Post Interview Reviews Will Improve Your Performance

For many any job interview is a traumatic experience. You are a contestant in a competition conducted on unfamiliar territory where the winner takes all. To succeed you must impress people you have never met. You must deal with brain paralyzing stress to present unrehearsed convincing responses to every question. Interviews can be unpredictable and you are in constant risk of making an embarrassing mistake.

In a world that values perfection, it is a common human survival trait to either completely dismiss a disastrous experience such as an interview from the mind, or to rationalize that there were circumstances beyond your control that lead to your failure. Some individuals are expert at forgetting everything within minutes of leaving the interview room.

There is merit in this strategy, because individuals must move forward, otherwise they risk becoming stuck in an endless loop of negative emotions arising from the contemplation of past interview failures.

Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II once said "Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."

Do you know that some of the most successful entrepreneurs have experienced more failure than success? They have made an art of treating mistakes or even failure as an opportunity to recognize risk, and take evasive action to minimize, avoid or prevent them from having to go through a similar experience in the future.

Interview performance can only change when individuals choose to learn from their past experience.

Each interview experience is a gold mine for learning and self development.

This three-step strategy is simple - capture, analyze and strategize.

CAPTURE

Preferably within an hour of completing your interview, go to a place close by such as a cafe, where you can quickly and comfortably write down EVERYTHING you remember hearing, spoken, experienced and observed.

Do not worry about replicating the exact order of the interview. The primary aim without indulging in excessive self-judgment is to record as much as you can remember.

Listed below are suggestions for this recording task:

- Honestly describe the range of your feelings at any point, even in the days leading up to the interview, for example, how nervous or confident you were feeling
- List all questions asked including your own to the interviewer
- Add your responses include the structure, organisation, and the confidence of your delivery, as well as any stories used to illustrate you possess the desired skills, experience and knowledge
- Note down the reactions of the interviewer(s): interested, smiling, impatient, indifferent, rejecting, or that they looked bored.

The stress and overwhelm of an interview experience often prevents individuals from remembering ALL details in this initial session. There will be some parts that will stand out - and it is often the worst experiences or the best. You will remember more over the days that follow the interview. It is very important and productive to capture these observations as well.

ANALYZE

As soon as possible after you finish the initial information capture session of your review, rewrite and arrange all information to make it easy to analyze and/or add additional observations. It is important to connect context, what was happening or being said, with your reactions as well as those of the interviewer.

The following framework is recommended:

A. COMPANY: Opening, Introductions, Information about the Company along with a description of the role and responsibilities of the position given by the Interviewer along your reactions, impressions and feelings.

B. QUESTIONS: List each question asked by the interviewer at the top of its own page.
Write underneath detailed descriptions of
- Your response
- Your feelings
- What you noticed in the reactions of the interviewer, both verbal and nonverbal at any point
- Any discussions, include jokes, different points of view, and
- What recommendations could you make to improve your impact on the interviewers.

STRATEGIZE

Reviewing your interview experience allows you to develop your own recommendations for behaving and responding to similar situations at future interviews.

Create a check list about what you could do before to prepare better or would do if the same situation arose again. For example, an outcome of your review maybe identifying a need to

- improve your research of the hiring company to also include its clients and products
- rehearse a response on why you want the job
- make a great response to explain why you are the best candidate
- create a profile on your communication skills with examples from your past
- make a list of your weakness as well as your strengths
- list the best clothes to wear, or
- remind yourself to calculate total travelling time so that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time.

Over time you will build a profile of companies and the interview experience you had with each of them. You will begin to know what to expect in the initial stages of an interview. Your prior experience and knowledge will give you a strategic advantage in interviews. It will help you formulate questions if the interviewer does not cover the topic areas that interest you the most, either at the beginning or at the close when an interviewer often asks if you have any questions.

This strategy allows you to build your own personal resource tool box based on your own background of interview questions asked, and your recommendations for how to organize and present your responses to favorably influence an interviewer.

Successful job applicants are individuals who

- Are willing to examine each interview experience, their mistakes and failures without excessive self-judgment

- Know their own areas of weakness and have developed countermeasure strategies

- Treat their mistakes or even failures as an opportunity to raise their awareness to identify potential risks, thereby being able to avoid or prevent a similar disastrous situation from happening in the future

- Initiate strategies such as an Interview Checklist to remind them of key resources they have available to improve future performance

- Demonstrate a willingness to unlearn ineffective behavior patterns such as monosyllabic (yes/no), or defensive responses, and

- Can always look past failure, and keep striving to succeed with their goal to efficiently engage the mind of interviewers on the benefits of hiring them.

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MEMORY FACETS

Memory is far and away the most remarkable of all your mental functions. Were your mind unable to store up an enormous part of all the information fed it by your senses, each new moment of existence would bring with it the necessity of "starting from scratch" in everything you think and do. You'd have to wear a little tag with your name on it, on the chance you might meet someone to whom you'd like to introduce yourself; every time you picked up a book you'd have to examine it to see how the pages turned and you wouldn't be able to read it anyway, because the letters and words would be meaningless to you!

Everything you do is made easier for you by your memory ... each activity is simpler because in the past you've had experiences which told your mind and body what to expect and how to act in certain situations. Your life is a continuous lesson, because the countless things you do prepare you for doing them again ... because experience eliminates travel on the trial-and-error route by teaching you the right or wrong way.

Even if you were to leave your memory completely alone, without ever giving a thought to using it more efficiently, it would continue to serve
you loyally and well ... but, why settle for a meager pension when, by
investing just a bit of consideration, you can reap a vast fortune? While attending a lecture you're sure to pick up a few tidbits of information, just in hearing the words.

But if you could know how to prepare all those facts for more efficient remembering, if you were able to multiply your chances of remembering tile information, think of how much more knowledge
you'd be able to absorb!

The first step toward strengthening your memory is to find out exactly what it is. There's much more to it than a bunch of assorted facts and ideas swimming around in the gray matter of your brain ...as you'll discover when you read tire next few pages.

When you give examples, use the S.T.A.R.
Statement format

IF YOU TAKE ANY ONE SINGLE ACTION AFTER READING THIS
GUIDE, IT SHOULD BE TO IDENTIFY AND WRITE OUT AT LEAST
SIX to EIGHT DETAILED PERSONAL S.T.A.R. STATEMENTS.

Situation / Task
Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to
accomplish. Be very specific and give details, but keep it short and
concise. Throughout your interview you'll want to make many S.T.A.R.
Statements when using "FOR EXAMPLE."

Action
Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you.
Even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what YOU
did – not the efforts of the team. Don't tell what you MIGHT do, or
WOULD do – tell what you DID do. Incorporate Behavioral Competency
keywords into the description of your action. (Reread the Behavioral
Competency section above to make sure you include some of those
terms in your S.T.A.R. Statements).

Results
Describe what you achieved. What happened? How did the event end?
What did you accomplish? What did you learn? How did it make people
feel? How did you feel? How did your boss feel? How much time and
money did you save? Would you say that you solved the problem? Did
other people recognize you or commend you for your efforts? Name
them specifically.

Your result: How did it GET? GET RID OF? RELIEVE? AVOID?
PRESERVE? PROTECT? ENHANCE? IMPROVE? INCREASE? – Use some
of these "outcome keywords" when describing your results.

Take the time to develop and practice your S.T.A.R. Statements! You'll
want to have AT LEAST 6 to 8 S.T.A.R. Statements at the tip of your
tongue when you go into an interview. Create S.T.A.R. Statements
from the jobs on your resume that you want to bring attention to. As
you use the Statements and Stories as examples, your interviewer will
become familiar with the various positions you have held, and will get
a good idea of your track record of success in those various positions.

Improving Your Memory

Can you remember a dozen instances in which you forgot some thing during the past week? The answer to that question makes little difference, because you have been forgetting things--little things and big--and if your lapses have been forgotten, so much the worse. But, since you're reading this page right now, it's probable that your forgetfulness has been plaguing you more and more frequently. And you don't know what to do about it.

And you're asking me.

And I’m asking you: Have you tried to figure out why you've been forgetting? Have you noticed when you've failed to remember? Have you noticed what things you've forgotten? Of course you have got a memory, and unless I'm wrong, it's a pretty
good one. If you wanted to take the time, you could sit down and rattle off literally thousands upon thousands of facts ...the "seventimes" table, who's president of the United States, your middle name, if you have one, or, if not, that you haven't got a middle name, the formula for baby's breakfast, what causes hiccoughs, how to spell "hiccoughs," how to cure a rasher of bacon or a rash, how to obtain a writ of mandamus, how long it takes to boil an egg or get to Pittsburgh
when traffic's with you ... you've got enough facts in your mind to fill a
hundred jumbo filing cabinets!

But for all that you still forgot to bring the car in to have the oil changed last week, your telephone bill sat in a drawer and went three weeks overdue, your secretary had to remind you that it was your wife's birthday, you put your report card down somewhere and then completely forgot where it was ... and you're getting pretty discouraged over this whole memory situation.

Remember this: Unless you learn something--really get it into your mind in tile first place--you're not ever going to remember it! Unless you understand something the first time, the odds are that the next time will be just another first time.

Trace the thought back a step further, and consider this: Unless you pay attention, you probably will not learn. And another step--unless you're interested for one reason or another, you won't be paying attention.

So you're not going to remember anything in which you don't take an interest upon first encounter.

Of course it's obvious that you must often rely upon your memory to bring you information about things which don't interest you. If you've been asked by the lady next door to pick up a quart of milk on your way home, maybe you don't care whether she drinks her coffee black or not; suppose you don't like your job, or school, or cleaning the house ... these are responsibilities which you've got to meet. Even if
you're not genuinely interested in some things, you've got an interest in them, right?

So: since the best way to remember things is to take an interest in them, and since you've sometimes got to remember things about things in which you're not ordinarily very interested ... what's the answer? Create an interest in them!

-- Ah, come on, how do you expect me to get interested in addressing two hundred envelopes, or putting out the garbage, or algebra?

Simpler than you think! Get interested in exercising your memory muscles! Make your memory your hobby, watch it work, teach it new tricks, carry it around with you and show it off, and pretty soon it'll be taking fine care of itself!

In the following chapters I'm going to suggest a few of the tricks that you can play with your memory, in order that many of the things you've been forgetting will become more fun to remember. At the same time, you'll begin to realize that some things aren't worth the time and effort it would take to commit them to memory, if they can be taken care of in some easier way; part of this book will be devoted
to a number of memory-minimizers--suggestions for avoiding memory tasks which might cost a bit too much of your time.

It won't be a system, or a course, or just a book of puzzles to test your rote powers ...but a discourse on the practical application of memory principles. And as you learn more about your own memory, you'll take a greater interest in it, and use it to better advantage. The results of all this will be evident almost immediately--in your daily life.

After a very short while, you'll start to get the hang of it yourself. And as you become more familiar with your memory you'll derive pleasure and satisfaction from the game of finding new ways to strengthen--and reinforce your memory.

Interviewing: The Basics

Employers look for employees because they have a NEED. Don't mistake that the interview is about you – it is really about their NEED.

You need to sell yourself as the right person to satisfy that need. Sure, you may have great experience, but WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM? Managers hire people in order to make their own job easier. How are you going to make the Hiring Manager's job easier? How are you going to make the Hiring Manager look good in THEIR boss's eyes? You need
to make your skills, experience, and education relevant to THEM and their needs, goals, and situation. After every statement you make to the Hiring Manager, you need to at least mentally add " … and this will make your job easier because …" or " … and this will make you look
good because …" Imagine the Hiring Manager asking "… so how would that benefit me and my needs?" Make your answers and examples relevant to THEIR needs and communicate how hiring you will benefit THEM as well as
the company.

If Managers hire based on their needs, then you are going to have to uncover and reveal their needs in order to come up with answers that will get your hired. Remember that every time a hiring manager asks you a question, YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO ASK A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN. Questions are a great follow-up to a winning answer.
Early on in the interview you should use your own questions to uncover the hidden needs of the Hiring Manager so that you can tailor your answers and attitude to show that you understand their needs and that YOU are exactly the perfect person to solve those needs.
Please see the section in this Guide on "Questions to Use to Uncover the Interviewer's Hidden Needs."

act in terms of what is right. Demonstrate that you follow through and actually do what you say you will do.

Commitment: This is your capacity for becoming dedicated to your work. You should demonstrate a strong belief in what you do.

Demonstrate that you are willing to make a sacrifice for people when appropriate because you are a COMMITTED person. Show a strong responsibility and commitment to not only the Hiring Manager and the
company, but even more importantly, to customers and clients.

Work Orientation / Stamina: This is your capacity to handle mental intensity and hard work. Indicate the high tempo and speed at which you work, and your capacity for endurance. Show that you invest the
TIME and ENERGY necessary to get the job done right the first time consistently.

Interpersonal Skills / Charm: This is your capacity to know how and when to get things done with people. Show that you are outgoing and charming, and that you are especially effective in this regard when
you have an objective in mind, or need someone to do something. Demonstrate that you have an intrinsic need to win the approval of others, fit in, and get along. Show that you have the ability to build quick relationships with people.

Discipline: Demonstrate that you have inner standards that make you both predictable and productive. Show that you enjoy the responsibility of planning and carrying out your own schedule. Indicate
that you can motivate yourself to work on a task until completion.

Competitiveness: This is your drive to be better than others. Show that you like to compete and have the desire to win, and show the maturity of knowing how this benefits everyone.

Focus: This is your ability to determine what is important, set priorities for tasks, and maintain direction. Show that you understand how to set short and long-term objectives, and how to intelligently
schedule these objectives so that you hit your goals and complete tasks on time.

Big Picture Thinking: This is your ability to see the big picture, and not get bogged down in the minutia of small tasks. Demonstrate a tendency toward project closure. Show your ability to see "the real
goal" and what it takes to get there.

How to use this Guide

The layout of this Guide is designed to allow you to easily flip to the
appropriate page when preparing for an interview. We suggest when
you first start working with this Guide that you read the answers out
loud and listen to your voice as you read them. This is important! Read
the answers out loud and get comfortable with the shrewd and
intelligent language.

The next step would be to stage several "practice interviews" where
you have a friend ask you the questions – and again simply read your
answers from the Guide. This way you can choose the answers that
best fit your personal communication style and job history and
experience. Finally, stage a practice interview that is as close to the
real thing as possible. Grade yourself, and continue practice
interviewing with your friend until you are confident that are you are
prepared to strategically deliver a performance that will get you hired.
These Winning Answers will be right at the tip of your tongue when
"judgment day" comes!

Do yourself a favor and print out this Guide right away. You'll be
flipping through the pages over and over again as you prepare for your
interviews. You'll even want to keep this Guide and study it even after
you get the job. Every time you meet a person in a professional
setting you will be prepared to intelligently sell yourself and answer
any question that could possibly come your way.

Spend some time with this Guide and give it your best. You will have a
serious arsenal for when you go in to conquer an interview and get the
job. Nothing will be able to trip you up!

to get the articles (13 pages PDF Format): Ultimate Guide to Job Interview

Everybody gets nervous. A certain level of nervousness is natural and acceptable, and it may even help you perform a bit better. It's true, at a Job Interview you have a lot on the line. There are very good reasons for you to want to perform at your best -- ust don't let !performance an"iety# get in the way of you communicating naturally and putting your best foot forward.

Sweating. Butterflies. Sha&iness. Tight throat. Fast pulse.

These are uncomfortable symptoms that impact your confidence level at a time when confidence is crucial. (ontrolling these symptoms begins with an understanding of the reasons why you get nervous before a Job Interview.

The reasons why people get nervous

• 1) A lake of understanding of the connection between mind and body.
  
  It's the thoughts in your mind that ma&e your body sweat or shake when you get nervous. Control your thoughts and you can stop uncomfortable feelings in your body. Love your body in certain ways, and you can stop the negative thoughts in your mind. See the 9-step Exercise " in part-two of this free report.



• 2) Negative thinking.
  
  Sorry does not accomplish anything. People never worry about positive things -- they only worry about negative things. You can then let go of worry if you replace your negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Try this. Before you go into your Job Interview made a short list of positive things. Positive things about yourself, about your skills / abilities, about your personality. Things that will make you feel better and more confident. Perhaps some happy moments from your past. Write these things down, and consider taping to the piece of paper a picture of your family, your grandmother, your children, your favorite relaxing vacation spot, or the new car you'll be able to afford when you get the ob. 0eep this in your poc&et or in your purse when you go in to the Interview. Whatever you do, catch yourself whenever you start engaging in "negative thinking," and purposefully replace those poison thoughts with positive, confident thoughts.



• 3) Poor self-image, low self-esteem.
  
  Nobody is a "super person" who has no faults. Don't beat yourself up!
  The company has a need, and you can fill that need -- warts and all.
  The company is showing confidence in you already, otherwise you
  would not have been invited to the Interview. Just the fact alone that
  you got the Interview should boost your self-image and self-esteem.
  Think positively about yourself!



• 4) Improper valuation of your own abilities.
  
  You are probably better and worth more than you thin&. From time to time you may have heard other people belittle themselves by saying "I'm no good at this" when it is clear to you that they are plenty good, or very close to being good. Give yourself and your abilities more credit.



• 5) Insufficient skills required For the Job you are interviewing For.
  
  Maybe you really don't have the level of skills required for the job. If this is the case, think positively. Do you think everyone starts their first day on the job as a total expert? No. Most people improve their skills after they get hired. +erhaps the company e"pects you to !learn on the ob# to some degree. Remember, your whole goal for the Interview is to get the offer. You can improve your skills AFTER you get the job. Don't worry about it beforehand. Just go for it.
  
  
• 6) Lack Knowledge about the company, industry or job responsibilities.
  
  Of course this would make you nervous. This is a simple one to solve. Do your homewor&3 $pend the time to research the company, products, competitors, etc. Make sure you completely understand the job description and responsibilities before you go in for your Interview -- AND come prepared with thoughtful 5uestions.



• 7) Not enough practice at interviewing.
  
  Practice makes perfect. As is suggested in "The Ultimate Guide to Job Interview Answers," you should stage multiple practice interviews where you have a friend ask you the toughest questions so that you can practice your winning answers. You might also consider interviewing for a couple jobs that you really don't care about, and
  would turn down if you got the offer -- ust to practice and get your game sharp.



• 8) Mental hang-ups.
  
  Maybe your parents always told you that you were not good enough, or maybe you have an idea about other people and their intentions that is just plain wrong. As hard as it may be, try to keep an open mind and see the future as bright and wide open. This will go a long way in helping you control your nerves.



• 9) Being a perfectionist.
  
  It is good to strive for greatness, but everything you do does not have to be 100% perfect. If something is not right (for instance, if you spill a bit of coffee on yourself before your interview) then ust accept it. Don't dwell on it. Ta&ing something 80% of the way there is often good enough. Don't worry if everything is not EXACTLY how it should be. Just continue to visualiBe a positive outcome despite any imperfections you notice in yourself, the situation, or other people.



• 10) Bad health.
  
  You can't perform at your best if you are hung-over, sick, or over-tired. When your body is run down, your nerves will get the best of you. Try to exercise several days in a row before critical interviews, and ma&e sure to eat the right meal at the right time and get plenty of rest. You want to get hired, don't you? Take these simple steps to ensure your health is in decent shape.



• 11) Worry about money, or anything other problems that occupy your mind.
  
  Stay focused. Stay on message. You are trying to sell yourself. The interview is not about you, or your problems. The interview about THE COMPANY NEEDS -- and how you will save the company time and money, or how you will ma&e your future boss loo& good while making his or her ob easier. Remember that you are trying to solve the needs of the company, and the work-related needs of the person that you will be reporting to. Put your own personal worries out of your mind during the interview and FOCUS on the company's needs, and the needs of the OTHER PEOPLE who you will be working with. Remember that the interview is really not about you, it's about them.



• 12) Excessive self-awareness.
  
  Don't "listen to yourself talk." Don't "watch yourself from the outside." Don't over-analyze yourself and your performance. Don't obsess on your appearance, your body language, or be overly concerned with how you might be "coming off." Try to be yourself and communicate as naturally as possible. Imagine that you are having a conversation with a specific close friend of yours. Someone who you are totally
  comfortable with. Be truly concerned about the OTHER PERSON, not yourself.



• 13) Unfamiliar surroundings and circumstances.
  
  Maybe you have never worked in a big office before. Or maybe you have never worked in a small office. Or maybe you are are interviewing in an environment that is totally new and unfamiliar to you. Don't let your surroundings distract you! Once again, stay focused, and stay on message. Even if you are freaked out (or intrigued) by what you see, just relax, look alive, and act like you know.

continued : A Quick And Simple 9-Step Excercise

How To Prepare An Effective Resume


1. Resume Essential

Before you write, take tima to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricullar activities. This wiil make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

2. The Content of Your Resume

All your contact information should go at the top of your resume, including Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address.

☻ Avoid nicknames.
☻ Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend address, or the address you plan to use after graduation.
☻ Use a permanent telephone number include the area code. If you have as answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
☻ Add your e-mail address. Many employers wiwll find it useful. (Note : Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional.)
☻ Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.

Objective of Summary

An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.

☻ Be specific about the job you want. For example : To obtain an entry-level position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills.
☻ Tailor your objective to each employer you target/everyjob you seek education.

New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni can list is after the work experience section.

☻ Your most recent educational information is listed fisrt.
☻ Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institutional attended, minor/concentration.
☻ Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.
☻ Mention academic honors.

Work Experience

Brifly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action workds to describe ypur job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order -- that is, put your last job first and work backward to your fisrt, relevant job. Include :

☻ Title of position,
☻ Name of organization
☻ Location of work (town, state)
☻ Dates of employement
☻ Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.

Other information

A staff member at your career services office can advise you on other information to add to your resume. You may want to add :

☻ Key or special skills or competencies.
☻ Leadership experience in voluntee organizations.
☻ Participation in sports.

References

Ask peaple if they are willing to serve as reference before you give their names to a potential employer.

Do not include your reference informations on your resume. You may not at the bottom of your resume : "Reference furnished on request."


3. Resume Checkup

You've written your resume. It's tima to have it reviewed and critiqued by a career counselor. You can also take the following steps t ensure quality :

Content :

☻ Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume.
☻ Get a friend (an English major would do nicely) to do a grammar review.
☻ Ask another friend to proofread. the more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).

Disign :

These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employer's data base.

☻ Use white or off-white paper.
☻ Use 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper.
☻ Print on one side of the paper.
☻ Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.
☻ Use nondecorative typefaces.
☻ Choose one typefaces and stick to it.
☻ Avoid italics, script and underlined words.
☻ Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics or shading.
☻ Do not fold or staple your resume.
☻ If you must mail your resume, put it in a large evelope.

What Employers Want

employers say they are implressed by job candidates who have excellent communication skills, good grooming habits and relevant work experience. Employers say they want trustworthy new hires who can move right in, get along with their co-workers and get the job done without having to be babied at each step.