Three Important Phases Of An Interview

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Getting an interview brings on two emotions. The first is excitement, especially if you will be interviewing for a position you really want. The second is fear; especially if the stakes are high and you really need the job. An interview is about two parties, you and the prospective employer, getting together to see if there is a match. The process is skewed in the employer's favor, particularly now because job supply is low and demand is high. So, it's important that you use the interview as your chance to stand out and make the best impression possible. In order to ace an interview, you have put yourself in the shoes of the employer. By understanding their thinking, and the three phases of the interview, you can do well. Below Are The Three Important Phases Of An Interview: Phase I: The Invitation. If an employer thinks you can do the job, you will be brought in for an interview. Many clients say to me that they hope a perspective employer believes they can do the job. They already do, or you would not have received the invitation to interview with them. To get to Phase I, make sure your resume matches the bullets in the job description as closely as possible. Employers are looking for a match of skills and abilities. If you have too few qualifications on your resume, you will be seen as being under-qualified. Too many, and you will be seen as overqualified or all over the place. Close matches have the best chance of being brought in. Phase II: The Meeting. During the interview, it's all about having your personality shine though. Jobs are won and lost based on personality. The employer is thinking the following: Do I like you? Are you normal? Will you get along with everyone else? Can you get up to speed quickly? And, will you make me look good? Phase II is your time to show your passion, what makes you unique, to handle objections, convey how committed you are to the job, and how you will make your boss look like a star. Don't overdo it. Quiet confidence will set an employer at ease; arrogance will cost you the job. Phase III: The Follow-Up. After an employer interviews several people, the choice in many situations comes down to two candidates. Both can do the job well, and both are very well liked. At this point, it becomes, "Who is the best match?" If you are hoping that an employer will see why you are the perfect candidate on their own, you have already lost the position. You have to lead them there from the start. For example, if you are switching industries, tell the interviewer why the industries are similar. If you are going after a different job title, show how your background has prepared you for that role. If you were unable to get this across during Phase II, contact the employer and see if they will have another conversation with you before they make their decision. If never hurts to ask and they might just say yes. The interview is simply your opportunity to make sure you come across as the best candidate for the job. If you can get through these three phases effectively, the job you want can be yours.
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  • Janice M
    Janice M
    I have been looking for a job for a long time. Although I've had many interviews which seemed to go quite well, I still haven't had any job offers. Sometimes I think I am discriminated against because of my age, or because I don't have enough recent experience. I had an interview recently that seemed to go well. However, they promoted someone within the company, which they had probably planned to do all along!
  • Kelly U
    Kelly U
    excellent article.   I hadn't thought of requesting another meeting or even a phone conversation to expound on a point.
  • Brenda C
    Brenda C
    I have read many articles over the past couple of years about writing resumes, doing interviews, the whole thing. As my husband puts it, I have been a bridesmaid many times, but not a bride. My resume gets me the interview and then I stumble.  It has taken me awhile to realize that my fear is my downfall.  I have skills and experience that they don't seem to see cause I feel in this job market, that no matter what age is discriminated against and it is very helpful if you "know somebody."  This article is to the point. You can study all this info so much that it feeds your fears.  Better on interview day to think about something else and be yourself than to practice, practice like some articles tell you to do.
  • Molly I
    Molly I
    I have been looking for a job for 6 months. The interview process is tough especially when you graduate to the site interview. The article helped me to recognize why I may not be doing well in the presentation of myself. The points I will take with me especially next week is to show passion, commitment and unique qualities. I also have a tendancy to answer questions with too much information. I like the quiet confidence in order not to come across with arrogance.
  • Lynnette R
    Lynnette R
    I believe this article was helpful.  It cut to the chase.  It has encouraged me to prepare on paper for an interview since, in the past, I have always practiced what I will say but when it comes down to the interview I choke.  Choking or grasping for words is not a good thing.
  • Armando T
    Armando T
    Very good article. Although I understand this, it is never overdoing it to hear it again. The more you hear it, the more you will follow these recommendations.
  • Kalima M.
    Kalima M.
    Good tips. But, I am still thinking that the interview process is not an objective way of personnel recruitment. Most of the time, people are hired on an emotional basis only, not on their abilities. I would like to see companies taking CV-based selected candidates (3 to 5) for a practical 4-week test of real and situationnal job challenges. This would allow the hiring company to see who knows what. Otherwise, interview process will remain a frustrating joke.
  • Judy Eastwood
    Judy Eastwood
    Very good simple suggestions on making an appeal that YOU are the best qualified person for the position.
  • Annette laflamme
    Annette laflamme
    Thank you.  To read a piece of information about the dynamics and the process on how the interviewee should be aware how the interviewer might be thinking, is very helpful.
  • Alex
    Alex
    I believe the information is very useful. However, I also believe that calling the prospect employer to ask or amend things are usually not that well taken. I am under the impression that the employers is the one who calls and not the other way around which it can be interpreted as pushy...
  • Henri Moudoungou
    Henri Moudoungou
    This interview preparation is so informative that I already feel well-equipped with the necessary psychological tools to interview with a prospective employer. This article is a genuine psychological weapon! Great!
  • Shem Nyamitta
    Shem Nyamitta
    Through this pages I found very useful information that I need to make my jobearch as a Forklift Operator very  effective. I am really  going to use the information on this pages in my jobsearch. Thank you
  • Linda Shakhparounian
    Linda Shakhparounian
    great tips, but what if you get selected and the employer went through the hiring process and was waiting for the background check which was completed, and references contaced and were impressed with the feedback they got and was waiting for the start date and offerting letter, and all of the sudden you get an email from the hiring manager saying that she is still in the interviewing process! after she herself sent and email updating me that they are moving ahead with my hiring.  If you have an explanation, I would appreciate it, and it is a big employer, international.
  • janice mck
    janice mck
    You can do all this and still not get the job if they are going to hire within and not tell you.
  • Tammy
    Tammy
    I had a interview two weeks ago that did not go well. I used "um" a lot. I'm already employed and this job is for a different position. I was nervous. I thought I was intervewing with one person, not four. I was told one.
  • ALVIN DAUGHERTY
    ALVIN DAUGHERTY
    I believe because it is a tough job market, some companies will low ball the wage they are willing to give the prospective employee, and work loads are being pushed in excess limits to keep from employing enough to workers to get a job done, the only way to get ahead is through working over time which is taxed more heavily by the government.
  • Naim Latifi
    Naim Latifi
    This information is very valuable indeed. Thanks for information.
  • Ashley Johnson
    Ashley Johnson
    Thank you for the info.  Interviewers are frequently harsh and do not get the whole picture of abilities and need for work in just one interview.  Also one's work capabilities don't shine through to a potential employer just by talking/interviewing a person.
  • Baran Galocy
    Baran Galocy
    Remember to follow through by following up.  Send your interviewer a card with thanks for his/her time and consideration of your talents.  This isn't, nor should it be a "suck-up", it's all about showing your perspective boss how you will handle future clients and work situations.  
  • Garima Awasthi
    Garima Awasthi
    This information is very valuable and helpful to understand the interview procedure well, this gives a sense of how a candidate should be prepared for the interview and what to do and what not to do.
  • Cindy OSullivan
    Cindy OSullivan
    I wrote this exact question under one of your other articles as I wasn't sure if the same people read it.   I'm in the Private Banking industry and our department was recently eliminated.  I've had a couple interviews which I felt went very well and have been asked back for my first 2nd interview.  Not sure what to expect on this.  Might I assume we will be talking more detail on exactly what is expected of me and what I can expect from the company, i.e., compensation?  Or possibly other things?  Thanks.
  • Cheryl Bass
    Cheryl Bass
    The pages on the Importance on a Interview is very imformative.  I have read books and papers, but I was pleased how it broke down the help and details for you.Thank you
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