November 28, 2011

Don't let brain freezes seize up your interview

• Post a comment |
• E-mail |
• Print
• • Share:
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

If the current candidates for the presidency of the United States can teach us anything about landing a new job, it's the value of preparation. Earlier this month, at least two of the nine Republican candidates have made spectacular mental gaffes while trying to explain some of their core political plans and beliefs in what, essentially, is a very long "job interview" with the American people.

During the umpteenth (and counting) GOP debate earlier this month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry set out to list the three government agencies he would abolish should he become president. After confidently listing the departments of Commerce and Education, he was unable to come up with a third agency (Energy) over a painful 45-second span. A few days later, former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain had an even worse meltdown, during an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. When asked whether he agreed with the way President Obama handled the uprising in Libya, he paused for an uncomfortably long time, shifted in his chair and struggled to explain how he would have handled the crisis differently.

Job seekers take note: If even veteran politicians and high achievers in business can have epic brain freezes -- and survive -- then so can you.

Fortunately, the vast majority of job seekers are not conducting their interviews on live TV, in front of millions of viewers. Most of you will only have to convince a handful of hiring managers that your experience, skills and personality are a perfect fit for their business needs.

Let the embarrassment of Perry and Cain be a lesson in what not to do when, under pressure, the synapses misfire and the brain stops communicating with the mouth. Perhaps if the candidates had followed these basic tips, they would have fared better with their brain cramps:

Relax -- First of all, it's important to put these lapses in the correct context. Public speaking is a well-known primal fear of just about everyone, including most hiring managers. Don't feel like you need to respond instantly to every question. If you've been asked something that requires more than a yes/no answer, it's perfectly acceptable if you take your time with your response. Also, don't forget to get plenty of sleep the night before the interview so your mind is sharp and responsive.

Use pauses to your advantage -- What flustered Perry and Cain is the same thing that worries most job seekers: the fear of silence. When words don't come immediately, it can seem like an eternity for interviewees as they scan their brains for the right words. But in reality, these pauses only last for a few seconds and are considered quite normal to listeners' ears. In fact, pauses can help your interview by adding emphasis to what you are saying and giving you time to collect your next thoughts. Pauses can also allow interviewers to digest what you have said previously and gives them a chance to relax as well. If all else fails and the words aren't coming, don't be shy about asking the interviewers to clarify what kinds of anecdotes they are looking for.

Have stories ready - It's amazing how often interviewees are thrown for a loss when asked to come up with anecdotes about their accomplishments or the way they handled difficult situations. These questions are some of the most important ways that hiring managers can gauge your past performance, so no one should be surprised by being asked to provide lengthy answers. Be sure to come up with four or five stories that show off your skills:

• Did you find ways to cut costs or improve quality for your past employer?


• Did you propose a successfully profitable idea?


• Have you shepherded a complex project to completion?


• Have you had to resolve a difficult conflict between co-workers?

If at all possible, try to relate any of these stories to specific job functions of the position you're seeking. Study the job description for keywords and clues about what type of employee they're looking for.

Practice -- It's one thing to have stories at the ready; it's quite another to tell them concisely in a formal interview setting. Sometimes, nervous interviewees can go off on long, rambling tangents that can divert attention away from your strengths. Try describing these experiential situations into the mirror as practice and make sure that you convey how your specific actions helped solve problems or made your bosses' jobs easier. Even better, try your stories out on a friend -- preferably one who is not familiar with what you do at work. If you can convince your friend that your skills and experience are the right fit, you're likely to do the same with the interviewer.

In any case, they will likely be much more kind to you than the anchors at CNN or Fox News.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

• Post a comment |
• E-mail |
• Print
• • Share:
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Read more
communication, interviewing, presenting, public speaking, stress