Tips To Survive Some Tough Interview Tactics In Style

You read the books, did your research, knew what to expect and impressed the HR recruiters and line managers equally. So much so in fact that they have now been elevated to a different level of questioning altogether; you have made it the final round, the lion’s ring, the platinum enclave, and the employer is now trying to determine if you really are as perfect, as unquestionably suited for thejob as you seem to be. In the most professional behavioral based interviews you will often not even be aware of the exact behavior or history of behaviors the interviewer is probing for or trying to ascertain.

Below are some of the questions/tactics you might expect during a really tough interview as the employer struggles with the decision of are you really the right candidate for the job arehave you simply memorized the latest Interview Skills Almanac and rehearsed at length with the Interview Brigade.

1. Silence
The silence left by an interviewer is not an invitation to babble or a license to ramble. In fact, it is a calculated tactic used by many a sophisticated employer to make you do precisely that. Avoid breaking the silence and above all don’t lose your cool. Stay casualand relaxed, maintain your friendly demeanor and wait for the employer to break the silence. Remember in an interview the nonverbal cues you give are being observed as closely as your words, tone and diction.

2. Tell Me A Little About Yourself
Stick to business and to those aspects of yourself that specifically related to the job at hand. This is not the time to pretend to enjoy soccer ifyou don’t know how many people play in a team, who won the last World Cup and what the rules of the game are. Nor is it the time to reveal personal information that has no bearing to the professional setting and might impede your chances of success. This is your chance to really sell yourself and expound on all those character traits, accomplishments and success stories that have a direct bearing onthe job. Reassert why you are there and your interest in the position and reaffirm why you are uniquely qualified and suitable for the role at hand. Substantiate your claims with concrete and positive examples from your past experience that reflect on your abilities, aptitudes and values. Show that you understand the requirements of the role and portray yourself in the best light possible tooccupy that role by virtue of your goals, interests, strengths, skills and past successes.

3. Tell Me a Story
Trust us, the interviewer is not interested at this specific moment in pop culture, nursery rhymes or the sequel to the latest blockbuster. He is interested in his bottom line and in finding a candidate who can augment that while being a pleasant and welcome member of the team. Stayfocused on why you are there and what the interviewer is looking for. Asking a question to get the conversation back on the most relevant professional track is your best course of action. “What would you like to hear about?” may narrow the parameters but then again the interviewer may not be forthcoming. You can then volunteer “Can I tell you about why I am here today and why I truly believe I amuniquely suitable for this specific job” and proceed to reiterate with passion and sincerity why you firmly believe you are unequivocally the best person for the job.

4. Why Should We Hire You?
This question delivered sometimes in a condescending manner may come at a late stage of the interview by which time you thought you’d already expounded on all your virtues or it may be used as a shockerright at the beginning. Either way don’t be discouraged or exasperated. Use it to drive home exactly why you believe you are uniquely and fundamentally and beyond any shade of a doubt q ualified for the very specific role being discussed. This is where your homework comes into play and you need to really understand what the employer is looking for in terms of skills, strengths, values, track...