A Job Interview from All Angles
Posted February 3rd, 2014
According to surveys, the length of the average job interview is about 40 minutes, but, believe it or not, about one-third of hiring managers claim that within the first 30 seconds they know whether they are going to hire someone or not.
And these statistics highlight an interesting aspect of the interview process that perhaps too many don’t pay attention to – it’s not just what you say at an interview, but how you say it – and how you look saying it.
For example, other statistics show that the way we dress, act and walk makes the biggest impression on people we meet for the first time – a large majority. Other things that make a big impact are the way we talk, the grammar we use and how confident we appear to be. And, trailing way behind, is actually what we say – which impacts less than 10 percent of those we meet for the first time.
Employers notice these things as well. They see during an interview when you play with your hair, don’t look directly at them, don’t smile, slouch in the seat, cross your arms defiantly over your chest, wave your hands around too much, fidget in your seat, and offer a limp handshake.
They also notice how you dress. Wearing loud colors or being too trendy is a turnoff for many employers. What’s more, in making a decision between two similarly qualified candidates, two-thirds of employers in one survey said clothes could make the difference in deciding whom to hire.
Other no-nos to watch out for during an interview, according to an employer survey: going into too much detail in explaining why you lost your previous job, not showing any humor or warmth in your personality, not showing enough enthusiasm, focusing too much on what you want from the company rather than what you can offer to the company, not showing how you are different from all the other candidates, not doing enough research on the company, and the worst faux pas of all, forgetting to actually tell the interviewer you want the job.
Needless to say, when you are preparing for the interview, you need to really do your research on the company – and on the industry that company is in. Know what job you want and what is required for the job, and be able to talk about your qualifications and experience.
If you’re looking for work in the Bay Area (and especially if you have much-wanted IT skills), don’t hesitate to contact the recruiters at Bayside Solutions. We can help you find work with some of our region’s top employers. We look forward to hearing from you.
