Hopefully helpful hints: The Job Interview

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Interviews tend to sound daunting especially when the experience is new or limited.  At some point, you may be moved to consider interviews as a useful barometer of your personal value. Fortunately, it does not require previous experience to cultivate this mindset.  Embracing this perspective should also help in calming the nerves.

Here are a few other hopefully helpful hints when facing a job interview.

Seek & Learn.  As standard procedure, companies you intend to join will conduct a background investigation should you pass initial assessments.  Why shouldn’t you do the same? Researching about the company will give you an idea of their culture, a grasp of their goals, essentially providing you with information that can help shape how you respond.

Anticipate & Rehearse. With experience, you will soon notice that most interviewers will dish out template questions.  While these questions may be antiquated and ultimately dubious in terms of relevance, this could work to your advantage.  Anticipate the standard questions about your present self and about your future one.  Anticipate questions related to the position and what you can bring to the table.  Rehearse your answers.  Then, find a thread that will lead the conversation to subjects you feel passionately about.  It’s a competitive world out there and sometimes giving the right answers may be insufficient.  You need to make an impression.

Tune Out & Tune In.  Studies show that listening to fast-paced music or watching sports highlights can lead to bursts of inspiration and productivity. On the date of your interview, with adequate preparation beforehand, you might want to tune out while waiting for your turn.  It will help you relax.  Block out visual and aural noise and visualize your interview as a performance.  Find your own performance theme song.  Ideally, find music that will keep your mind alert and boost your confidence at the same time.

Project a Positive and Engaging Personality. Take for example the upcoming INQ.net Virtual Job Fair in partnership with TeleTech, one of the largest BPO’s in the Philippines.  The Job Fair will allow applicants to be interviewed over the phone, as opposed to in person.   This new approach will provide applicants an opportunity to test their ability in projecting themselves positively to a virtual Recruiter, who will be gauging the applicants’ ability to converse and build rapport with customers. As part of the Pre-screening Process, the candidate would need to be able to talk professionally and positively with the Recruiter.

Utilizing positive vocabulary is an important first step.  Instead of using words like “problem” while detailing previous experiences, utilize a positive word like “challenge”.

Know your subject matter well. Selling yourself and your expertise by sharing personal experiences in a manner that is well organized, well thought-out, and descriptive in nature, engages the Interviewer into the conversation, as opposed to just a question and answer routine.

Lastly, take advantage of every interview opportunity and do not forget to enjoy the experience.

From September 23 to 27, TeleTech partners with INQUIRER.net to bring the first Virtual Job Fair hosted in this website, as a means to make world-class opportunities more accessible to everyone from the comforts of their home.

Candidates are invited to apply for the many job opportunities open to service-oriented professionals who have a desire to penetrate this fast growing industry; work for multinational companies without being separated from their families while working overseas; and have a yearning for income potentials beyond the usual jobs available locally.

For more details about job opportunities at TeleTech, visit their website at www.TeleTechjobs.com or join the Virtual Job Fair.