Winning The Body Language Game

Everybody uses body language during the interview, but very few are prepared to be a winner in the body language game. Body language is merely the smaller, less prominent nonverbal cues that we give others while communicating. Following are some typical interpretations of body language cues:

* Openness and Warmth: open-lipped smiling, open hands with palms visible, unbuttoning coat upon being seated.

* Confidence: leaning forward in chair, chin up, putting tips of fingers of one hand against the tips of fingers of other hand in "praying" or "steepling" position, hands joined behind back when standing.

* Nervousness: smoking, whistling, pinching skin, fidgeting, jiggling pocket contents, running tongue along front of teeth, clearing throat, running fingers through hair, wringing hands, biting on pens or other objects, twiddling thumbs, biting fingernails (action itself or evidence of), tongue clicking.


* Untrustworthy/Defensive: frowning, squinting eyes, tight-lipped grin, arms crossed in front of chest, pulling away, chin down, touching nose or face, darting eyes, looking down when speaking, clenched hands, gestures with fist, pointing with fingers, chopping one hand into the open palm of the other, rubbing back of neck, clasping hands behind head while leaning back in the chair.

As you can see, there are far more negatives than positives--possibly more than we are consciously aware of. This list is given not so that you can artificially adopt the positive body language techniques, but more to help you recognize and avoid the negatives. If you have a habit of doing any of the above negatives, remove that action from your pattern of behaviour before it sends the wrong signal. Concentrate on removing it now so you will not have to think about it during the interview.

And keep in mind the opposite side of the desk. As you talk with an interviewer, be aware of (although not preoccupied with) their body language and nonverbal cues. Do not try to read in more than is actually being communicated, but try to develop a sense of the interviewer's reception of you. The most obvious example is the smile connection—when your smile brings about a smile from the interviewer. Do your best to stay connected with your interviewer--both verbally and nonverbally.

Apart from job specific, technical, and experience questions, the following is a selection of 99 of the most popular questions asked by interviewers.

To improve your responses try studying each question and writing out your answers rather than just thinking them through.

1. Tell me about yourself?

2. Why should we give you the job?

3. What is your major achievement?

4. What are you good at?

5. What sort of person are you?

6. What are your strengths?

7. What are your weaknesses?

8. What do you know about our organisation?

9. How would you approach this job?

10. How do you get things done?

11. How do you manage your staff?

12. What do you look for in a manager?

13. What do you look for in a subordinate?

14. How do you decide on your objectives?

15. How do you manage your day?

16. What interests you most in your work?

17. What have you read recently that has taken your interest?

18. What sort of things do you like to delegate?

19. What do you do in your spare time?

20. In what environment do you work best?

21. How did you change the job?

22. What motivates you?

23. If you could change your current/last job in any way how would you do it?

24. If you could change your organisation job in any way how would you do it?

25. How have you changed over the last five years?

26. Where do you see yourself going in the next 5 years?

27. Describe a time when you felt you were doing well?

28. Describe a time when you felt things were not going too well?

29. How do you work in a team?

30. What contribution do you make to a team?

31. What would your colleagues say about you?

32. How would your boss describe your work?

33. Describe your ideal working environment?

34. When were you most happy at work?......WHY?

35. Describe a difficult situation and what you did about it?

36. Who are you working best with just now? ..... WHY?

37. Who are you finding it difficult to work with right now?.... WHY?

38. Describe how you typically approach a project?

39. Given a choice in your work what do you like to do first?

40. On holiday what do you miss most about your work?

41. Given a choice, what would you leave till last in your work?

42. What do you think you can bring to this position?

43. What do you think you can bring to this company?

44. How do you see this job developing?

45. You do not seem to have much experience of.................?

46. You seem over/under qualified for this job?

47. We prefer older/younger candidates!

48. Why did you leave XYZ co?

49. Why are you dissatisfied with your present job?

50. Why are you considering a move from your present company?

51. Why have you stayed so long with one company?

52. You seem to move from company to company very often?

53. Why were you out of work for so long?

54. Why were you made redundant?

55. If we asked for a reference what would it say about you?

56. What sort of salary are you expecting?

57. What do you think is your market value?

58. On a scale of 1-10 how important is your work to you?

59. How did you get your last job?

60. Why were you transferred/promoted?

61. Do you like to work in a team or on your own?

62. What do you like best about your current/last job?

63. What do/did you like best about your current/last employer?

64. What did you learn in that job?

65. What did you learn from the XYZ Co approach?

66. How did that job influence your career?

67. If you did not have to work what would you do?

68. Given the achievements in your CV why is your salary so low?

69. What will you do if you do not get this job?

70. What other jobs have you applied for recently?

71. How could your boss improve his/her management of you?

72. What decisions do you find easy to make?

73. What decisions do you find difficult to make?

74. How does this job fit into your career plan?

75. How long would you plan to stay with this company?

76. How do you motivate others?

77. When do you plan to retire?

78. What will you do in retirement?

79. What training courses have you been on?

80. What training have you had for this job?

81. On what do you spend your disposable income?

82. On taking this job, what would be your major contribution?

83. How do you get the best out of people?

84. Which of your jobs have given you the greatest satisfaction?

85. How do you respond to stress? Give an example?

86. This job has a large component of ..………..... How will you cope with that?

87. What support/training will you need to do this job?

88. What will you look forward to most in this job?

89. What sort of person are you socially?

90. In your view, what are the major problems/opportunities facing this co?

91. How did you get into this line of work?

92. What other irons do you have in the fire for your next job?

93. What will be your key target in this job if we appoint you?

94. What aspects of this job would you delegate?

95. What makes you think you can be successful with us?

96. What are the major influences that encourage you to take a job?

97. How does the job sound to you?

98. What questions do you have for us?

99. Have you been coached in interview skills??

How to Sell Yourself in a Competitive Market!

Many thanks were extended to individuals from the following whose feedback was utilised to compile this document:

* Members of the Aberdeen Branch of the CIPD HR Practitioners’ Group
* Human Resources personnel registered for employment opportunities via Raeburn Recruitment
* Human Resources clients of Raeburn Recruitment
* Recruitment Consultants employed by and working in Raeburn Recruitment's premises


STARTING OUT ON THE JOURNEY …

 Decide what you are looking for in a job and stick to it - don't just apply for anything and everything.

Identify your personal motivations. This should help in your quest to Get that interview - Play up your strengths, minimise your weaknesses and write a CV that works. Try out:

A free psychometric test: Click Psychometric Test
A free Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential: Click Motivational Appraisal

Be honest about the type of work that will be of interest to you

Take the time to have a realistic soul search about what you are looking for from their next job. Start with basic question of whether you want to have an outdoors or office based role and then have two or three job areas to pursue.

Look into what you want a career in (ie source some information from the internet go to college and get advice on courses that can benefit you in your chosen career path). This always seems to impress employers as they can see you have a genuine interest. (eg somebody interested in entering HR has self-funded a short course on Employment Law, Interviewing Skills, or whatever). Try out:

Information on a complete career change:
Click Career Change

For careers advice:
Click Careers Advice

Careers Scotland:
Click Careers Scotland
01224 285200 – full time careers adviser on duty at Careers Scotland Centre in Union Street

Competing in a global market requires flexibility, cultural awareness and the ability to meet ever- changing deadlines.

“As a recruiter it is very difficult to help someone who will consider doing "anything" and hasn't attempted to make some goals & objectives. It is far easier for an agency to present a candidate who has thought this through and is likely to convince potential employers that this is the job and the way forward for them - especially when a career change is involved.”

Prepare a good CV – Your CV is your main marketing tool. It's well worth the cost and effort to get a CV prepared professionally if you feel unable to tackle this yourself. (See next section)

Use the speculative approach and draft a CV and covering letter - as specific as possible and (potential) job spot 'recruiting' employers in - eg Fridays P & J, regular review of agency websites, etc.

Be selective in the positions you apply for - think about what you really want

For assistance on networking, interviewing and negotiating, check out:
http://www.rileyguide.com/netintv.html


CURRICULUM VITAE / COVERING LETTER

Tailor each CV to the job - and keep it truthful – link this back to understanding what the organisation want and identifying how your experience / knowledge matches their requirements.

On your CV say something positive about you, your attitude and what you can offer.

Make your CV readable - bullet points are easier on the eye than a paragraph.

Ensure that your CV is well presented, concise and illustrates your achievements

It is not imperative to have every qualification/grade you have on your CV - just list the school, subjects, and level eg standard/higher. Include fuller details on the highest qualification.

Always highlight your unique selling points (USP's).

The covering letter/e-mail is also important which should accompany your CV. This should ideally give a summary of your USP's / skills / experience to date. Remember you want to make the best first impression and grab the reader's attention.

Keep a copy of every job that you apply for and attach your application to it (useful if called for interview so you can expand on the required key skills)


NETWORKING

Research indicates that around 70% of jobs are secured through networking!

Two golden rules of networking:

1. Never ask for a job – ask for suggestions (of people to speak to)
2. Don’t ask for favours - ask for advice (this approach avoids making demands of a contact and encourages them to offer assistance as they see fit.

You have to be proactive in a competitive market. Don't rely on anyone who gives faint or often false promises.

In the early stages of job hunting, spread your net wide. Don’t imagine that by signing up with one agency you will magically have a job by the end of the week. Get the P&J, free papers, sign on with 2 or 3 good agencies, use any useful contacts you have.

Target companies who already - or have the potential to - use your skills. Surprisingly it is often such companies who have the best opportunities.

 Preparation for the job market might include voluntary work in the sector that you would really like to work in. Very good for demonstrating commitment, and relevant skills/knowledge.

Look through various magazines, etc. for addresses and write off, the number of letters, emails may reach as much as 200 +. My philosophy is the greater you distribute your CV the greater chance you have in getting a job to suit you … after all you only need one job.

If registering with Agencies, keep a note of your Consultant and keep in regular contact with them

Another piece of advice would be to only register with employment agencies who can show they value the candidates as much as their company clients! Very few employment agencies seem to realise the importance of good customer service to candidates.

Remember the agency is your first interview - dress to impress!

Spend time on your appearance so that you feel confident.

Make all your contacts aware that you are in the market for work - you never know who might be able to assist with your quest

Use all the contacts that you have. I got my current job because I sat next to Chris on the bus!


INTERVIEWS

Planning beforehand ….

"Another way of looking at the job market, is to think of the employer as someone who has a problem. You have to present yourself as the solution!"

Plan your interview – research and be sure what you want out of interview.

Find out as much as you can about the individual(s) who will be carrying out the interview and the format to be followed

Research the company (What do they do? Who are their customers? Are they a ‘quality’ organisation? What is their staff turnover like?), the job description, the person spec, and be clear about why you want to work there, how your skills / competencies match up and why you would be an asset etc

Do a bit of research to find out what the recruiting company's 'core values' are. This will help you to decide whether or not you want to work for them! It will also provides you with opportunity to demonstrate your possession of these core values, which demonstrates your eligibility to the prospective employer

Really understand what a prospective employer wants (highlight sentences in the advert / job description)

Identify how your experience/ knowledge matches

If you have almost all the skills / attributes and a willingness to learn and enthusiasm for the organisation / its aims and objectives you are more likely to succeed.

Be prepared for assessment centres and it is their right to enquire as to what a 'selection day' may include.


INTERVIEWS

On the day ….

Arrive for interview on time. Be early but not too early.

Show an interest in the organisation and to everyone you meet on the interview day.

Keep calm and reassure yourself that your 1 hour interview could mean a move in the right direction of career.

Make an effort - dress smartly or wear a suit to an interview. Consider what is appropriate to the setting, what is comfortable for you, and what will make you agitated / uncomfortable. Be smart from head to toe, make sure your shoes are clean and you have fresh breath!

“Always look smart and enthusiastic when you meet the interviewer – nice, open smile and deep breaths always worked for me. Look confident.”

At your first interview, always do your homework so to speak on the company you are being interviewed by, so they know you have some knowledge of the company before you start. It always seems to impress!

Be positive and keen - Something which has always worked for me is, "Believe in yourself. If you believe you can do it, you really can - no matter how unchartered the territory!!!" And that confidence shines through.

"Be prepared and be positive" - Planning is of the essence! Show that you have carried out some background research but don’t just say you have reviewed the website – find opportunities to demonstrate this. For an ‘edge’ try to do a bit more but if you can only find info on the web, make sure you read it, understand it, and can ask some questions about it!

Be flexible - you can always negotiate fine details once the job is offered but in interview you must appear keen and willing to accept new ideas.

Take CV and Qualification with you to interview in a smart folder.

Sit upright, smile and nod – body language is as important as what you say.

Show enthusiasm for the particular job being applied for.

Don't fidget and don't speak too quickly (ie appear calm) … oh, and smile!

Make notes if you feel this would help you, and explain what you have done when using them.

Be yourself

Use eye contact all the time and don't start looking at the floor

“Think my advice would be to be 'prepared to admit your weaknesses and discuss you how intend to turn them into strengths'. This has worked for me in the past but we'll see next week whether this has worked with last week’s interview or not!”

Know your own strengths and promote these without sounding 'over-confident'. There's nothing more irritating than someone blowing their own trumpet. There's selling and there's over-selling! However, if you don't promote yourself than no-one else will. Your prospective employer will undoubtedly be looking for someone who is confident and assertive, but this also means knowing your own limits and bearing in mind what is acceptable and what is 'overkill'.

 “I discovered that a very important skill in an interview is humour!!!!”

Consider being prepared to move (work at a different location) if necessary.

“Think broadly on personal qualities. Often candidates talk about their qualifications and work experience without touching on outside activities that may demonstrate diverse social and organising skills (e.g. Scouts or Guides). In summary, try to sell the complete “You”.”

It is imperative that applicants can communicate effectively and meet our Core Values of integrity, teamwork, performance and learning.

Use positive, active language. Be polite. By all means develop relationships & establish rapport whilst networking & whilst attending job interviews. However, be careful that conversation does not descend into impolite arrogance. Use of swearing (even including 'git') whilst maintaining an informal approach, also is deemed rude and can be offensive. You will be remembered for impoliteness.

To ensure you are a step ahead of your peers, be able to demonstrate a continuous improvement initiative which you have implemented which has had a successful outcome. (I have interviewed school pupils at mock interviews who can demonstrate this capability even though they have only worked in a Saturday job. It's all about proving you have more to offer.)

Also – share some of your own interests

Always look the interviewer in the eye when being interviewed and definitely be interested in what they are saying! Don't fidget!

Maintain eye contact, if there is more than one person make sure you look everyone in the eye not just the interviewer.

Try and build a rapport with your interviewer on the way to the room, have a laugh about the weather or your journey to the offices.

“As with any sale, it is important to consider the benefits to the company if they were to employ you. It may be that you are an excellent communicator and quickly learn new tasks. It may be that you have excellent IT skills and have experience of many software packages. It is also important to give the impression that you are passionate and energetic regarding gaining employment with the employer concerned. Maybe if I followed my own advice more I'd have a little less time to sit around drinking coffee!!”

“I think it is important to remember that you are interviewing them as a potential employer as well as them interviewing you for the position.”

Check out their website – big brownie points and you might be asked what you know about them. You can get 1-2 hrs free time at various libraries.

Remember that they are only looking for a foothold and cannot expect to be Chief Executive. You may have to anticipate and show willing to do fairly menial tasks and possibly not in your desired area. For example, doing general admin prior to full-blown HR tasks!!!!

If you get the chance, ask to see where you will be working if you get the job

“My mum always says to me that I should just be myself in interviews. This is the best advice I have ever received in selling myself.  Nine times out of ten I have been successful in getting the job and it gives you a chance to sum up whether you want to work for the company too.”

Be positive and willing - everything is a learning curb; if you feel negative or doubt yourself this will show in the interview. Have a “nothing is too much” attitude.

Know your own strengths and promote these without sounding 'over-confident'. There's nothing more irritating than someone blowing his or her own trumpet. There's selling and there's over-selling! However, if you don't promote yourself than no-one else will. Your prospective employer will undoubtedly be looking for someone who is confident and assertive, but this also means knowing your own limits and bearing in mind what is acceptable and what is 'overkill'.

Use active listening style. Show that you are interested and paying attention while others speaking - you might learn a lot about the business! This includes being observant while waiting in a foyer area before an interview.

“One thing I always suggest is ask yourself: "Why should an employer take you?" “What have you got to offer?” “Can you sell yourself?” “What are you good at?” For youngsters, even if they pointed out that they did a paper round at least this shows they could get up out of bed in the morning!!”

Attitude! Attitude! Attitude!


INTERVIEWS

Your questions ….

“The best advice to any individual would be to ensure that, at the end of an interview, when asked if they have any questions, ensure a few questions - relative to themselves and related to the position - have been prepared. Obviously, a bit of homework on the position would be required. This shows an interest in the position as leaving no questions at the end of an interview can leave things a bit flat”

Always prepare some questions to ask - go in with a list of what you want to know. The fact that you have put some thought into your preparation will impress!

Don't be afraid to ask questions, before and during the interview – you may even want to contact the organisation afterwards to thank them and, if appropriate, ask a final question!

If you are not sure of anything, always ask.

Prepare questions for interviewer based on the job specification and job description, general terms and conditions of employment, facilities on site, career progression prospects, do they have an appraisal process, etc.

Ask them if they have any reservations about you being able to do the job. If they do, answer by over-coming those reservations for them.


INTERVIEWS

Their questions ….

Understanding what the organisation wants and identifying how your experience / knowledge matches their requirements and also assists in preparation for the interview. Interviewers are looking for examples, and speaking about your real experiences helps you be more natural and confident in interviews.

Prepare answers to difficult questions such as: “What do you have to offer this company?” “What is your main strength?” “What is your main weakness?” (always try to turn this into a positive).

Be prepared for situational questions – “What would you do if ..... ?”

Look enthusiastic and listen carefully to the questions you are asked otherwise you may answer something completely different! If unsure, ask for clarification.

After listening carefully, take time to think of an appropriate answer to questions.

Use positive sentences such as “Yes, I’ve done that before” (followed up my situational example, if possible) or “I’ve never done that but I’d love to learn how to”, “I’m a quick learner”, “That sounds perfect”.

Tell them you can start to suit them or you’re available immediately – assuming you are!


INTERVIEWS

Closing ….

On finishing the interview, always handshake strongly and say thank you for their time.

Have a good firm handshake. It's a bit of an old cliché, but it still works. It shows your employer that you mean business and are confident, etc. A droopy handshake can put a lot of employers off, as it can come across as having no energy/interest or wherewithal.

Come out of the interview knowing exactly what job you will be doing and what it entails. I always find it useful to repeat the basic functions of a job back to them, it also proves you have listened to them and fully understand what they expect of you.

If you don't get a really positive feeling from meeting someone at the interview, chances are that is not going to change when you start working for a company.

For further tips, try:

CVs - Click CVs
Interviews - Click Interviews
Frequent Questions: Click Frequent Questions
Career Changes: Click Career Changes
Job Tips: Job Tips
Interview Hints: Click Interview Hints


DEALING WITH ‘FEELINGS’

Don’t give up or take rejection personally. Remember, there may be dozens of individuals applying for a job you apply for through a newspaper advertisement so the chance of being selected for interview by this method may be slim indeed.

Stay positive during knock backs - let them make you more determined.

Try not to get too disheartened if it takes some time to get a response

Be enthusiastic

Remember … looking for work in itself can (or should be) a full-time job!

Never give up! Finding a new job (and the perfect job) can be hard work and can be a long, hard slog. Keep your spirits high (but realistic), and keep yourself at the forefront. Constantly seek out new opportunities, because they will not generally come along of their own accord to find you! Network - get yourself out and about, getting to know as many people as possible within your chosen industry. Develop relationships as these can often lead to great opportunities.