Presenting Yourself at Job Interviews

Initial Credibility

Initial Credibility The credibility you gain before they meet you… so that they want to meet you.

Initial Credibility Résumé/paper Electronic and hard copy when possible.

Initial Credibility

Beware of… To Whom it May Concern: (Personalize!)

Initial Credibility Social media presence

Initial Credibility

Initial Credibility Don’t forget about… privacy settings your friends’ comments using what they can see to your advantage.

Initial Credibility Voicemail

Derived Credibility

The credibility you gain once you’re physically there…. Derived Credibility The credibility you gain once you’re physically there….

(i.e., Do we want to work with you???) Derived Credibility (i.e., Do we want to work with you???)

Derived Credibility The first impression includes physical appearance (cleanliness, wardrobe) punctuality friendliness confidence sense of ease.

Derived Credibility Let’s talk about wardrobe…

Derived Credibility Ladies, beware of…..

Your best friend

To help attain derived credibility…

Don’t be one of them… P.S. What should you do while you wait?

Now, you’re in the room… Don’t forget eye contact (the sweep method) belly breathing physical inventories the character side of “credentials”

Hints for gaining derived credibility… Be prepared with stories (WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY?) Make them the hero! Rehearse the key points you want to make, and practice them out loud and in different ways. Maintain your SENSE OF EASE. Prepare for difficult questions (more on this later).

Have your own questions ready How much does it pay? Do I stand a good chance? Can you tell me more about your company? What is the dress code here? or How many vacation days do we get? #SMH

The general rules for questions… Don’t ask anything you could have found out on the internet. Use the questions as a chance to show the amount of work you’ve put in to preparing for this interview.

Tell me about a time… What constitutes a good answer to this type of question?

Terminal Credibility

Terminal Credibility The credibility you earn/maintain after leaving the building. Question: When does an interview end? At what point is your part done?

I totally killed it! Let’s go celebrate! Hint #1: Don’t do this I totally killed it! Let’s go celebrate!

Hint #2: Buy thank-you cards. Now.

The lost art of the “thank you…” It shows you are humble. It shows you want the job. It shows you have follow-through. It is another chance to sell yourself after you’ve left! It is something most candidates don’t do. Make those other guys look bad.

The Lost Art of the “Thank You…” Personalize them (write down the names of who was in the room with you). Do them promptly. Check your grammar. Twice.

A secret to remember if you’re nervous…

No one wants you to do well more than the people interviewing you No one wants you to do well more than the people interviewing you. They’re rooting for you. They need you.

The Difficult Questions… Prepare for them so they don’t catch you off-guard. Even if you don’t answer well, maintain your sense of ease.

The Difficult Questions… What is your biggest weakness? Where do you see yourself in five years? What can you offer me that another person can’t? Tell me about the worst boss you ever had.