How to Begin an Interview

• 00:04 A job interview is a communication process, both ways, the applicant and
• 00:08 you the person conducting the interview.
• 00:11 But please realize the communication starts before the first question is ever
• 00:16 asked.
• 00:16 It starts when that applicant walks into your office or
• 00:20 walks into the conference room, wherever the interview is taking place.
• 00:25 If that person walks in, you don't even look up, you're buried in paper,
• 00:28 you're looking at a resume, take a seat.
• 00:32 Okay, let's hop into it.
• 00:33 Tell me about yourself.
• 00:35 If that's how it starts, you're really sending very negative messages
• 00:40 about yourself and your organization.
• 00:42 You're basically saying you have all the cards, you have all the power.
• 00:47 And this person is lucky to be in your presence.
• 00:50 Now, there is still a tough job market out there.
• 00:55 There are a lot of people who look for jobs.
• 00:57 But is that really the attitude you want to give?
• 00:59 You want the absolute best applicants working for you.
• 01:03 You want people who have their choice of jobs, and
• 01:06 no one when given a choice is going to work for a company that seems arrogant.
• 01:13 That seems like they don't want that person there.
• 01:16 So I'm not suggesting you have to have tea and coffee and doughnuts and
• 01:21 roll out the red carpet for every single job applicant.
• 01:25 But certainly stand when they come in the room, smile at them, shake their hand.
• 01:33 Unless that's not your custom.
• 01:35 Do the things you would that same way you would treat a respected client,
• 01:41 a customer or a prospect.
• 01:44 This may be that particular person's only contact with your corporation for
• 01:49 the rest of his or her life.
• 01:52 This person may be talking about their exchange with you for days,
• 01:56 weeks, even years, so why not make it a good impression?
• 02:00 It doesn't really take any more time.
• 02:03 Again, treat that person when they walk into your office, or
• 02:07 the conference room as if they were a respected client or prospect.
• 02:11 Stand, look at them, greet them.
• 02:15 So what's the best way to start off a job interview?
• 02:19 I recommend that you tell people a little about your company,
• 02:23 why you personally like the company.
• 02:26 And then tell them one thing that jumped out about their resume or
• 02:30 their cover letter that made you want to meet them.
• 02:33 This makes everybody more comfortable and
• 02:35 let's face it a lot of people are nervous when they go on job interviews.
• 02:40 They very well may be unemployed, they may really want the job.
• 02:44 They may need the job or they're happily employed elsewhere.
• 02:48 They may be a great fit for you, but
• 02:50 they're just not comfortable talking to new people.
• 02:53 But they may have the perfect skills and talents that will be a great fit for
• 02:57 your organization.
• 02:59 So I think it is still helpful for you to talk first.
• 03:03 Thank them for their time.
• 03:06 Tell them in a minute or two about your company and
• 03:09 not just about their plate off your website.
• 03:12 Tell them what your company does or your organization does or
• 03:15 your government entity.
• 03:17 What's special about it.
• 03:19 And tell them why you personally enjoy working there, why you find it fulfilling.
• 03:25 Next, and this is where it takes a little bit of work whether you are the one
• 03:28 screening through the resumes to decide to interview this person or someone else.
• 03:33 Look at the resume again, look at their cover letter.
• 03:36 And see if you can focus on one thing that's interesting that made you want to
• 03:41 talk to this person.
• 03:43 It makes them feel a lot better.
• 03:45 It makes them feel at ease and it can make the interview
• 03:50 process go much smoother and start well for both sides.
• 03:54 So that's your homework.
• 03:56 I want you to prepare a two minute essentially presentation.
• 04:01 You're not using PowerPoint, you're not standing up and orating.
• 04:06 But someone has come in, you've introduced yourself.
• 04:09 They've taken a seat and you just top it, hey, thanks for coming today,
• 04:13 I appreciate your time.
• 04:16 And as you may know, our company does and then go into what you do but
• 04:20 personalize it.
• 04:22 What do you think is really special about your organization?
• 04:26 Why you like it, then something about them.
• 04:29 I want you to record that.
• 04:30 And here's the part you're not going to like, but
• 04:33 it's critically important if you want to be good at this.
• 04:35 I need you just to practice talking into your own cell phone video, or
• 04:40 your webcam, record it, and then listen to it.
• 04:44 That's your homework right now.

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