Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №23/2006

YOUTH ENGLISH SECTION

Self-confidence:

What is essential for a successful job interview?
Tips for an interviewee.

All people at a certain period in life face the problem of finding a job. And if your aim is to get a job, you can’t escape a job interview. So you’d better be prepared for one in advance.

You should manage yourself wisely.

Differentiate yourself from other jobseekers.

Your probable employer expects you to be a team player, to work on a team. You might be wanted to stand out and take leadership. Of course it depends on the job you are being interviewed for.

If you are not motivated for a particular job, it is not appropriate that you should apply for it.

When you go to a job interview, you should have a positive “can-do” attitude. Think positive.

Dress for the job you want, i.e. not for the job you have.

Your interviewer would like to see how you work under pressure.

Eye contact, posture, gestures, and facial expressions are important. You should have a gentle smile and an open face. To practise that you may record yourself on video.

Sometimes, and especially at a job interview, when you are likely to be nervous, it is difficult to verbalize your ideas: you may sound ridiculous. To avoid that think carefully of what you are saying.

Remember you are looking for a job that fits you, i.e. not somebody else.

Think of your greatest strength and a story that illustrates it.

Go prepared. You may take your certificate with you.

Practise your ability to outline.

Self-confidence is essential. What you should bear in mind is that aggression indicates a lack of self-confidence.

Assertive people are usually intelligent and academically bright, they have a high IQ. Assertive people will revel in your success and generally try to make other people feel important. They are in no way anti-social. You will trust assertive people and feel safe in their company. They will praise you. So, on the whole, such an asset as assertiveness can be very helpful at a job interview and in life generally.

You might also need the ability to handle conflict.

Passive people won’t take responsibility for their actions, and will take few risks. So don’t be passive, try to be active.

You have to be assertive, self-confident, but as Tim Winters, a Cambridge student (Peterhouse) said, not too self-confident. Perhaps you need a degree of self-confidence. You should develop a balance between humility and self-confidence.

Honesty is important, too. So be honest.

Remember that people do business with people they like. Try to be on time and make a positive impression on your interviewer.

Point of action: ask about the next step. Don’t forget about common courtesy: thank the interviewer.

Your probable employer might want to educate you, so don’t miss training opportunities. You are also to take part in extra curricular activities if there are any.

If you are incapable of doing something or have failed in something in your previous job, you may say: “I am working to develop these areas…”, “Here are some steps I am taking…”, “I find it difficult to manage this division…”, etc.

Don’t forget that you are a real person. Think of your hobbies, likes and dislikes. You might be asked about that as well.

For such posts as managers (sales managers, top level managers), or sales directors, you should be prepared for client-type relationship. Assets like credibility, leadership, and networking are vital.

And the last thing: if it is your first job, don’t look for money, look for experience.

By Olga Kostenko

P.S. My special thanks to “YES-CLUB” speakers (Timothy Winters, Britton Boone (GHP) and others) who have greatly contributed to the creation of this article.