What do employers expect from job interview candidates
1. I want it to be pleasant to communicate with you
Does that sound obvious? Yes, but from this point does not become less important. I want to work with people who like me and who like me.
I want you to smile, look in the eyes, turn in my direction, sitting on a chair, and show enthusiasm. An employment relationship is still a relationship, and it often begins with an interview.
If the candidate makes a pleasant first impression and establishes a real connection with the interviewer, then he becomes a very big fish in a small pond of suitable people. You may have outstanding skills, but if I don’t feel that I will be comfortable working with you, I won’t hire you. Life is too short.
2. I do not want you to agree to work immediately
I want you to strive to get a job, but not before you know exactly what it is. You may have to work 60 hours a week, spend 80% of your time traveling and reporting to those who have less knowledge and experience than you do. It doesn't matter how well you have learned the company's approaches. You cannot want a job until you know all the details.
3. I want you to remember me ...
The sad truth is that some candidates after the meeting can be remembered only if you look into a notebook with notes.
The more people come for an interview and the more detailed the conversations are, the more likely that I will recall the candidate based on my impressions of the meeting, and not on a long list of facts.
Therefore, when we discuss the candidates for the post after the interview with the employees, at first I can recall people like this: “a guy with a strange stainless steel case”, “a woman who is involved in triathlon” or “a gentleman from Liechtenstein”.
In short, I can remember you by "clues" (good or bad), so use this. “Hook” can be clothing, hobby, or an unusual fact from your biography. Even better, if the “lead” is a project that you completed in half the allotted time or which brought unimaginable sales.
Instead of letting me choose, give me one or two notable reasons to remember you.
4. ... but remembered by something good
Of course, I will not remember everything that you say. But I will remember complaints about the past employer, colleagues and clients.
For example, if you hate micro-management, it’s better to say that you want more responsibility and authority. I understand that you have reasons to change jobs, but I want to hear why you want to work for me, and not why you do not like the past boss (if I did not ask about it).
And remember that I take the interview as a first date. I know that now you appear before me in the best possible way. If you complain and grumble now, what will happen in a few months?
5. I want you to ask really important questions for you
I need to understand whether I should hire you, but it is also important for me to understand that my work is suitable for you. Therefore, I expect that you will ask a lot of questions: what are my expectations for your first actions, due to which our best employees stand out from the crowd, what can you do to achieve noticeable results, by what indicators will I evaluate you? That is, all that is important to you, me and my business.
Only you know what work will be meaningful and enjoyable for you. I can’t know this. This can be clarified only by asking and answering questions.
6. But most questions should concern work.
It is clear that you want to have time left for your personal life. Nevertheless, keep for later questions about the vacation system, the possibility of leaving earlier if there are no lunches, and about a corporate kindergarten that would be so convenient for your family.
First you need to find out if you are suitable for this work, and whether tasks and responsibilities are suitable for you. After that, you can talk about the rest.
7. I like when you come with an “action plan”
I hope that you have studied my company before the meeting. On the market, this is taken for granted.
To impress me, tell me, based on your research, what you will do first. If you have special skills, show how I can benefit from your skills on the first day.
Remember how I see this situation: I have to pay you a salary from the first day, therefore I want to see the return on investment from the very first day.
8. At the end of the conversation, I wait for you to ask for a job and explain why I should give it to you.
Based on the results of the interview, you should have a solid understanding of whether you want this job. If you need more information, say so, specifying what exactly you need to know to make a decision.
If you have enough information, then act like good sellers - ask for work yourself. I will like it. It is important for me that you want a job, but for me it is equally important to understand why you want this job. Speak directly: “I am comfortable working without control from above”, “I like working with several teams” or “I like frequent trips”.
Ask me for a job and objectively prove that it suits you.
9. I want you to give feedback after the meeting, especially if it comes from a pure heart
Each interviewer will appreciate if you summarize the results of the interview in a letter after the meeting. Tell before leaving that you were glad to meet and are ready to answer additional questions in the future.
What I really like and remember is when the letter after the meeting is connected with what we discussed. We may have discussed data collection methods and you will send me a selection of recommended tools. Perhaps we discussed quality control, and you will send me your developed checklist, which I can adapt and use in my company. Or perhaps we are both fond of cycling, and you will send me a photo from the top of the Kol Du Tourmalet pass.
The more carefully you were at the interview, the easier it is to come up with a natural and laid-back way to continue communication after the meeting. Remember that we are starting a new relationship, and even the most professional relationships are based on interaction.
Does that sound obvious? Yes, but from this point does not become less important. I want to work with people who like me and who like me.
I want you to smile, look in the eyes, turn in my direction, sitting on a chair, and show enthusiasm. An employment relationship is still a relationship, and it often begins with an interview.
If the candidate makes a pleasant first impression and establishes a real connection with the interviewer, then he becomes a very big fish in a small pond of suitable people. You may have outstanding skills, but if I don’t feel that I will be comfortable working with you, I won’t hire you. Life is too short.
2. I do not want you to agree to work immediately
I want you to strive to get a job, but not before you know exactly what it is. You may have to work 60 hours a week, spend 80% of your time traveling and reporting to those who have less knowledge and experience than you do. It doesn't matter how well you have learned the company's approaches. You cannot want a job until you know all the details.
3. I want you to remember me ...
The sad truth is that some candidates after the meeting can be remembered only if you look into a notebook with notes.
The more people come for an interview and the more detailed the conversations are, the more likely that I will recall the candidate based on my impressions of the meeting, and not on a long list of facts.
Therefore, when we discuss the candidates for the post after the interview with the employees, at first I can recall people like this: “a guy with a strange stainless steel case”, “a woman who is involved in triathlon” or “a gentleman from Liechtenstein”.
In short, I can remember you by "clues" (good or bad), so use this. “Hook” can be clothing, hobby, or an unusual fact from your biography. Even better, if the “lead” is a project that you completed in half the allotted time or which brought unimaginable sales.
Instead of letting me choose, give me one or two notable reasons to remember you.
4. ... but remembered by something good
Of course, I will not remember everything that you say. But I will remember complaints about the past employer, colleagues and clients.
For example, if you hate micro-management, it’s better to say that you want more responsibility and authority. I understand that you have reasons to change jobs, but I want to hear why you want to work for me, and not why you do not like the past boss (if I did not ask about it).
And remember that I take the interview as a first date. I know that now you appear before me in the best possible way. If you complain and grumble now, what will happen in a few months?
5. I want you to ask really important questions for you
I need to understand whether I should hire you, but it is also important for me to understand that my work is suitable for you. Therefore, I expect that you will ask a lot of questions: what are my expectations for your first actions, due to which our best employees stand out from the crowd, what can you do to achieve noticeable results, by what indicators will I evaluate you? That is, all that is important to you, me and my business.
Only you know what work will be meaningful and enjoyable for you. I can’t know this. This can be clarified only by asking and answering questions.
6. But most questions should concern work.
It is clear that you want to have time left for your personal life. Nevertheless, keep for later questions about the vacation system, the possibility of leaving earlier if there are no lunches, and about a corporate kindergarten that would be so convenient for your family.
First you need to find out if you are suitable for this work, and whether tasks and responsibilities are suitable for you. After that, you can talk about the rest.
7. I like when you come with an “action plan”
I hope that you have studied my company before the meeting. On the market, this is taken for granted.
To impress me, tell me, based on your research, what you will do first. If you have special skills, show how I can benefit from your skills on the first day.
Remember how I see this situation: I have to pay you a salary from the first day, therefore I want to see the return on investment from the very first day.
8. At the end of the conversation, I wait for you to ask for a job and explain why I should give it to you.
Based on the results of the interview, you should have a solid understanding of whether you want this job. If you need more information, say so, specifying what exactly you need to know to make a decision.
If you have enough information, then act like good sellers - ask for work yourself. I will like it. It is important for me that you want a job, but for me it is equally important to understand why you want this job. Speak directly: “I am comfortable working without control from above”, “I like working with several teams” or “I like frequent trips”.
Ask me for a job and objectively prove that it suits you.
9. I want you to give feedback after the meeting, especially if it comes from a pure heart
Each interviewer will appreciate if you summarize the results of the interview in a letter after the meeting. Tell before leaving that you were glad to meet and are ready to answer additional questions in the future.
What I really like and remember is when the letter after the meeting is connected with what we discussed. We may have discussed data collection methods and you will send me a selection of recommended tools. Perhaps we discussed quality control, and you will send me your developed checklist, which I can adapt and use in my company. Or perhaps we are both fond of cycling, and you will send me a photo from the top of the Kol Du Tourmalet pass.
The more carefully you were at the interview, the easier it is to come up with a natural and laid-back way to continue communication after the meeting. Remember that we are starting a new relationship, and even the most professional relationships are based on interaction.
Comments
Post a Comment