Interviewers will often focus their attention on how much insight you possess about yourself. Such insight is the capacity to see into yourself, to look behind your obvious and overt behavior. Insight, particularly self-insight, is a most difficult capacity to analyze.
For your interviewer to get an idea of your insight into yourself, your capacity to see yourself "as others see you, "he or she will ask questions that will give clues as to how you see yourself in relation to others. Your interviewer candor this by asking you to describe your best friend, then following that up with a question asking you to describe the differences between you and your best friend. You could also be asked to define such terms as leadership, or integrity, or success, and even insight.
One of the worst answers I get when I ask candidates to tell me about their weaknesses (preceded by a question asking about their strengths), is; "I don't have any weaknesses." Any interviewer with any experience or commonsense would view that response as totally lacking in the ability to see the self as others see you. Don't let yourself fall into that category. Convince the interviewer you can look at yourself as others do and that you have insight into your weaknesses as well as your strengths.
Are you super / lorry material?
If you've applying for a supervisory position, you may be examined in terms of your ability to make judgments concerning others. Obviously, the other areas we discussed-mental effectiveness, character and personality, relations with others, and insight-count toward supervisory ability. Then, too, the interviewer may look for special characteristics in you.
- Are you a "take-charge" person?
- Are you someone who plans your life carefully to reach specific goals?
- Are you capable of motivating others to put forth their best-efforts?
- Do you have a contagious enthusiasm?
- Can you make decisions without having all the facts?
- Are you a natural leader?
- Can you seek out a consensus of opinion and test out your decision in your mind?
- In school and previous work situations at one time or another, you might have been chairperson, president, or leader. If you were "on top" of the situation in those jobs, don't hesitate to let the interviewer know it.
- If given a chance in an interview, move in and take charge. Ask questions. Direct the course of the conversation and assume responsibility for the end result.
- As you talk about your "best" or "worst" boss, show that you have a feeling for the boss's responsibilities. Let your criticisms be indicative of an accurate perception on your part about the job of the supervisor.
- The interviewer suddenly disagrees with you, but don't fold up. Instead, tactfully state your position without being overly solicitous, or rigid, or insistent on your point of view.
- Show how you use your spare time in a way that indicates a "take-charge" kind of person. Think of projects you've Will the Interviewer Decide For or Against You? Completed or neighborhood activities you've organized; maybe you've run a social or headed up a condominium committee. Don't keep it a secret.
- Produce work in a high volume without sacrificing quality or cutting corners
- Deal with community or government representatives in sensitive and productive manner
- Manage your segment of a business with respect to equal employment opportunity in both the spirit and letter of the law;
- Show appropriate concern in taking action where safety is required and to meet legal requirements
- Perform so as to ensure good customer relations and exhibit sensitivity to unusual problems
- Practice and recognize the need for sound employee recruitment
- Instill high levels of motivation and commitment among subordinates
- Help subordinates grow and develop
- Provide leadership
- Consider all available information before making an important decision
- Display sensitivity to the "people" element, where decisions require coordination and teamwork
- Respond to feedback and change your course when it becomes clear that a plan of action is not working as intended
- Have knowledge of your field by being acquainted with current ideas, techniques, trends, discoveries, and the state of the art
- Weigh complex information and arrive at sound conclusions
- Be counted on to carry out assignments thoroughly, promptly, and accurately
- Willingly take risks for the sake of improving the organization
- Display drive and ambition by willingly taking the initiadve,persistently seeking goals, and exerting extra effort to succeed
- Display self-confidence without being arrogant
- Convince others by presenting one's point of view logically
- Stand up to stress in the face of unusual pressure
- Be aware and sensitive to the needs, fears, feelings of others and to be able to work productively with individuals and with groups of diverse personalities
The interviewer will also be assessing the overall impact you make as a candidate. Did you inspire the interviewer or leave him or her cold? Were you interesting or dull? Did you display personal warmth and charm? Did you show energy and enthusiasm? Or did you act as if you were dead from the ankles up? In short, did you attract or repel the interviewer?
Now let me give you one final list before we close this. How well do you score on the following points?
- Neatness
- Poise
- Tact
- Courtesy (Don't assume you're on a first-name basis with the interviewer.)
- Confidence
- Warmth
- Enthusiasm
- Cheerfulness
- Optimism
- Humor
- A firm handshake
- Good pronunciation
- Good vocabulary
- Good grammar
- A clear, organized manner of expression
