Discussion on:

10 ways to be liked in your job interview

Most of the points mentioned here make the difference in the classroom as well!

For those in an instructional capacity, the way you act in an interview can easily be applied in an interview. From experience, I think I can say that the ability to talk to complete strangers (ie in an interview) is the greatest skill an individual canhave, but to keep their interest? That is the real art!

11. Visualize what it would be like if you saw a movie, where a perfectly qualified job candidate would be in a friendly interview. The candidate would have a complete knowledge of the job, its requirements, and qualifications, the company and its history. The candidate would be easy-going or aggressive depending on the job requirements. (Think receptionist or salesman) The candidate would have no emotional baggage and be emotionally well adjusted. And so on.
Now, you be that candidate.
Visualize the perfect candidate. You be that.
The little things like sweatty palms or such will just fall away.

after all how could they turn you down?

The visualization method makes sense if what you visualize is yourself, on your best day!
(let people get to know how great you really are before they see you on a bad day :0). The point is to get across who you really are, and not sabotage yourself and/or give the other person an inaccurate perception. If you are a pretty good fit, and feel confident you can adapt and thrive in the job, which is the impression you want to leave. If you are pretending to be someone else, even if you give an Oscar winning performance, neither you nor your employer will be happy in 6 months.

So ask for the 25% then at least some good came out of it, and if you donly get it you can pretend it was becuse you are to expensive.

The last time I pretended to be someone else was the school play.

These sorts of tips are way too one sided for me, if you want a square peg, and pay well, interview me, otherwise don't waste my time is my attitude.

With all these rules as to who not to be, are you not essentially saying be someone you may not actually be?

I think that would be detrimental a few weeks in when your true self shines.

If you are a miserable grunt, no reason to be happy and bright in an interview, it won't last after yuo are hired and you are not that person anymore.

If you can't get a job just being who you are, you need ot think about who you are and what flaws people see in YOU as an individual. To simply be a paradigm of an employement candidate, doesn't show too much of yourself, does it?

I don't disagree that your interview tips are the way most companies like to view candidates, but if that is not really YOU it doesn't work.

If you are naturally a bummer and miserable, you may be a good candidate to look inward and adjust your sttitude, then it will appear normaly in an interview.

To simply mimick what people want is a lesson in failure to be.

After reading the majority of your posts I thought I would disagree with you on almost anything. Scarily enough I find myself agreeing with many of your comments, this one included. I've never tried to be anyone other than myself in an interview or a job. I supply the employer with what they ask for and hope they like me. If they don't like me or my attitude, perhaps I would be happier some place else anywho. No matter if I'm at work or at play, I can guarantee you I am the exact same person.

This part in particular I like:

If you are naturally a bummer and miserable, you may be a good candidate to look inward and adjust your sttitude

You need to fix yourself instead of worrying about what your potential employer wants if you're that person.

"I thought I would disagree with you on almost anything."

Me too, I hardly ever listen to myself.

Actually, while I find I debate.argue with many when it comes to politics, I often share very similar views when it comes to employment and personal responsibility with regards to employment. It's the conservative in me I guess. It's the me that doesn't fit with West Coast Canada because I am so right wing and exiles me from America for being too liberal.

I LOVE political tags, what a joke.

When applying to a salesman position, you need to show how aggressive and talkative you can be in the interview. May be you are a silent person inside, but for the job probably you use different masks. Or, when applying to a help-desk position, you must show a gentlemen/lady of you using nice words, not the real you drinking beer with friends after the job! Do you think nice lady on the phone never use bad words or get angry in her private life? Many jobs require us to play different roles than we are. It is the truth. My friend of bank manager hates his job, because he screw people for the good of the bank, but never in his private life!
Single person wear many different masks in his/her social and work life, that's normal. And in the interview they want to see what is your maximums to fill that specific position. So, play it to the bones!

I prefer a job that allows me to be myself. There is no way I could work a job that made me miserable. That's me, that's just who I am. When I worked one of my first jobs for an ATM repair\financial network support business I actually broke protocol and a couple of laws once. I watched an atm take an old guy's money. Now he should have called the bank, but I knew they had a habit of denying claims without iron clad proof. This was a rural area stand alone unit, no others around an no cameras on the grounds so he wouldn't have had proof. This guy was obviously in his 80's and had tattoos on his forearm that I recognized, signifying that he was a holocaust survivor. Well I performed the repairs and fixed the problem, both his and the machine's problems. I can't "screw people." It isn't part of my core beliefs. I'll quit, get fired or get written up before I knowingly screw someone over. I have to live with myself at the end of the day, not my company's bottom line.

I'm the same person whether drinking beer with my buddies or at the water cooler in the office. I'm not afraid of being myself regardless of company. But that is just me.

People get jobs hopefully to expand their experience and knowledge and grow professionally. This implies that there are a lot of positive changes that you want to make in your professional life.

With that said, in an interview, you have to BECOME whatever the position requires. So don't be yourself, be whoever the company needs you to be. Be in the interview who you want to be 5 years from now.

I still have to disagree. Why be someone I'm not? I don't want my job to shape who I am or where I want to take my career. If I'm not the right person for the job, why subject myself to that? It seems to me that I would just be putting myself into an environment where I will not be satisfied or happy.

That's just my humble opinion. I have no desire to pretend to be what a potential employer is looking for. I'd much rather find a job that fits what I want and be happy with myself and my career. It is possible to grow professionally on your own terms, not your employer's terms.

FIT is the most essential part of building a successful career. Skills, goals, motivation can all be learned or taught, but that 'FIT' is imperative.

That is an issue I have now, my day job is a cakewalk and I own it. However, while it is in a field that interests me, there is a major lack of 'something' that I can't seem to find.

I'm waiting it out for a bit and probably next spring will just up and move on as i have irons in the fire and opportunities that interest me too, a couple working the music industry in the UK again, which is VERY VERY VERY VERY tempting.

My job is a mix between challenging and a cake walk. There's a huge trust between myself, my staff and management level. I really am happy even though I know I could make more money. But our network is ever expanding and I'm constantly learning. Basically things get as complex as we choose, so I get to expand my knowledge base on the company dime. Plus it is (mostly) a great group of people. Everyone is a fast learner and creative. We recently had two new staffers come on board that are those "strictly by the book" types. One is a pc guy. Nothing is more annoying than someone who adheres to a strict set of guidelines with no exceptions, ever. I also enjoy those free trips to Cisco Live each year. Can't say that I ever care to go back to Frisco though, I had a blast but I'd not be upset if I never go back there again.

I was there last month to meet with Cisco engineers and work with Symbol/Motorola to help design a rugged casing/sleeve for their handhelds.

Love San Francisco as a tourist but not so much for biz.

as for challenge, my job can be challenging, if I make it so. I am just afraid of becoming lazy and complacent, I have always seen people get stuck into careers or just jobs that thye do because it's there and easier than constantly trying to move up the ladder of life. Sometimes I'll quit a job just to throw a little boost in the butt and kick me into forward gear again but I just have it pretty easy and the money is still good. I get more by base salary than others in my field get combined with commission, however I can't make much more as I am capped, so it's a tough move right now.

You have the smartest comment I've read about a successful career. Getting a job that's the "right fit" takes work & self-reflection. I had a job that people would have killed for, but it was the wrong fit for me. I was miserable. I moved on in less than a year-but I learned a lot.

Yes! I am going threw the soul destroying process of finding a job and being groomed by various agencies to present a certain way. I find your reply comforting and reassuring..if I can't be who I am in an interview, then I probably wont fit with the culture of that particular work place.

If I hired you and you turned out to be nothing like you were in the interview, you'd likely not make it past performance review..
Having said that, you could out to be an all star and I'd be delighted..but way too much of a chance that things would go the other way.

An interview is not only about skills, its also about attitude, and once you start the job if I feel you've presented yourself falsely how am I to know what else is false?

I would expect any person I hire to expand thier experience and grow professionally, it "initiative" i'm looking for.

One becomes what the position requires when they get the position. If you ARE the perfect person with all of the skills I require, I'm a bit wary. If you've nothing to learn and nothing to aspire to, why do I want to hire you?

Just my thoughts..

I agree wholly, and to add to yuor comments, I have been hired even though I was NOT as experienced too.

As you say, growth and seeing the future potential of a new hire is most important. I have been hired over people with much more experience, simply because they figured I had what it would take and the technical information can be acquired in short time.

Often, if you have the potential and look like the right fit for the company, you will be hired whether or not yoy are initially WHO they are looking for or not.

I've even been hired by an owner who admitted that we probably wouldn't get along so well because we were so alike. But he said I would get along like a house on fire with the manager and those I was to work with. The owner and I were both very strong Alpha males but at teh same time, where we did not have to work together as closely, I fit in perfectly with the sales team and sales manager.

I soon became good friends with teh owner too, as we found out where we worked well together and focused on those areas instead of conflict. Turned out to be one of my longest company runs, being in my line of work anything from 1-3 years with the same company is considered an average, not long term.

I've gotten jobs where I wasn't the most qualified.. I've been told many times that I had a great personality and knew enough for the position, and thats why I got it.

I've hired in the same way. A few years back interviewed 4 people. One was seriously annoying..could do the job though. One has impressive CV, but she was too shy to tlak in the interview. Third knew everything, was perfect, but he would have been bored and he would have been gone in 6 months..the last one, friendly, chatty (but not annoyingly so), open about what he didn't know. I figured he's take about 2 months to learn the ropes .. I hired him and in 6 weeks was a star, outperforming 2 girls on the team that had been there for 2+ years..

Oh, and we still mates..went partying with him 2 weeks back

He had a nice bum, and now you are working your way in.

he not really my type..too young and silly..
great guy to hang out with though.

"I would expect any person I hire to expand their experience and grow professionally, it "initiative" i'm looking for."

Spot on, and this attitude is what I look for when hiring managers.

Some of the companies I have worked with have a hiring process that filters out the best candidates because they don't fit the template; the HR/recruiter treats the job description as check boxes. Something to consider that when you right the job description.

First of all you suggest being hwo the employer NEEDS you to be, you then state you should become whatever teh position requries, and THEN you say be who YOU want to be in 5 years?!?! That's a lot of people to keep happy.

I once worked for recruiters as a BDM and also taught a job club that showed people employment skills such as writing the right resume, digging for a suitable job as opposed to simply answering ads and sending out resumes, cold calling and proseting and ultimately building your career.

If people did not work towards a career they were properly suited for, perhaps just being who teh interviewer wanted them to be, they soon returned unemployed again. There's just no longevity in pretending you are who you are not.

Certainly personal change and ADAPTATION is requried in many positions, but simply pretending to be the person you aren't will not result in a lasting career most of teh tie, it is worse than false advertising or a made up resume that you can't fulfill.

If you don't have the skills to do the job, then don't apply. I'm not giving people a license to lie on their resume or pretend to be someone else.

I'm assuming that becoming who the employer needs you to be and whatever the position requires is one in the same. Hopefully if the employer needs an Oracle DBA whose a good communicator then the position requires that you be a DBA who is a good communicator. Now if you aren't a good communicator and don't see the need to change, then don't apply for the position. However, if it's your goal to hone and polish your communication skills, then for by all means, go for a position that will force you to do so.

My point is that you have to show the employer that you can be what they need you to be for the position. To do that you have to look ahead five years and see yourself being successful in that position and do and say what it takes to make them believe you.

Getting a job is a lot like getting married. It's a long term commitment where a lot of change needs to happen in order to be successful and happy. You become who you need to become to do that.

You are confusing skill and knowledge sets with personality.

You are assuming that an employer will take potential over actual, they might at aower rate, in which case what they said they wanted wasn't exactly true.

And as for five years to become a success, which planet are you from, because it's not earth.

It isn't as though they are offering much...

Be yourself and if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work and move onto the next. No use getting a job for the sake of getting a job. If you can tell from the interview you don't fit.. Tell them that and leave. Saves you and them a lot of stress.

...then that's your business. Some people like me want something more out of a job than just a bigger paycheck.

Rule one in life, if you want to grow, organise your own sustenance.

Whether you do it you way or ours, you are being yourself. We are simply more honest about it.

We are a small company that requires extensive travel, so the last thing I want out of an interviewee is a knee-jerk "YES" when I ask them how they feel about 75% travel...

In an interview, I'm looking for a candidate's soft skills as much as the technical qualifications, since our people do lots of customer face-time and are often the only representative of our company our customer meets in person. I don't mind "naysaying" from an interviewee, if it's offered in a tactful way. Techies often make the mistake of thinking that it doesn't matter if they're a jerk because of their credentials. That might've been true 25 years ago, but it is no longer the case.

Seeing all of these points, don't do this, do that, don't sweat, don't look at the ceiling...it's no wonder that an interviewee is usually very stressed!

I think the very best advice is to be yourself because if you're not, you're only harming yourself in the long run. Don't make yourself LIKE that job that you interviewed for if you have a gut feeling that it just isn't for you. It probably ISN'T for you.

And another good point is to drive the interview yourself...subtly (timely intelligent questions and feedback). Be confident and prepared. That's really all there is to it.

This is topic is over-analyzed. The best advice is usually the simplest.

If I start getting negative in an interview, I'm just giving you some free advice before I leave for my next interview....

People interview me for what I have done and can do. If I think what you want me do sucks, I don't want you, whether you would have employed me if I'd have kept my gob shut is utterly irrelevant.

Don't forget I'm interviewing you while you are interviewing me, and the crap joke about the weather and the expectant smile waiting for a sychophantic laugh tells me you're nervous and ill prepared...

Been there done that with customers. Not the best thing for busines or even getting a job but I've had one or 2 come back and ask for a paid consultation.

More often than not, the "free advise" falls on deaf ears.

My main objective at an interview is to see if I am willing and able to fill the position.
I no longer see it as an employer interviewing me. I know some of you managers might take exception to that, but its just the way I am. I've turned down several jobs because I felt I wasn't the right fit, or I had no interest in it.

Did an interview about 18 months back where the 2 idiots interviewing me couldn't even phrase proper questions..and they were the existing DBA and Lead Dev. I couldn't run form that interview fast enough..

But I don't struggle to find work, business's struggle to find people with my skills and experience. I've turned down lot's of opportunities before the other guy even got a chance to voice their opinion.

Nothing makes me laugh louder than the regular email from HR/Recruiters starting "Unmissable opportunity". Wrong from word one....

I can't say any job is unmissable..(well, ok, i mean as long as you've got work)

I always get "unbelieveable opprotunity"..eh..ya sure... like I should feel honored that they might consider little ole me to grovel at thier feet for a job.

Not in a million years.

Delphi, Croydon, 10k pay cut.
So lets see now, career killing dead tech, relocate to somewhere where the cost of livinhg is about half again as much, and take a massive pay cut.

Yep it's unbelievable you sent me this....

I'm trying to do some work on a Paradox database at the minute..fun fun..I don't think I was even born when Borland released it!

Its basic enough, but just one more friggin thing I gotta learn..

1987 I think that was. One of the reasons I got my current job was to get rid of it, in favour of SQL Server.

so....how much do ye remember??
haha

ah, they've a few legacy bits hanging around here that i've inherited.. all i do is try and keep em running, other than that i generally don't go near em!

it all by now, then you do a bit, a few facts surface and all of a sudden you strart rembereing all sorts of drivel you hoped you never need again.

I did it for nearly three years solid, and it was my first commercial IT environment, so once the brain has been kicked started probably a good deal.
It was the DOS stuff thought, I exited stage left as paradox for windows came out.

I've got a few bits to do on it..completely new to it..

Even if its an older version, you might have a clue or two on which area to direct me to.

Right now I'm in "what the h*ll is this???" mode... its some step back from a SQL backend and web front end

Were the ones I had to convince to work for me.

in the candidate, the role, the organisation. Anything else means you could have got an equivalent result with the job as a lottery prize.

I've made similar comments before and have been lambasted for it.

I too interview teh employer, I don't usually set up formal interviews or become part of a process where multiple people are interviewed at different times in a specific period. I usually create interviews based on me going after an employer, whether they are planning on hiring or not. I make my case and, if I find them a viable enough employer to offer me a challenge and some interest, I'll take it.

However, you must realize that many Americans are sittign on harder times these days, employment is not something where the picky can be choosey, so I am told anyway.

If people get the wrong idea, which usually results in them sounding cocky and standoffish, it'll actually hurt their chances of employment.

That said, I agree, pass MY interview or you won't get to hire ME.

I know back in the dim and distant past I kept my opinions to myself. I'm sure you may have zipped it as well. We put a lot of effort in not having to do that anymore though.

I've done a good few interviews, never succeeded in getting offered anything of worth starting on my knees.

Just an offer of a cold beer and a cigar will get me throwing on the kneepads.

changes ones priorities.

If I had to take a job I would, but fortunatly I am able to be more choosy.

Don't get me wrong, I would clean tables to pay the bills if thats what I had to do..I've done it before and I'm not so arrogant that I don't think it might not ever happen again.

I know I have an "attitude", but currently I can afford that luxury.

Attitude? Here?

I'm sure you've heard me say I've done just about anything and everything I can (including sweepign chimneys but that was by accident, I will continue to do so until I die however, in certain areas of work, I am pretty damn demanding of what I want, otherwise I won't take it.

However, when times fall hard, I can suck it up and know exactly what you mean.

I've done a lot of very different jobs, mostly by choice, and gained work experience in a lot of fields which makes it a lot easier when times are tougher. The only issue I have is adjusting to a new pay scale if i have to use a fall back to bring in money, hopefully that doesn't happen too often here, employment is very easily found and not very competitively fought for due to abundance of jobs.

Things are a BIT tighter now, which I why I decide to stay put a few months back, but doors are always open and I always accept offers with great interest.

I'm pretty demanding when it comes to work. I like things to go my way..but don't we all
And the attitude generally shines through..lets just say I an have a hard time "taking direction" from people...don't mean that I'm not willing to take comments on board, action requests, or take sensible direction from a knowledgeable person, but nothing gets me more irritated than someone who knows nothing trying to tell me what to do. Its gotten me in trouble before..and will do so again I presume.

Working with me is an experience.. a good one though

Things are tighter here as well, I hope I'll be ok for work. I hear ya on the pay scale issue, but something is better than nothing and I'm not too proud to take a schit job to pay the rent.

You can be confident in who and what you are able to do without looking like a cocky bawstard.

People like to have someone that can get a solution to their problems, no one likes a "know it all".

Depending on how you live your life makes a big difference on how picky you can afford to be. If you live paycheck to paycheck because you have to have the huge house/fancy car, you make yourself a slave to that paycheck. If you live within your means and only buy what you can afford, it gives a whole new freedom to be able to walk away anytime you want.

I have interviewed so many people who mess up #5. It is really damaging. It makes them look like all they care about is minor stuff, as opposed to the job itself. Like they'd be happy slinging trash bags, so long as they had a comfy office. The joke of it is, 90% of those questions can be answered by taking a 5 minute tour. Instead of asking those questions, simply (politely) ask for a tour of the area. By the by, if the interviewer offers you the tour, you are probably going to get an offer. After all, why bother taking someone around at the end of the interview if you aren't going to hire them?

J.Ja

How can we really say that by asking the interviewer about the location of the interview, that one is not prepared?..

One book that I have read before is the story about an interviewer who is trying to test his applicant by trying to roam him around the floor. The interviewer along with the applicant just keep walking around. The applicant did not even ask about the place where they will conduct his interview. He just keep following the interviewer and did not ask any question (Which is the suggestion of #5 i think). After several minutes of walking, the interviewer then starts the interview with the applicant. After that, the latter didn't land the position.


Moral of the story?..

Its not really bad to ask at all.

You just want to know something, not necessarily that you are prepared.

But i guess it's still a case to case basis..

These are superficial aspects that interviewer uses to excuse not looking deeper.

I know that is a cruel remark.

The military taught me that you have field soldiers and garrison soldiers. Of course, the garrison soldier makes a better impression but the issue is being able to fight. There are some real dirt bags out there that you do want when you go to war.

Twenty years in the computer business has taught me that most people (particularly human resource folks) do not know how to interview. Either they are explaining to the candidate how great the they (the interview) are or how wonderful the company is. You even run across interviewers who are not look at the candidate's talent for the job but rather how this candidate is going to impress their boss.

No, in the UK you can't give a bad reference. It is either a goog on or none.

None, as in decline = Bad.

its good

very interesting Thank you

Don't lie. But at the same time, don't be afraid to cast the truth in the best light.

...as to why ANY rational business person would entrust such an important decision as who to hire for their company to someone who doesnt even work there & they barely know... a person who also may be applying really superficial criteria about whether a person smiles too much or sweats too much, instead of looking at that candidate's real potential... i will never know.

If someone sweats too much, well maybe they need to get fit, maybe you can be a positive influence on that part of their life.

If someone smiles a lot, i fail to see how that is somehow "fake"... someone NOT smiling much could be equally fake in a different way, why pick on the smiling person?

If a person is lacking confidence in a job interview, maybe its because they really need the money, and they are afraid they wont get the job... that's perfectly understandable... why pick on them for that? ...and why the hell would anyone think that it has even the remotest influence on their ability to perform the job in question?

maybe this article made one or two valid points... but overall it just proves to me what i already knew about the HR industry... and i must say i am very underwhelmed that it still hasnt evolved any further than it has.

talk about shallow.

When it is my turn to ask questions, I usually will ask the interviewer why I was picked for the interview and then go from there. Normally, their answer will give me a glue on whether I will be given a second interview.

Another question that I have found very helpful on several occasions is something along the lines of "Based on what you know of me at this point how do you see me fitting in with the rest of the team?". It shows real interest in the position and demonstrates that you place value in the success of the team. I have noticed a positive visible change in the interviewer almost every time I ask this question.

Avoid negativity toward your previous employer.
During the interview, you should focus on the positives when discussing past employment. The interviewer will expect you to be honest, but expressing hatred toward previous employers will send him or her back into the pile. Job bashing is a no go, regardless of how bad it was. You should focus on the positives such as the knowledge and skills you acquired. In other words, don?t project yourself as damaged goods. Employers like people who can work through the challenges of the job, minus the bad attitude.

From my own personal experience, the three major things a prospective employer targets are: experience, accomplishments and adapabilty to new and unknown circumstances.
How you present yourself in your dialouge with the interviewer will give him insights into your personality. B.S. will kill you, be honest in your presentation and your performance, bring your best dog and pony show to the interview.
thats my 2 bits...
Buff Oon

Good stuff Toni Bowers!

A couple of days ago I had an interview where the interviewer at the end made an ethnic comment that was borderline unacceptable. What do you do in that case? Me personally I stayed the neutral ground.

My most unusual interview was for a 6-month contract where the interviewer came to my house on a week-end to interview me.
I cleared the basement, set up table, environment to look as professional as possible. Got the contract.

Next most unusual was a call from a Headhunter that employer wanted to see me immediately on a Friday.
Said I was casually dressed in jeans, sneakers, short shirt..etc. Responded dont worry, they understand. The 2 interviewers then started arguing amongst themselves on a minor tech issue. I knew at that point I was going to get the contract...and did.

I agree with all of this, and it applies to all interviewees, not just IT ones. I would make one small comment re: no. 2 - as bad as a "know-it-none" is, as a hirer of workers, I can't stand a "know-it-all" either. I much prefer someone who honestly admits that they may have a lack of some skill or need further exposure to a particular type of project than someone who says, "Oh, I can do this and that and the other," only to learn later, that they over-sold themselves.

The concept of at will employment started so that employees could quit jobs without being blackballed and prevented from finding new work. An employer couldn't punish an employee for leaving. Reciprocity being fair, employers could sever their relationship with the employee at any time, too.

However, the corporate world has managed to tip the balance in their favor. There's a common myth that employers can't say anything bad about you in a reference. Absolutely not true. They can only say things that are true, even if they're bad. You, however, do not have that option. Most employers will give you either a bad reference or list you as "ineligible for rehire" should you leave without two weeks notice. It's unprofessional to just walk out the door and not come back. They, however, do not have to follow that rule.

The fact is, in the states that have at will employment an employer can fire you for any or no reason. When you then have to explain to potential new employers that you were fired for wearing white after Labor Day...well, make sure you don't try to sound too negative...

Just my own opinions, worth nothing more than that.

"Don?t be a smiley face."

Don't be a FAKE smiley face. Smile if that's your nature, but don't force a smile. Let's face it, some people are the perpetually smiley types. Its just their nature.

OTOH, the much practiced in front of a mirror faked smile can almost always be detected by a person experienced in dealing with people. It won't impress him or her, and is more likely than not to cause the other person to wonder what else you're faking.

In short, IMHO, be your normal, real self. That is, your professional self. Not the private, among select friends side of you. At this point in the process, you are NOT close friends with the interviewer or future boss. Its probably best to keep your private, personal self ... to yourself.

As concerns the various points made in the original post that deal primarily with small talk and off topic subjects.

Consider this, you do not truly know much, if anything at all, about the interviewer. Avoid any mention of the "hot topics" like the plague. i.e. Sex, religion, politics, race, etc. In fact, its usually best to avoid discussion of anything that's largely a matter of personal opinion or preference unless the topic is raised by the interviewer.

You do not REALLY know the person in front of you, or anything about what that person privately thinks about any subject in particular. And I've seen more than a few times where someone assumed "everybody" thinks or believes this or that about something, just to have that ASSUMPTION come back and bite em in the a**.

What's the old saying? Something like, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

Stick to work related topics.

"Don?t be a Know-It-None"

I'd add, don't be a Know It All. I've met more than a few such. Have yet to meet any that weren't more bluster and boasting than real ability and actual performance.

I know a little about a lot of subjects, and a lot about a few subjects. But one thing I have learned is that the more I know, the more I become aware of just how much there is I do not know. That includes the areas in which I know quite a lot.

As an example, I recall one character we hired. I was myself doubtful about the hire. But it was one of those situations where my input was not wanted. This guy had come to us strongly recommended by one of the personal friends of a senior member of the board of directors. He had to go through the usual hiring procedure but it was a farce, he was going to be hired regardless.

Anyway, my first impression wasn't good. To hear this guy talk it would seem that he could walk on water. He was being hired into a specialty engineering job. And, according to him, there was nothing about that specialty he did not know, and which he did not know better than anyone else. In fact, when he set up his office he mounted a sign on the wall declaring himself as "Mr Automation". His specialty being the design and programming of automated digital controls.

Oh, he came with references and recommendations ... good ones. Testimonials from others that seemed to verify that they'd personally seen him walk on water.

Okay, I'm quite sure he was a BIG FISH back where he came from. I also became sure that it'd been a very little pond full of some mighty small fish. From the start with his very first project the rest of us in the department started to see the truth. That in the kind of projects we routinely worked with, in size and complexity, his knowledge and performance was at best mediocre.

In truth, he was out of his league. We tried to help, to give him hints and pointers, but he didn't really want to hear it. He was firmly convinced he was #1, and that his ideas and methods were superior to anything else. So after a while, the rest of us just shrugged and backed off and let him do what he would. Let him sink his own boat.

The real problem was not that he was terrible at what he did, as I stated he could turn out a mediocre performance. The real problem was that he was being paid a premium salary. AND had been made the department head. His performance simply wasn't up to his boasts. Not even close. He might have been Mr Automation where he came from, but in our pond he was just an average to somewhat below average fish.

In my lifetime and experience, I've become VERY doubtful about know-it-alls. More often than not I've come to find that people who portray themselves as such are just fooling themselves.

"Don?t Sweat"

I find this a bit ridiculous.

Perhaps the person is nervous or trying to hide something.

But it could also be simply a matter of the person being over warm and unable to do anything about it at the moment.

Egad, I've sat in the offices of people whom I'd swear must have some sort of health problem because evidently they feel cold if the temperature is below 78 degrees Fahrenheit, so they keep the temperature turned up. In other cases, the office simply had poor ventilation and/or cooling.

I'm sorry if it bothers folks that I sweat when I'm over warm. BUT, OTOH, I'm probably not sorry if this bothers you so much that you don't hire me. Because its likely that this is not a place I'd want to work anyway.

Want the honest truth about what I think of the subject? I bath regularly and well. And use a non-scented deodorant. TOO many folks, IMHO, seem to think that -I- really want to smell their idiot choice of perfume or cologne. Many of which I find to be not all that pleasant. And not infrequently I wonder if the person has dumped the entire bottle on themselves. It is sometimes overbearing and I can often smell the person long before I can see em, and often long after they're gone.

And if one is going to fairly complain about a little sweat, then isn't it also fair for me to complain about the particular odor that women emanate at certain times of the month? Ladies, if you do not know, I can smell you when you're having your period before I see you. And no amount of perfume can cover it up.

However, it doesn't bother me. I dismiss it as something you can do nothing about. Much the same as I dismiss the fact that someone who is too warm might be sweating.

FWIW, dousing one's self with perfume or cologne as a substitute for a bath or shower is not a good choice. Old, stale body odors are worse than fresh sweat.

Myself, when I'm speaking with someone who is obviously sweating, I ask the obvious. "Are you nervous, or just too warm?" Depending on the answer I then either tell them to relax and try to assist them in that, or offer the alternative of turning down the heat, moving to a different location with better ventilation, or whatever.

This is not to say that a person should not prepare for an interview properly. Which means that a shower or bath that day is a good idea, and so is the wearing of clothing suitable so that one can take something off or put something on, as appropriate, if one is too warm or too cool. My recommendation ... keep the perfumes or colognes or after-shaves subdued. YOU might think it smells great, the other person may not have the same opinion.

"Don?t be a Liar Liar

In a job interview even a slight exaggeration is lying. Don?t. Never stretch your resume or embellish accomplishments."

Okay, I agree with the idea that one should not tell an out and out lie.

OTOH, if you're trying to convince me that some exaggeration or embellishment is NOT the norm, and that it is NOT the case that almost everyone does it ... I'm thinking you are mistaken.

If one is going to be ABSOLUTELY truthful, then one needs to keep in mind that omitting relevant facts can also be considered lying. Which is why in many judicial courts of law one is required to "tell the truth, the WHOLE truth" ... which means the good, the bad, the ugly, the embarrassing, etc. Otherwise you might be thought to be lying to the court. By withholding relevant information.

Of course in a job interview one is going to put "their best foot forward" and fail to mention their past failures and mistakes. Likewise they will somewhat exaggerate or embellish their accomplishments. Quite normal, and to be expected.

And quite different from an out-and-out, bold lie.

IMHO, some exaggeration and embellishments are okay to get through initial interviews, especially with HR people. About anything short of out and out lies I consider fair ploys for getting past HR people. In many (most?) cases they're just not all that knowledgeable about what the workers REALLY need to know in order to do their jobs, or what they really do on a day to day basis.

OTOH, lying to them outright is foolish. Even if they don't catch it the odds are that your prospective boss will, sooner or later. And if someone like me is your prospective boss, a flat out lie means I'm not likely to trust a single word you have to say to me thereafter.

As concerns the exaggeration or embellishment thing. I'd keep that to an absolute minimum when being interviewed by the new prospective boss or someone from within the department/office/branch of the organization where you might actually be working. That is, someone who actually knows something about the field in which you'll be working.

I expect to hear some exaggeration or embellishment. Fine, its normal and natural. Won't upset me in the least. But then you can expect some very pointed questions from me to establish to my satisfaction whether you're being entirely truthful, exaggerating a bit, or out and out lying to me.

#1 is acceptable.

#2 might be acceptable as long as I can determine that despite a bit of exaggeration or embellishment that you still have the qualities I'm looking for.

#3 will get you shown the door, interview is over, and no I'm not gonna wish you a good day or future luck in finding a job.

"Don?t Be A Switchblade"

I consider it perfectly fine if yah bad mouth a previous boss/employer on your own time, among your friends.

But DON'T DO IT during the interview/hiring process.

I'm not impressed by the Blame Game. In general, people who point fingers and bad mouth others are the sort who'll always blame someone else for their own failures, lacks, and inabilities. They tend to be excuse makers, and will find excuses in their new job to blame for their inability to perform up to expectations.

Not always true ... but true more often than not.

Add, that bad mouthing previous employers/bosses can also lead to other problems.

For instance, this happened with a new hire where I work. He really should have known better. At a company socializing event he went on a rampage of ranting about and bad mouthing his previous employer.

Not good ... when the department head was present. AND the department head was personal buddies with that previous employer. Not only that, but part of the guy's rant was about the "stupid ideas" that his previous employer had about how things should be run and get done. Which happened to be ideas shared by our department head.

As it happened, this guy had not yet completed his probationary hiring period with us (6 months).

It was no surprise to any of us that when he came up for his 6 month review that our department head decided not to keep him.

I've seen this same sort of thing happen over and over again.

It's one of the reasons that when and if I do feel an irresistible urge to bad mouth a previous employer, boss, coworkers, etc ... I mention no names and avoid giving any clues as to precisely whom I might be talking about.

I am appalled at the trivia in this article.

Possibly my reputation always preceded me, and likely why I never had to write a resume.

The single, most important thing in an interview is to develop an absolutely clear understanding of the needs of the employer, and an absolutely clear assessment of your ability to fulfill those needs.

Anything else is a waste of time.

If you can explain to the interviewer your assessment of their stated needs and why your background and experience is particularly well suited to fulfilling those needs, you may/will likely get the position.

I subscribe to the logic of:
"I'll come in and work for free for a week or two, then we can discuss salary - never lost on that one !!

Once they are chasing you, to bring you on board, you can carefully delve into the "trivia" if you like, but not before.

My thoughts,
Lee Treffinger

I have to be High Maintenance because I am disabled. So, you won't hire me because I am disabled???

Some people sweat more than others. Especially someplace like here, where the temps and humidity levels are both in the 90's, it is hard not to. I personally have to wear an undershirt(with antiperspirant/deodorant, of course), so I think this point is not only stupid, but just shows how shallow this poster is.

information on the dynamic phases of resums/job interview necessities.

and I loved (NO) the "don't sweat" rehearsal idea. How on earth would you know the temperature in the interview room ???
Would it not be easier to just ask permission to take off your jacket in case neccessary ?

Given the "need for speed" in many organization, I wonder how much checking is really done anymore. Perhaps others know more about HR.

Yeah, you have to know who your prospective employer knows.

I got a call from a friend whose company was looking to hire someone I knew. He'd wanted to display his leadership skills and involvement in the industry by listing that he'd been President of a local trade organization (now defunct, ergo, no web presence).
The hiring manager knew that my friend had been a member of the organization and asked her if one who'd worked under him could speak for his skills. And, of course, she knew that I'd been Vice President of the organization for it's entire life (except my term as President), so she called me up... and I burst out laughing. I told her that, not only had that guy never been President, he was the only board member we'd ever had to remove due to unprofessional behavior.

SO, if the guy had simply stated that he'd been a member of the board of directors, I would have just agreed, yes he had and told them how long he'd held that role. But, since he lied, I revealed a little more about him than I might have otherwise done.
So, they did end up hiring him (it wasn't a leadership role), but, they all knew he was a liar from the get-go.


Oh, and I show my humor during interviews. With engineering people, it shows that I fit in, with others, it shows that I would not and I'd rather know that up front.