IT Hire Wire

Have you ever gone into an interview KNOWING you have all the skills for a job, and somehow still get turned down? Was it bad luck? A higher power’s intervention? Perhaps the interviewer didn’t like the tie you were wearing that day?

While it could be all or any of those things, the thing you may be missing is soft skills often known as Emotional Intelligence.  The intangible.  Things like: communicating effectively, being responsible, having self esteem, and being able to play well with others. These immeasurable metrics might not be keywords in a resume search but they are deal breakers for some employers.  How you present yourself on your interview is the only way you can show that you do in fact possess said qualities. How do I do that you ask? Easy!

Step 1: Be prepared

I cannot emphasize this enough. Come with a few extra copies of your resume, a pen, a notepad, samples of your work (if applicable), a list of good questions to ask, letters of recommendation and even references.

Step 2: Present yourself well

• Wear a suit
• Smile
• Speak clearly
• Give a firm handshake

Step 3: Be friendly

• Be polite to the receptionist and whoever else you speak to
• Don’t make the interview an interrogation. It should flow like a conversation
• Show some personality! Things like your family, interests and hobbies might come up - that’s ok!

Step 4: Master Behavioral Interviewing

The key to Behavioral Interviewing is to understand WHY the manager is asking you the question. WHY would the manager ask you to talk about an example of a time you had to work for a difficult manager? Well, he understands that past performance is the best indicator of future behavior - to understand how you would might succeed at company Z he needs to know how you succeeded at company W,X,and Y.

In a world where less technical experience correlates directly with lower costs for the hiring manager, soft skills can make or break a deal. After all, technical skills can be taught but soft skills often cannot.

photo by dailyinvention

Tags: behavioral interviewing, emotional intelligence, interview preparation, Interviews, soft skills

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