| There is much talk about Interviewing Styles: The | | | | work - jump in and sell yourself. That doesn't mean |
| Directive Interview, The Behavioral Interview, The | | | | talk non-stop, but you don't have to sit there and be |
| Stress Interview, The Qualifying Interview, The This | | | | uncomfortably silent for long periods of time either. |
| Interview, The That Interview. Articles outline different | | | | Ease the awkwardness. Help him out. Lots of holes? |
| styles, list typical questions for each and tell you how | | | | Gracefully and professionally answer some of the |
| to prepare for them, as well as suggesting appropriate | | | | questions you were prepared to answer, even though |
| answers. | | | | he hasn't asked them. He may not know how to |
| That's all well and good, but there's an obvious | | | | interview very well. |
| question here that begs to be asked: how do you | | | | (Face it, NO ONE - except maybe a human resources |
| KNOW which style you'll encounter? When you phone | | | | person - should have a lot of experience interviewing. |
| to schedule the interview, do you ask, "Oh, by the way | | | | If they do - they either can't keep a job....or they can't |
| Mr. Interviewer, what interview style do you use? I'd | | | | keep employees!) |
| like to study that one and ignore all the others."? | | | | If your first interview is with human resources, often |
| I absolutely endorse asking questions that you need to | | | | they can be crisply black and white, detail oriented, and |
| know the answers to (when it's the appropriate | | | | by the book. Don't let it throw you. If you know |
| time)......but THAT question is obviously an exception! | | | | yourself and what you're looking for, you've done your |
| So do you study all of the styles? Memorize every | | | | research on the company, and you've thoroughly |
| question that applies to each style and all the | | | | prepped yourself for the interview, you're much less |
| recommended answers to prepare for each one? | | | | likely to get flustered. |
| And when the interview begins, you say to yourself, | | | | Mirror their style, but don't drown your personality. |
| "AHA! It's The Abstract Theoretical Look Sideways | | | | SOME human resources people are adept at giving |
| Style!" and then you know exactly what to say and | | | | you enough rope to hang yourself - so don't be lulled |
| do. | | | | into a warm cozy camaraderie. Watch their visual |
| What if you missed a style? And you find yourself | | | | cues - which can be subtle. Follow your instinct, but |
| saying "What the heck style is THIS? I don't recognize | | | | follow their lead. They're screeners, but in that sense, |
| it! HELP!" Which completely throws you off and you | | | | they are also decision makers. |
| bomb the rest of the interview. | | | | Don't waste your time memorizing styles and how to |
| Worrying about interviewing styles is ridiculous. Not only | | | | handle each one. There ARE different interview styles, |
| is it too much information to memorize, but it's also a | | | | just as there are different types of people. The hiring |
| waste of time. An interview is nerve-wracking as it is | | | | authority's interviewing style is usually a reflection of his |
| without worrying about which style you're going to | | | | personality. Stay aware of what's happening at the |
| encounter. | | | | moment, what you're saying, what you're learning, and |
| The interview is about the company and how your | | | | how you're feeling about what's taking place. |
| presence will benefit them. The preparation (with the | | | | The more you've done your homework in accordance |
| exception of your company research) is about | | | | with what I've suggested, the more relaxed you'll feel. |
| knowing who you are and what you're looking for. It's | | | | The more relaxed you feel, the more confident and in |
| not about the company or anticipating their interviewing | | | | control of your answers you'll be, and the less likely |
| style. | | | | you'll be to worry about interview styles and types. |
| Interview preparation is an absolute, non-negotiable, | | | | When you know your background and who you are - |
| unequivocal must, but preparing by learning different | | | | the hows and whys and whats - you're also less likely |
| styles is not. That's why your interview preparation | | | | to be blindsided by an unexpected "type" question. |
| needs to be focused on learning about yourself, listing | | | | So before you interview, it is imperative for you to give |
| questions to ask, forming your answers to | | | | significant thought to: |
| fundamental interview questions. | | | | • Why you chose your current field |
| You prepare by focusing on yourself because you are | | | | • What environment you work best in and |
| seeking your perfect job. You want to have the | | | | why |
| power to decide if you want to return for another | | | | • What your personality traits are |
| interview instead of giving that power away. You want | | | | • Why you liked and didn't like your previous |
| to be in control of your future. | | | | jobs and what you learned from them |
| An interview is a sales process. The product is, | | | | • What your skills and talents are |
| essentially, you. And you need to be real about who | | | | • How you've handled diverse situations and |
| you are, AND be prepared enough to interview well. | | | | what you might have done differently, or why what |
| Do THAT properly and the style you encounter is | | | | you did was effective - be able to back it up |
| irrelevant. | | | | • What you've accomplished in your previous |
| Interviewing is 85% prep and 15% common sense. | | | | positions and how those accomplishments contributed |
| Sometimes it does involve a bit of mirroring, but again, | | | | to the success of the department and the company |
| some of that is common sense. Do it without losing | | | | • In what areas you feel you need some |
| your individuality. For instance, if the interviewer is | | | | work or polish |
| chatty, longer answers are okay. If the interviewer is | | | | • Where you see yourself going and how |
| crisp and serious, keep your answers focused and on | | | | you plan on getting there |
| the topic. | | | | • Why you chose to leave one company to |
| Occasionally you'll run into an interviewer who wants | | | | go to the next |
| to make you sweat. You feel as if you're under a | | | | In addition to knowing the answers to the above topics, |
| bright light - they're grilling you, and you might as well | | | | you need to think about the most appropriate way to |
| have been fingerprinted. There's no need to get all | | | | phrase those answers AND how they relate to what |
| worked up (besides, they WANT you to). If that's his | | | | you've learned about the company from your |
| interview style, what do you think it will be like to work | | | | research on line or at the library. |
| for him? | | | | In fact, some of the topics on the above list you should |
| The answer to that should calm you down. You won't | | | | already have given thought to before you began your |
| care what he thinks, because you probably won't want | | | | job search. If you don't know who you are, what you |
| to return. Good money? Eventually you'll hate your | | | | want, in what circumstances you perform best and in |
| boss, then you'll hate your job, then your life will be hell, | | | | what circumstances you don't perform well at all, what |
| because the salary won't be worth it. Short drive? | | | | type of management style helps you to flourish and |
| Eventually you'll hate your boss, then you'll hate your | | | | give back to the company, and what the goal of your |
| job then your life will be hell, because the drive will | | | | next job is - you won't know what you're looking for, |
| STILL be too long - you don't want to go where you're | | | | much less be able to recognize it. |
| driving. Great advancement promised? After how | | | | Put effort into making sure you know who you are |
| long? How many people have held that position in the | | | | and what makes you that way. Know what you've |
| last 6 years? | | | | accomplished and what contributed to those |
| If you want to work for a control freak or someone | | | | accomplishments, what motivates you and what turns |
| who needs to appear tough and all-knowing, you've | | | | you off. Spend time learning about the company with |
| found the place. If he's rapid firing questions at you, | | | | whom you'll be interviewing. Make a list of questions to |
| hoping to trip you up, let him feel important . Finish the | | | | bring with you, and know what kind of answers you're |
| interview and then cross the company off your list. | | | | looking for. Be able to address issues by showing how |
| Another interviewer might leave you thinking "What's | | | | who YOU are will benefit THEM. |
| UP with this guy?" He seems sort of at a loss as to | | | | Then it won't matter what style you encounter. You'll |
| what to ask you. His questions are all open ended and | | | | be comfortable with any style you meet. And when |
| don't seem to have any firm direction or point. Just use | | | | they want you to come back for another interview, |
| common sense. You've done your interview prep | | | | you can decide if you want to....or not. |