WINNING WAYS AT INTERVIEWS

arketing communications         horrors commonly known as the
copywriter Charlie             interview room, you’re on your
Trumpess takes a humorous      own, never sure if you’re saying
look at how best to tackle that       or doing the right thing. The
age old terror, the job               harder you try to relax the more
interview.                            nervous you seem to feel. Simply
                                      stringing a coherent sentence
Let’s face it, job interviews are     together seems like one of the
about as much fun as a hot wax        labours of Hercules. Of course
with no anaesthetic. After all,       the room is unbearably hot and
attempting to showcase your           your mouth is unusually dry so
talents to a bunch of strangers,      your tongue swells, cutting off
usually against the clock and on      the oxygen to your brain. Panic
someone else’s turf is not a          grips you. Finally, just as
natural act. Nevertheless, if you     you’re about to turn on your
really want the job then you have     heels and make an undignified
to crack the interview conundrum.     dash for the nearest fire escape,
Giving ‘good interview’ is all        the kindly interviewer extends a
about the three Ps - preparation,     friendly hand and welcomes you.
presentation and positive             Now what do you do?
thinking. All interviews are
basically made of the same            Fear not. Introductions don’t
hellish stuff, so let's start at      have to be embarrassing,
the beginning with the                distressing or tearful episodes.
introductions.                        Introductions can be easy and
                                      fun. You simply have to approach
The interview introduction can be     things calmly and logically. Stop
a slippery customer and one that      and think about it for a moment.
can easily get away from you.         You’re meeting someone for the
Once you enter that chamber of        first time; it’s a clean sheet,

an opportunity for you to write       stranger of your marketing
your own ticket without               expertise or business acumen
preconceptions or bias getting in     should always be avoided.
the way. All you have to do is        Accepting or declining
arrive on time, dress smartly,        refreshments is something of a
check your teeth for remnants of      judgement call, as you don’t want
your last meal, be yourself and       to appear ill at ease, but
make sure you’re wearing              remember the risks are high. Loud
industrial strength deodorant.        slurping or gulping won’t endear
What could be simpler? To build       you to the interviewer while
up confidence you can always          spilling hot chocolate down the
practice introducing yourself in      front of your cream and oatmeal
front of the bathroom mirror          business suit is a blunder few
before you actually attend any        candidates can easily recover
interviews. You might want to try     from. So, if you find fear and
this in the comfort of your own       anxiety has made your mouth as
home rather than in the washroom      dry as Death Valley on the
of your local pizzeria, where         hottest day of the year simply
introducing yourself to fellow        ask for a glass of water. It’s
patrons might be frowned upon.        probably your safest option.

Having successfully navigated the     According to certain eminent
interview introductions, your         psychologists, who study such
next big challenge is to deal         things, the first few minutes of
with an offer of refreshments.        any interview are crucial in
Something as seemingly benign as      determining the final outcome. It
a cup of tea or coffee can wreak      seems that first impressions
havoc during an interview. Having     really do count. With the
to juggle hot liquids in flimsy       preliminaries over, it’s time to
plastic cups while convincing a       tackle the main event. By this

stage of the game you’ll either       tweezers is far worse than your
be brimming with confidence or        average job interview.
desperate for the lavatory, a         Interviewers aren’t the monsters
cigarette and a family-sized          they might first appear. They’re
candy bar. Whatever happens you       just ordinary people doing a
must stay focussed on the task at     difficult job. If the interviewer
hand. 105 seconds is all the time     makes a poor decision then both
you’re going to get to make the       you and your new employer will
right impression. The key is not      suffer the consequences. The best
to panic. DON’T PANIC! If you’re      thing that you can probably do is
properly prepared then nothing        place your trust in the
can go wrong. You should know         interviewer’s experience while
exactly what questions to ask,        checking the chair you’re offered
what to say, and when to say it.      for chains and thumbscrews. At
Try to anticipate the questions       the end of all this torment,
the interviewer is likely to ask,     after saying and doing everything
and have your answers ready. But      right, you still might not get
remember, before answering pause      the job. Sometimes life is
for a moment. It looks more           fickle. In such a case, try to
natural. Keep your delivery           get some positive feedback on
clear, consistent, positive,          your interview technique and move
short and simple; then you won’t      on.
go far wrong. And try not to get
sidetracked or go off at a            Typically, just as you start to
tangent.                              relax and feel you’re building a
                                      rapport with your interviewer
However doubtful you are, take it     you’ll find the whole torturous
on trust that having your highly      process suddenly coming to an
polished, recently manicured          end. And it’s now, at the end of
fingernails pulled out with rusty     the interview that you face your

biggest challenge. As your            leave, especially if you’re one
confidence levels climb it’s          of that daredevil breed who
tempting to drop your guard and       recklessly accepts liquid
divert from your original             refreshments, make sure that
interview strategy. Resist this       everything spillable is out of
impulse. Technically known as         harm’s way. Now, all that remains
‘end-of-interview euphoria’ you       for you to do is get out of
must fight the urge to say            there. At this last delicate
something witty or clever. In the     stage of the proceedings it’s
intoxicatingly thin air of your       advisable not to run. Hazards are
newly found confidence the            everywhere and tripping over the
chances are that your wit and         wastebasket, upsetting the coffee
cleverness will be interpreted as     table or ripping the telephone
glibness or even rudeness. Take       line out of its wall-socket will
it from someone who has suffered      usually go against you. Whenever
this fate; fight your urges and       possible it’s best to leave your
keep your mouth shut without          potential new employer’s office
you’re asked a direct question.       building, fixtures and fittings
                                      just as you found them. Play by
Maybe not the big finale you          the rules and you’ll walk out of
imagined or rehearsed, but safer      there with a new job in the bag.
by far to conclude your interview     Congratulations. Alternatively,
with a thank you, a smile and a       tomorrow’s another day and
gentle reminder of your contact       another interview.
details. Before you stand up to

About the Author:

Charlie Trumpess is a marketing communications copywriter with over a decade’s corporate experience. Today he provides copywriting services to small and medium size businesses. Visit http://www.charlie-the-copywriter.co.uk

Winning Ways At Interviews