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HOW TO COMMUNICATE
It is important to know how to listen and it is very important to know how to communicate. Communication is a lot more than words. We will discuss different aspects.
The word
Speak in English. No, don’t misunderstand me, I am not imagining that you were thinking about speaking in Spanish or French; I am telling you speak using correct English.
Young people as well as adults, commonly use expressions that are a product of the deformation of language, derived at the same time, mainly from the media, that use bad taste language they call “modern”.
They also use the familiar treatment with no distinctions, which is not well seen or applicable in all of the cases.
You are in a work interview, where you don’t know the interlocutor, and even if you know them, you may know them from another surrounding, different that the work environment. You don’t know the uses and customs of the place. Therefore, speak in proper English and don’t treat your interlocutor in a familiar way. Manage yourself with these two basic rules.
The look
Look directly at their eyes, frankly, with no fear and without giving the sensation that “you are taking an x-ray of your interlocutor”. Don’t look around when you are exposed to a difficult question.
If you are curious about something you see, make a comment that will allow you to look freely. Don’t get distracted looking at something else that may call your attention.
THE GESTURES
Don’t reinforce the things you say with gestures, such as blinking, giving a sensation of complicity to your manifestations. Or a slap on the arm of your interviewer.
If you have a tic that gets increased in tension situations, comment it with your interviewer. You will get two equally positive effects. If during the interview your tic may get activated, your interlocutor will be aware of the situation already. And, as a second effect, if you say it, your level of tension might decrease and the tic may not produce.
Very little people make graceful gestures. There are communicators who are real artists in accompanying what they say with gestures. But they are only a few.
Therefore, I suggest you to avoid using gestures during the interview.
THE POSTURE
Sit straight, not on the edge of the chair. Every now and them, you can change your posture looking for more comfort, but not constantly. Don’t balance yourself or move your feet too much.
Be elegant also in your posture. Rehearse if you are not sure about this aspect.
YOU SHOULD TRANSMIT THE IMAGE THAT YOU ARE THE NEW COLLABORATOR, NOT JUST A POSTULANT
Are you really interested on the position? If so, you should transmit it, not in words, but in attitude. Feel and think that you are the new collaborator, not one more participant of the search.
Remember that you should convince yourself first, to convince others. I am not talking about cheating or using some disloyal “trick”. I am talking about genuine personal belief of being the adequate person for the position. If you feel that you are “the” person, everything will be different. It is very important –also- the way you face the questions on Chapter 14.
BASIC CRITERIA TO MANAGE IN AN INTERVIEW
Managing yourself properly during an interview is not easy and it creates stressful situations even for trained people. It is important to consider that we could do a lot to help ourselves and –at the same time- help the person who manages the selection.
Remember what we have said: the person who is looking for someone is waiting to find them, but they aren’t interest in any person, only the one who covers the required profile.
Therefore it is very important for you to know the searched profile and fit it. We are not telling you to lie, we are suggesting you that based on your work history and specific knowledge, focalize the interview in showing everything that is related with the search.
Whenever you go to an interview, think only on that search. Forget about all of the rest that you have participated in, in this way you will only talk about what is important in this occasion. For this concentrated preparation it is ideal to schedule the appointment with certain anticipation, so you will have time to prepare yourself and it is equally important to get information about the position you are applying for.
The last techniques of the interview –as we have mentioned in the introduction- are based on analyzing previous experiences in order to detect behavioral competence. For that, it is very important for you to remember anecdotes and real facts in relation with the position to cover.
What to do when “something” about the profile is not covered?
If you don’t cover some aspect of the profile, it is possible to learn it in a short time, you can show interest on the topic and bring ideas about how you would acquire it: a formal course, a distance course, reading the last book that has been published about the topic, etc.
Guide to plan an interview in relation with the searched profile
What experience do I have in relation with the searched profile? What other abilities do I have besides my experience? How can I present it in the interview? Analyze facts and applicable circumstances In function to the available information, what aspect can interest your future employer in a special way?
These types of questions will help you determine the added value for the postulation. The more added value you can get compared with other postulants, the more likely you will be to be chosen.
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