The 30 Second Difference: Who Gets Hired?
Is there anything scarier than a job interview… other than having a cop in your rearview mirror for MILES?
Some of you know that I was in real estate for twelve years; nine of those years were in management. As a non-selling manager, recruiting was a huge part of my job. It was not unusual for me to do 10 interviews in a week. So if you are looking for work and interviewing, let me speak to you as a consumer of your product: that product is your interview.
Research tells us that people make initial decisions about you in LESS than 30 seconds. 30 seconds! And then they spend the remaining 29.5 minutes of the typical interview validating that initial decision. As an experienced interviewer, I have to agree with that.
In the hiring process I have used all kinds of testing, I am an astute reader of body language, I understand various methods of personality analysis and learning styles, and I am an excellent listener. Even with that extensive skill set, I truly don't remember a single time that I changed my mind after that initial impression. Why do I tell you that?
Someone once said, “What you are speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you're saying.” That “what you are,” during an interview is comprised of not only what you're wearing, but how you're standing, your eye contact, your physical energy, your mental attitude, your personal grooming and hygiene, your competence, your confidence, and the essence of HOW YOU THINK about yourself. All of that is discerned by an astute interviewer in less than 30 seconds.
So you see, you have a right to be scared! The question is: how do you present the best you that you are in 30 seconds -- before you ever open your mouth?
- Do your homework! Learn as much about the company with whom you're interviewing as you possibly can. Check out the 10 K. and the 10Q sections of their annual reports and find out what keeps their CEO up at night. That will give you confidence and an edge.
- Be as well groomed and as well-dressed as you possibly can. The attention you pay to details like shining your shoes and the fit of your clothes tells the interviewer how much detail interests you.
- Be well rested and well nourished. It shows and you’ll feel better.
- Display open body language, confident eye contact, and offer a firm handshake.
- Understand what it is you have to offer this company, and if YOU truly believe you are absolutely the best person they could ever get for his job, walk in with the attitude that the job is already yours. That shows too.
Need to know more?
Our Special Report, The Respect-Able™ Woman’s Guide to Effortless Interviewing and Landing Your Dream Job Without Selling Your Soul! reveals…
- How to find any company's annual report and what you need to read in it
- How to wear the “right thing “ to the interview
- How to discover if you’d like working there BEFORE you interview
- How to quickly “bond “ with the interviewer
- How to take control of the interview
- How to dodge the bullet —without getting shot down --when they ask you sensitive questions
- How to answer tricky questions intelligently
- How to project the “right age “ for the job you want
- And so much more! Don’t leave home (for an interview) without it!
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