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Inside the mind of an interviewer (page 3/4)


HOW PROFESSIONAL ARE YOU?

A new stage now starts to emerge. The interviewer has now got to know you even more now. There is a definite softening in the atmosphere. An embryonic personal relationship seems to be developing between you and your fellow interviewers and you notice most of your pre-interview tension seems to have gone. You begin to allow yourself to relax a bit more.

The interviewer, too seems 'more human'. At this stage he is convinced you have the skills to do the job, he likes you - he feels you are personally suitable and he finds it easy to communicate with you.

In his own mind he is now beginning to see you not as an interviewee but as a potential employee. For the interviewer this is an important turning point. And he'll now want to take an even closer look at you from a professional business point of view.

He'll want to make sure that you'll be an asset to the firm, that you'll act in a professional manner and be loyal, reliable and trustworthy and be committed to the company.

The interviewer will want to make sure that you'll be loyal, reliable and trustworthy and be committed to the company

As you speak and answer his questions he'll be trying to evaluate you under the following main headings.
  • Reliability: Do you seem honest, reliable. Someone who will do an honest day's work? Someone who is straightforward and has enough respect and pride in themselves to always want to do a good job.

  • Honesty: Do you seem an honest, trustworthy person? Someone whom they can have full confidence in? Someone they could leave the keys to lock up at the end of the day?

  • Dedication: Do you seem hardworking and dedicated? Someone who starts a project and finishes it? A starter and a finisher? Someone who does not look for excuses to cover up failings and moans about everything?

  • Communication: As discussed earlier under personal suitability are you the type of person who can get on with and communicate with all levels of the company from the tea lady to the M.D.?

  • Commitment: The interviewer is trying to judge if you got the job would you commit yourself fully to it? For example, what would you say if you were going for the job as a middle- manager and the interviewer asked you: "As an employee would you clean the floors?" What the interviewer really wants to find out here is how committed you would be to the team - how willing you would be to roll up your sleeves and do whatever is necessary to help your team get the job done.
Don't only answer yes, but make sure you also give a personal example of a similar situation where you helped out to back up your answer.


Jonathan Lewis, MA (Cantab)

Jonathan Lewis has extensive experience of selecting, recruiting and retaining exceptional personnel in a variety of professional roles. To learn from his experience, visit Careerfriend at http://www.careerfriend.com now.



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