Interviewing tips:
I am certified in Suicide First Aid and have worked on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Now you're probably thinking “What does this have to do with interviewing?”. Answer: A LOT.
When training to work on the line, I became an expert in analyzing vocal cues, and then with practice, facial cues. The slightest facial movements, such as raising of the eyebrows, narrowed eyes, and pursed lips, can give you a lot of information on what is going on inside the other person's head. Same goes for voice cues. The tone of a person's voice when asking a question has a hidden meaning. Not to brag, but I've done about 20 interviews, ranging from simple retail jobs to legal and accounting jobs at prestigious firms. And I've never not gotten an offer.
My technique is simple. Pay attention to how the interviewer is responding to your answers. Here are some examples:
1) The interviewer asks you a question about some past experience you've had, whether it be a job or volunteer experience. You start talking about said experience and you notice the interview occasionally losing eye contact with you. You finish your answer and they quickly move on to another question without asking a follow up question or giving any sense of interest. Advice- Don't refer to that experience again, even if it can apply to another question. They are not interested and whatever the experience was doesn't show you have any qualities that they're looking for.
On the flip side, if the interviewer leans forward and is nodding throughout your answer, then they are clearly interested. I'm not saying to keep rambling on about the topic ,but keep that in mind during the rest of the interview. Whatever you said impressed them, so go with it and bring it up again if the opportunity allows you too.
2) You get asked to explain something. It can be anything like “whats your weakness” or “tell me about a time that…”. You start telling a story and you notice that interviewers eyes are narrowed and and eyebrows down. Guess what? They're confused. Either your not explaining the story in a coherent manner or they're not seeing the relevance to the question. Advice- Don't keep talking! Stop and say “I'm sorry, I don't think I'm explaining the situation in way that gets my point across. Let me rephrase it for you.”. Gather your thoughts and retell the story in a way that is shorter, more direct and to the point.
3) Sometimes, interviewers will respond to one of your answers with a thought of their own. For example, you tell them about a skill, like learning to work with a team, that you learned at a past job and they respond “At our company we value teamwork”. Make a mental note and in the rest of your answers, try subtly to incorporate that said skill into your answer.
These are just a few examples. But the basic point is that you are a human being WITH SOCIAL SKILLS. So use them. People tend to go into interviews and lose all sense of how to act like a normal human being that can have a coherent conversation. Reading facial and vocal cues is a way of getting instant feedback and gives you the opportunity to correct yourself immediately. (Unless you interviewer is an emotionless robot- then you're on your own).
AUD: 91.
BEC: 69, 81
REG: 83 (expired), 79
FAR: 59, 77
I'M FINALLY DONE!!!!!
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