How to do a good job interview?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
So you look for a job, you apply for the job, you get an interview and then you start to worry, maybe even start to panic about what you're going to say and how you're going to say it, how you're going to come across generally to your potential future employer when you meet. It's the story for so many. So we're going to find out now how to prepare as best we can for a job interview. Peter Cosgrove is here with me in studio, the Managing Director of FutureWise. Hello. Hello.
Hi, Clare, how are you?
This is the scary bit, isn't it?
What common fears do job seekers have before an interview?
The interview, because it's the face-to-face, you know, you can probably get away with a lot of things in your application and now you feel like, oh, I'm going to be found out in the face-to-face. I've got to think on my feet.
Yeah, and it is really hard. Like people don't realise it if they haven't been interviewing for a while. Standing, you can actually have a dialogue going on in your head as you're trying to speak at the same time and it becomes really hard.
And you're often facing a panel of people as well on the other side of the table.
Facing a panel of people and... And being honest, sometimes the questions they're asking aren't very good. There are questions where the answer, you know, like what is your leadership style? Most people don't know what the answer should even be, regardless of what your answer is. So it is tricky.
So can you ever get away with not preparing for it, like winging it?
I would say no. I mean, you might be amazing. You know, the people who unfortunately do very well in this are generally people who are very good at winging it in general. So maybe actors, they would probably get away with this to some degree. But I think to break it down, you do your preparation beforehand.
The actors will all be on to us. We don't wing it. We don't put a lot of work into it.
No, I know, but... As in they have the ability to do... Performers.
I know exactly what you're saying.
So I think you have to prepare. Even after preparing, you're going to be nervous. But at least most of the interview is actually, you can work it out. Tell me about yourself. What are, you know, the four questions are going to be around the job. You can prepare all that stuff by having examples ready. But start at the start. As you walk in, there's four things people check. You know, eye contact, whether you smile, a good handshake and how you're dressed. All of that is in your control. But even small things, a lot of graduates I've seen recently, they don't even stand up when the other person comes into the room. I know it sounds so basic, but that's so important, possibly to the other person. So don't get the first bit wrong, which is get there in time, be relaxed, you know, and then when they arrive, do all those things right.
Because that first impression, people don't notice it, but if you give someone a wet handshake... they've already gone, oh, I'm not sure about this.
So that sounds terrible. So your hand has to be dry. But not a bone cruncher, please.
No, not a bone cruncher. It's just a nice handshake. That's all it needs to be. And I know there's arguments in different cultures, it's different. But in Ireland, that would generally be what people would think. And whether it's true or not, you might as well follow what the form is.
So sit down then. And the first question is likely to be what?
It's always going to be the same. It's always tell me about yourself or talk me through your CV. And they just want two minutes. And I'm telling you, nobody prepares this. Like, you know, it's coming up.
I know, you know, it's coming up. But like, where do you start? Is tell me about yourself. Is that tell me about your career path or about you as a person? You know, I like to read thrillers.
Often what they're really saying is we want you to just relax into it.
How can you effectively prepare for a job interview?
Most times they're not there to try and, you know, give you an awful time. But we think they are. They just want you to relax in. The easiest way is talk me through your CV.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:36
2
What common fears do job seekers have before an interview?
0:36–3:02
3
How can you effectively prepare for a job interview?
3:02–5:17
4
What first impressions do interviewers look for?
5:17–7:06
5
What is the best way to answer the 'tell me about yourself' question?
7:06–8:27
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from The Claire Byrne Show
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