How to behave at an interview, advice from a psychologist. First interview: how to behave if you have no work experience? How to successfully pass an interview and what to say to get hired? What to take to an interview

So, the employer found your resume on the Superjob website, became interested and wanted to invite you for an interview. A job interview is the culmination of the hiring process. An interview with an employer is stressful even for professional and experienced applicants, so it is important to think in advance about how to behave during the interview and how to answer the questions asked by the recruiter during the interview. Do you know how to successfully pass a job interview and what to be prepared for? Superjob will help you find answers to these questions!

1. Telephone conversation with the employer

A telephone conversation is your first personal communication with a future employer, and it is important to make a good impression at this stage. Even if the secretary makes the appointment, he will definitely tell his immediate supervisor or the person who will be interviewing you about how the conversation went.

What do you need to do during the telephone conversation preceding a job interview?

Clarify what position you are being invited to, ask the necessary questions about the vacant position. If the position is not initially suitable for you, politely report this and refuse the interview, providing reasonable arguments. You should not waste precious time (yours and your employer’s) on unpromising meetings.

Write down the name of the company, the first and last name of the person with whom you spoke, and the contact number where you can contact him in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Find out who exactly will be interviewing you and what his name is. You will make a good impression if you address him by his first and patronymic when you meet him.

Find out the exact address of the interview location. When discussing a meeting time, plan it so that no other business interferes with you. It may turn out that you have one or more interviews scheduled with other employers that day, then the interview schedule should be planned so that the time between successive interviews is at least 2-3 hours. Remember that you are waiting for not a minute conversation, but a detailed conversation; during the interview you will be asked questions about your work experience and professional skills.

Find information in advance about how to behave during an interview. Find out how long a job interview lasts, whether you will have to fill out a questionnaire, take written tests, or complete practical test tasks.

2. Preparing for the interview

So, you have agreed on the time of the meeting with the employer, now it’s time to start preparing for the interview. What needs to be done?

First, prepare documents that may be needed at the interview:

resume in duplicate;
passport;
diploma of education with insert;
diplomas of additional education, certificates of completion of courses, certificates, etc. (you should not take with you documents that are not related to the position for which you are applying).

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with information about the company you are going to for an interview in advance. Connect all possible channels: go to the company's website on the Internet, use business directories, the press or other sources. Familiarize yourself with the areas of activity and history of the company (year of formation, stages of development), study the names of divisions, remember information about the company’s achievements, etc. Thus, during a conversation with the employer, you will be able to demonstrate the seriousness of your intentions. Moreover, even if you are not hired by this particular company, you will in any case expand your horizons.

Map out the route for your trip to the interview, calculate the time you need to spend on the road, add another reserve of time (30 minutes) in case of possible transport difficulties that you may encounter on the road. You can first go to the interview location if you doubt that on the appointed day you will be able to quickly and easily find the right building.

Think over the answers to the employer’s questions during the interview, which in one form or another will definitely come up during your conversation:

why did you leave (decided to leave) your last job; where do you work now?
why do you want to work in our company?
How can your activities as an employee benefit our company?
name your greatest strengths and weaknesses as an employee;
name your greatest achievements as a specialist; Have you had any failures in your professional activity, and what were they?

Be prepared to give truthful answers to interview questions (during the interview or after, lies will definitely come up). When answering the question: “Why did you decide to change jobs?” — you should not give negative feedback about colleagues and managers, limit yourself to neutral statements: lack of opportunities for professional growth, irregularity in receiving monetary remuneration, distance from home, inconvenient work schedule, etc.

When talking about a possible future job in a new company, make it clear to your interlocutor that you are interested in working in this particular company, you can be useful to it as a specialist, but at the same time you must have a clear idea of what the company does so as not to get into trouble. If you manage to behave correctly in this matter, your chances of being hired by this company will increase several times.

When answering questions about your strengths and especially weaknesses, about your achievements and failures, be careful. Show sufficient self-criticism towards your person, this will raise your authority in the eyes of your interlocutor. When talking about your omissions, it is not necessary to cite your biggest mistakes. The main thing here is that you can show that you yourself corrected your mistake and saved the company from troubles or reduced them to a minimum.

Be prepared for tests or practical tasks (both psychological and professional) that the employer may ask you to take.

Prepare in advance the questions you would like to ask the employer.

Think about the clothes you will wear to your meeting with your employer. Everyone is familiar with the proverb: “You are greeted by your clothes, you are seen off by your mind.” Let the first impression of you be the most favorable. Naturally, clothing must correspond to the position for which you are applying. Perhaps a formal business suit is not appropriate for every position, but neat business-style clothing, clean hair and nails, and polished shoes will certainly make the necessary positive impression on your interlocutor. There should be no shopping bags, shopping bags, greasy grocery bags, or backpacks in your hands!

3. Passing an interview

The time has come for an interview that could change your life! What should you remember when going through an interview?

Try to arrive at the meeting a little earlier than the scheduled time. It is better for you to wait 10 minutes in the reception area than for the employer to wait for you for half a minute. Being late for a meeting, even due to circumstances beyond your control, will 99% ruin all hopes of getting a job in this company.

If suddenly such a situation occurs, you feel that you are not on time for the appointed time, be sure to call the contact number, apologize, explain the reason for your lateness and find out whether the employer can see you a little later on the same day or if there is an opportunity to reschedule the meeting for another time.

If you decide not to go to an interview at all (you changed your mind about working in this company, you have other urgent matters, etc.) ALWAYS call the employer and inform about it, after apologizing for disturbing his plans. Let the good impression of you received during the preliminary telephone conversation not spoil anything!

When entering the office, be sure to say hello and ask the employee with whom you have an interview to be informed of your arrival. If you are asked to wait a little, do not be indignant and take it as disrespect for yourself. Be patient and do not lose the feeling of goodwill with which you went to the meeting.

Turn off your cell phone in advance so that nothing can interfere with your conversation.

When entering the office, say hello by first and last name to the employee with whom you will be talking. Be sure to smile. Say that you are very pleased to be invited to an interview with this company. This way you can win over your interlocutor in advance.

Sit so that your face is facing the interlocutor. Move your chair if necessary. Do not lounge on the chair, do not cross your legs under it, do not tuck them in; Don’t fiddle with the handle nervously.

Listen carefully to the questions they ask you, while looking at the other person's face. Start answering only when you understand what you were asked. If the question is not entirely clear, then apologize and ask to repeat it again. However, do not overdo it - in no case should you ask almost every question again.

When answering a question, try not to talk for more than 2-3 minutes. This time is quite enough to generally cover the most important information on the most complex issue. Monosyllabic answers “yes” and “no”, a quiet voice will create the impression of your lack of self-confidence and inability to explain your point of view.

If you are asked to talk about yourself, you should not go into lengthy conversations about your autobiography. Moreover, it is unacceptable to answer that everything is already written in the resume. Tell us about your education and work experience. This will once again demonstrate your professional skills and qualities.

At the interview, you will have the opportunity to ask both those questions that you prepared in advance and those that arose during the conversation.

If you are interested in a career opportunity, it is important to be able to ask this question correctly. Keep in mind that you are invited to the company for a specific position, to solve a certain range of problems. Not all positions provide career advancement. In addition, it is difficult for employers to discuss this issue without knowing your capabilities and abilities. Nevertheless, it is quite appropriate to ask the employer whether the company practices personnel rotation, whether there are opportunities for growth in this position in the long term, and be sure to ask what is needed for this (additional education, advanced training courses, experience, or something else) . Find out what training or employee development programs exist in the company. Then you will look like a serious and focused person. And this is another plus in your favor.

An open smile, a little good and unobtrusive humor, and then small mistakes will definitely be forgiven. A smile does not interfere with a business conversation; on the contrary, it leaves the impression that you are an experienced and therefore confident person.

When saying goodbye to the employee who conducted the interview at the end of the interview, be sure to thank him for giving you the opportunity to have an interview at this company, regardless of the final choice the employer makes.

Good luck with your interview!

An interview for every job candidate is a kind of stressful situation, so many people approach it with some fear. And this is understandable, because no one knows what they will ask him about. And not only beginners, but also those who have had experience in such conversations face a similar problem. To be confident in a conversation with a potential employer, you need to know how to answer his questions.

An invitation to an interview is a small, but still success that you have achieved in your job search. Now you need to understand what you need to say at an interview in order to make a positive impression of yourself on your future manager from the first words.

Under no circumstances should you completely retell your biography when asked to tell about yourself. Moreover, you need to spend no more than 3 minutes on the story. Otherwise, your monologue may bore the interviewer. At the same time, you should not allow the interviewer to turn the interview into an interrogation. Your task is to build a two-way conversation. This is the only way to achieve the recruiter’s favor.

It should be remembered that during the interview you will also be tested for stress resistance. You need to be prepared for this in advance and think through possible answers to potential questions. This will not only reduce your anxiety, but will also give you confidence.

It is important to remember that it is not only you who is preparing for the interview, but also the employer. In particular, after reviewing your resume, the manager in most cases makes certain notes on it in order to clarify something during the conversation. Therefore, if you simply downloaded a sample resume on the Internet and sent it for review without altering it, there is a high probability that you will simply screw up on the first question. You don't need to be a great psychologist here to recognize the truth. Sometimes the resume contains very abstruse phrases that the applicant would never be able to utter in a normal conversation. This is very noticeable during conversation.

During the interview, you need to cover only that aspect of the issue in which you are well versed. There is no need to speak in cliches and memorized phrases. This will not create a good impression of you.

What to tell an employer when applying for a job

To ensure that the employer has a good impression of you, you need to prepare for the interview in advance. Everything is important here - from clothing style and behavior to the ability to express one’s thoughts.

During a conversation with an employer, it is strictly prohibited:

use slang;
touch on the topic of religion, politics, etc.;
talk about financial and personal problems.

There is no need to show everyone your awareness of the issue at the interview, flaunting your knowledge. Such behavior can not only cause the employer to become aggressive towards you, but also leave an unpleasant impression on you as a person in general. You must answer the questions asked truthfully. There is no need to invent something if in reality you have not encountered similar situations. As soon as you give the interviewer the slightest reason to doubt your correctness, he will ask a lot more questions about the same facts and events, confusing you until you confess.

If you have any private projects and work that you did outside of working hours, but they are not reflected in the work book, you can tell your employer about this. This will only confirm the fact of your professionalism.

Everyone decides for themselves what to say when applying for a job and what is better to remain silent about. The main thing is that the answers are sincere and the employer has the impression of you as a competent interlocutor in certain matters.

How to speak correctly when applying for a job

Answers to a potential employer's questions should be clear and concise. If the question requires a specific answer, you should not make up anything so that the answer does not seem too short to the interviewer. If during the conversation you made any mistake or simply misspoke, you need to modestly apologize and continue the conversation further.

To ensure a successful interview, you need to follow a few simple rules:

during the conversation, do not try to evoke sympathy for yourself from the interviewer;
no need to talk about illnesses and family problems;
no need to put pressure on the recruiter with your knowledge;
You should speak neutrally about past work.

Thus, when thinking through your speech at an interview, you must take all these points into account. It is advisable to rehearse your speech several times in front of a mirror, paying attention to your gestures.

How to behave at an interview? What questions are asked during an interview and what are the most correct answers? How to properly prepare for a job?

Hello, dear readers! One of the authors of the business magazine HeatherBober.ru, Alexander Berezhnov, is with you today and is our guest Ksenia Borodina - recruitment specialist, psychologist.

Ksenia has already conducted hundreds of interviews and knows all the intricacies of this important event. Our guest will share the tricks and secrets of practicing HR specialists and give effective recommendations to job seekers.

In one of the previous articles we talked in detail about. And now we come to the logical continuation of the topic - the interview.

1. What is an interview and what form does it take?

Ksenia, greetings. I suggest starting with the most important thing. Please tell us what an interview is, how it goes and what types of interviews exist? This is necessary so that our readers understand where they are about to go and what to expect, since for some of them this will be their first experience of getting a job.

Hello Sasha. Let's start with a definition.

Interview- This dating process a job seeker and a potential employer (his representative), as a result of which the 2 parties want to receive the necessary information about how suitable they are for each other.

There are several types of it.

For example, individual and group interviews are distinguished based on the number of participants.

Individual interview. It takes place one on one, where the employer or his representative participates on one side and the applicant on the other.
Group interview. As a rule, it is carried out by a professional recruiter (personnel selection specialist) from a company in need of personnel with a group of potential applicants for a vacancy. Group interviews are most often conducted for mass vacancies in companies, for example, for the position of “sales manager”.

Interviews can also be divided according to the number of decision-making “instances”. According to this principle they are divided into single-level And multi-level.

As a rule, for executive positions that do not require a high level of training and great responsibility, applicants go through one interviewer. Such interviews are called single-level, that is, they involve a conversation with one person.

If you want to get a position as a sales assistant in a household appliances store, then more often you will have an interview with the director of the store where your further employment is expected. This is an example of a one-level interview.

Multi-level interviews require the applicant to meet representatives of several management levels.

For example, if you are applying for a position as a marketing specialist at a large company like Coca-Cola, then you will be interviewed by the head of a regional branch, the head of the marketing department of the company’s plant, and the director of this plant.

Sometimes multi-level interviews are conducted in person with each “level”, and sometimes communication with the candidate is carried out remotely.

Thanks to the development of modern means of communication, some managers prefer to conduct interviews via Skype (less often by telephone).

This is especially true in cases where the applicant is looking for a job with the prospect of moving to another region or even another country.

Often the interview process itself causes stress for the candidate. After all, as a rule, a person sends his resume to several organizations at once and receives an invitation to undergo an interview, sometimes on the same day with an interval of several hours.

And each such meeting, where you need to competently present yourself, requires both physical and emotional effort.

2. Stages of the interview

Ksenia, I think that now our readers have gained an idea of the interview as a process and its features, and now I propose to talk about the stages that the applicant goes through during the interview process and the features of each of them.

Indeed, the entire interview process can be divided into: 4 stages:

Phone conversation;
Preparing for the meeting;
Interview;
Summarizing.

Each of them has its own characteristics that need to be discussed so that you, as an applicant, go through each of the stages as efficiently as possible and get the position for which you are applying.

Stage 1. Telephone conversation

This is the first stage of direct communication with a representative of the company for which you are applying. It usually results from submitting your resume to that company.

If the company is more or less large, then in most cases the employee responsible for recruiting will call you.

When talking to him, be polite, and also remember his (her) name and preferably his position. Next, specify where exactly you need to come (address) and at what time. Also specify your contact phone number.

If you need to take something with you, for example, a passport, educational document or portfolio, then the recruiter will tell you about it during a telephone conversation.

Stage 2. Preparing for the meeting

At this stage, I recommend that you imagine your future interview with a potential employer and “live” it. This will be especially true for people who are afraid of the interview itself or they have a fear of failing the meeting with the recruiter.

To tune in to the process and overcome possible fears, I suggest you do the exercise "meeting with the president". This is done the day before the interview.

Imagine that you were invited to the Kremlin and are now sitting at a meeting with the president of the country. The video cameras of TV channel hosts are pointed at you and a bunch of journalists are recording everything you say.
Try to imagine yourself in this situation and get used to this role. Think about what you will ask the president and what you want to tell him. What questions will he ask you and how will you answer them publicly?
To do this exercise, stay alone so that no one distracts you and spend 7-15 minutes imagining such a meeting in all details.

Then go to your interview. After such “visualization,” you are guaranteed to have an easier time passing it. After all, you have already experienced the most “terrible” interview of your life.

A few more words about preparation.

Preparing for an interview includes 3 important points:

Preparation of self-presentation and its rehearsal;
Preparation of a portfolio (awards, articles about you), works and examples confirming your competence for this vacant position;
Rest and further entry into the “resource state”. This term refers to your working state in which you are as focused and productive as possible.

Stage 3. Interview

To understand in detail how to pass a job interview, you need to be prepared for various nuances.

For example, very often the specialist who is talking with you will ask you questions and offer to complete small buildings (cases).

Case- this is a modeling (analysis) of a problematic or non-standard situation and ways of solving it by the candidate (applicant).

Let's assume that you are applying for the position of sales representative or sales manager.

To test your erudition, stress resistance, creative thinking and professional knowledge, the recruiter will give you cases to analyze.

Case example:

Recruiter : You are on your way to a meeting with an important client. The major negotiations that you have to conduct, if successful, can bring you a monthly income level and a promotion. Suddenly your car breaks down in the middle of the road. Your actions?
You: I will get out of the car and try to get a taxi or ride to the meeting place with the client.
Recruiter : You were driving through a remote road far from the city; there is no passing traffic here.
You: I'll look on the navigator where I am and call a taxi to this place.
Recruiter : You don’t have a navigator and your phone is dead.
You: I will try to fix the car breakdown myself and then continue driving.

And so your recruiter can “drive” you, each time complicating the conditions in which you find yourself.

As I understand it, this is being done in order to see whether such force majeure will throw you into a stupor and what exit options will you offer (test of ingenuity)?

Sasha, absolutely right. Also, the HR specialist in this case wants to see how long you will try to find a way out of the current situation (testing your perseverance).

One of the very popular cases is called “selling a pen.” It is used mainly in interviews related to the hiring of sales specialists, but sometimes recruiters “play” similar games with candidates for other positions.

Stage 4. Summing up

If you were confident at the meeting and clearly answered all the HR specialist’s questions, then you will have a great chance of getting the job you want.

At the end of the interview, you will be told what time frame you will receive a response if you are hired. If you are undergoing a multi-level interview, then wait for an answer about passing the next stage.

I usually say this:
If I don’t call you back by such and such a time on such and such a day, it means that we have made a decision in favor of another candidate.

You can also ask the recruiter yourself when exactly to expect the result of the interview and in what form it will be.

Now, if I get a job, I will definitely work on possible cases. Ksenia, I am sure that our readers will be interested in learning how to behave during an interview and what might confuse an HR specialist in the behavior or appearance of a job applicant?

Sasha, it’s really worth understanding that the higher and more responsible the position a potential employee is applying for, the more demands are placed on him.

Let me voice a few general key points from my practice that all candidates, without exception, need to take into account when interviewing for a job.

Neatness and neatness. This applies not only to your appearance, but also to your condition as a whole. Never come to an interview intoxicated, after a “stormy holiday” or a sleepless night. In the eyes of a personnel selection specialist, you will immediately earn the status of a “reveler”, and with it the rest of the process of the relevance of the interview will be called into question.
Friendliness and good manners. Whatever position you apply for, good manners and appropriate behavior will definitely add points to you. Find out the name of your interlocutor and address him by name. Moreover, you should contact him exactly as he introduced himself. For example, if the recruiter said that his name is Ivan, then call him “You”. “Ivan, you said that...” If he said his name and patronymic, then this is exactly how you should address your interlocutor.
Knowledge of professional terminology. The recruiter will definitely like you if without abusing terms, use them 3-4 times during your interview, and also explain how you apply (have used) these terms in practice. For example, if you say that at your previous job you were able to increase sales by 30% in a month due to an increase in conversion, having analyzed the number of incoming requests and the size of the average check, then this will count as a plus to you.
General level of erudition. You can also mention a couple of times in the topic famous books that you have read or seminars in your specialty that you have attended during the year. Recruiters pay attention to a person’s thirst for knowledge and desire for self-education. This is especially important if you are applying for leadership or “intellectual” positions in the company.

In a word, you need to “sell” yourself and show yourself from the best side. Moreover, this must be done both from a professional point of view and from the point of view of general human values and rules. If you want to get a job, it is important to answer the HR specialist’s questions correctly and clearly.

4. Interview questions and answers

I've heard that there are a number of questions that almost all recruiters ask job seekers. Ksyusha, can you give some examples and good answers to them?

Yes, sure.

In addition to the cases that you will be given during the interview, to pass it successfully you will need to answer a number of “tricky” questions. They are also not chosen by your recruiter at random.

After all, the decision to hire you depends on how you answer them.

Interview questions and correct answers to them:

Tell us about yourself. It would seem like a simple task, but for many people it is at this moment that a stupor begins: “mooing” or “nagging.” Here you must present yourself from the best side within the vacancy for which you are applying. Briefly tell us about your education, work experience and achievements that distinguish you as a specialist. Speak clearly, without unnecessary water and philosophizing.
Why did you leave your previous job? Tell us here about your “to” motivation, that is, that you strive for development and new work opportunities that you currently see in this position. Don’t say “from” in terms of motivation, that is, “I ran away from bad conditions, low pay and a decaying team.” Do not under any circumstances scold your previous place of work or your former manager. After all, any person, including your interlocutor, will think that if you change jobs in the future, you will also speak negatively about his company.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years or your plans for the long term? The best answer here is that you connect your professional future with this company. This way you will form the impression of yourself as an interested employee who is ready to devote a large amount of time to this work. After all, staff turnover is not welcomed anywhere.
Do you have any weaknesses (disadvantages)? If so, name 3 of them. By asking such a question, the recruiter wants to understand the level of your maturity. A person who says that I don’t see any shortcomings in myself or thinks for a long time about how to answer this question will lose points in the eyes of a personnel specialist. Do not answer as follows: “My shortcomings: often I’m late, I have conflicts with colleagues (management), I’m lazy.” It’s best to say here that you are a “workaholic”, that is, you like to throw yourself into work, and this is not always correct, a “perfectionist” - you strive for perfection in everything and because of this, sometimes you lose speed. And your third shortcoming is the desire to establish good relationships with everyone. And sometimes you are too kind to your subordinates, because you don’t want to punish them for the poor quality of work done.
Name your strengths. Talk about your true strengths that are directly applicable to the job you are applying for and provide examples with facts and figures. For example: “I believe that one of my strengths is the ability to think in numbers. At my previous job, I analyzed the sales funnel, identified patterns and, based on this, developed a new sales model, which brought additional profit to the company 500,000 rubles or 15 % in the first month of implementing my marketing model.”
Did you make mistakes at your previous job? Which? Here, honestly tell us exactly what mistakes you had. But the most important thing is that they are not considered fatal and be sure to supplement the answer to this question with the fact that you corrected them yourself. For example, you issued a customer the wrong mobile phone and he returned to the store to exchange it. And you managed not only to avoid a conflict situation, but also to sell him additional accessories for the purchased mobile device.
What level of compensation (salary) are you expecting? Here you must objectively assess your competencies, say how much you want to receive and justify the benefit of the employing company if it makes its choice in favor of you as an employee. Also analyze the level of salaries offered by similar companies for similar vacancies.
How did you hear about our company? Typically, this question is asked by an employer representative to find out which candidate search channel is working. This question is not tricky; rather, it is simply informational and is aimed at optimizing the search for personnel for a given organization. Just answer as it is, for example, I found out about the vacancy on your company’s website.

In addition to answering common questions, I have compiled a table to show which key criteria are important for a candidate and how they are confirmed.

A visual table of the main criteria for assessing a candidate during an interview

The first column contains the evaluation criterion, and the second is indirect evidence that the candidate has this criterion.

№	Candidate quality	Proof
1	Honesty	The ability to speak honestly about your shortcomings with examples
2	Level of professional competencies	Examples of measurable achievements in previous work, awards and portfolio
3	Stress resistance and will	Showing calm when analyzing cases
4	Tact	Polite tone, soft gestures, open posture
5	Creativity	Quick and non-standard answers to tricky recruiter questions
6	General literacy level	Correct speech and use of terms

5. How to pass a job interview - 7 main rules

That is, as I understand it, an interview is a rather creative process and there are no clear standards in its conduct, or is everything individual?

Absolutely right, Sasha. Every HR professional approaches the interview process differently. There are recruiters who simply technically “run” the candidate through a list of questions, determining his professional qualifications. suitability.

I do it a little differently. That is, I approach the interview process individually for each applicant. I am trying not only to classify him according to the principle of “suitable/not suitable” as a specialist, but also to determine his psychological type, characteristics of motivation and internal potential.

This is great, it shows that you really love what you do. Ksenia, let’s now move on to the most important block of our interview and talk about what rules the candidate needs to follow throughout the interview from beginning to end in order to maximize the chances of getting the desired job?

If you have to undergo an interview, then adhere to the following rules and then your interview will certainly open the way to career and financial opportunities in your new job.

Rule 1. Find out everything about a potential employer

This is the first and very important stage of preparation.

Firstly, this information will help you know who you are going to work with for a long time (possibly several years). Open the Internet, print media and see what exactly distinguishes your potential employer from other companies. Perhaps this is the introduction of innovation, working conditions or methods of promotion (marketing).
Secondly, all the data and facts that you have learned about a potential employer will help you during the interview. During the interview, compliment the company and show off your knowledge of facts about it. All this will have a positive impact on the final decision on your candidacy.

What you need to know about the company you are applying for:

History of creation and management. When it appeared - year of foundation. Who is the leader now, and who was at the helm previously. What are the features of business management style and what is the life philosophy of senior management. Also find out what the company's corporate identity and logo symbolizes and what its corporate culture is. What values underlie the organization.
Main activities. What does this organization produce or sell, or perhaps it provides services. What makes them special? Why did she choose this particular market segment?
Features of doing business. Does the company have competitors and who are they? What scale of business does the organization operate in, in what territory (city, region, country or international company). How seasonality and other factors influence the success of a company. How many employees does it have and what is their organizational structure?
Achievements and important corporate events. Perhaps the organization recently won a competition or opened a new office. This information will also be useful for a comprehensive understanding of the current affairs of the company.
Facts and figures. What is the company’s market share in its segment and its financial indicators: revenue, growth rate, number of clients and open offices.

Having comprehensive information about all the features of the future employer, you will certainly receive advantages over other applicants.

Rule 2. Prepare a self-presentation and rehearse it

When you find yourself at an interview, in most cases you will be asked to talk about yourself. As I said earlier, it is this request that confuses many applicants.

So that this does not come as a surprise to you, you need to prepare in advance.

Self-presentation- this is a short and succinct story about yourself in the context of the vacancy for which you are applying.

I emphasize that specifically in the context of a specific vacancy. That is, the emphasis in telling about yourself should be on those qualities, experience and knowledge that will help you solve problems within the framework of your future work.

For example, if you are applying for the vacancy of a sales manager, then as part of your self-presentation, tell us about what recent sales courses you have taken and what experience you have in this field. Maybe you are so passionate about this topic that you have created your own website or “club of successful sellers” in your city.

If you have an education that will help you in such work, for example in the following specialties: marketing, advertising, PR, then focus on this. If you have a construction or medical education, then simply say that you have a secondary or higher education, without indicating its profile.

It would be advisable to name the direction of education if you will sell products in a similar industry within the profession of “sales manager”.

For example, if you are applying for a job in a trading company selling building materials, then a construction education will be an advantage in your situation.

You should not focus on your hobby in self-presentation, unless it has a positive impact on your work results.

How to properly prepare a self-presentation for an interview

Conditionally break your entire speech into several blocks.

For example, your self-presentation may consist of 4 main parts, interconnected in meaning:

Education and professional experience.
Your achievements with facts and figures.
The benefits of working with you for an employer.
Your professional plans for the future.

Once you've planned out your self-presentation, it's time to rehearse it.

First, talk through all the points that you plan to voice to the personnel specialist at the interview.

Then sit in front of the mirror and, looking at yourself, say everything you have prepared, based on your plan. Most likely the first time you will forget something or start stuttering. Then your task is to perfect your story and imagine that you are now at an upcoming meeting and are telling about your beloved self.

Fact
Many people have a psychological barrier when it comes to presenting themselves in the best possible light.

Rule 3. We comply with the appropriate “dress code”

As a rule, certain professions require a special style of clothing. So, if you are applying for an office vacancy, then your appearance at the interview should be appropriate.

For men A light-colored shirt and dark-colored trousers or jeans will do.
For girls this could be a blouse, a skirt of sufficient length and low-heeled shoes.

If your future work involves active interaction with people in person, then in this case the requirements for your clothing style will be particularly high.

The only exceptions to the rule are “creative” professions. For example, a designer or photographer can afford to come to an interview in an extravagant outfit. In this case, your clothing style will emphasize a non-standard approach to solving creative problems.

In all other cases, “classic” and business style are your win-win option!

Also, in addition to the basic clothing style, the presence of accessories is welcome.

Accessories may include:

wrist watch;
tie;
decoration;
stylish notepad;
pen;
bag (purse).

Rule 4: Take written notes during the meeting

An indicator of a candidate’s general level of preparation for a recruiter is whether the first candidate has a notepad and pen. If you take notes during the interview process, it will be very convenient for you in the first place. After all, in the end, based on your notes, you will be able to ask clarifying questions or ask for clarification of the details of employment and other conditions of future work.

By the end of the meeting, you will have everything at your fingertips. This is especially useful if you are undergoing several interviews at once with different companies, so that you can then compare working conditions in different organizations and make an informed decision.

It is also necessary to take notes if you are undergoing a multi-level interview. Recording the main points on paper will help you remember what was discussed at the meeting and better prepare for the next stages of the interview.

Rule 5. Make a list of questions for the recruiter

Typically, at the end of the meeting, your interviewer will ask if you have any questions for him. To do this, think in advance about what you would like to learn additionally.

You can prepare some questions for the recruiter at home in advance, and write down some directly at the meeting in the form of notes. To do this, you must have a notepad and pen with you.

Make sure in advance that your notebook is of proper aesthetic appearance. This means that if it is a “worn out” stack of yellowed sheets that you “wrapped fish” in, then this will mark you as a sloppy potential employee.

Everything should be harmonious - this is an important principle for a successful interview.

Rule 6. Behave confidently and naturally during an interview

Don’t try to “put on a mask”, not be yourself, or try to please your interlocutor too much. Unnatural behavior is easy for humans to read. Your facial expressions, gestures and style of conversation will involuntarily bring you to the surface.

It's better to go a different route to achieve a positive result. Follow the basic rules of good manners, be polite and tactful.

Don't interrupt the interviewer, talk calmly, but with some enthusiasm in your head.

You must intuitively understand where and what is appropriate to say. After all, an interview is a process of mutual decision-making about cooperation between two parties: you and the employer.

Rule 7. We ask when and in what form the results will be announced to you

I hope that using these simple rules, you will easily pass your job interview. At the end of the meeting, find out when and in what form to expect a response about the results of the interview.

Simply put, how do you know if you got hired or not?

Usually the recruiter himself will tell you at the end that the answer will be on such and such a day, for example before 18 pm.

I tell my applicants that if on such and such a day, for example September 26, I do not call you before 18:00, it means that you did not pass the interview.

Calling and personally telling everyone that their candidacy for a given position has been rejected is usually too troublesome.

The rule works here:
“We called - congratulations, you’ve been hired! If they didn’t call, your candidacy didn’t go through.”

6. 5 common mistakes during an interview

If you want to successfully pass a job interview and do it without “noise and dust,” then you should avoid the mistakes that I will discuss below.

This is exactly what most applicants do, and due to simple ignorance of basic things, they fail, losing the opportunity to make a long-awaited career.

Mistake 1. Fear of an interview or “schoolboy” syndrome

Once again, I repeat that an interview is a process of mutual choice and both parties are equal participants in this process.

Some job seekers come to a meeting and their hands shake, their palms sweat, their voice trembles. This is exactly the behavior that is typical for students and schoolchildren when taking an exam. They seem to be in the position of a rabbit being looked at by a boa constrictor.

There is no need to be afraid of an interview.

It is a big mistake to think that now an evil uncle or aunt will torment you. After all, as a rule, a personnel specialist who is entrusted with hiring a person is a friendly and attentive person, whose goal is to find that very “golden bar” in a pile of ore and clay.

If you shine like gold with your talents, competent speech and show real examples of achievements and your competencies at the interview, then have no doubt that you will be hired for this job!

Mistake 2. Going through an interview without preparation

In almost every previous block of our interview, I talked about the importance of preparation before the interview.

Don't neglect this rule.

Impromptu is good in many situations, but not during an interview. And as many people know, the best impromptu is a prepared impromptu.

Follow all the rules described above and the consequences of this error will not affect you.

Mistake 3. Excessive heart-to-heart talk with the recruiter

Sometimes applicants get so carried away during the interview process that they move away from the main topic and begin to “pour out their souls” to the personnel specialist.

This mistake is often found among inexperienced applicants or candidates for lower technical positions, such as loader, storekeeper, worker, and so on.

As a rule, this mistake does not occur among more prepared applicants applying for more responsible positions in the company.

But still remember that you should not go off topic if you want to get a job in a good organization and enjoy the respect you deserve there.

Mistake 4. Poor health and stress as a factor of failure

Anything can happen in life, and if you have an interview scheduled for 10 am tomorrow, and you feel bad or something serious happened to you that completely unsettled you, try to reschedule the meeting. In this case, notify the employer's representative by telephone in advance.

After all, anything can happen: a child gets sick and needs to go to the hospital, a relative gets into an accident, or you are simply poisoned by stale food.

Don't go to an interview feeling depressed, in a bad mood, or feeling unwell.

Mistake 5. Tactlessness, defiant behavior

Some job seekers are “tough as tanks” and turn the interview into a show, demonstrating not their best qualities. Those who like to argue with their interlocutor will definitely not get the job they want.

If a person behaves tactlessly and disrespectfully towards a partner, then this immediately characterizes him as a brawler and a potentially unsuitable employee.

As Leopold the cat said in the famous cartoon: “Guys, let’s live together!”

So, you need to make friends with your interlocutor.

After the meeting, the representative of your employer should have an impression of you both as a good specialist in your field, and as a pleasant and cultured person.

Don't make these 5 common mistakes and you'll be guaranteed success!

7. Visual examples of how to successfully pass an interview from the “Success” TV channel in the “Personnel Decide” program

Here I want to give you some real examples of interviews with expert comments.

Be sure to watch them, because from the outside it is much easier to analyze the strengths of some applicants and the mistakes they make.

1) Interview for the position of sales manager for corporate tours:

2) Interview for the position of assistant manager:

3) Interview for the position of TOP manager:

You can find other episodes of this program on YouTube. It is possible that among them there will be a case study of the vacancy for which you are applying.

8. Conclusion

Ksenia, thank you very much for such detailed answers. I hope that now it will be much easier for our readers to pass a job interview.

Prepare for the interview in advance;
At the meeting, behave naturally and do not worry;
Follow the dress code rules;
Be optimistic and friendly with your interlocutor.

Alexander, thank you for inviting me. I hope we will continue to cooperate.

I wish you all good luck and career growth!

First, let's try to figure out how to speak correctly during an interview when applying for a job, and what should not be said at an interview, as well as how to behave in general.

The best option is to be polite to all employees of the organization you meet, be it an HR employee or the boss himself.

On your first visit, you will almost certainly have to fill out some forms or, it is better to do this willingly, without being indignant at the number of questions.

Look into the eyes of your interlocutor, don’t let your gaze wander.

You shouldn’t be overly nervous or allow yourself to be too cheerful.

When you first meet, you need to pay special attention to your personality. For example, choose a formal business suit that will instantly make you look significant.

Take care of cleanliness, your hairstyle and accessories. Under no circumstances should you appear in dirty, wrinkled clothes, open-style items, or too flashy accessories.

So, the preparation has been completed, and what should you say at the interview in order to get hired?

How to communicate with an employer correctly?

The employer will first of all pay attention to the following qualities of you::

appearance;
sociability;
intelligence;
competence in issues that need to be resolved in the workplace;
non-conflict, accommodating;
presence of work experience;
desire to work and achieve career growth;
energy.

When meeting an employer for the first time, it is important. And clearly understand how to communicate in .

The following points are of great importance:

The boss asks questions. You shouldn’t bombard him with endless “whys” and “whys”; it’s best to listen carefully to the information he tells you. How to talk at a job interview?

Try to answer all the questions posed as completely and clearly as possible. Answers must be detailed and contain only the necessary words.

Dont lie. You should not come up with false reasons for leaving your previous job or embellish your merits and abilities. Remember that all this is easily verifiable, and if you do not want to end up in a stupid position, always tell the truth.

Prepare your resume in advance and print it out when going to the interview.

Use terms from the field of the position you want to get. For example: “I believe that sales at your car dealership could be increased by 10% by implementing a new sales model.”

If an employer asks you about your shortcomings, there is no need to “denigrate” yourself in advance by stating that you like to surf the Internet, sleep long hours, and are often late. What is better to say at an interview in this case? It is acceptable to put it this way: “I am very strict with myself,” “very prone to cleanliness.” This will actually show you from the best side, presenting you as a neat, clean and responsible person. We talked in more detail about which qualities you should talk about at an interview, and which ones are better to remain silent about.

Many people ask: “What should I say at an interview if I haven’t worked for a long time?” In this case, it is worth justifying the reasons without going into personal details.

You will find more information on how to behave during an interview in order to leave a good opinion of yourself and get a job.

How to communicate with an applicant correctly?

How to answer questions correctly?

What to say at a job interview? The most important rule is to listen carefully, without turning your head or being distracted by foreign objects or other people.

You should not answer in monosyllables; it is better to give a detailed answer in 3-4 sentences, and to the point.

If you are talking about your life, then you should not remember all its events, starting from kindergarten; it is better to limit yourself to education, marital status, and business trips. It is better to write down possible questions in advance and rehearse the answer in front of a mirror at home. You can also prepare information about yourself and your past employment.

During the interview, the applicant can also ask his own questions. The most important thing is that they are clear and have an idea of the scope of future work. Don't immediately jump into questions about salary.

Very often during an interview they ask questions like this: why do you want to work for us? How to answer them correctly and what to say at an interview to get hired, read on our website. And you will find out what tricky questions may be asked and what answers should be given to them.

How should you not answer?

When answering an employer's questions, you should avoid the following possible mistakes:

be silent for a long time, thinking about the answer;
answer in monosyllables;
speak too softly, too loudly or unintelligibly;
show your nervousness by spinning in your chair or turning around;
speak out of place, stammer.

Now you know what to say during a job interview, let’s look at what you shouldn’t say.

What should you not say in an interview?

In some cases, it happens that the interlocutor made an excellent impression with his track record and skills, but during the interview he suddenly says something that immediately cancels out his opportunity to work in this company. Is there anything you shouldn't say during an interview? Yes, definitely.

It is necessary to avoid such “blunders”:

Talking badly about your boss at your previous job. For example: “this Ivan Ivanovich constantly irritated us all.”

More than once.

Talk about what you want. For the employer this is not important, all that matters is what the company needs.

Ask about sick leave. This topic is best avoided, since there are no employers who would be satisfied with the constant illness of their subordinates.

Don't talk about personal things. For example: “It’s so hard for me now, I divorced my husband and moved to the other side of the city, so I’m looking for a new job.”

You can't use slang. Talking too much is also inappropriate, since employers value, first of all, clarity and specificity. First, think carefully about what to say at the interview.

Another point from the section is what you shouldn’t say during a job interview: you don’t need to show that you are smarter than everyone else, don’t overwhelm your interlocutor with scientific terms and concepts.

In any case, for such an important event as an interview, you need to take into account all the nuances in advance. Even if you don't pass it, don't be too upset - it's an invaluable experience that you can learn from for the future. Well, now you know well what to talk about at a job interview.

Watch the video: how to prepare and what to say during a job interview.

Almost every adult (and not so adult) faces the need to look for a job. In theory, everything is quite simple: create a resume that reflects all your best qualities, send it to recruitment agencies or directly to companies, charm the interviewer during the interview and get to work. However, in practice it turns out that at each stage there are pitfalls that can prevent us from getting the job of our dreams.

Typically, the first meeting with a potential employer occurs at an interview. Here are some tips on how to pass it with maximum benefit for your future career.

You need to prepare for the interview. Stock up on stories from your own life that reflect your best qualities. “Best” in the context of an interview means “suitable for the position.” That is, if you are interviewing for the position of sales manager, you should not describe your modesty. Here examples of your ability to persuade and find a common language with a variety of people are more suitable. These are examples, since it is believed that a person’s past behavior can best predict his future successes.
Speak to the point. You shouldn’t get carried away with stories from your own life; let them only serve as illustrations of your professionalism. When constructing your answer, you must always remember the question itself and strictly adhere to its framework, without resorting to lyrical digressions.
When going for an interview, try to find as much information about the company as possible. Prepare a list of questions that interest you. Remember that the interview isn't just about you; you can learn enough from it to decide whether the job is right for you. And for this you need to know what to pay attention to.
It's best to be yourself in an interview.. Showcase your qualities that suit the position you are applying for. If it requires criticality and independent thinking, you should not adapt everything to the interviewer. On the contrary, he will expect you to actively express and defend your opinion, and perhaps even provoke you to do so.
Be prepared for “uncomfortable” questions about your biography. Before the interview, review your resume and make sure you can clearly explain why you left your previous job and why you sat at home for two months three years ago. Questions may concern your family, friends, and former colleagues.
Maintain your dignity. If it seems to you that the interviewer has gone too far in his questions, that the questions asked are no longer directly related to your future work, there is nothing wrong with asking why he is asking them. You shouldn’t get into a pose, but if you politely ask your interlocutor to explain why the question that confused you was asked, nothing bad will happen. In the end, the matter concerns you directly, and you have the right to protect your interests.
Show that you are ready to develop. When asked about your negative qualities (read: unsuitable for the position), it is important to show that you are actually familiar with them and either compensate for them with strengths or work on yourself to improve them. Naturally, if the job requires, first of all, say, speed of thinking, and it is difficult for you to think quickly under stress, you are familiar with your shortcomings and talk about it at the interview, the question arises, why do you need this job. But, as a rule, this does not happen. Nobody is perfect, but a reasonable person tries to choose a job that suits him. For example, it is not at all surprising to hear “shyness” from a person working with a computer or other inanimate objects.
The same applies to the question of your professional failures. Your interlocutor most likely understands very well that no career would be complete without them, which is why this topic often comes up in interviews. Be prepared to talk about them and show that you understand your mistakes and know how to act so that the situation does not repeat itself. There is no need to make excuses or shift responsibility to colleagues or circumstances. The ability to calmly admit your mistakes and draw conclusions from them is valued by employers.
There is no need to lie during an interview. A lie is immediately noticeable, and your interlocutor may decide that he is either a pathological liar or a fool. In both cases, your lie will indicate that you do not know how to admit your mistakes and adapt to the situation. These are not the best qualities for a good employee.
Don't overestimate the importance of an interview. Professional experience, requirements or working conditions, as well as supply and demand for specific specialists play a very important role.

Text: Ekaterina Orel, Lika Borovaya

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