mistakes knows how to move forward.

List your strengths and weaknesses

Another question that becomes a stumbling block for many. Guides for job seekers suggest presenting your weaknesses as a continuation of your strengths, for example, telling your employer how you can’t quit what you started, and leaving work on time is simply beyond your strength.

If you answer this question as written, you certainly demonstrate a good knowledge of the literature on this issue, a good memory and, at the same time, absolute inflexibility, the inability to “creatively” process the material you read. Don’t forget that HR managers also read books, and if they seem to you like narrow-minded people who can “swallow” any information, you are mistaken. Behind this question lies not so much the desire to really learn about your positive and negative qualities, but rather the ability to be open, the ability to answer uncomfortable questions, and self-confidence. Don’t give away cliches, each of us has quite a lot of shortcomings that “have the right to life” - some lose their ability to work under the gaze of ill-wishers, some cannot stand routine work, and most of us have difficulty getting up in the morning to get to work on time. Think about what is truly unique to you and don’t be afraid to be frank. After all, only a self-confident person can talk about his shortcomings without fear for his reputation.

How do you see yourself in 5 years?

The question, rather, is not about career achievements, but about the ability to see prospects, understand how one can move towards the intended goal, internal motives, the ability to plan one’s own life and see intermediate results. Depending on what you say, it is not difficult to understand how objectively you view yourself as a professional, whether you are interested in the profession itself or are you more interested in career growth, how accurately you relate your own development and advancement.

Personal life

For some reason, all questions affecting this area also cause great confusion. What is better - to be married or not, to be with children or childless, what family status has advantages? You can discuss this as long as you like, but you have the family status that you have, and you are unlikely to change it depending on the wishes of the employer. In most cases, these questions are not intended to penetrate the secrets of your personal life, but rather to understand the limit to which you are able to talk about yourself with a stranger. How open you are and how you maintain the boundaries of your “I”, are you sufficiently independent and self-sufficient, do you talk about what worries you, or try to avoid discussing personal topics. And if you prefer not to talk about your private life, how delicately can you do this.

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Possible questions

The most common questions you should prepare to answer.

Obviously, no one can predict in advance all the questions that might be asked in an interview. The theoretical exception is structured interviews, where all candidates are asked the same pre-prepared list of questions. But this type of interview is rarely used. However, in practice, you can make a list of 15-20 questions, many of which, in one form or another, are asked at almost every interview. Let's consider a number of such questions.

Tell us a little about yourself

This is a great chance to present yourself in the best light, especially if you have prepared in advance. Knowingly or unknowingly, the employer is looking for a worker who CAN do the job, i.e. has the appropriate qualifications, experience, etc., and WANTS to do it.

• The employer must see an interested employee and understand what explains this interest.
• The employer is looking for someone who is manageable, i.e. feels his responsibility, demonstrates submission to discipline, receptivity to criticism, knows how to listen and understand what he is told.

You should prepare and practice a story about yourself that will show that you have the listed required qualities, which are especially important from the point of view of employers. If you are applying for a specific position or job that you know, your story should be structured with this in mind. When talking about yourself, reduce formal biographical information and do not get carried away with details. The most important thing is to mention your practical experience, your knowledge and skills that can be useful to the employer, as well as your attitude and interest in work.

• I take responsibility for the assigned work, I am easy to learn, and I am disciplined.
• I can and want to do this work because it interests me.

What questions do you have?

This question can be asked right at the beginning of the conversation, and only preliminary preparation will help you navigate correctly. It is advisable to prepare a list of questions in advance so that during the interview, taking into account the context of the conversation, you can offer them to the employer.

You should not ask more than three differently directed questions, unless the current situation forces you to do so.

Why did you choose this job (organization)?

Give serious reasons: the desire to apply your qualifications and work experience where they can give the greatest return, opportunities for growth, the attractiveness of working in a strong team, etc.

The following answers to the question are possible:

• I see prospects for my development in your company.
• I want my knowledge to be applied, and I want to gain the experience of a professional.
• I want to do interesting things in your team.

Have you received other job offers?

If you have received it, then say so directly. Knowing that someone else is willing to hire you will only improve your chances. Of course, it should be added that this work interests you more.

Have you been interviewed in other places?

As a rule, you can honestly say yes, but take your time to say where exactly.

Will your personal life interfere with this job, which involves traveling and long working hours?

This question is asked more often to women. To such an attempt to circumvent the law, answer firmly: “No, it won’t hurt.”

What are your strengths?

Emphasize first of all those qualities that are useful for this job.

What are your weaknesses?

Under no circumstances should you answer this question directly and honestly. It should be turned so as to shift the emphasis, mentioning the shortcomings, talk about the advantages that overcompensate for them.

Why do you want this job? Why should we hire you?

This is the best question to "sell" yourself. But you should carefully prepare for it in advance.

Why did you leave your previous job?

You shouldn't talk about conflicts, even if they existed. Never criticize your former boss or employer. If the interviewer knows that you had a conflict, do not go into detail, explain that it was a unique case associated with special circumstances and highlight the positive things that were in your previous job: experience, skills, professional connections, etc. .

Why did you decide to change jobs?

This question is often asked to those who are working at the time of the interview. It is difficult to answer this question well. We can say that the organization has exhausted the real opportunities for your professional and job growth, and you would not want to stop there.

How do you imagine your position in three (five) years?

It’s better to answer in a more streamlined way: I would like to work in the same organization, but in a more responsible job.

What is your work experience?

The following answers to the question are possible:

• My first work experience was gained in a school brigade.
• In practice (list where and in what capacity you completed it).

What salary are you expecting?

At the beginning of the conversation, it is better to try to evade the answer by saying that you do not consider it necessary to discuss salary in the first place. If the interviewer insists, then name an amount that is attractive to you and meets the expectations, capabilities and standards of the organization. If you do not have such information, then do not underestimate the amount you quote, but indicate your readiness to discuss this issue separately after familiarizing yourself in detail with the content and conditions of the work.

The following answers to the question are possible:

• I believe that the payment will not be below the average at your enterprise.
• The salary according to the staffing schedule at your company will suit me.
• I hope for a reasonable salary level commensurate with the amount of work.

What else would you like to know?

Never say you don't have questions. Try to ask a question that would speak in favor of your hiring. For example, ask to clarify something important for work that was not sufficiently covered in the previous conversation. Think about such questions in advance. But don’t try to ask all these questions during an interview if you are not asked to do so. Don't forget to thank the employer for the information provided.

What changes would you make if you took this job?

The question is often asked to applicants for managerial and administrative positions. You should show your familiarity with such situations and the ability to take initiative, but do not overdo it, showing a willingness to leave no stone unturned. Also beware of suggesting changes if you have not had the opportunity to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the state of affairs.

These are the most typical interview questions asked of candidates. Sometimes, you may encounter unexpected and seemingly harmless questions. For example: “What did you do today?” Think about how you can benefit from answering this question. However, the problem is also how you actually spend your time and what lifestyle will increase your chances of getting a job.

Who does the employer need?

If you are applying for a position on the hierarchical ladder, then be prepared for what will be required of you:

• knowledge, experience, skills;
• education (preferably specialized);
• work experience (preferably in your specialty or related fields);
• versatility (for example, a financial director with knowledge of accounting);
• specific things that improved the condition;
• computer literacy;
• ability to learn quickly;
• communication skills;
• initiative;
• systematic;
• ability to predict and analyze;
• discipline
• decency;
• self-control;
• persistence in problem solving;
• desire for professional growth.

• charm, pleasantness in communication;
• ability to work in a team;
• fast adaptation;
• enthusiasm;
• endurance in extreme situations;
• stress resistance;
• reliability.

• helpfulness;
• friendliness;
• caring;
• tact;
• sense of humor.

Key interview points to consider in advance

A person is still greeted by his clothes, so appearance plays an important role. No one will demand that you wear Armani suits, but you should look neat and businesslike. This does not mean at all that you should change your style - first of all, you should feel comfortable, but try to choose clothes that best suit the occasion. Hair and hands should have a well-groomed appearance; makeup is very important for ladies. The property of the human psyche is such that the first impression has a decisive influence on subsequent attitudes.

You must arrive at the meeting exactly at the appointed time. Lateness is unacceptable. If you are delayed for objective reasons, call and try to reschedule the appointment. If circumstances are such that you can arrive earlier than the appointed time, call again and find out if the employer can accommodate you.

During the interview process, the employer sets the direction of the conversation, so give clear answers to the questions posed. Stingy “yes”, “no”, “didn’t have”, “wasn’t a member” are unlikely to serve you well, but you shouldn’t go into lengthy explanations either. Your comments should be brief but meaningful.

Resist the temptation to exaggerate your merits or exaggerate your professional experience. Provide only information that is factual. Otherwise, you can only harm yourself. Firstly, the veracity of your answers can be easily verified during the interview, not to mention the fact that the employer can directly contact your previous management; secondly, they may take your word for it, but give you a small practical test.

Give a constructive analysis of your previous activities. Don't be afraid to talk about your weaknesses. Naturally, you shouldn’t focus on them, but you shouldn’t avoid this topic either. By admitting and analyzing your mistakes, you only earn yourself extra points - only those who do nothing do not make mistakes.

Any employer tries to find out the reasons for leaving previous jobs. It's safer to tell the truth again. Refrain from reproaches against the former leadership - the bosses have their own solidarity. If you were completely sick of your previous job, and you want to curse this whole sharashka office unbearably, resort to the same constructive criticism. So, at least, you will declare yourself as a thinking and analyzing person.

When the employer has received all the information he is interested in about you, it is your turn to ask questions. In almost all Western recommendations on job search technology, you will find advice to obtain as much information as possible about the company before the interview. In our country, unfortunately, this is not always possible, but the Internet makes the task much easier - the number of corporate websites is growing by leaps and bounds. However, at the interview there is no shame, but it is simply necessary to ask to talk about the organization in which you may have to work, about the place that you can occupy in it, and the prospects for your professional growth. It is quite correct to be interested in your level of income, without, however, bringing this topic to the fore.

At the end of the interview, the Employer will most likely inform you that they will consider your candidacy and will contact you. In the West, where the culture of relations in the labor market has long been formed, the candidate is notified of the decision made, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. In our still largely uncivilized country, you are unlikely to be disturbed if your candidacy turns out to be unsuitable, so ask the employer to clarify whether he will contact you in any case, or only if the decision is positive. Agree on how long you can expect a response, ask if you can call yourself and find out the result.

Time to think belongs not only to the employer, but also to you. You also make your choice. Among other things, it is useful to decide for yourself what this company will be for you in the light of your future career - a career ladder, or just a step in it, i.e. Are you going to develop and grow professionally within the organization or are you considering it simply as an opportunity to reach a higher professional level. How you will build relationships with the new management and team largely depends on the decision you make.

How to increase self-confidence, develop and develop self-esteem

All of us know that a person who exudes confidence in himself and his actions easily makes contacts, more often solves his problems positively, moves up the career ladder faster, realizes himself more fully and, as a result, is happier. Therefore, it is necessary and very important to develop self-confidence. In order to gain confidence, we offer 12 steps that will help you change your self-esteem and teach you to be confident in various life situations.

Step 1. Decide what is valuable to you, what you believe in, what you would like to see your life like. Analyze your plans and evaluate them from the point of view of today, so that you can take advantage of this when you notice certain shifts.

Step 2. Forgive yourself for past mistakes. Try to analyze your past from time to time, but don't let it take over you. Make room for small but pleasant memories. The bad past will live in your memory until you eradicate it yourself.

Step 3. Feelings of guilt and shame will not help you achieve success. Don't let them take over you.

Step 4. Look within yourself for the reasons for your failures. When you blame the state, circumstances, other people for your troubles and misfortunes, you refuse the role of master of your own life. A successful person takes an active life position and changes himself. And in any case, he will find an opportunity to stay firmly on his feet under the blow of certain circumstances.

Step 5. Don't forget that each event can be assessed differently. Thanks to this way of looking at things, you will be patient with people and calmly respond to attitudes that previously seemed biased to you.

Step 6. Never talk bad about yourself. And especially avoid attributing negative traits to yourself: “stupid”, “incapable”, “unhappy”. This can develop an unwanted stable stereotype in the subconscious.

Step 7 Your actions can be assessed in different ways. If someone constructively criticizes your actions, use it to your advantage, but don't allow others to criticize you as an individual.

Step 8 Remember that sometimes failure is success. Thanks to defeat, you can conclude that, firstly, you set yourself erroneous goals that were not worth the effort, and secondly, you managed to avoid further, possibly even greater troubles.

Step 9 Your positive attitude towards life is the key to good health and inner balance, high spiritual health. How you see this world depends only on you. Life is too short to waste it on depression.

Step 10 Give yourself the opportunity to relax from time to time, listen to your thoughts, do what you like, sometimes be alone with yourself. This way you can understand yourself better. These moments provide an opportunity to accumulate energy in order to take a decisive or significant step forward.

Step 11 Choose several serious goals for yourself, on the way to which you need to achieve smaller, intermediate ones. Consider soberly what means you will need to achieve these intermediate goals. Don’t ignore any of your successful steps and don’t forget to encourage and praise yourself.

Step 12 Be confident. And remember these words: You are not a passive object on which troubles fall, not a blade of grass that tremblingly waits to be stepped on. You are the top of the evolutionary pyramid, a unique personality, an active creator of your life, you lead events! You are the arbiter of your own destiny!

Reasons why they don't get a job

• pathetic appearance;
• know-it-all mannerisms;
• lack of a career plan and clear goals;
• lack of sincerity and balance;
• lack of interest and enthusiasm;
• lack of tact;
• lack of politeness;
• indecision;
• little knowledge in the specialty;
• lack of determination;
• inability to express oneself: weak voice, poor diction;
• reluctance to start from the bottom: expecting too much too quickly;
• unkind reviews about previous employers;
• desire for self-justification, evasiveness, reference to unfavorable factors;
• intolerance with highly developed prejudices;
• narrowness of interests;
• inability to value time;
• poor management of one's own affairs;
• lack of interest in social life;
• lack of understanding of the value of experience;
• inability to take criticism;
• obsession with money;
• expressed reluctance to learn;
• the desire to simply settle in;
• unsuccessful family life;
• poor relationship with parents;
• reluctance to look your interlocutor in the eyes;
• sloppiness;
• cynicism;
• being late for an interview without good reason;
• no questions about work to a potential employer;
• uncertainty of answers to questions;
• low moral level.

Rules of conduct during an interview

• When greeting a company representative, do not shake hands first.
• Do not sit down until you are asked to do so.
• Listen carefully. Follow the direction of the conversation that the interviewer sets.
• Before answering a question, try to understand why it was asked, how to highlight your strengths in your answer, and what not to talk about.
• When discussing previous jobs, do not criticize your former boss or colleagues.
• Do not start discussing your personal or financial problems unless you are specifically asked about it.
• You can name a salary that will satisfy you, but not before you are asked about it.
• When ending the interview, thank the interviewee for their attention.

Preparing for an interview

• Try to provide yourself with information about the organization you want to work for.
• Carry with you copies of all necessary documents, a professional resume, copies of educational certificates.
• Get ready to give the names and phone numbers of people recommending you, having previously agreed with them.
• Find out exactly the location of the organization and the route so as not to be late.
• Make sure you have enough time and don't get stressed if the interview goes on for a long time.
• Stick to business casual attire.
• Make a list of expected questions and prepare possible answers.
• Prepare specifically to discuss the issue of wages.
• Practice your answers to the most likely questions well, doing this in the form of a game interview rehearsal.
• Be sure to prepare the questions you will ask if you are offered this opportunity.

When preparing for an interview, it is very important to do some background research. It is necessary to collect as much information as possible about the company where you are going for an interview and about the people you will meet.

Useful information can be obtained in many ways. If we are talking about a large enterprise, get to know its products or services. Many organizations distribute their brochures and brochures. Try to find articles in newspapers or magazines about this organization.

You can talk to a person who works or has worked in this organization. You can learn a lot of useful things from him, but you should take into account the subjective nature of such stories. Perhaps a consultant from the agency you contacted can answer some of your questions.

What you need to know about the organization you are going to for an interview:

• What products or services does the organization offer?
• Where and to whom are products and services sold?
• How many years has the organization been in existence?
• How have the organization's mission changed since its inception?
• Is the leadership team stable or does it change frequently?
• What is the legal status of the organization?
• Have there been attempts to take over the organization by other companies?
• Did the organization make a profit last year? Over the past three years?
• Have there been any staff reductions in the last three years? Why?
• Is the organization part of any larger association?
• Does the press pay much attention to organization? Why?
• What is the press response about the organization?
• What is the attitude towards employees in this organization?
• What new projects are being developed in the organization?
• Is the organization based domestically or has partners or branches abroad?
• What are the prospects for the industry to which the organization belongs?

Self-presentation

You and the employer: 10 rules for success

Rule 1. Collect all the documents you may need in advance. Record with written recommendations, telephone numbers. Don’t forget also your diploma, certificate of completion of courses (if you have one), passport, work book and resume, preferably in two copies. Carefully sort all the papers into files, this will be eloquent evidence of your diligence and thrift.

Rule 2. Write your presentation speech on a piece of paper and rehearse it in front of the mirror. Think in advance about what and how you will say.

Rule 3. Don't try to make a good impression with just your appearance. Be natural, a strict business look is most acceptable. Remember, first impressions are very important.

Rule 4. Relax. Nervousness is immediately noticeable, but moreover, it inspires the employer with an unpleasant thought: “Why is this person so worried? Does he want to hide something? Or is he not confident in his abilities? " It’s good to get a good night’s sleep and set yourself up for success. It is better not to take any medications if you do not want to look sleepy and lethargic.

Rule 5. Don't be afraid of rejection. Prepare mentally for any outcome of the interview.

Rule 6. Behave naturally and kindly, don’t be tight. You should not wear a mask that you invented for this occasion. The most important thing is constant politeness. Try to listen more than you tell, excessive talkativeness will only do harm.

Rule 7. Don't try to show your superiority. Of course, you need to demonstrate your competence, but nothing more.

Rule 8. Avoid ingratiation and flattery - this immediately becomes noticeable and few people like it. Be moderately free and independent (but don’t overdo it!), don’t fuss or be timid. Then the employer will treat you with the same respect as you treat yourself.

Rule 9. Do not speak badly about anyone and do not try to denigrate former management, work colleagues, or competitors. It won't make you shine. Even your weaknesses can be used for good (For example: slowness allows you not to miss details and do the work carefully).

Rule 10. Do not agree to the proposed terms right away. It’s better to say: “I’ll think about it.” A stranger who is ready for anything looks more like a dropout or an adventurer.