Learning to talk to a psychologist during an interview

Recruiters' fascination with psychology began quite a long time ago. The heyday of psychological tests as a basis for making hiring decisions in the West occurred in the 1980-1990s; in Russia, this trend began to actively develop in the early 2000s. And it immediately caused confusion among applicants - how should one answer the tests? It turns out that now it is not enough to be a competent specialist with work experience, you also need to have the “required” personality type and some specific accentuations and temperament... Fortunately, most employers do not spend time and money on large-scale testing when searching for personnel, but psychological questions are interviews are found almost everywhere.

Preparing for an interview

Before you go for an interview, you need to prepare for it. Many people think this is complete nonsense, but it is not. This is a very important step and should not be skipped. To do this you need:

• Go to the company's website and see what it is about.
• Study how many employees are on staff and work hours. View internal photos and videos of the company, if they are available on the website.
• See who is the head of the company.
• Study the professional qualities required for the proposed vacancy.

Next, you need to study the responsibilities that you will have when applying for a job. If you know the position, then look on the Internet what its responsibilities are. Also think about what you can do for the company that will benefit the company. Then you need to collect all the documents that may be useful at the interview. Such documents include: certificate, diploma, various certificates, resume, etc. Everything needs to be put in a folder and taken out only if the employee who receives you has asked for it.

Additional Interview Techniques

During the conversation, the candidate may be given additional tasks. In abstract tests it is more difficult to make an appropriate decision. There are such options.

1. Drawings.

   During the conversation, the candidate is told: “Draw a tree.” Such interview tricks help to obtain additional information. The applicant is busy talking and has less control over drawing. You need to accept the task calmly. Try to draw symmetrically and in detail. Colors should not be dark

   Read also:  Golden rules of communication, or How to correctly gesture with your hands when talking
2. Color test.

   Determines emotional state. The candidate is given cards with flowers and asked to name from the most pleasant to the most unpleasant. The latter should be called black, gray, brown and purple.

3. Geometric test.

   They are asked to rank five figures according to their degree of attractiveness. The first named figure is evaluated. The choice of a square speaks of a tireless and scrupulous worker. The rectangle indicates a desire for change, a need for a vacation. Triangle figure of leaders. For candidates who choose the circle, good relationships with people are more important. Zigzag is chosen by non-standard, creative people.

'5 minutes before...': psychological technique

Many psychologists recommend the “5 minutes before” technique before an interview.
It may seem funny, but you shouldn't neglect it. 5 minutes before the start of the meeting with the employer, go into an empty room (a toilet, for example) and stand in a hero’s pose. Straighten your back, push your shoulders back, lift your head and chin, and place your arms at your side. Just try it. This should give you energy. Before the interview itself, you will have a telephone conversation. This is also an important stage. Here you have to communicate with a company representative, usually a recruiting manager, who then passes on the necessary information to the manager. When speaking, show yourself to be a polite person. Be sure to specify the place and time where you need to go. It would be a good idea to write down your phone number just in case.

Remote interview rules

In principle, everything is the same here, only without a personal meeting. The main rule is to conduct the interview online . Skype, telephone or video call, communication in instant messengers - choose any convenient method. Don't carry out multi-day email correspondence - everything should be done in one session.

It is clear that remote communication will not provide as much information as a personal meeting. Compensate for this with a more detailed resume, ask for scans of educational documents, call former employers.

How to behave at a job interview?

The first thing to remember is that you should never be late. It's better to come early and wait a little. This will show your punctuality, which is important in any job. It is very important to be able to listen and not interrupt the employee. Answer questions clearly and to the point.

So, when you come to the interview, adhere to the basic rules:

1. Don't forget to smile.
   She will create the very first impression. There is no need to force it out of you, it must be sincere. If there is a lot of tension and you don’t want to smile at all, then try to remember some funny incident from your life and a smile will “draw” itself on your face.
2. Try not to suppress your voice.
   Voice suppression occurs due to tension and stress. If there is tension, warm up your voice before coming to the office. Remember - a clear and confident voice.
3. Gesticulation and posing.
   You need to sit calmly in front of your employer and not touch anything with your hands near you. If the stress does not go away, then try placing your hands on the table. You should also not cross your legs. Swagger is also not inherent. Eye contact must be constant. If you can’t look directly into the eyes, then you can find some point on the employer’s face and concentrate on it. Maintain a moderate and calm look. You should also not wave your arms, behave calmly.
4. Pauses.
   Learn to take pauses. If you finish answering a question and the employer does not move on to the next one, then don’t worry, wait. This could just be a test.

If you have no work experience

When applying for a job at an enterprise without work experience, you must show that you are not only ready to learn, but also endowed with the ability to quickly comprehend new things, so in a short time you can become a full-fledged employee. Know how to listen and hear.

A lot depends on what clothes you are wearing. A young man should look neat, wear clean shoes and a well-ironed shirt. A girl should dress not as if she were going on a date, but as if she were going to a prestigious job. A vulgar appearance may turn off the interviewer.

If you decide to get a job at a bank, then the interview may take place in several stages. To pass all the stages, practice in front of a mirror how you will answer the questions.

Working in a bank requires endurance and stress resistance, so questions will be asked in a tough manner. Answer confidently, don't be nervous. Use verbs in your answers, for example, “completed”, “achieved”, “learned”.

How should an accountant behave? The accountant already knows exactly what he will have to do. It is important to ask questions about the volume of employment, about the software, how many entrepreneurs there are to manage, and other purely professional questions.

Questions and answers

The most important thing in an interview is the employer's questions and your answers to them.
This is worth dwelling on in more detail. Any interview is not complete without the usual questions that need to be answered correctly. Before answering a question, listen to the end. If a question seems unclear, it is better to ask again than to sit and remain silent. To do this, you can say: “Did I understand you correctly?” This will show your tact. Say only what the employer asks you about. Some details may simply not interest him. If something seems necessary to him, he will definitely ask you again. Eliminate the following phrases from the conversation: “I don’t know,” “maybe,” “probably,” etc.

If the question comes up about wages, then speak openly about how much you need, do not underestimate yourself. You may hear questions that have nothing to do with work. This always happens. This is done in order to understand how much you can react to non-standard situations. These could be questions such as why you left your previous job or why you divorced your husband. Many managers read the form and know that people are preparing for interviews, so they can confuse you. For example, ask this question: how long could you work at your previous job if you removed several people you don’t like from the team? Or what if you were paid three times as much?

In addition to career-related questions, you may be asked about hobbies and interests, food preferences, and so on. This is required in order to find out how adequate you are. When asked about your personal qualities, don't praise yourself. Don't talk about yourself in the first person. You can say that you easily learn new information and love reading books. This will help them understand that you can easily settle into your new job.

Naturally, you will be asked about your disadvantages. There is no need to say that you are too lazy to get up from the couch and leave the house on the weekend. In this case, a white lie. As an example, we can say: I get so involved in my work that sometimes I forget about time. You need to talk about your disadvantages as if you were your advantages.

Often employees ask about children. For example, they may ask how much children interfere with your work.

- I adore children, sir. In fact, I was a child too when I was a child. - Is it true? - Is it true! - Strange... Dance for a chance (Chance Pe Dance). Samir

Once the interviewer has run out of questions, he will give you the opportunity to ask him anything. You may ask the following:

• What is the main task at work?
• How well did the employee who worked before me do this job?
• Is there an opportunity to communicate with the boss? (In case it’s not him sitting in front of you)
• What are the operating hours?

Naturally, these are not all the questions. The question that interests you most concerns wages. But this must be done carefully. But everyone understands that you are going to earn money, and not just sit around. It happens that the employer himself names the salary level. If you are not satisfied with it, then you can ask if there is an opportunity to improve your position. When asked how much you would like to receive, there is no need to remain silent and hesitate. You name the number directly. Naturally, within reasonable limits for this position.

At the end of the interview they will tell you that they will call you after a while. Find out when to expect a call or not at all.

Test tasks, probationary period, competitive selection

Test tasks, a probationary period, and competitive selection are practically obligatory components of the struggle for a leadership position and any vacancy that does not involve a strictly fixed set of responsibilities and implies a creative approach with the ability to solve emerging problems on the fly.

Why do we need tests, competitions, probationary periods?

Selecting candidates for such positions always carries certain risks that the person will not be able to cope with the challenges that arise, even if he has the most excellent resume and has passed all stages of the interview perfectly. It is possible to fully understand the professional characteristics of employees only after immersing them in real activities, and that is why selection tools such as test tasks, a probationary period, and a competition were invented.

Any adequate candidate understands all this, and those who do not understand can hardly be considered adequate in today’s conditions for the position for which they are applying. Therefore, a situation often arises when a competitive selection for a fairly prestigious position can be won simply because the other candidates refused to participate in the competition.

The reasons for such refusals are very different: from conviction in one’s own greatness and a lack of understanding why there should be some kind of competition for a position when such a great specialist is applying for it, to painful pride when the candidate avoids any situations where he could potentially lose.

Refusals from competitions also happen due to banal fear of the future, when a person simply does not want, after a month or two, to go looking for work again and needs to find a job right now. It is unlikely that fear of the future is the quality that is needed to lead a company to success, so the fact that such people are eliminated immediately is a big plus for any dynamically developing company. This, by the way, is also one of the tasks of competitions, tests, and probationary periods.

Payment for test tasks and probationary period

One way or another, if the manager does not get the opportunity to test the candidate for a responsible position in the business, such a candidate drops out of the competition. At the same time, any adequate company manager understands that the work of those who agreed to a probationary period must be paid. Therefore, an adequate manager clearly stipulates both the duration of the probationary period and the payment for this period, which is usually either equal to that stated for already hired employees, or slightly lower.

If a manager does not understand this and offers to work during a probationary period for half the salary, such a manager cannot be considered adequate, and, by and large, it is not worth working with him at all.

Just as often, a probationary period and test tasks are practiced for purely creative work - journalist, designer, etc. Test tasks may or may not be paid. If a test task requires a significant investment of time, and the result should be a finished product - an article, a review, a website layout - you should pay for such a test task.

If the test task takes a maximum of half an hour to complete, and the task itself is the same for everyone and has no commercial value, usually applicants are immediately warned that they will not be paid for it.

To agree or not to agree to test tasks, a probationary period, competitive selection? If they are provided for in the terms of the vacancy, this is the only way to obtain the desired position. Should you agree to work for pennies, half the salary, or even more so for free? I think it’s not worth it, because this is a common fraud scheme when an employer receives a finished product, while disguising the work as a free or almost free competition or test. You will learn more ways to recognize an employer’s bad intentions in the article “Employment Scams: 5 Schemes Used by Fraudulent Employers” [T. Pashkina et al., 2018].

However, one should be sensitive to the employer’s wishes to ensure the candidate’s competence through competitive selection, test assignments and a probationary period. However, the probationary period must definitely be paid, which is fully consistent with both Labor Law and ordinary common sense. If you managed to reach an agreement with the employer on these positions, this is already a success.

We won’t talk about the fact that during the probationary period you need to work well and get into the swing of things as much as possible. This is the topic of the next lesson, where we will look at the nuances of the adaptation process in a new workplace. By and large, it does not matter whether you started work on a permanent basis or as part of a probationary period. Your actions should be equally calm and competent, so that your employer does not doubt the correctness of the choice made.

Correct answers to common questions

Let's look at some of the most common interview questions and how to answer them correctly. Questions in the form of a dialogue between the interviewing employee (I) and you (you):

1. I: - Do you have any shortcomings?
   Naturally, every person has disadvantages. By asking this question, the employer wants to find out how open a person you are. You should not talk about all the shortcomings, otherwise it may cause negative consequences. The optimal answer to this question: You: - Of course, everyone has shortcomings and I am no exception, but they will not affect the work in any way.
2. I: - Tell us about yourself.
   The first thing you need to talk about here is your professional skills. You can talk about your studies, hobbies, and so on. You can ask a counter question to the employee. You: — Should I tell you about all my interests or only those related to work?
3. I: Why did you leave your previous job?
   This question is asked by any employer. If you had problems with your boss, then you don’t need to tell the truth about it. Say that you were promised a promotion for a very long time, but it never happened. Or, for example, it was not convenient to get to work, since it was far from home, or the schedule was unsuitable, or the monotony of work, and so on. But this is worth saying only in cases where there are no such problems in the given vacant position.
4. And: — Desired and undesirable salary level?
   Add +30% to the previous salary level and name the resulting figure. As a minimum, indicate (if asked) the desired salary is +10% more than the previous one.
5. I: - For what period do you want to work with us?
   You can say that you will always work here, but this is not true, because you have not even settled down and did not understand the meaning of the work. You can answer that you want to work for a month first, decide on the position you will occupy, and get to know the team. Very often the atmosphere in the team forces people to leave their jobs.
6. And: — Do you have any achievements that make you proud?
   You can tell me that you had an interesting thesis topic and you defended it perfectly. Boast a little that your friends value you very much and consider you the life of the party.
7. I: - How do you look at processing?
   Please consider this issue carefully. Find out how many hours it lasts, whether work on weekends is paid additionally. Answer with confidence that you are ready for this, but only if it does not harm your personal life.
8. I: Why did you choose our company and work in it?
   This question will allow the employer to find out what attracts you to the job. Maybe you have heard about good wages or additional bonuses. But it’s better to mention this last. Say that the office is located near your home or that you have heard about a good opportunity for professional growth.

By the way, very often an employer checks an applicant’s erudition by asking for non-standard situations. Here is one example of such a situation:

• I: - You are going to important negotiations. Having successfully carried them out, you can get a profitable deal. But on the way to this meeting, your car breaks down. What will you do in this situation?
• You: - I’ll get out of the car, catch a passing vehicle or taxi and get to the appointed meeting point.
• And: — The road passes through a dense forest, where there are no rides or taxis.
• You: - I will determine my location using the navigator and call a taxi.
• And: - You don’t have a navigator and the battery on your phone is dead.
• You: - I’ll try to fix the problems with the car on my own and move on.

Interview at the embassy

To obtain a visa, you must undergo an interview at the embassy. What you need to know:

1. Know thoroughly everything that is written in your visa application form. Have a copy of the questionnaire with you so you don't get confused when answering the questions.
2. Please indicate which language you speak. Ignorance of the language is not a visa refusal.
3. You must tell us about the country you are going to.
4. Dress like a business person, not like a tourist.
5. Do not be “obscure” during the interview so as not to create an unfavorable impression or create the feeling that you want to stay in that country forever.

Dear friends, do not despair if you are not hired, look for another place and take into account all the features of the conversation with the employer. Good luck!

Also on our website you can read: Positive human qualities - what are they? List with description.

What to wear to an interview?

Naturally, it will be better if you come in a business suit, but you should not buy an expensive suit that does not suit your status.
Also, don't wear the newest and most expensive shoes and gold watch. This will not impress the employer. The color of the suit should be black or dark blue. This is about men. The requirements for women are basically the same. Don't wear a skirt that is too short. Optimally - to the middle of the knee or slightly below. You should not wear open shoes. There is no need to dress provocatively and vulgarly, as this will not be appropriate for an interview. If you have tattoos, you shouldn't show them. Also, you don’t need to wear a lot of jewelry, keep everything to a minimum.

It is not at all necessary to buy an expensive classic suit for an interview. You can wear clothes that are familiar to you, choosing them correctly. For men – jeans and a jumper in light colors and black suede boots. For women - do not wear shiny belts, transparent blouses, high-heeled shoes, and so on.

Clothes must be clean and ironed. An expensive suit that is not ironed looks unacceptable. Also, girls should not wear dresses with deep necklines, torn jeans, T-shirts and sweaters with unclear inscriptions. If you have a bright manicure, do not wave your hands in front of your employer. Accuracy and a sense of proportion come first. You shouldn't pour a whole bottle of perfume on yourself, especially with a strong smell. This will definitely not make those around you happy.

Clothing must be appropriate for the vacant position. For example, you are going for an interview for a position as a credit specialist. Naturally, if you wear shorts and a red T-shirt for this, the employer will be at a loss. Specialists should dress casually: jeans, shirts, jumpers. Middle managers should already be in business style: a suit, polished shoes and a briefcase. The designer and photographer should not adhere to a business style at all. There is no need to try to stand out from the group and divert attention to yourself. Be like the people around you.

Remember that when going to an interview, you should pay attention not only to your appearance, but also to what you will say there. Set yourself a clear goal and answer to the question why you are applying for this vacant position. Be sure to practice with a friend before this, especially if you are going to a large company.

Often, instead of a regular interview with a manager, companies conduct interviews in a different way. For example, an interview via Skype. Recently, this form has become quite common. Having learned about this, many candidates relax, thinking that it is much easier than coming to the office and communicating in person. But that's not true. This type of interview has exactly the same requirements as a regular interview with an employer. Questions are also no different from a personal conversation.

Another form is a group interview. It is divided into two types: a group of candidates and a group of interviewers. If the interview is conducted in a group of candidates, then try to notice everything that happens, but do not be distracted from your own tactics. There is no need to try to surpass everyone and jump over your head. All of the above principles also apply to such interviews.

When you come to an interview, it’s worth remembering that you didn’t come to ask. You are a professional and have come to find out whether the proposed conditions are suitable for you or not. In other words, you have been made a business offer and it is up to you to accept it or not.

IV. First impression effect

We all know about the effect of the first impression, which is formed in the first 7 seconds of acquaintance. You just opened the door, entered the office, and your interlocutor already has a certain idea about you. Which? But this is completely up to you.

Therefore, when preparing for an interview, you must:

a) create a winning mood - “I’m happy with myself, I’m happy with life, I have everything I need, I’m open to the world and positively perceive any of its manifestations (including the HR manager with whom I have to communicate!)...” . How to do it? Before entering the office, remember something very good, pleasant for you and keep this image in your mind during the conversation;

b) dress in the style accepted in the company (for this it is useful to conduct preliminary reconnaissance and learn more about the possible employer). At the same time, you need to feel natural and comfortable - clothes should be comfortable and not “just from the store.”

List of common mistakes

To summarize all of the above, we can highlight several common mistakes that candidates for a vacant position make:

• Late.
  This is the most serious mistake of all. Not only are some people late, but they also manage to call and reschedule the interview at a time convenient for them.
• Lack of culture.
  Many people, when they come to an interview, begin to show their rude character and boorish attitude. Not necessarily directly, but through some specific phrases.
• Stupid questions and inattention.
  Most often these can be funny questions or answers. There was such a case when a girl came to get a job as a stationery seller and during the interview asked to let her go half an hour earlier in order to have time to watch her favorite TV series. Well, is this normal?
• Escort.
  Many people want to come to talk with mom, dad, friend or someone else. This simply discourages the employer.
• Cold-bloodedness and indifference.
  This is a less obvious but still common error. This is when the candidate looks calm and confident, and then turns into “snow kings and queens.” For employers, this is boring and unnatural. We are all humans. The employee talking to you has once been in a similar situation and knows that anxiety is quite inherent here. And the fact that you are not involved in the position may simply push him away.
• Expressing negativity towards your previous job.
  Many people believe that by saying a couple of bad reviews about your former boss, especially if he was a competitor of your current boss, you will make a knight's move. In reality this is not the case. You may seem like a conflicted person and will not be able to establish business relationships in a team.
• Initiation into personal problems.
  As mentioned above, questions regarding personal life are often asked. There is also some interest here - to evaluate how successful and stable a person you are. There is no need to tell everything in detail. It happens that an employee asks personal questions. There is no need to react hotly to this. Just calmly ask why he needs such information about you.
• Inattention towards the interlocutor. It is unlikely that anyone will like a candidate who will constantly clarify something and ask again. During the interview, it is important to focus only on him.
• Refusal of testing.
  Employers often offer testing to identify any potential capabilities of a candidate. Testing will only provide objective information about you. You shouldn’t be afraid of him, much less refuse him.
• Template answers.
  On the Internet you can read a lot of suggestions on how to answer certain questions. There are a huge number of such people. Employers have already heard enough of such answers and are not interested in the same information from different applicants for a vacant position. Try to open up on your own.

Thus, when you come to an interview, you need to behave calmly and confidently.
Be sure to think about your words and behavior. There is no need to hide your excitement; if you are very worried, then say so directly. You don't need to speak too fast or too slow, you need to find a middle ground and stick to it in everything. Gestures should also be used sparingly. When telling about yourself, try to focus only on what will be of interest to the employer and what concerns the vacant position. Try not to lie.

— Are the other points on your resume as close to the truth as this one? - There is as much truth in them as you like. If the summary suits you, it is truthful. Otherwise I'll rewrite it. Julian Barnes. "England, England"

How to overcome fear

Not everyone knows how to successfully and easily pass a job interview. Much depends on how a person behaves. If he stiffens up, sweats profusely and sits on the edge of his chair, he is unlikely to be hired.

The first sign of insecurity is slouching and drooping shoulders. Such a person seems to be afraid of a blow or aggression directed at him. He tries to become invisible and small. This is unacceptable behavior for a sales consultant.

Important! If you wish, you can eliminate any psychological problems, but this will take time. Constant training and work with a psychologist will help in this matter.

You can rehearse your gait at home, imagining yourself in different roles. You should talk to strangers more often on the street. All this will help you gain self-confidence.

The task of a sales manager is to convince customers. Therefore, he must speak clearly, competently and not lose composure in any situation. Developing this skill will require conversations with different people. This will help you overcome your fear of talking.

The potential candidate needs to go to more interviews. With their help, he will be able to try on different images, this will give him confidence. Gradually, fear will stop bothering him.

Stopping being afraid is not so easy. You can draw your anxiety on paper and then tear up the drawing. This technique will make it possible to get rid of internal experiences.

A salesperson often encounters different people in his work. They don't always behave correctly. Many potential candidates are afraid of being on the sales floor and facing rudeness. It is difficult to prepare for this, but it is possible. At home, it’s worth rehearsing different possible conflict scenes. Thinking through possible solutions allows you to take your mind off your worries.

If a person is to manage a department, then special personal qualities will be required from him.

Speaking English is a useful skill. If a person is afraid of being in an unfortunate position at an interview, then he can look for a person to talk to. Training will increase your self-confidence.

There are different tips for job applicants. They are given not only by HR people, but also by experienced psychologists. Don't neglect them, as this information can help.

Rarely does anyone get a job the first time, there is no need to worry about this - bad experience is also useful

Before going to an interview, you need to remember the experience of a successful interview. Restore it in memory in the smallest detail. The picture will inspire and give confidence.

Success at an interview may not come immediately. In case of refusal, a person should analyze his mistakes, think about them and not make them in the future. You can contact experienced HR people for advice.

Examples

Luscher diagnostics

Color testing or Luscher test . This is one of the easiest ways to get to know a person. For a psychologist, its results are a little deeper than for a person without a medical education, to whom this test will seem similar to the “tests” from glossy magazines.

The essence of the test is that several colored cards . There are eight of them, each with its own color: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, gray and black.

The candidate is asked to arrange the cards by color, starting from the one that is most pleasant for him personally . The results obtained are recorded, the cards are mixed and again they are asked to do the same. Based on what colors a person chooses for his sequence, a conclusion is drawn about his qualities and stability in stressful situations .

Psychological diagnostics using the Luscher test and advice from a psychologist in this video:

Rorschach test

This testing is known even to those who have never encountered psychology.

Thanks to many films (mostly foreign), one could see how a psychologist in glasses shows pictures with blurry blots to his clients.

The essence of the method is that the applicant is shown a dozen pictures depicting blots.

They can be color or monochrome (black and white). The person is asked to tell what he sees in these images .

By listening to the answers, the specialist will understand whether the person has mental disorders of mentality and way of thinking he has .

Rosenzweig method

This test is not as famous as the previous two, but is no less effective in determining certain personality traits. It consists of twenty-four pictures. They depict people in stressful situations .

For example, two people are standing by a car, and a departing train is visible in the background. Both have squares that already contain several phrases. Thanks to these phrases you can understand what happened in the picture.

In the example about the car, one person tells another that he is very sorry that because his car broke down, they were late for the train. In the second square you are asked to enter your own version of behavior or phrases in this situation. Thanks to such pictures, you can evaluate a person’s behavior when he fails .

You can find out how testing is carried out using the Rosenzweig method by watching the video:

Markert method

This test can be called the fastest. It can even be done at home on your own . This test has the most variable and short-lived results. Plus, they can change depending on your mood.

The bottom line is that the candidate is asked to choose two from eight symbols of different shapes : the one he likes most and its opposite. The symbols look like strokes made with a thick marker. In the subconscious they are associated with a person’s movement or posture. Depending on which “stroke” the candidate chooses first, the psychologist draws a conclusion about how he would like to move now or which posture is preferable. The same with the second symbol - the most undesirable pose is determined. It is important to remember that the result refers to a given point in time .

Personality questionnaires

Questionnaires are a kind of questionnaire with questions or statements.

By answering them or choosing one of several, a person secretly communicates some information about himself. Questionnaires can be of different directions .

When hiring, psychologists focus on those that determine the most significant character traits, a person’s motivation, and his opinion .

When a psychologist receives the task of establishing any of these points in candidates, he compiles a corresponding list of questions or statements.

First minute

So, you have met the person who will conduct the interview. Perhaps this will happen in the corridor or you will have to look for an office yourself. Immediately prepare yourself for the fact that the employer or personnel employee is not obliged to be friendly with you. Quite the opposite often happens. Most likely, there were already candidates before you, and besides, for them this is a regular working day. The human factor comes into play: at the time of the appointment, they may be tired, nervous, annoyed, irritated.

At first glance, try to assess their mood and state in order to behave accordingly. If the HR manager smiles at you, smile back. If the employer frowns, there is no need to demonstrate deliberate gaiety; show yourself as a serious person.

Be sure to say hello politely and in a friendly tone.

Many male job seekers are unsure whether to shake the hand of the male interviewer. According to the rules of etiquette, this is done only if he offers his hand first. Otherwise, the initiative will be viewed as familiarity and excessive self-confidence.

Under no circumstances should you jabber or overwhelm the employer with questions about where to send your documents, whether they need your photograph for their personal file, etc. If this is your first interview, first establish contact. To do this, it is enough to limit yourself to a short but pleasant phrase. For example: “Your office is so conveniently located - it wasn’t difficult to find you,” or “What a bright room!”, or “You have an original interior.”

You can sit down only after you are asked to do so and indicated where.

Sources

• Blazin LJ., Terao MA., Spraker-Perlman H., Baker JN., McLaughlin Crabtree V., Mandrell BN., Gattuso J., Sellers J., Dunn TJ., Lu Z., Hoffman JM., Burlison JD. Never Enough Time: Mixed Methods Study Identifies Drivers of Temporal Demand That Contribute to Burnout Among Physicians Who Care for Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Patients. // JCO Oncol Pract - 2021 - Vol - NNULL - p.OP2000754; PMID:33720755
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Where do you see yourself in five years? What is your career growth plan?

Remember, the stupidest answer in this situation is: “In your place” or “In the position of director of the enterprise.” You should also not answer that you don’t yet know what you want to become and that you plan to work in this place forever. Nobody needs an employee with no prospects.

An employee who dreams of taking the place of a director (that is, perhaps “sit in” for the existing one) is also not interesting to anyone. When answering this question, dream up a little and come up with a career growth plan for 5 years in advance. Describe in all colors how you plan to move up your career ladder, what prospects you have for life. Do not overdo it. Remember that lies are always very easy to hear. A person must be promising, purposeful and have earthly plans for life.

General Tips

A few more general points on how to win over:

1. Be internally confident in your abilities, do not allow failure in your thoughts - this will affect your demeanor and convince the employer that you know your worth.
2. If you start to get nervous, abstract yourself. Imagine yourself and the interviewer in an informal setting: on the beach, in an amusement park. This will relieve tension.
3. If you can't look straight into your eyes, choose a point on the bridge of your nose or in the center of your forehead.
4. If you don't like the person you're talking to or they annoy you, don't show it.
5. Don't let yourself belittled. Protect your dignity.
6. Don't be surprised by anything and don't react too emotionally to unexpected situations.

Solve any interview situation from the point of view of the position for which you are applying.

Several accents

Before you go for an interview, focus on several points that may prevent you from acting naturally and at ease. Remember that every little detail plays a role in achieving success in this business:

1. Be mentally prepared for success and feel confident.
2. Prepare and take with you a package of documents that will be needed: passport, education diploma, resume, certificates, diplomas, work book.
3. Think over the appearance: hairstyle, clothes, shoes, accessories, fragrance, and for girls - makeup.
4. Get enough sleep the night before.
5. Don't be late.
6. Be positive, in a good mood.
7. Provide yourself with fresh breath: brush your teeth, do not smoke in the morning, use mint chewing gum or menthol lozenges just before the interview.
8. Turn off or put your mobile phone on silent mode.

Believe me: even if you are positive and confident, a vibrating phone in your pocket or a question about the circles under your eyes after a sleepless night can unsettle you and ruin everything.

Reasons for unsuccessful interviews

Anxiety and distraction are the main reasons for unsuccessful interviews. What else can ruin a meeting:

• talkativeness;
• silence;
• negligence;
• slurred speech;
• parasite words;
• loud or quiet speech.

What a person says also matters. Employers often ask candidates to tell them about themselves. What not to do in this case:

• paraphrase a resume;
• talk about personal life goals (buy a house, skydive, get a dog);
• discuss the reputation of the company and employees;
• describe skills and practical experience that are far from the field of employment;
• talk about personal and work failures;
• doubt your abilities, skills, knowledge and abilities;
• speak poorly about your previous employer and place of work;
• use expressions like “it seems to me”, “I would like to believe” (a sign of uncertainty).

Be prepared for stress. Finding a job is exciting in itself, but some recruiters also choose extreme conditions: they deliberately shout at the candidate or invite him to communicate with a difficult client. Think about what method of self-regulation and coping with stress you will use.