Learn to "Control" the interview

Even under the best circumstances, the interview situation can be unnerving, since you have to "sell" yourself. Some people never learn the art of interviewing; hopefully, most of you should be able to learn how to control the situation.

After your initial interviews, you should be able to communicate clearly and convey positive impressions to each recruiter. You will not only be answering their questions, but you will actually feel comfortable talking with them. (It may seem highly unlikely now, but yes, you can learn to maintain composure during the interview.) Interview styles will vary from person to person, but professional recruiters usually know how to conduct an interview. Given the limited time frame, they ask the right questions and attempt to put you at ease in order to learn as much as possible about you.

But what happens if the recruiter appears inexperienced in conducting an interview? You must then take control of the interview so that you can communicate your most important points. A less than ideal interviewer is one who:

• Asks only yes/no type questions.
• Discusses his/her career rather than yours.
• Seems only interested in facts found on your resume.

If the interviewer seems to be asking closed, yes/no type questions, it will be your responsibility to find ways to elaborate on your answer. For example, if the recruiter asks whether you work well under pressure, don't just answer, "yes;" provide examples of ways you have responded to extremely stressful situations. Remember, you are a marketable commodity; the more a recruiter can learn about you, the better your chances of making a favorable impression.

Hopefully, most recruiters, whether skillful or not, will finish the interview by asking you if you have further questions or comments to make. If you've been generally dissatisfied with the questions throughout the interview, take this opportunity to point out specific qualifications and strengths you didn't get a chance to discuss earlier. Some of the recruiters you will meet will be new to their jobs. Take this into consideration and learn ways to turn a potentially bad interview into a highly successful one.

Remember that one of your main objectives in interviewing is to present yourself in such a way that the recruiter wants to invite you back for a second interview for a more in-depth discussion. If the interview isn't progressing in a manner beneficial to you, take charge and change the style of the interview; stress your strengths in order to maximize your chances of being a winning candidate. You have only yourself to blame for an inadequate interview. By developing certain interviewing strategies, all your interviews should be winners.

If you find this interesting write me back @ vijesh@muthunagar.com