COSMOPOLITAN July 2015 65
good on paper, you need a way
to draw out the very best.”
But don’t be too alarmed- Khatoon assures us this can
be a great opportunity. “These
interviews allow you to show
off your personality,” she says.
“Even if your qualifications
aren’t the best, you can prove
you have the mental agility and
other traits they’re looking for.
The type of interview that they
choose and the questions they
ask will also give you more of
an idea about the culture of the
company, so whether or not it’s
really going to suit you.”
Video interviews
“Skype interviews are popular,”
confirms James Innes, founder
of The Resume Centre and
author of The Interview Book.
“In fact, that’s how we do most
of our interview coaching.”
If you are offered a non-face-
to-face interview, treat it the
same as a normal one, advises
Innes. “Dress smart, be prepared
and smile. Make sure you’re in
a quiet space where you won’t
be disturbed and be careful
about what’s in the frame – a
pile of laundry behind you doesn’t
give the right impression. Check
the technology and make sure
it’s working. If it does fail, it’s
all about how you handle it. Offer
to call and speak over the phone,
or rearrange – but don’t swear,
get annoyed or lose your temper.The curveball question
You know the ones: how many
bricks are there in the world?
If you were an elephant, what
would you do with your trunk?
No, we don’t know either. These
tricky questions were first made
famous by Google, but now more
than half of all companies use
them to vet candidates. Luckily,
not knowing is the whole point.
“There’s no right answer – the
objective is to see how creativeCOSMO INTERVIEW GUIDE
you are and how you think on
your feet,” explains Krissie
Davies from ManpowerGroup
UK. “Practise with friends so
you’re less likely to get f lustered.
Use logic and creativity, and
don’t let it throw you – the worst
thing you can do is clam up.”The panel interview
Despite the unshakeable feeling
that you’re walking in front of a
firing squad, companies don’t
put you in front of a panel to
spook you. “Usually, it’s because
they genuinely want everyone’s
opinion – simple as that,” says
Alison Ryan, divisional manager
at Executive Headhunters.
Lots of interviewees single
out the most important-looking
person and address them – but
Ryan says this is a big mistake.
“Everyone’s there for a reason
so make eye contact with them
all. You can’t tell who the most
senior person is – the quiet one
in the corner could be the CEO.”
If you’re worried that you’ll
fidget, take a pad and pen to hold- you can write down questions
on there, too, just in case you go
blank. Take copies of your CV
to refer to and ask for a glass of
water – you can take a sip to buy
time. There’s nothing wrong
with a pause before you answer.
The observation round
You’re in a group and you’re
being watched – kind of like The
Apprentice. “[This technique] is
very effective when you have
hundreds of applicants,” says
Davies. Employers want to see
whether you can think on your
feet and work to a time limit
while being observed. There’s
no trick to this – it’s hard to be
anything but yourself. But don’t
hog the limelight, manage your
time carefully and make sure you
complete the task. Try not to
dominate entirely, but don’t fade
into the background either.”umm
hate
nobabe
you know
obsessed
likemate
kinda
shit
dammit
11 WORDS YOU
...in an interview
SHOULD NEVER USE...
THE HANDSHAKE
MAKE EYE CONTACT FIRST, SMILE AND OFFER
YOUR HAND FROM THE SIDE. IF YOU HAVE
CLAMMY PALMS, SUBTLY WIPE DRY ON YOUR
PANTS. GO FOR THREE FIRM SHAKES AND FINISH
WITH SOME FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION. >Look person
in the eye and
smile“Web” touchNo “limp fish” No “death grip”Approach
person’s line
of sightWORDS BY KATE RUSSELL; JULIA NAUGHTON. *NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK ONKEN. ILLUSTRATIONS BY INGA CAMPBELL (INK
LINGDESIGN.COM.AU)