Dated July 14, 2004
I know body language conveys much more than what words can. In view of its significance, I wish to know the dos and don'ts of body language while attending an interview?
KHYATHI MENON
Allepy
Our body language conveys much more than words. And, particularly in interviews, it pays to be aware of body language and what it speaks about you.
Ensure a firm handshake. A firm handshake shows confidence in yourself and your abilities.
Walk slowly, with measured paces, and talk upon entering the room.
Maintain a high level of eye contact throughout. Eye contact is essential to establish trust, yet it is one of our weakest skills. It's akin to a warm hug and helps build a bridge between yourself and the person you are speaking to. However, look away occasionally, moving your head confidently to the right or left. Never look down.
Be alert and enthusiastic. Often it turns out to be a deciding factor in employing candidates. An indifferent attitude like `I don't give a damn to this job' is easily perceptible; and the chances are the interviewers would also "care a hoot". Smile, nod and give non-verbal feedback to the interviewer. Do not hurry any movement. Relax with every breath.
Avoid....
Avoid a poor/limp handshake. Don't display laziness or be aggressive or act in a superior, conceited or overbearing way.
Don't speak with a poor voice, diction or grammar. And, never look distracted, look down or avoid eye contact.
Don't talk too much or be abrupt while answering questions.
Finally, don't lose concentration or attention.
In a way, much of the negative aspects of body language can be overcome by working on our poise. Poise is the self-composed manner a person can cultivate, which tells the world that he is a confident, capable and honest person who would be an asset to the company!
RIMA SONI
Gujarat
To sell your skills, first you have to package them attractively! To begin with, pick out five to 10 job postings that interest you. Most of the companies clearly name the skills they are looking for. Choose the keywords that match your skills from the list of their requirements.
Group related skills into categories. Organise your keywords into skill lists.
Prioritise the skills. Decide which set of skills is most important to the jobs being advertised. This is important because you have to highlight the key skills, both in your resume and in subsequent interviews.
Use the top 35 words in a summary statement. Pick the most important skills from each category and use them to write a summary statement that describes your experience and qualifications for the job. Put the statement at the top of your resume.
Don't leave anything to imagination: Put your keywords right on top and make it easy for people to see how qualified you are.
Remember, in a job search, you should be the one searching. Don't make employers search for your hidden talents.
Apart from job satisfaction, work culture, etc., we need to give due importance to compensation. How safe is it to discuss the current compensation with the prospective employer?
ANJALI VELLODY
Goa
Most prospective employers would be interested to find out what you are currently earning so that they can add something to it and make their offer worth your while to change jobs. However, if they do not know this information, they will have to base their offer on the market value for someone with your skills and experience. You should, therefore, avoid the topic or be as vague as possible. If you are asked, say something like, "It's too early in the process to talk about compensation," or, "Let's talk about the job. If it's the right job for me and I'm the right person for the job, salary won't be an issue." Never tell employers what it will take to hire you. Let them make an offer. If they ask you what your expectations are, you might respond by asking, "What do you have budgeted for the position?" Or give a vague answer, such as, "It depends. I want to look at the total package. What did you have in mind?" The key is to prepare your answers in advance.
I was taken aback by a tricky question the interviewer asked me recently: "What is your greatest failure?"
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