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What does a job interview mean. Preparing for an interview is an important step to successful employment.

So, the employer found your resume on the Superjob website, became interested and wanted to invite you for an interview. The job interview is the culmination of the recruitment process. An interview with an employer causes stress even for professional and experienced applicants, so it is important to think in advance how to behave during an interview, how to answer questions asked by a recruiter during an interview. Do you know how to successfully pass a job interview, what to be prepared for? Superjob will help you find answers to these questions!

1. Telephone conversation with the employer

A telephone conversation is your first personal communication with a future employer, and it is important to make a good impression already at this stage. Even if the secretary will make the appointment, he will definitely tell the immediate supervisor or the one who will conduct the interview with you about how the conversation went.

What needs to be done during a telephone conversation preceding a job interview?

Specify for which position you are being invited, ask the necessary questions about vacant position. If the position does not suit you initially, politely report it and refuse the interview, giving reasonable arguments. You should not waste precious time (your own and the employer's) on unpromising meetings.

Write down the name of the company, the name and surname of the person with whom you spoke, a contact number where you can contact him in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Find out who exactly will conduct the interview with you, what is his name. You will make a good impression if you address him by his first name and patronymic when you meet him.

Find out the exact location of the interview. When negotiating the time of the meeting, plan it so that no other business will interfere with you. It may turn out that you have one or more interviews with other employers scheduled that day, then the interview schedule should be planned so that the time between successive interviews is at least 2-3 hours. Remember that you are not waiting for a minute conversation, but a detailed conversation, questions about your work experience and professional skills will be asked at the interview.

Find information in advance on how to behave in an interview. Find out how long a job interview lasts, whether you will have to fill out a questionnaire, pass written tests, and perform practical tests.

2. Preparing for an interview

So, you agreed on the time of the meeting with the employer, now it's time to start preparing for the interview. What needs to be done?

First, prepare the documents that you may need at the interview:

summary in two copies;
passport;
diploma of education with an insert;
diplomas of additional education, certificates of completion of courses, certificates, etc. (You should not take with you documents that are not related to the position for which you are applying).

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the information about the company in which you are going for an interview in advance. Connect all possible channels: go to the company's website on the Internet, use business directories, the press or other sources. Familiarize yourself with the activities and history of the company (year of foundation, stages of development), study the names of departments, remember information about the company's achievements, etc. Thus, during a conversation with the employer, you will be able to demonstrate the seriousness of your intentions. At the same time, even if you are not taken to this particular company, you will in any case expand your horizons.

Plan the route of the trip to the interview, calculate the time that you need to spend on the road, add another margin of time (30 minutes) in case of possible traffic difficulties that you may encounter on the road. You can make a preliminary trip to the place of the interview if you doubt that on the appointed day you will be able to quickly and easily find the right building.

Think over the answers to the questions of the employer at the interview, which in one form or another will definitely sound during your conversation:

why did you leave (decided to leave) last place work; where do you work now?
why do you want to work in our company?
what benefits can your activity as an employee bring to our company?
name your biggest strengths and weaknesses as an employee;
name your greatest achievements as a specialist; have you had any failures professional activity, and what are they?

Prepare to give truthful answers to interview questions (during the interview or after the lie will definitely come up). When answering the question: “Why did you decide to change jobs?” - should not be given negative feedback about colleagues and managers, limit yourself to neutral statements: lack of opportunities for professional growth, irregularity in receiving monetary rewards, remoteness from home, inconvenient work schedule, etc.

Speaking about a possible future job in a new company, make it clear to the interlocutor that you are interested in working in this particular company, that you can be useful to her as a specialist, but at the same time you must clearly understand what the company does in order not to get into trouble. If you manage to behave correctly in this matter, your chances of being hired by this company will increase several times.

When answering questions about your strengths and especially weaknesses, about achievements and failures, be careful. Show sufficient self-criticism to your person, this will raise your authority in the eyes of the interlocutor. When talking about your shortcomings, it is not necessary to list your biggest mistakes. The main thing here is that you can show that you yourself corrected your mistake and saved the company from troubles or reduced them to a minimum.

Get ready for tests or practical tasks(both psychological and professional) that the employer may offer you to pass.

Prepare in advance the questions you would like to ask the employer.

Think over the clothes in which you will go to a meeting with the employer. Everyone knows the proverb: "Meet by clothes, see off by mind." Let the first impression of you be the most favorable. Naturally, the clothes should correspond to the position for which you are applying. Perhaps a formal business suit is not appropriate for every position, but neat clothes in business style, clean hair and nails, polished shoes are sure to make the necessary positive impression on your interlocutor. There should be no shopping bags, shopping bags, soiled grocery bags, backpacks in your hands!

3. Passing an interview

It's time for an interview that could change your life! What should you keep in mind during an interview?

Try to arrive at the meeting a little earlier than the appointed time. Better you wait 10 minutes at the reception than the employer will wait for you half a minute. Being late for a meeting, even due to circumstances beyond your control, will 99% cross out all hopes of getting a job in this company.

If suddenly, nevertheless, such a situation has occurred, you feel that you do not have time for the appointed time, be sure to call the contact number, apologize, explain the reason for your delay and find out if the employer will be able to accept you on the same day a little later or it is possible to reschedule the meeting for another time.

If you decide not to go to the interview at all (changed your mind about working in this company, you have other urgent matters, etc.) ALWAYS call the employer and let him know, first apologizing that you violated his plans. Don't let a good impression of you, received in a preliminary conversation on the phone, spoil anything!

When entering the office, be sure to say hello, ask to inform the employee with whom you have an interview scheduled about your arrival. If you are asked to wait a little, do not be indignant and take this as disrespect for yourself. Be patient and do not lose the sense of goodwill with which you went to meet.

Disable beforehand cellular telephone so that nothing can interfere with your conversation.

Entering the office, say hello, addressing by name and patronymic to the employee with whom you will talk. Be sure to smile. Say that you are very pleased with the invitation for an interview in this particular company. This way you will be able to position the interlocutor in advance.

Sit so that your face is turned to the interlocutor. Move a chair if necessary. Do not fall apart in a chair, do not cross your legs under it, do not tighten them; do not fidget nervously with your hands.

Listen carefully to the questions that you are asked, while looking into the face of the interlocutor. Start answering only when you understand what you have been asked. If the question is not entirely clear, then, apologizing, ask to repeat it again. However, do not overdo it - you should never ask almost every question again.

When answering a question, try not to speak for more than 2-3 minutes. This time is quite enough to cover the most important information on the most difficult issue as a whole. Monosyllabic answers "yes" and "no", a quiet voice will give the impression of your self-doubt, inability to explain your point of view.

If you are asked to tell about yourself, you should not indulge in lengthy conversations about your autobiography. Moreover, it is unacceptable to answer that everything is already written in the resume. Tell us about your education, highlight work experience. This will demonstrate once again your professional skills and qualities.

At the interview, you will have the opportunity to ask the questions that you prepared in advance, and those that you had during the conversation.

If you are interested in the possibility of career growth, then it is important to be able to ask this question correctly. Keep in mind that you are invited to the company for a specific position, to solve a certain range of tasks. Not all positions provide for career growth. In addition, it is difficult for employers to discuss this issue without knowing your capabilities and abilities. Nevertheless, it is quite appropriate to find out from the employer whether personnel rotation is practiced in the company, whether there are opportunities for growth from this position in the long term and be sure to ask what is needed for this (additional education, advanced training courses, gaining experience, or something else) . Find out what programs for training or professional development of employees exist in the company. Then you will look like a serious and purposeful person. And this is another plus in your favor.

An open smile, a little good and unobtrusive humor, and then small mistakes will be forgiven for sure. A smile does not interfere with a business conversation, on the contrary, the impression remains that you are an experienced, and therefore self-confident person.

Saying goodbye at the end of the interview with the employee who conducted it, be sure to thank for giving you the opportunity to be interviewed in this company, regardless of the final choice that the employer makes.

Good luck with your interview!

Everyone has had a chance to participate in an interview at least once in their life. Someone took part as a candidate for a vacancy, while someone, on the contrary, acted as an evaluator, being a potential employer. Depending on the rules adopted in various companies and even industries, there are different practices for organizing this conversation between the two parties.

What is an interview for?

An interview is a process of communication between an employer and a candidate who applies for an open position in a company. As a rule, the full organization of the interview lies on the shoulders of the HR manager or HR manager. This person must first find a suitable candidate, get management approval of his resume, and then arrange a meeting with the candidate. Some companies do not have a dedicated HR specialist, so organizational issues can be resolved by other people, for example, secretaries or managers directly interested in a new employee. Someone prefers to outsource recruitment issues to an agency or work with a remote freelance recruiter. In this case, the first interview takes place on the territory of the recruiting company.

An interview is necessary for both parties for the initial assessment of each other. The employer evaluates the candidate's professional skills and his psychological qualities, and the candidate, as a first approximation, studies the potential job, gets acquainted with the list of possible tasks and often with the immediate supervisor.

What types and methods of interviewing exist

Depending on the level of the position for which the candidate will be interviewing, on the conditions of the interview and on its goals, recruiters can use different kinds and methods of conducting interviews:

structured interview;
situational or case interview;
projective interview;
competency interview (behavioral);
stress (shock) interview;
brainteaser-interview.

Some companies also deliberately practice the group interview format, which is not the most respected among job seekers. Several applicants take part in it at once, forced to compete with each other. At the same time, the employer can choose the most interesting from several candidates.

The personal practice of the author of this material shows that very often fragments are collected in one interview. different types. For example, a recruiter conducts a basic acquaintance with a candidate in the format of a structured interview, asking expected questions about education and work experience. A potential manager participating in the first interview together with a recruiter can ask several cases or arrange a small stressful interview.

Structured interview

The most common is the structured interview. This format is the most logical and simple in terms of organizing the event. The interview takes place in a tête-à-tête format. The representative of the employer asks the applicant standard questions and receives direct answers about the candidate's education, qualifications, work experience, professional and life expectations. Such a conversation allows you to understand the level of compliance of the candidate with the formal requirements for the position, as well as how easily he will be able to fit into the work team.

Most often, the interview is conducted according to a predetermined scheme.

situational interview

A case interview implies that in addition to standard questions, the candidate will be asked to solve several practical problems from the practice of a given company or industry as a whole. This way you can determine the candidate’s train of thought and suggest how he will act in a work situation.

Projective interview

A projective interview involves a shift in focus from the candidate to an imaginary third person who solves some problems. The task of the applicant in this case is to comment as quickly as possible on the actions of the people involved in the situation given by the interviewer. This method is based on the principle that each of us has a tendency to analyze other people's actions from the standpoint of our own experience. So, in order to reveal the life values of the candidate, they ask the question of why the employee could be fired, in which case the employee can steal from the employer or lie to him. Asking why people are late for appointments will help reveal attitudes towards punctuality.

behavioral interview

The longest time is usually the competency assessment interview. Here, it is the candidate's professional experience that is closely studied, and the results of his answers are carefully evaluated according to various types of scales (competences).

shock interview

A stress interview is used to assess the level of conflict and stress resistance of a candidate. This method is non-standard and is most often practiced in relation to representatives of certain professions. In particular, the ability to keep a cool head in the face of a brewing conflict is very useful for top managers, sales people, and insurance agents. It is very easy to understand that you have become a participant in a stressful interview. The interviewer may deliberately provoke conflict, make inappropriate comments, and ask incorrect questions in order to throw the candidate off balance.

Brainteaser interview

The brainteaser interview is used to assess the creativity of candidates. To successfully pass such an interview, the candidate must show enough to solve non-standard logical tasks level of resourcefulness and strong independent work skills.

A long wait before a meeting may not be the interlocutor's forgetfulness, but a test of stress resistance

Other types of interviews

When organizing interviews, various special tools for communication are widely used today. In general, it should be noted that the format of the interview very much depends on the level of the position for which the candidate is applying, as well as on the industry itself, within which the person wants to work. So, for the selection of performers creative professions(of film actors, models, and so on) the interview is called a casting or audition and takes place in a format that is significantly different from the introductory interview for office employees.

New forms of interviewing have also opened up thanks to the availability of modern technologies. Thus, video interviews are becoming more widespread in some circles. These interviews can be organized through various computer services, the most famous of which is Skype. The convenience of this format lies in the fact that both the applicant and the recruiter, as well as other interview participants, can be located in different parts of the world. The main condition for conducting an interview via Skype is a good Internet channel. Many IT companies conduct at least one of the first interviews with a candidate this way.

There are also special services that allow you to conduct video interviews in a different way. Its essence is that first the recruiter records his questions to the candidate on video, then the candidate answers these questions in front of the video camera and sends his answer to the recruiter. He can view the candidate's response at any convenient time. This format helps the HR specialist to process more applications.

Video: types of job interviews

How is the interview

A common practice today is to conduct a whole chain of job interviews. A modern candidate will have to go through two to five interviews before receiving the coveted offer. There are no uniform requirements for the number of interview stages, and each company independently determines the procedure for communicating with candidates for each of the vacancies.

Communication most often begins through telephone conversations or email correspondence. e-mail. If you are looking for candidates recruitment agency, the first contact can also be made by the manager of this agency.

The first interview in the company traditionally takes place with an HR manager. To save time, some employers prefer to have the first conversation over the phone or Skype. Adherents of more conservative methods immediately invite the candidate to the office. At this stage, the HR specialist evaluates the general adequacy of the candidate, as well as compliance with the formal criteria for the vacancy. Some positions require mandatory preliminary testing of the candidate. After the level professional competencies confirmed, line managers and, in some cases, top management of the employing company are involved in the interviews.

Of course, we are not always talking about such a long chain of interviews. In most cases, people try to save their time and make a job offer after two or three interviews.

The pattern in which each of the interviews in the chain takes place is to some extent standard and is determined by the host. As a rule, the recruiter sets the pace and general mood of the conversation. The professionalism of this person also largely determines the results of the interview and the conclusions that each of the parties will make for themselves. Most often, the scheme of the conversation looks like this:

The recruiter offers the candidate the opportunity to tell about himself that the latter considers relevant in the context of a particular vacancy.
Those present ask him various clarifying questions.
If a potential manager participates in the meeting, he can ask the applicant to solve or comment on any task from the practice of the enterprise.
After the participants from the employer's side find out everything that interests them about the candidate, it will be his turn to ask questions about the company.

What questions are often asked to candidates and how to answer them correctly

Candidates can be asked any question during the interview. Of course, most of the questions will be standard and aimed at clarifying various formal details of the applicant's biography. Answering questions about where you studied and worked should be calm, confident and truthful. There are no special tricks here.

A well-prepared candidate should not be confused by interview questions

Much more interesting and more difficult will be questions with a greater degree of abstraction - those for which there may not be a single correct and unambiguous answer. It is important to remember that when you are asked such a “weird” or “stupid” question, the recruiter will be interested not so much in the content of the answer as in your first reaction. The question may be directed to something unpleasant for you, to a moment in your biography or resume that can cause negative emotions.

Interviews often ask you to talk about your biggest failure and biggest success. When answering, one must be honest, since everyone has ups and downs, and a person who has never experienced either victory or defeat makes a rather negative impression.

Among the non-standard ones is, for example, the question of professional plans for the next five (ten, fifteen, etc.) years. Based on the answer, the recruiter will get an idea of the direction in which you are interested in developing and whether it is interesting at all what kind of career you are going to build. So, if you want to leave for another country in a few years, you may not be hired to work in state organization, but for an international corporation with offices in different countries you will be a very deeply motivated worker. The socially desirable response is to show that you are moderately ambitious and are serious about your future. True, you need to be prepared for the fact that this answer will be followed by an insidious request to tell what exactly you are already doing to achieve your goals. If you do not have a ready answer to this question, the plan announced earlier will look like empty dreams and characterize you not from the best side.

Often at interviews, you can also hear the question of how the candidate is engaged in his professional development. From your answer, the recruiter will understand whether you seriously identify yourself with the chosen specialty, whether you are inclined to self-improvement or will work only from call to call. Be prepared to ask questions about the last professional book you read or the training you took. It is in the interests of a motivated applicant to be aware of the latest innovations in their industry, to be able to explain the contents of the top books in an understandable language, and to explain the methods used in the profession.

Don't try to show yourself smarter than you really are. The use of concepts and terms, the meaning of which is not familiar to you, can go sideways.

Video: Frequent interview questions and answers

How to pass a job interview

On the Internet, you can easily find many articles that detail what and how to do in order to pass an interview and get a job offer. At the same time, if everything were so simple, the very need for such articles would have disappeared long ago. It is important to understand that there is no magic pill, and not even the most detailed instructions cannot guarantee a positive outcome of the interview. Expert articles provide general guidelines that will help the candidate feel more confident in the interview process and better understand the expectations of the other side.

How to prepare

First of all, it is necessary to study all available information about a potential employer: a website on the Internet, social networks, offline points of sale, publications in the media, blogs, and so on. It is not worth neglecting this preliminary study, relying on the fact that you will be able to orient yourself on the spot. You should definitely check the presence of the employer in various anti-ratings, look for employee reviews, from which you can find out if there are problems with paying wages, whether the management is adequate, and so on. Some candidates, having studied the employer in more detail, will generally prefer to refuse to go to an interview, since they will come to the understanding that this company is not suitable for them for some reason. For those job seekers who make it to the employer's office for a meeting on the appointed day and hour, the results of these studies will also serve in good stead. It's rare for an interview candidate to avoid being asked what they know about the company they want to work for. Obviously, a person who devotes at least some time to thematic Internet surfing will look much more advantageous against the background of citizens who did not want to pay attention to this issue.

Appearance at the interview is very important - the candidate's clothes must match the general style of the company

For professionals applying for certain positions, for example, in the field of marketing, PR and public relations, preliminary research of the company in open sources is critical. When searching and analyzing information, they should not only form for themselves some kind of image of the company, but also note the strengths and weaknesses in promotion, think over options for optimizing the strategy for working with external environment. In 99 cases out of 100, the employer will ask the marketer as test task analyze the site, and ask the PR specialist how he will promote the company's product or resolve conflicts in social networks.

When preparing for an interview, ask yourself why the employer needs a person for this vacancy, what the company can expect from the candidate. Evaluate your resume with someone else's eyes and think about what slippery moments it has, how you will comment on them if asked. For example, breaks between work, frequent transitions from place to place, short duration of work in specific companies.

Prepare questions that you will ask the recruiter about the company and the vacancy. In addition to the standard question about the content of the job, you have the right to ask about the reason for the vacancy, in particular, is it a new position that appeared, for example, due to the expansion of the department, the replacement of a departed employee, or the result of the owner dispersing the entire previous department in anger. An indirect indicator by which a company can be valued is the timing of the publication of a job advertisement. That is, the length of time during which the employer cannot find a suitable candidate. Information about staff turnover can also tell a lot about working conditions.

Video: interview preparation

How to behave

If you came to the interview earlier than the appointed time, and you were asked to wait on the couch in the lobby, try to use this time to good use. Instead of monitoring social networks look around on your smartphone. You may be interested in the quality of the design of the premises, the convenience of planning, appearance employees who catch your eye. Listen to how the receptionist answers incoming calls, how colleagues communicate with each other. If you smoke, go to a local smoking room before your interview. Sometimes from conversations in an informal setting you can find out all the ins and outs.

The author of this material was convinced from his own experience that it is worth paying attention to such an ambiguous thing as toilets. Of course, the quality of the organization of the restroom cannot be the only argument in favor of accepting the proposal or refusing it, but an observant person will be able to draw the right conclusions for himself. The author once happened to attend an interview in construction company, focused on private suburban construction. In order to increase accessibility to potential customers, the company moved to an office near one of the central metro stations, but sales did not grow. The company's management saw the solution to the problem in strengthening the marketing department. The author was greatly embarrassed by a note glued to the door of the toilet cubicle, in which an unknown author appealed to colleagues not to steal. toilet paper and air freshener. This is hardly capable of creating a sense of reliability and security for potential customers from interacting with the contractor. It is difficult to expect competent business decisions and at least some care for the staff from people for whom such inscriptions are not something out of the ordinary.

If at the end of the interview you did not get a call back, be sure to try to get through to the recruiter to find out the true reason for the refusal. Try not to drive the person to trying to get rid of you at any cost. Explain why you need truthful information. Do not try to challenge the results of the interview.

Common mistakes during an interview

Candidates make a lot of mistakes in interviews every day. The most common is the non-observance of simple and well-known forms of ethics, courtesy and business etiquette: showing up too early or late, dressing inappropriately, being the first to say "you" or, conversely, being too stiff or formal when interviewers offer a soft and friendly manner of communication. Both the lack of contact and excessive swagger will not play in your favor. It is necessary to be able to navigate the situation, feel the interlocutor and be flexible, but be sure to maintain self-esteem in any atmosphere. So, it is useful to show interest in the job, but showing that you are ready for anything to get this job is already wrong. It is always recommended to stick to the balance, the golden mean.

Interview mistakes are largely due to the inability to leave a good impression of yourself.

Do not try to win over the interviewer or potential boss personally (make eyes, joke when inappropriate, be overly verbose). You need to be able to hear what is being asked, clearly identify the main message of the question, answer concisely and specifically, and, if asked, expand the answer in more detail. Do not immediately answer in detail and start a conversation from afar.

An example of a correct answer.
Applicant: "6 people".
An example of an incorrect answer.
Interviewer: "How many people did you manage on this project?"
Applicant: “This project involved both in-state and out-of-state people, as well as several freelancers who changed frequently…”

Often candidates come for an interview without first studying the company and its position in the market. This is also a common mistake. Candidates who are unable to demonstrate even knowledge of the market and the industry as a whole show blatant incompetence.

A negative impression on the employer is made by overly frank candidates, as well as candidates who lie with inspiration. The ideal tactic is to be honest, not to lie, but to keep back a little on some details. For example, do not indicate the real reasons for leaving the company if the real reason was a serious personal conflict with the management, regardless of whether you were right in this situation or not. conflict is not best characteristic worker. Do not lie in response to a direct question, but also do not focus on slippery moments. It's best not to lie in an interview. When you do not know something, you can say that you do not remember exactly, but you can guess and speculate a little on this topic, if you are allowed. Such behavior will give the impression of an honest person who does not give up and is ready to look for options.

Video: typical mistakes of applicants

How to prepare for an interview in English or another language

Preparing for an interview in a foreign language essentially has little difference. Of course, a lot depends on how fluent you are in the language. Being confident in your language skills will make the interview process much easier for you. To refresh them, you can watch videos on Youtube with typical questions and answers. Do not memorize ready-made answers. Recruiters are distrustful of candidates who respond very smoothly, with a well-placed voice and extremely logical and verified text. This answer contains all the indicators of memorization and excessive preparedness for an interview. You must be confident and positive, but give the impression of being natural. It is necessary to be natural, and not to portray and seem.

Video: how to prepare for an interview in English if your English is not perfect

What methods of evaluating candidates exist

Candidate evaluation begins even before the interviewer's first call. This is a review of a resume and a cover letter, which show skills in working with text, the ability to structure information and submit it in writing, the level of Russian or a foreign language, the adequacy of salary requests, self-presentation skills. The next step is to evaluate the candidate telephone conversation. It is performed based on the tone and timbre of the applicant's voice, as well as taking into account the content of the answers to the questions. Of course, the so-called human factor also plays a significant role here, so the first fleeting impression, made even by phone call, can spoil the situation for the candidate. That is why talking with a recruiter on the phone makes sense only when you are really ready for it, that is, you are not busy with anything, you are not disturbed by extraneous sounds or unwitting bystanders, your voice is calm, you can give thoughtful answers. If you don't feel mentally prepared for a phone conversation, it's best to hang up the call or ask to call back at another time.

It is very difficult to perform an objective assessment of a person, so there is no unambiguously recommended universal test or method for performing such an assessment. In fact, tests and methods are only a tool for collecting data about a person according to a certain system. The main role in the analysis and conclusions belongs to the recruiter or other specialist.

For a fair assessment of the applicant, you must remember the following recommendations:

it is worth evaluating not so much the psychological and other qualities of a person as his behavior and specific results of activity;
not only the results must be taken into account, but also the conditions under which they were obtained;
the results of formal tests can be correctly assessed only by an experienced recruiter with rich professional and life experience, who is a psychologically and socially mature person.

Methods used for evaluation include:

method peer review when an expert from the industry, in the presence of an HR manager, communicates with a candidate in narrow professional or behavioral areas;
professional testing to determine the level of qualification of the candidate or to identify, for example, creative abilities;
solving cases and situational problems;
filling out personality questionnaires;
verification of the recommendations submitted by the candidate.

In practice, recruiters most often use a combination of these methods, since each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, a completed personality questionnaire may provide comprehensive information on a candidate, but the information may be implausible as a savvy applicant calculates socially acceptable answers. Another option is that the personality questionnaire will show the sincere desire of the candidate to certain activity, but his professional experience and skills may not match his desires at the moment.

Evaluation of a potential employee can be carried out in different directions

There are also non-standard assessment methods for role models of behavior, for example, a film test. Its essence is that a person is asked about his favorite films or offered to evaluate situations from well-known films. Depending on what intentions and possibilities of behavior a person will ascribe to these or those characters, an experienced researcher will draw conclusions about the person himself.

What is a Candidate Evaluation Sheet

For each position there is a set of essential requirements for the personal and professional skills of the candidate. They are placed on a separate sheet, in which the evaluating specialist assigns points or comments on the applicant's compliance with the required level. When each of those present at the interview has such a sheet, all these questionnaires are taken into account in the final analysis. This approach allows you to evaluate the same quality from different angles.

Recommendation to job seekers: never try to look over a recruiter's shoulder to find out what he writes on the evaluation sheet. Instead, make it a rule to take notes during the interview as well. So you will make a positive impression on the employer, form the image of a person who is collected, rational and interested in analyzing the results of the meeting.

A case from the practice of one IT recruiter familiar to the author. One of the candidates of a technical specialty during interviews never hesitated to ask again unfamiliar terms or technologies new to him and always wrote everything down in a notebook. In his free time, this person additionally studied information on identified updates. So he learned what was relevant in the market, what employers needed, and each subsequent interview, even if it did not end with a job offer, in any case made him more prepared. You can, of course, rely on your memory and not write anything down, but in this case, one of the employers really liked this approach of a person to self-education and his focus on self-development. Life values of the applicant matched the corporate values specific company and our specialist received a job offer.

The score sheet can also act as mandatory form reporting during an interview by a hired recruitment agency.

How to present interview results

The results of the interview are most often drawn up in the form of an evaluation sheet. The more participants from the employer's side take part in the meeting, the more voluminous the "portrait" of the candidate is. The most important are the assessments received from the applicant's potential supervisor, as well as from the leading expert in this specialty.

Photo gallery: an example of filling out an evaluation sheet

Initially, basic information about the candidate is presented. The personal qualities of the candidate can be assessed on various scales. The assessment of the level of knowledge and skills of the candidate will vary according to different areas activities Evaluation of the candidate's experience is carried out depending on the specific requirements Final entry in the evaluation sheet - recommendations for the candidate

Job interview protocol

The interview protocol is a standard document and should include a brief summary of the candidate's assessment, conclusions about the strengths and risks that the interviewer found in it. Each company has the right to develop its own form of protocol.

Each company has the right to create its own standard protocol template

Of course, the passage of a job interview causes stress for the applicant. However, you can try to minimize emotional stress during the meeting, paying sufficient attention to the preparatory process. Inner calmness and self-confidence will help the candidate maintain the right attitude during the interview and make a good impression on the potential employer.

To paraphrase famous aphorism, then we can say: who owns the information, he owns the situation at the interview.

Before heading to the office, find out:

with whom you will talk: with the boss, the head of the personnel department or his ordinary employee;
interview format (group or individual, question-answer or self-presentation);
dress code and things you need to have with you (documents, gadgets, etc.);
how to get there (it is unacceptable to be late).

It will help to find out if this is the company's website or a call to the office.

Map answers to common questions

Interviews when applying for a job are of the same type and at the same time they are not similar to each other. Many have heard of stressful interviews where they can suddenly start yelling at the applicant to unsettle him. There are also so-called case-interviews: the applicant is placed in certain circumstances (for example, a conversation with a dissatisfied client) and they watch how he solves the problem.

It is not always possible to find out what type of interview is preferred in a particular company, so you need to be ready for anything.

To do this, make a card with answers to typical questions and requests (they are asked in 99.9% of cases):

top 5 of your main strengths;
what are you good at;
strategic directions of self-development;
proposals for the work of the company;
your life and work philosophy;
your short and long term goals;
unusual tasks that you had to solve.

You should also prepare in advance a list of topics that you would like to discuss with the HR manager.

Interpret the employer's questions

"A" doesn't always mean "A", and two times two doesn't always mean four. Recruiters sometimes ask insidious questions, where behind the simple wording lies a cunning plan - to get the applicant to say more than they should.

A simple question: what wages would you like to receive? But the answer helps the interviewer understand your motivation: money, social guarantees, work schedule, etc. If you are asked if you had conflicts with management and how you resolved them, then most likely the HR manager wants to know if you tend to take responsibility or are used to shifting it to others.

Tricky questions are many. You need to be able to see the "double bottom" (without fanaticism!).

Consider your non-verbal behavior

HR managers are people, not machines. They, like everyone else, pay attention to non-verbal signs: appearance, facial expressions, gait, gestures, and so on. An experienced professional can be refused just because he behaved incorrectly.

Consider body language ahead of time. If from excitement you habitually twitch your leg, then sit cross-legged. If you're tapping your fingers on the table, try something to occupy your hands with, like a ballpoint pen.

HR managers are people, not machines. They understand that you are worried. But the natural non-verbal communication increase your credibility.

Set taboo on some topics

“Tell me about yourself,” the interviewer asks. “I was born on April 2, 1980 (according to the horoscope Taurus). In his youth he played football, was the captain of the city team. Then he graduated from the institute ... ”- if the applicant’s story is something like this, he will not see the position as his ears.

There are things that are absolutely uninteresting to the employer and which in no way characterize you as a professional. In the given example, this is the year of birth (this can be read in the resume), the sign of the zodiac and sports achievements.

There are topics on which you need to impose a taboo for yourself:

summary summary;
personal life goals (buying a house, having children, etc.);
reputation of the company and its employees;
skills and experience that are not related to future work (I am an excellent cook, I understand plumbing, etc.);
failures that demonstrate incompetence.

Just as you have made a plan for what you will talk about, write down and memorize the topics that should be ignored. Also think about how to correctly answer if you are still asked about it.

Contemplate to calm down

Interviews are nerve-wracking. You can forget your name, not to mention the demonstration of business qualities.

Take a look around to calm down. Inspect the office, equipment, employees. The details will tell you a lot about the company where you are going to get a job, and their analysis will help bring the nervous system back to normal.

Taking a critical look at the firm and future colleagues can increase your sense of self-importance. Remember: the company needs good worker as much as you are in a good job.

Take the initiative

In an interview, as a rule, there comes a moment when the interviewer and the interviewee change places and the applicant has the opportunity to ask questions of interest to him.

Do not waste time on useless “Will you call me yourself or should I call you back?”, “Why is this position open?” etc. Show yourself as a proactive employee. Ask:

Does the company have any actual problem? How do you think I can help you?
Could you describe your ideal candidate for this position?
What advice would you give to someone who is starting to work for your company?

There are also a number of questions that should not be asked. Which ones - click on the button below.

Following these tips will prepare you for your interview and increase your chances of getting hired.

Are there additions? Write them in the comments.

The question of how to pass an interview worries all people who are looking for a job. Let's try to figure it out. What tips should be taken into account? Here are 7 secrets to a successful interview.

Secret number 1. Monitor the situation

When you are looking for a job, you expect a call with an invitation to an interview like manna from heaven. We are preparing ourselves for this event in every possible way: we turn on the sound of the call on the phone at full capacity, stretch our voice and free up time for waiting, because it is important to put ourselves right at the first phone interview. The right attitude is undoubtedly very important, but you also need to decide on a plan of action. Gather as much information as possible about the company you are applying for. What are the main ideas she preaches? What is the message to the society? To get acquainted with this, just go to the official website of the company. Well, having collected all the necessary information, you will know what to talk about first of all at the interview.

Secret number 2. Pre-preparation of answers to basic questions

No matter what job you're applying for, there are common "classic" interview questions that are asked 98% of the time. It is by the answers to them that the employer will judge how suitable and ready you are for the job. And when it comes to how to successfully pass a job interview, each of the predictable interview points should be discussed separately in order to keep anxiety to a minimum.

Tell us a little about yourself.

This question usually comes immediately after the obligatory greetings and introductions. It is important to understand that the time you answer the question will be spent by the interviewer gathering their thoughts and making the first (most important) impression of you. Briefly retell the contents of the resume, focusing on the key (those that meet the requirements of the employer) points. Your monologue should last an average of 2 minutes and include only information related to the job. But the main thing is to stay positive, speak with a confident voice and establish strong eye contact with the interlocutor during the story.

What are your most strengths? What about the weakest?

At the first stage of acquaintance, the employer is not at all interested in knowing everything about you, so it would be right to tell only about those advantages that intersect with your field of activity. If this is trade, mention sociability, working with finances requires responsibility and attentiveness, and in the pedagogical sphere, the main thing is love for children. And even in shortcomings, try to praise yourself by mentioning perfectionism or scrupulousness. You should not talk about things that contradict the desired position, even present them in a good light. So, if you apply for leadership position, the revelation of a soft yielding nature would be redundant.

Why do you want to work in our company?

This is where the information you collected about the company comes in handy. Mention prestige, reliability, following current trends, as well as what the representatives of the company boast on the official website.

What made you leave your previous job?

Respond to the previous place of work with warmth. Say that you have gained a lot of irreplaceable experience that will stay with you for life, but you feel that you have outgrown the position. Or if you decide to change the field of activity, you can say that you see in new job business of his life.

What do you consider your most significant achievements?

Naturally, it is about professional achievements, and even if you have four beautiful children, you can only mention this in passing. Talk about projects you have successfully completed or ideas that have been successful.

Secret number 3. Perfect look

Of course, we are talking about your appearance. Unless you are applying for a creative position, where the main requirement is creativity, you should look as neat as possible during the interview. A neatly collected hairstyle, light, natural make-up (for women) and a classic discreet manicure will become your main assistants in creating the image of a reliable business person. What clothes to wear to an interview? The advice of stylists in this case is unequivocal: a well-chosen outfit for an interview should consist of the clothes that you can wear to work.

In most cases, a set consisting of a plain blouse, pencil skirt and pumps is perfect for women, jewelry should be used very sparingly. A man, on the other hand, can be sure that it would be appropriate to look at an interview in a suit of a modern cut with a plain shirt in not too bright colors and classic men's shoes. After all, when hiring, the interviewer will take into account your appearance on the same level with professional merit.

Secret number 4. A pleasant first impression

A successful interview starts the moment you step into the office. Be sure to greet the employees in the room, clearly introduce yourself and correctly explain the reason for your visit. At the same time, try to smile and look as welcoming and friendly as possible, because often the interviewer consults with office staff before making a final decision, and they can put in a good word for you.

It is also important to create an impression of a punctual person about yourself. When preparing for an interview, try to plan your route as carefully as possible to get to right place early. After all, according to statistics, over 90% of people who are late for an interview are denied employment.

Secret number 5. Non-verbal openness

Correctly positioning yourself is one of your main tasks in an interview. It is known that a person perceives 80% of information subconsciously, through non-verbal (visual) signals. Try to make your posture and gestures express the maximum openness, friendliness and confidence. Here are some great examples of good non-verbal behavior:

Hands hanging freely along the body, or lying on the knees.
The knees, torso and head are directed towards the interlocutor.
Showing your open palms to the interlocutor.
Direct and open look into the eyes, but not too close.
The smile that is present on the face for most of the interview.
Correct beautiful posture.
Moderate gestures and facial expressions.
Nodding during the interviewer's speech as a sign that you understand what the interlocutor is talking about, that you are listening to him.

Secret #6 Demonstrate Professional Competence

To successfully pass an interview, you need to show how competent you are in your field. In part, this will help to make a presentation of your work experience and a short story about career achievements. It is also possible that during the interview you will be asked to take special tests or fill out questionnaires to determine qualifications.

There is even a practice of creating presentations when applying for a job, in which you can talk about your ideas for further promotion of the company, which may well demonstrate the professional suitability of the employee. However, the interviewer may try to find out your level of competence using the usual interview method. In this case, try to unobtrusively expand a few questions about the workflows prepared for you by the interviewer into a whole small conversation, because this is the moment that should be your finest hour.

Secret number 7. Relevant questions to the employer

Questions about lunch breaks, vacation time, advance payments, and opportunities to take unscheduled time off to participate in family activities should be postponed until the time when you have already established yourself as a competent employee. Passing the interview requires the future employee to show how focused he is on successful mutually beneficial cooperation. Of course, you can ask all the questions that appeared during the interview, but the main emphasis should be on the possibility of career growth (this will show your ambition and seriousness of aspirations), as well as explaining your immediate responsibilities.

Or you are about to change jobs again, it will be very useful for you to prepare well for the upcoming interview if it is important for you to succeed in this matter. An interview with a potential employer is a very stressful business, even if you are a professional in your field, until the interview itself has happened, you will still be overwhelmed by excitement and all sorts of “what if ...” appear. After all, anything can go wrong.

Preparing for an interview

The employer may not like your appearance or the way you speak, the employer may ask you questions that you did not expect to hear, may lead you into a dead end with certain questions. Anything can happen, but your task is to leave a good impression of yourself and make a simple interview turn into successful interview. How to do it? How to pass an interview?

You change jobs, so you had certain reasons to look for a new place.

Try to answer for yourself in advance main question: Why am I changing jobs? The employer will definitely take an interest in this, and you will need to answer this question and answer sincerely, but without going into details.
Think also about the possible questions the interviewer might ask you.
Try to find out in advance more about the company you are applying for and about its activities.
Find out where the office is located and think over the route and time you will get to the office in advance in order to arrive on time. If you are late, be sure to call and let us know. Read also: ?
Take everything with you Required documents. If you have references from a previous job, be sure to include those as well. Do not forget to also take a copy of the resume in 2 copies.
Be truthful, don't lie. Lies are very easy to expose and leave a bad impression on you.

How to dress properly for an interview?

Everyone knows the adage that clothes make the difference, so it's very important when preparing for an interview to choose the right things in your wardrobe before heading to your successful interview.

How to match? Naturally, what you wear should be appropriate for the position you are going to take. Think about what you will wear if you are hired and how you will be. If the company you are applying for has a specific dress code, you should dress accordingly. It is clear that a bank clerk and a nightclub art director dress completely differently, and it is best for you to dress accordingly or as closely as possible. corporate culture your future job. This will make you look like "your boyfriend" to the employer.

If your financial situation does not allow you to look the way you would like, this is not a reason to be upset. Make your clothes look modest and neat. This is sure to please the employer. But it's not worth it to splurge on an expensive suit. From a conversation with you, the employer will understand your financial situation, your social status, level of education and in a suit that you cannot afford, you will look ridiculous.

Pay attention to your shoes. But shoes should be given special attention. It is on shoes that interviewers draw far-reaching conclusions and assumptions about a candidate.

Important little things. Details say a lot about a candidate. Long hair in men gives the impression of intelligence and a penchant for mental labor. A short haircut suggests a passion for sports. A person wearing glasses also creates an impression of his intelligence, diligence, and reliability. In the business world, the effect of glasses is widely used, many wear glasses without diopters, but with ordinary lenses.

Pay attention to your hands. Candidates often come to the interview, both men and women wearing rings. If the candidate wears an expensive ring, this indicates his arrogant desire to surpass others. If inexpensive rings are on the candidate's fingers, then this indicates his vanity and limited finances. Both the first and the second negatively affect the opinion of the candidate, so in the business world there is a rule according to which it is customary to wear only a wedding ring.

How should you behave in an interview?

Half of your success will depend on how you present yourself. Psychologists have found that no matter how long the conversation lasts, a positive or negative opinion about a candidate is formed within three to four minutes. At the end of this time, the interviewer asks questions either “on filling”, if a good opinion has not been formed about the candidate, or asks questions that help the candidate open up from all his best sides. This fact emphasizes the importance of the first impression.

Most of the information the interviewer is given is not your words, but your pronunciation, your gestures, your mannerisms. By the manner of behavior, it is very easy for a specialist to determine how you live, what kind of person you are, how you are adapted to life.

With the advice of psychologist Eleri Sampson, you can test your own body language by answering the questions below:

How do you use your smile?
Do you sit up straight or slouch?
Do you have eye contact with the interlocutor?
Do you use your hands in conversation?
How do you enter the room?
Do you have a strong and businesslike handshake?
Are you close or far away from the people you are talking to?
Do you touch the person you are talking to?

Answered? Now take a look at the list of positive and negative signals that affect the impression of you.

Negative Signals

fidgeting in your chair
Look not at the speaker, but at the floor, at the ceiling, or anywhere but at the person you are talking to.
Turn away from the interlocutor and avoid eye contact.
All kinds of closed poses, crossed arms, hands “in the lock”, a leg thrown on a leg.
Use closed threatening gestures, you can wave your finger, defending your opinion.
Sit with a blank look, grumble or smirk maliciously.

Positive Signals

Sit straight, slightly leaning forward, listening with participation and interest.
While talking, look calmly and confidently at the speaker.
Make notes on paper as you speak.
When listening, your body is in an open position, hands on the table, palms outstretched forward.
The hands are in an open position. Hands raised up, as if you are explaining a thought to your colleagues.
Smile and joke.

How to properly describe yourself in an interview. What to say and what to keep silent about.

The right words. When talking to an employer, to make a good impression, it is important to use verbs correctly. Try to use perfective verbs. Use words such as completed, developed, designed, created, made. Try to avoid indefinite verbs like worked, answered, participated, when using these verbs you give an idea of the functions you perform, but do not give an idea of your achievements.

Locus of control. Interviewers with good psychological preparation will definitely check your locus of control. Locus of control can be internal or external. It is easy to test it with questions like: “How do you plan your work? By what criteria do you evaluate your work? A person with an internal locus of control will often use the pronoun "I" and the verb "do". He will talk about his achievements, about how he would plan everything, what he would pay attention to, how he would control it. A person with an external locus of control will talk about external influences, indicating dependence on external factors, such as the influence of the weather, or dependence on how customers deliver goods.

A person with an internal locus of control is good as a leader. He easily takes responsibility, sets tasks and completes them. A person with an external locus of control is good as a performer, he cannot work for a long time in conditions of instability, but he can be a good analyst and expert. Naturally, a person with an external locus of control will not be hired for a managerial position, since it requires quick decisions and decisive actions. Therefore, depending on what position you are applying for, adjust your speech, corresponding to the external or internal locus.

Where to look? When greeting, look your interlocutor straight in the eye. This will give the impression of confidence. When talking, try to mention the name of your interlocutor. This makes a favorable impression.

What words should be avoided? Try to avoid words like "ok", "wow", "no problems". They don't create a very good impression of you. People who know well foreign languages, usually do not use such words in speech. Therefore, you can give the impression of a poor knowledge of the language and a low level of culture.

Telling about yourself at the interview - answering objectionable questions

In addition to the fundamental questions about your previous work and life goals and plans, you may be faced with questions like: “What did you do last night?” With questions like these, the interviewer wants to know about your lifestyle.

Workarounds. Interviewers, who are well aware that you have prepared answers to the main questions, can take a detour and ask a question like: “What had to change in your previous place of work in order for you to stay there?” Thus, they want to find out the true reasons for your departure.

Your strengths and weaknesses. If you are asked about your strengths, try to talk about those that are related to your work. If they ask about the shortcomings, name those that are a continuation of your strengths. For example, when you are running a project, if you feel like you might not be able to turn it in on time, then you stay at work for an hour or two to get more done.
If you are asked about past failures, talk about those situations from which you have learned a lesson.

Don't forget to bring it to the interview good mood and be sure to set yourself up for a successful interview.