Job Interviews: The Dos and Don’ts of Confidence

For most of us, job interviews are an essential (though sometimes terrifying) part of life. Most people realise that presenting yourself confidently in interviews is often necessary to land the job… but it’s a lot easier said than done! Here are a few ideas to get you looking (and feeling) more confident for your next interview.

DO	DON’T
Start with an assuring handshake Don’t be afraid to initiate the handshake. This is probably the easiest way to show your interviewer that you are comfortable interacting with them. It also demonstrates that you know basic social skills… bonus!	Scare them! All the rumours you may have heard about making sure you’re not the one to end a handshake or holding eye contact forever won’t help here. Just a crisp, friendly greeting and a “great to meet you!” will do.
Dress for the job you want Finding out what the dress code is and planning your job-winning outfit accordingly is a great idea, and even if their staff wear t-shirts and jeans, be sure to still arrive in a suit. An interview and a standard day at work are two very different things.	Dress for a fashion show Try not to stun people with your fanciest suit if the workplace is quite casual, as you want to look like you’ll fit in. Ladies, save the nightclub attire for Friday night, as it won’t score you any points in an interview.
Use body language It's well known that body language goes a long way in first impressions, so in a job-interview your body language should convey to the interviewer just how right you are for the job! Sit upright and lean forward, make eye contact, and avoid fidgeting.	Overpower or slouch Don’t overdo your hand movements to a point where it looks like you might knock your interviewer out! On the other hand, it is important to avoid looking too comfortable. The aim is to look like you’re comfortable being interviewed, not like you’re relaxing on the couch watching TV.
Listen and communicate openly Whilst you might feel like the entire world can hear just how nervous you are from your shaking voice, in reality you probably sound perfectly normal. Speak clearly and take your time answering questions, but most importantly be sure to listen carefully before blurting things out. Most of us have a tendency to speed talk when we’re under pressure, so just take a deep breath and think about what you’re going to say… before you say it!	Try to take control of the conversation If you’re going to be working for this person, make sure that the relationship starts early. Don’t interrupt or give them irrelevant answers they didn’t ask for. The interviewer will have several things they need to know from you, so make sure that you're actually giving them what they asked for and not just pre-prepared answers.
Practice and research Read over their About Us web page and find out what the business is up to. Be sure to note their values and culture. Once done, think of some questions that might pop up in the interview, and prepare your answers for these. Even though you’ll feel silly, practice in front of the mirror. Then when the question arises, you’ll come across as cool, calm, collected… and confident!	Become a stalker or a know it all Being able to tell your interviewer details about their staff who aren’t the managing director or founder won’t let them know how suitable you are to work there. And trying to show that you know more than them about the company’s current affairs without adding some experiential value is going to make you look obsessive rather than interested. Research, but don’t try to force the idea that you already work there.

When all else fails, follow the law of ‘fake it til you make it’. Find out for yourself what you think confidence means in the particular industry or role you’re applying for, and then practice using that presence. Being comfortable and being confident do not have to be the same thing, so use the assertive body language and communication that makes you stand out and then any little jitters or slips won’t phase your interviewer at all.

Good luck and happy hunting! 

Guest Article: Recruiters' role critical in powering Australia’s future prosperity: Deloitte by Ross Clennett

I've just finished reading Deloitte's Positioning for prosperity? Catching the next wave report, the third paper in their Building the Lucky Country series. This report includes the actions that businesses and governments can take to position their organisations, - and ultimately, Australia - for prosperity. It also introduces the full "Deloitte Growth 25". These are the themes of future

Article source:Ross Clennett - Recruiters' role critical in powering Australia’s future prosperity: Deloitte»



Check out more of Ross Clennett's work at hisblog

Guest Article: How fools recruit: 'I'll know them when I meet them' by Ross Clennett

No matter how far we think Australian businesses have come with respect to recruitment and employment practices, there are always plenty of reminders that old habits die hard. One of these old habits is the classic client response to a recruiter who requests a job description; ‘I don't need a job description, I'll know them when I meet them'. This would be laughable if it weren't so common

Article source:Ross Clennett - How fools recruit: 'I'll know them when I meet them'»



Check out more of Ross Clennett's work at hisblog

Guest Article: What HR Students Need to Know by Ben

Last week I sat down at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and spoke with some of the students about what they need to know as they prepare to leave school and enter the real world.

I talked about some of the career aspects: negotiating salary, establishing credibility, networking, etc. I also talked about some of the things I learned very quickly after I left school (namely, the degree isn’t as helpful as most schools would lead you to assume). Many of the topics I discussed are a part of the entry level HR course I developed last year. (Side note: I’ve had a few senior level HR pros sponsor that short course for their entry level HR interns/admins, because it focuses on some of the early career skills that many of us had to pick up in bits and pieces. I think that’s awesome that they help them by putting them through the course!)

It was a fun, informal conversation, and I just wanted to take a moment to share the slides here (subscribers may need to click through to view). The two slides that are my favorites are the ones that describe what HR people do and what great HR people do (slides 11 and 12). If you’ve been here for a while, those won’t surprise you, but they still are good to review once in a while!

What you didn’t learn in HR class from Ben Eubanks

If you could sit down and speak with some students preparing to enter the HR field, what would you tell them? What advice would you give? Any “hard lessons” or practical advice you’d like to share up front?

The post What HR Students Need to Know appeared first on upstartHR.

Article source:Ben - What HR Students Need to Know»



Check out more of Ben Uebanks' work at Upstart HR

Positive politics - there’s no need to play dirty to win

Everyone has without a doubt endured the ‘just ignore them’ speech when it comes to gossip, but why ignore an inevitable fact of life when you can understand and turn a volatile zone commonly known as ‘workplace politics’ into something positive and beneficial? 

According to research from the American Society for Training and Development, gossip is often work-related, usually focusing on business changes, office intrigue, and people's private lives, and this is consistently on the rise with new technology. Because of this behaviour there is a chance to learn more details about upcoming business changes, network where it counts and then seize opportunities that can aid your career development.

It’s a survival of the fittest and here is a simple and strategic plan to help you master the concept of positive politics.

1)      Map the Political Hierarchy – who really has the power?

To the drawing board! Like any good strategy, you must first map out a plan and in this instance this plan is a social hierarchy (who has the most power and why?)

2)      The social network

Time to gather information about who interacts with who, and what the nature of their relationship is like. Another important aspect is to identify the groups, if any, and where the power and influencers reside.

3)      Develop your own network  

This network should extend in all directions and include peers of all employment status; it may even consist of multiple networks. A good tip to keep in mind is that these relationships should be true; you don’t want people thinking that you are a fake friend.

4)      Utilise your network  

This is where your hard work will pay off! You can use your network to gain access to important information and attract opportunities that can put you ahead of the pack. For example: you may get wind of a possible promotion or job opening. Your network can also be used to improve your reputation, why not let the news that travels about you be good!

5)      Keep your friends close and your ‘frenemies’ closer 

By keeping those who are difficult to get along with close you can easily keep ahead of the pack. However, be careful what information you leak into your social network. Understanding your frenemy’s motives can help you avoid negative politics and maintain a positive network.

6)      Listen, and pilot your behaviour 

All in all, what good is this network unless you can use it to help you achieve your goals? Some essential rules include:

• Don’t say something you’ll regret - be respectful and remember that you are networking, not engaging in pointless chatter
• Rise above personal arguments – getting caught up in arguments just aggravates negative gossip
• Practice positive politics – be a role model, confident and assertive, but not aggressive
• Don’t count on confidentiality

In summary, accept it, develop strategies, observe and learn!