Transcript INTERPRETIVE COMMUNICATION THAT WORKS

Dr. Saundra K. Ciccarelli
Grace Under Fire, or How to Answer Those
Scary Questions
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What are your greatest weaknesses?
Why were you let go from your previous
position?
How will you be satisfied with this job when
you are clearly overqualified?
Why are you the best candidate for this job
even though you have little or no direct
experience?
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How do you explain this criminal record from
your past?
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Employers want to know about any critical
skill you may need to master for the job.
They also want to know how you handle
yourself under pressure.
Do NOT say, “I work too hard.” (Liar.)
Do NOT say, “I have no weaknesses.” (Big ol’
liar.)
Be honest, but focus on a weakness that is
not one of the critical requirements for the
job.
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Best defense is a good offense: be prepared
for this question.
◦ Research the company, the job, and how your
strengths match the job description.
◦ Avoid personal traits, focus on professional ones,
and minimize the weakness while providing a
solution for it:
 “Sometimes I am a little too focused on the “big
picture” and, at times, miss some of the small details.
That’s why I try to make sure there is someone on my
team who is detail oriented. I try to learn from
observing how they work.”
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Write your answers to the strengths and
weaknesses questions in advance, and
memorize the answers so that they come
easily and confidently.
Make it verifiable—if the prospective
employer asks this question of your
references (and this WILL happen), will the
reference’s response match yours? This
means you might want to talk this over with
your references candidly.
http://www.collegegrad.com/articles/job-interviewweakness-question.html
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Don’t say, “My boss hated me.”
Make the negative a positive and say:
◦ I usually get along well with others, but this was an
exception to the rule. We just didn’t fit together
well.
◦ I wanted to move in a different direction…
◦ Being down-sized gives me an opportunity to
explore jobs for which I am better suited….
◦ My skills were not the right fit for my previous
position, but they seem to fit well with your
organization.
◦ A new manager took over and “cleaned house.” That
was his/her right, and is allowing me to look for
better opportunities.
◦ Certain personal problems upset my work life, but I
have resolved those problems and am ready to give
this job my all.
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In short, you don’t want to come off as whiny
and negative. Emphasize the positive
opportunity your current non-employment
gives you.
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You have the skills, you are selling you
Talk about learning the company and the
possibility of advancement down the road
Present yourself as “sticking with it”, as the
employer’s fear is that you’ll jump ship as
soon as something better comes along
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Focus on experiences that may transfer to
this job (and if you’ve done your research on
the job, you should be well prepared)
Stress your eagerness to learn
Point out your positives:
◦ Your personality is a good fit for the job
◦ You are motivated to perform well
The Ins and Outs of Body Language
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Before the interview, make sure you look
presentable—hair neat, hands washed,
tie/pantyhose adjusted.
Your handshake should be firm and
confident, but avoid a painful squeeze or a
“dead fish” quality.
Make eye contact with the interviewer while
saying hello.
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Sit down in the chair the interviewer
indicates.
Sit all the way on the seat—if you are on the
edge, it says you are nervous.
Sit up straight, lean slightly forward—this
indicates that you are interested and
listening.
Don’t get closer than 20 inches from the
interviewer: it’s an invasion of personal
space.
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If you want to come across as friendly and
open, tilt your head slightly to one side.
If you want to seem self-assured and
authoritative, keep your head positioned
straight.
Depending upon the point you are trying to
make, you can shift between these positions.
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DON’T:
◦ Wring your hands—hold them loosely in your lap or
put them on the table
◦ Fiddle with your hair or face
◦ Put your hand behind your head
◦ Touch your nose or lips (indicates lying)
◦ Wave your hands around too much—indicates
uncertainty
◦ Fold your arms across your chest—closed and
defensive
◦ Point—it’s seen as aggressive
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DO:
◦ Hold your hands loosely in your lap or put them on
the table
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What about my legs?
◦ Too much leg movement is distracting and speaks
of nervousness—never let them see you sweat!
◦ Crossing legs up high = defensive
◦ Resting one leg or ankle on the other = too casual
and possibly arrogant
◦ Instead, cross at the ankles or keep flat on floor
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When the interviewer is talking, make direct
eye contact to show you are actively listening
Blink at regular intervals and nod your head
every now and then to avoid the appearance
of an aggressive stare
When YOU are talking, hold eye contact about
10 seconds and then look briefly away and
then back—if you maintain eye contact too
steadily while talking, it can be seen as a
challenge or lecture to the interviewer
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Don’t look down constantly, you’ll seem
submissive or insincere
Okay to look down while taking notes, but
remember to look up and establish eye
contact when you are speaking or when asked
a question
If you are interviewed by a panel, look at and
direct your answer to the person who is
asking the question
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Boredom: Resting head on hands, fiddling
with hands, losing eye contact.
◦ How to counter: Wrap up what you are saying and
move on, ask “Is there anything else you would like
to know about….?”
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Feeling uncomfortable: Crosses arms, leans
away
◦ How to counter: Check the personal space and
move back if too close—if there’s no table or desk
between you, make it 2 to 3 feet.
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Irritation: drumming fingers and rubbing the
face.
◦ How to counter: Make sure you are answering the
question asked and not going off the point
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Losing interest: leaning sideways, not
responding to facial cues, fiddling with
objects on desk
◦ How to counter: Return to the subject you were on
when you last had them engaged, or ask them a
question
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Be careful about mirroring, the process of
adopting the same posture as the interviewer.
If you do it too obviously, it can be seen as
mocking.
Instead, if they are formal, you should be
formal. If they are casual, you can be a little
more casual—but not too much!
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No matter how the interview seems to go, go
out strong:
◦ A firm, confident goodbye handshake
◦ Keep that confidence going as you walk out of the
building
◦ Don’t “let go” until some distance away
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CareerBuilder.com: The
interview: Body Language Do’s
And Don’ts.
http://www.careerbuilder.com
/Article/CB-746-GettingHired-The-Interview-BodyLanguage-Dos-and-Donts/
The Ladders: Body Language
Speaks Volumes
http://www.theladders.com/ca
reer-advice/body-languagespeaks-volumes-job-interview
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Suite101.com: Body Language
During Interviews: Job
Interview Tips And Examples.
http://suite101.com/article/b
ody-language-duringinterviews-a12051
Best-job-interview.Com:
Interview Body Language That
Sends The Right Message.
http://www.best-jobinterview.com/interview-bodylanguage.html