How to make a good impression in an interview. Interview questions: how to answer to make a good impression

A job interview is a great opportunity to demonstrate yourself and your skills to a potential employer from the best side. Interviews are usually short and take between 20 and 30 minutes, so you need to make the most of that time. There is different ways Impress the interviewer from the moment you say hello to the moment you leave the office. A combination of thorough preparation, self-confidence and basic courtesy can help you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

Steps

Part 1

Preparing for an interview

    Dress like a pro. The first impression is usually formed within 30 seconds. The employer will first of all pay attention to your appearance. Choose clothes that speak of success and professionalism.

    Gather information. Never go to an interview without first knowing who the company is. This indicates a lack of interest and respect on your part. Do a thorough research before the interview. (Of course, it also happens that you get a job in a small company, all available information about which on the Internet comes down to an address and a telephone number.)

    Prepare a story that illustrates your skills. When you want to impress an interviewer, concrete data is always better than abstract data. You should have in stock a few solid examples that will confirm your professionalism.

    Tidy up your social media pages. Employers often look at the pages of potential employees in Odnoklassniki or on Facebook. Before you go to an interview, make sure that your pages do not compromise you in any way.

    Part 2

    Welcome and first impression
    1. Come early. It is clear that being late for an interview is unacceptable, but many do not realize that arriving every minute can also make an unfavorable impression. Showing up a little early will show initiative, commitment, and good time management skills.

      Be friendly to everyone you meet. Your interview begins the moment you enter the building. Be kind to secretaries and other employees who come across you on the way to the right office. The supervisor or HR manager may ask them about your behavior afterwards, so be friendly to everyone, not just the interviewer.

      Work on your handshake. A proper handshake is essential. This is your first opportunity to make a positive impression.

      Use body language effectively. From the moment you enter the room, your body language should speak of confidence and respect.

      Part 3

      Interaction during the interview
      1. Bring a few printed copies of your resume. Although we live in the digital age, the power of a paper document cannot be underestimated.

        Make sure you are remembered. Remember that you are competing with many other contenders for a single seat. If you find a way to stand out from their background, it can lead you to success and getting a job.

      2. Avoid certain topics. Knowing the rules of interview etiquette is the key to a good experience, and you need to know what topics to avoid.

        • Never speak badly of other employers. Whether it's about another potential employer or your previous job, speak only positively about them. You may be wary if you criticize or gossip.
        • Do not discuss salary and social conditions during the first interview. These questions are important, but they can wait. You need to impress someone who is interested in being part of the company, not just cash reward. Ask these questions when they tell you they are ready to hire you, or during the next stage of the interview.

Question: " How to impress in an interview?”- young professionals who were on the threshold of the organization where they were scheduled for an interview must have asked themselves more than once. Your further destiny depends on how you show yourself at a personal meeting.

First of all, we need to arrange a meeting, of course, before that we still have to write a resume correctly, but we will assume that this step has been taken. This usually happens through telephone conversation and it is from here that ours begins with you long haul to the finish line, which means getting the desired position. Already at this stage, you need to make a good impression. Your voice must be confident and polite. Specify exactly what position you are being invited to, and you can also ask any questions that bother you. This should be done as concisely as possible. Do not bombard the interlocutor with endless questions and clarifications.

Ask only the most important, and if for some reason you did not like this proposal, then you should politely decline the job offer. At the same time, it is desirable to give arguments, since some organizations may meet halfway between their employees.

If you agreed and the interview is scheduled, now you should write down the contact details of the secretary or the employer directly, his name and patronymic, the address where the organization is located. Also specify what time the interview is scheduled, and make sure that nothing can interfere with you at this time. It is important to understand that an interview rarely lasts less than an hour. Locate free time so that you have a few hours left.

So, the first steps have been taken, the interview has been scheduled, now our task is to prepare well for it in order to make a positive impression at the interview. The first step is to carefully choose the outfit in which you will go to a meeting with the employer. It is advisable to give preference to strict suits or just beautiful clothes that you can wear on the way out. Do not dress up too vulgarly and catchy. Remember: they are still greeted by clothes. By the way, if the interview takes place in the summer, immediately exclude the option of a beach style of clothing. Short or long shorts are definitely not suitable for an interview. It is best to prioritize light dress or thin trousers. Sweatpants and sneakers are also undesirable in this case.

Having decided on the clothes, start preparing everyone required documents. It is best to have a special folder where you must definitely put your passport along with a copy (and preferably with several copies), a resume (also in several copies), a diploma or diplomas of education, various certificates, certificates, everything that you may need at an interview.

The next stage is the study of information about the organization. At this stage, you need to get to know the history of the organization as extensively as possible, study its achievements, remember some memorable dates. In this way, you can prove to the employer during the conversation that you have an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhere you want to get a job, which will certainly help you impress at the interview. Most executives will appreciate this eagerness for new information.

The next step is to carefully plan your day. Decide in advance what time you will wake up. Set aside a certain amount of time to take a shower, eat breakfast, clean up and get to required space. At the same time, it is desirable to have forty minutes in reserve in case of unforeseen circumstances. If you arrive a little early, you won't be scolded for it. If you are not sure that you will have time to get to the place at the appointed time, you can arrive there a day earlier to find out how long it will take you to get there. But in this case, you still need to have a few minutes to spare.

Passing an interview

The first thing you need to do when you get into an organization to impress at an interview is to say hello to everyone present. Yes, you misheard, with everyone. Secretary, cleaning lady, other employees - it doesn't cost you anything to say hello to them when you are in the office. It is also necessary to say hello to the employer. Thus, you will impress not only the employer, but also the rest of the staff, which is also important.

When entering the organization, you must turn off the sound on the phone, as calls during the interview can negatively affect the attitude of your employer towards you.

Be sure to smile. If you are scared or worried, do not show it, as the employer may consider that you are an insecure person, which will significantly reduce your chances of getting the desired position.

You need to sit on a chair, armchair or sofa only after an invitation. In this case, your face should be turned directly to the interlocutor, and not somewhere out the window or on the pictures.

Prepare for the fact that the interview may not sound the most pleasant questions that you have to answer. Think carefully about your answers to popular questions such as:

    Why did you leave your previous job?

    “Why did you choose our organization?”;

    “List your strengths and weaknesses”;

    “What professional skills do you possess best?”;

    "On what wages Do you evaluate your own work?

    What value can you bring to our organization?

Keep in mind that any information you say is very easy to verify, so you only need to say what you know for sure. Your lies can make a very negative impression in an interview. If you are asked to name strong and weak sides, no need to exaggerate and call something that does not relate to your work. For example, if you want to get a position as a secretary, then your employer will absolutely not care if you can play the button accordion or not. It is necessary to name only those qualities that position you as good employee Otherwise, you won't be able to impress in an interview.

If you are asked a question about your past job, and also asked why you decided to leave it, do not immediately accuse your former boss or colleagues of prejudice or throw something like that. It will be enough to answer that at the last place of work you had no prospects.

Also, you should clearly formulate a list of questions that you yourself would like to ask in an interview in order to make a good impression. Also, consider the possibility that you may be asked to take tests for which you should also be prepared. Also, the employer may resort to psychological tricks to test your stress tolerance and evaluate your ability to think clearly in critical situations. In this case, the main thing is to behave naturally and openly. Act logically, without haste and without fear of making a mistake. If you are offered to solve any problem, you should be prepared for the fact that it does not have the right answer. Thus, the employer wants to check your endurance.

Humor is inappropriate if the conversation is quite serious, but if you notice that your interlocutor admits this, then you can joke appropriately. This will help to defuse the situation and win over the interlocutor.

At the end of the conversation, be sure to thank the person for giving you the opportunity to have an interview with this company. Even if an employer decides not to hire you, they will still have a good impression of you. It is also important to remember to say goodbye and thank the employer for the time spent on you. This will surely help you impress in the interview.

So you've been invited for an interview. Before you open the door to your future, remember: to make the first - the most lasting - impression - you need no more than 30 seconds. Studies have shown that the first impression that a job seeker makes on a potential employer is indeed very persistent and can develop into a subconscious prejudice or, conversely, inexplicable sympathy.

In one study, participants were shown 20-30-second video clips of interviews that captured the moment job seekers met an employer. Participants in the experiment assessed such qualities of applicants as self-confidence and the ability to win over. As it turned out, their ratings - based on first impressions - largely coincided with the estimates of employers who communicated with applicants for 20 minutes.

Fortunately, the first impression can be won - it is enough just to master a few simple tricks.

Timing

Few things make a potential employer worse than an applicant being late for an interview or any other important meeting. Therefore, allow enough time to prepare for the interview and get to the interview site (in case you can’t find an office right away).

But this does not mean that you need to come to the meeting earlier than the specified time. If you are on site 15 minutes before the start of the interview and are an eyesore in the waiting room, this can irritate the employer, and you will come across as someone who is desperate for a job. If you arrived at the meeting point earlier than the scheduled time, sit in the nearest cafe or check your appearance in the toilet.

Ideally, you should arrive for an interview five to ten minutes before the start, and be sure to be polite and considerate to everyone you meet in the company - you never know how much a secretary can influence your decision to hire you.

Appearance

Like it or not, most people make up their minds about a new acquaintance based on what they wear, so it's important to look professional. However, a too business suit often looks unnatural, while casual wear speaks of the frivolity of your intentions and a frivolous attitude to work.

Never come to an interview in sloppy, dirty, tight, or overly revealing clothing. Tailor-made business suit or suit famous brand- here is a universal dress code for an interview for both men and women. And do not forget about accessories: they should be clean and in harmony with the rest of the ensemble. If discrepancies are still acceptable in matters of clothing, then the hairstyle should definitely be neat, the hair should be clean, and the nails should be trimmed. Remember that your smell should not get ahead of you, so be sure to take a shower before the meeting, use good toilet soap and deodorant. But it is better to refrain from using perfume or cologne with a bright smell.

So, the hairstyle should be neat - no catchy accents or radical shades - and makeup should be kept to a minimum. Tattoos should be hidden or disguised, and earrings should be no more than one in the ear (for women, of course).

Handshake

Subject matter experts business communication we firmly believe that the handshake says more about us than we wanted to. A weak and indecisive shake - and the interlocutor will suspect you of weakness of character or cowardice. Too strong and firm handshake - and the interlocutor will attribute to you a desire to dominate or excessive enthusiasm. But a confident and moderately strong handshake speaks of leadership qualities and disposes the interlocutor to you.

So, reach out and shake the other person's hand when your palms touch. Shake your shaking hands several times, but without undue zeal.

Language of the body

Do not underestimate the importance of posture and the most insignificant movements, including facial expressions. A study conducted by Albert Mehrabian showed that 55% of the information in the process of communication we draw from body movements.

If you want the other person to notice your self-confidence, sit up straight with your shoulders back. Do not cross your legs and do not fall apart in a chair, as if you are sitting at home - even if your interlocutor is sitting in this position.

Try not to show your excitement. Don't fuss. Avoid unnecessary movements. Do not touch your accessories, jewelry, do not touch your face, hair, do not cross your arms over your chest. Try not to lose eye contact with the interviewer. If you can't maintain eye contact all the time, look at the bridge of your interlocutor's nose - this trick creates the illusion that you are looking directly into the interviewer's eyes, and at the same time reduces distractions.

5 situations to avoid

…But you thought you were prepared for this interview the best way. But sometimes even the most well-thought-out plans are disrupted by unpredictable circumstances. Therefore, you need to be prepared for unpleasant situations in order to prevent them or meet them fully armed. Rest assured, a potential employer will appreciate your ability to find a way out of a critical situation.

  • being late

Whether you overslept, got stuck in traffic, or have a more exotic excuse, being late is unlikely to endear you to an employer.

Solution: if you are late and do not have time for the appointed time, be sure to call back and notify the company where you are going for an interview. So you save the employer from the humiliating wait and give him the opportunity to reschedule the meeting to another, later, time or to another day.

    No CV

You grabbed a case, but forgot your portfolio at home with a set of resumes printed on fine paper, all letters of recommendation representing you with the best side, as well as best examples his work.

Solution: this situation can be easily avoided if everything is planned in advance. Do not rely on printouts and paper versions necessary documents. Stock up on an electronic version of your resume - it's best to publish it on a personal web page, website, or store it in e-mail. This allows you to get immediate access to your resume from anywhere in the world where there is Internet access, including from the employer's office.

    Suit issues

Somewhere along the way to the office, your perfectly ironed suit is wrinkled, torn, or unsightly stains of dirt appear on it due to a passing car.

Solution: it is best to immediately briefly explain what happened. Everyone has been in this situation, so your dirt-stained trousers are more likely to arouse sympathy in the interviewer, not irritation.

    Forgetfulness

During the interview, you are nervous, so forgetfulness and absent-mindedness are quite natural.

Solution: if you didn't write down the name of the person you're interviewing, don't see the sign with his name on the table, or can't read it on the numerous certificates and letters that adorn the walls of the office, you don't need to pretend that you remember him. At the earliest opportunity, ask the interviewer for his business card and continue with the interview.

    Interviewer disinterest

You arrive at an interview full of hope and expectation, only to be met with the indifference of the interviewer, who barely graces you with a casual nod instead of a hello.

Solution: if the interviewer does not listen to you, does this indicate that he is indifferent? Perhaps he is simply busy with other, more serious matters and is solving a difficult problem? Try to get his attention, and if this does not help, offer to reschedule the interview to another, more convenient time for the interviewer.

Job seekers often get nervous if an interview doesn't go as planned, but the way you deal with a difficult or embarrassing situation will reveal more about you than all your resumes and references.

In the interview, we all play some role. The employer arranges for us an interrogation with prejudice, and we are trying to disguise our disadvantages and until the last we do not know whether the role that we have chosen was successful and whether we will get the long-awaited job.

Applicants are convinced that it is impossible to predict the outcome of the interview. Very often, at first glance, a successful interview turns out to be inconclusive. It would seem that the key to the leader's heart was found, but the call with the news that you were accepted never came. What is the reason? Psychologists answer that it's all about the first impression you made on the employer.

Diagnosis in 20 seconds

Opinion about stranger formed during the first 20 seconds of communication. In 90% of cases, the first impression turns out to be wrong, and as a rule, if we have the opportunity to continue communicating with a person, we manage to correct the situation. But since we are talking about an interview that can last from 5 minutes to several hours, there may no longer be a second chance to convince the employer.

If you did not sleep all night, and then sadly and drawn out, even reluctantly, answered questions - this is sure sign that the position is of no interest to you. This means that another person will be found for her, and it is unlikely that the employer will guess that your passivity was caused by insomnia.

How to create a positive impression of yourself? Gait, appearance, smile, look - everything works to create your image. And any detail may cause incorrect conclusions on the part of your interlocutor. The question is, is it possible to correct the situation if the first impression of you was not very successful?

Beyond stereotypes

Let's try to think in stereotypes. What associations does a young specialist or a “freshly graduated” university graduate evoke? The first thing that comes to mind is immaturity, inexperience and indecision. If we continue this list, then all definitions will be with the particle "not". This is the initial denial that can develop about you even before you come to the interview. And the problem here lies not in a personal attitude towards you as a potential employee, but rather in stereotypical thinking which we all have. That's why you need overcome this barrier and show that, despite the lack of experience, you are ready to learn quickly and work on a par with other employees of the company.

Let's take a step-by-step look at how to form the right impression of yourself at the interview. Of course, if an employer invites you for an interview, he understands that he is inviting an insufficiently experienced applicant, since your resume does not have an impressive portfolio and work experience. And this means that the initial attitude towards you will be biased. Therefore, at the interview, your number one task is to eradicate the erroneous image.

Think about appearance

Appearance is very important. AT modern world It is your clothes that create the first impression of you. We have already written about how best, so we will give only some recommendations.

It is very important not to rush from one extreme to another. Of course, with your costume you will want to show that you are business man who understands why a dress code is needed, and, despite little work experience, has an understanding of the business world. Therefore, no fancy business suits, but also no extravagant club outfits.

Your appearance should express restraint and seriousness, but at the same time it is very important that you feel comfortable in your outfit and not be distracted by too much short skirt or a jacket that is too tight.

Confidence must be contagious

The first eye contact and handshake is very important. Do not fuss and do not worry, because this is what the employer expects. Show him your confidence and willingness to talk equally. He's not doing you a favor by inviting you for an interview. You are two professionals who discuss business matters, not a student and a teacher who scolds the first for some kind of offense.

Many job seekers, especially those who do not have great experience interviews, they are terribly afraid of an interview with an employer, and this is fundamentally wrong. An interview is a normal business meeting, so be calm and reasonable.

Breaking the ice in communication

As a rule, employers at the interview carefully observe how the candidate behaves. Leaders value initiative, they like it when answers do not have to be pulled out with tongs, but on the contrary, a person is relaxed, feels calm, can joke and smile.

In addition, it is very important to be able talk to common topics . Do not forget what the employer thinks of you: despite your strengths and skills, you are not experienced and professional enough.

At the beginning of the interview, spend a few minutes discussing general topics that are not related to work. Such a prelude to the interview will liberate you and create an image of a confident person who does not worry and does not experience panic fear say something wrong. It is also an opportunity for you to look at your potential employer. Therefore, feel free to use this technique in order to tune in to the working mood.

However, do not overdo it with wit. Remember, leaders do not like upstarts, because at any moment you can expect a catch from such people. Be delicate and polite. And if smart thoughts don’t come to mind, and you don’t know how to keep the conversation going, it’s better to keep silent, following the famous proverb “silence is golden.”

Forewarned is forearmed

Before the interview, do not forget to gather information about the potential job. It's rather impolite to come to an interview without knowing what the company does. Thus, even the most good first the impression you made on a potential employer.

"Tell us about yourself"

Quite often, young professionals do not know how to answer the question “tell us about yourself”. talk about yourself or work experience? I think the correct answer is somewhere in the middle. However, do not share personal problems and feelings, because the skills and abilities of the applicant are discussed at the interview.

At this stage, employers do not expect anything special from you. Therefore, it is worth surprising them. Prepare for this part of the interview. Think what you can say. If you still have little work experience, tell us in detail what tasks were set for you and how you coped with them, describe your functions.

If there is no work experience at all, the main rule is not to get lost and not blush. Tell us about your student experience, especially if you have been a participant in conferences, seminars and competitions. Recall the internships you had in the organization during your studies and describe in detail the tasks that were set for you. Do not forget about letters of recommendation from previous jobs and from organizations where you did your internship.

let yourself splurge employer. In any case, when applying for a job, you will need time to adapt, and then you can fill in the gaps in your knowledge and gain experience.

Do not forget the phrase of one famous researcher: “Some people treat job hunting like a school assignment. They think they can get a job with a minimum of effort.” Treat your future not as a school assignment, because you are already taking the first steps to appear on the Forbes list in 20 years.

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However, those job seekers who want to guarantee themselves a successful outcome of the interview understand that they need to do more than tie their ties and set themselves three alarms.

Whether it's a competition of 100 people for a job or a fight between just two candidates, an aspiring job seeker who wants a job will do whatever it takes to stand out from the competition. And he only has one chance to make a first impression.

Google the company

According to numerous studies and expert advice, one of the most effective ways to do this is to find out everything you can about the company before you go to the interview. Examine the company's website, look for reviews of former employees, partners, suppliers, competitors.

In addition, based on this information, you will find the answer to the mandatory question: Recruiters are usually disappointed with the standard answer: “Oh, I love your company and have been dreaming of working here since childhood!” Especially if we are not talking about a corporation, but about a copy center in the basement of a new building in Northern Tushino.

Check out your personal social profiles

Don't limit yourself to company information. Do not be lazy and find profiles of working employees in social networks. This could be the person conducting the interview, or a future line manager or colleagues. On Facebook, Vkontakte or a blog, you will find more real information about how it really works in this company - what kind of workload is there, the climate in the team and social security.

By getting to know the recruiter you're meeting with, and even discovering common interests, you'll be able to connect with them on a more personal level and in the same language. Suddenly he posts on Instagram the results of his morning runs, and you yourself have just bought Asics and run your first five every morning along the embankment in Luzhniki. Find a common ground - and you are guaranteed a place in the forefront of the recruiter's memory when he decides to select a candidate.

Prepare cases

An interview is a chance for a recruiter to find out how you fit the company and how you will behave in difficult circumstances. Therefore, remember your most successful decisions in crisis situations, from which you emerged victorious. Mark your ideas that you have successfully implemented in previous jobs and that have brought profit to the company. It is not important for a future employer to know where you studied, what you know how to do, what you did. It is more important for him to understand that you made and what overcame. If you have nothing to brag about or surprise - why did you come at all?

Even if there are no wins in your portfolio, talk about the lessons you have learned from your failures and failures, about how you would now, having learned from bitter experience, solve those problems, and how this bitter experience helped you solve new problems.

No one has canceled the true style of dressing. Experts advise you to dress even more formally than your employers with whom you will be interviewing. And even more so to suppress the desire to show your bright individual style. A Charlie Chaplin hat, a bright green T-shirt, a pink bow tie with iridescent rhinestones, and Nike wool capri pants are the dress code for the Cirque du Soleil. Go back to points 1 and 2 - look at the website and social networks, look at the photos, find out what style is adopted in the company and what style the HR manager likes.

Don't forget the little things

A firm handshake, whether you're male or female, along with eye contact are the details that unconsciously create a pleasant portrait for the recruiter.

If you communicate - be sure to smile! A smile is not only visible, but also audible - it makes your voice friendly, and your image - cheerful.

Don't forget gratitude. A short email after thanking you for your time can do a lot for you, especially if you add an afterword to the interview, something you forgot to mention on the case.

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