Job hunters may face new sort of interview
The average worker over 35 will job hunt every five to eight years Though most would agree that interviewing well is critical to securing a good job, a surprising number of job hunters are poorly prepared for the interviewing process with predictable results.
These general claims are no longer good enough to land a good job.
Job seekers today need to provide proof of their ability to do the job successfully.
Prospective employers know there is no greater predictor of potential future performance than past performance; they want solid examples beyond your resume of your past performance.
Eighty percent of companies today are using “behavioral” interviewing, which may be new to anyone who hasn’t been on a job interview recently.
Using this technique, interviewers ask potential employees open-ended questions designed to elicit specific examples of how you performed in the past.
Typically, employers identify a laundry list of specific qualities, skills and competencies that applicants must have to succeed in the open position. Examples might include displaying good judgment under stress, being a team player, demonstrating initiative and creativity or being able to resolve interpersonal conflict effectively.
The interviewer then asks questions to determine if the candidate can prove their proficiency with past work examples of the desired skills and qualities.
The “deer in the headlights” look to just about any question posed during a job interview typically won’t land you a good job. Preparation is key. Give some thought to how you will answer these kinds of questions in advance. Better yet, invest in yourself with a career coach to help you prepare.
Results and your ability to communicate your past achievements will positively impress prospective employers. Quantify your achievements when possible. Bringing samples of your work into an interview can help you stand out as a doer and achiever. Many job hunters use memory discs as a “leave behind” with work samples.
Tags: behavioral interviewing, being a team player, career coach, competencies, creativity, deer in the headlights, doer, good job, interpersonal conflict, interviewer, interviewers, job interview, job seekers, judgment, laundry list, open position, predictable results, proficiency, prospective employers, work samples