ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
13.10.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


The Hidden Agenda of Interviews

Author: Joel Vance Author Ranking Blue | Posted: 10-09-2005 | Comments: 0 | Views: 211 | Rating:  (50) Article Popularity - Green (?) Got a Question? Ask.
Sign Up Now!

Copyright 2005 The Perfect Interview

It's Not What They Ask - The Hidden Agenda of Interviews What do you think you're going to an interview for? To list your qualifications and discuss what's on your resume? That's just the tip of the iceberg, and you're the Titanic if you don't go in with at least an idea of what is behind their questions.

Sure, there are the standard questions, because the basic information has to be conveyed some way, and besides reading your resume, they like to see you sweat and whether you can be caught out with any inconsistencies between what is on paper, and what comes out of your mouth. But interviews can be full of potholes that you won't even see coming, because you've been lulled into a false sense of bonhomie by the pleasant manner of the recruiter. Before you know it, and sometimes even without knowing it, you're spilling all your little job secrets, your insecurities, and clues as to your character or work ethics.

Preparation as always, is the key. Having talent and being committed to your employer won't cut any mustard, if the interviewer snags a juicy bit out of something you just said, and tosses it back at you, only to be greeted with a blank stare and stuttering.

It's not what you want out of the job, it's what you can bring to the job.

Face it, you can be the most qualified (technically) candidate on the planet, but you're not going to get the position on that alone. Do your homework and find out what the company wants in the person who does get the job. What do they expect in the way of job performance? How do they view initiative? Then when you're interviewed, give them a potential employee who has all that and the technical skills. Because a successful interview is not always about what you can tell them, but about what they want to hear.

Employers want people who are not only going to keep the company running, but who are going to take it to new levels of success.

You can tell an interviewer what you're capable of, but how are you going to sell them on your aptitude and attitude? Show them, that's how!

Don't just say "I work well with others", tell them how you involved different departments in a cooperative effort to cut waste within the office, and how your past employer benefited from it, as well as how the company "team" enjoyed their joint efforts.

Never mind boasting that you have a nose for new things. Give them a rundown (not a brag list) of new procedures that you initiated, which resulted in more efficient operations at your last job. Or tell them about the ideas you presented, which were incorporated into the company marketing plan, resulting in increased profits for the last year.

As stated in The Perfect Interview Book (www.theperfectinterview.com) interviews are not just fact-finding missions. Recruiters and company interviewers are looking beyond the person in front of them, to find the right one for the job. And the applicant who gives them a potential employee with depths to be plumbed to the company's benefit, is the one who's going to get that job.

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-hidden-agenda-of-interviews-499.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
About the Author:
Joel Vance is an Human Resources expert who has been in HR for 17 years and interviewed 3,159 people. He has also taught at 4 major universities around the country and currently has a best selling book on interviewing entitled The Perfect Interview at http://www.theperfectinterview.com
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Comment on this article Comment on this article
Your Name
Your Email:
Comment Body
Enter Validation Code: Captcha


Related Articles

A Covert Nitro Tactic To Capture 70% of Your Competition's New Subscribers
By: Rick Miller | 26/09/2005 | ECommerce

Targeting Your Resume is So Important For Your Career
By: David Green | 11/09/2005 | Resumes

What's your Brand?
By: Paula Snowsill | 15/11/2007 | Dating
Dating related articles, advice for dating, dating sites and habits all in the dating articles.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step
By: Claire Chapman | 18/09/2005 | Motivational

How to Effectively Plan an Affiliate Site
By: Shannon Herod | 09/09/2005 | Affiliate Programs
Affiliate related Articles, Affiliate programs allow Web sites who provide links to your site to receive payments or reciprocal advertising in exchange for promoting your Web site.

Creating Your Own Product: Finishing Touches
By: Ronald Gibson | 13/09/2005 | ECommerce

Email List Management
By: Brian Beshore | 13/09/2005 | ECommerce

The Life You Are Living Is the Life You Are Creating
By: Melissa Jean Quiter | 18/09/2005 | Motivational

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

 TENSES
By: m.iswarya | 26-09-2007
 List out the structures of tenses and uses of tenses.

What are your competences and skills that will ...
By: yazid | 25-09-2007
what are your competences and skills that will enable you do the job? Provide evidence.

How can I make my Windows Vista Desktop PC go to ...
By: Batman | 17-09-2007
How can I make my Windows Vista Desktop PC go to sleep and only resume by pressing a button (so it won't wake up when I accidentally move the mouse)?

Combo resume
By: ricardo_esc | 05-09-2007
What sections should I include in a combo resume ?

Interview
By: rashodbarnes | 02-09-2007
What are your short-term professional goals?

Interview
By: rashodbarnes | 02-09-2007
What is motivating you to look for an opportunity outside of your current position?

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Business Articles

Starting Up Your New Business in Tough Economic Times
By: Susan L Reid | 13/10/2008
Credit lockdown and a gloomy economy are putting a squeeze on small businesses, but don't rule out starting yours up. Instead, get creative. Put together a cost-friendly start-up by thinking beyond traditional ways of purchasing office equipment and supplies, steering clear of money-draining investments, and researching diligently. Check out these 8 tips to start up your business outside the traditional way of doing things.

Ebay Auction Search Secrets: Get An Unfair Advantage Over Your Competition With These Secrets
By: Brad Traynham | 13/10/2008
It is not easy making a living on eBay. It requires you to sell almost all of the items you list on eBay. The easiest way to do this is get more quality traffic to your auctions. The more traffic to your auction, the more bids you will get...

Self-Dumping Hopper Attachment For Forklifts
By: Camille Howe | 13/10/2008
Self dumping hoppers are designed to fit both standard mast and extendable reach forklifts. Each unit features a pocket base that can accommodate forks up to 10" wide and 2 ½" thick. Easy Rack self-dumping hoppers are construction grade devices designed to withstand continual wear and tear in a fast-paced,...

Warehouse Industrial Jib Boom Fork Truck Attachment
By: Camille Howe | 13/10/2008
Forklift jib boom attachments are much less expensive than jib cranes and can perform almost all of the same tasks at a fraction of the cost and with less heavy equipment on premises. Forklift jibs allow you to reach over obstructions to place heavy loads on roofs, elevated platforms, and...

Getting Unstuck: Tips for Overcoming "decision Gridlock"
By: Adele Sommers | 13/10/2008
Have you ever felt so stymied by your choices that every time you stared down at your "chessboard of life," you weren't sure where you could possibly make a move? Whether that feeling of being "stuck" relates to your business, personal matters, or both, it can serve to encumber your progress. This article discusses two patterns of "decision gridlock," and what to do about them.

Leadership Lessons From the Kings of Chocolate
By: Denise Ryan | 13/10/2008
Leaderships tips from two great businessmen, Milton Hershey and Forrest Mars.

Why Some Franchise Businesses Fail
By: Matthew Franchise Anderson | 13/10/2008
The concept of franchising is in itself a sound business idea. Many have become rich because of it. However, not all franchise businesses become a success story. There are several factors that may contribute to the problem. Some franchise units, although parented by large corporations, failed to make the mark due...

Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Should Avoid When Starting A Home Based Business
By: Kanaga Siva | 13/10/2008
Success and Failure are part and parcel of life. Success in a Home Based Business can never be guaranteed by anyone. Many factors come into play if success has to be achieved. When starting a home based business it is wise to act smart and learn from the mistakes other...

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below