Ideas & Guide Lines For Successful Interviews

To gain the respect of others, you must possess positive qualities, skills or attitudes they admire What are some positive qualities, skills and attitudes you admire in others?   What are some of the thoughts going through a person’s head when you ask to meet (interview) with them? Fear     Uncertainty; why do you want to meet with me?  What have I done?          Concerned about hidden agendas; what do you really want? Confidentiality; Can I really trust you?  Can I be honest with you?   What are some of the things you can do before the interview to ensure success? Create positive expectations within yourself for an enjoyable interview with this person     Set specific outcomes, in writing, that you want from the meeting Open the lines of communications between people Begin to create or continue a positive working relationship The way two people interact can impact how their respective team members or customers will interact with each other Positive working relationships focus on solving the problem, not who did what Gain a better understanding of the person’s motives, attitudes, ideas & problems Establish improved team work to increase productivity, results or customer base Demonstrate to the other person that you care through words, attitudes and actions   What are some of the things you can do during the interview to ensure success? Do your best to eliminate interruptions and distractions.  These can cause frustration. Conduct the interview off site or after hours if possible Consider meeting over a meal Maintain a constructive attitude even if you feel threatened by their attitude, tone of voice or words No one ever really wins an argument Maintaining your composure may cause the other person to reconsider your point of view Angry responses from you helps them to justify their position Get the other person involved in the conversation by asking open ended questions about their interests Person centered Problem centered Pay-off centered Demonstrate excellent listening skills… even if your not initially interested Good eye contact Non-verbal responses Ask questions to clarify and to promote mutual understanding Summarize key points in your own words   What are some of the things you can do after the interview to ensure success? Document any agreed upon action points and get confirmation from them before taking action Copy everyone involved and everyone who needs to be in the “loop” Follow-up with a note or e-mail expressing your appreciation or pleasure regarding the meeting