Let me tell you about my first job interview that occurred yesterday. There i was.. 18:30 at Toxinn, an agency that promotes events. I was applying to the spot of account that just opened. For my first job interview every i can honestly say that i wasn't that much nervous.. its all about attitude i say!
As they call my name, i go in and the interview starts with simple questions like every other does i suppose, but that's when out of nowhere they asked 3 positive and negative aspects about myself. Of course the positive ones were pretty easy to answer but damn those negative ones were quite hard! what are we suppose to say that wont compromise ourselves that much?!
Yes, i know its a common question to be asked in a situation like this, tho somehow i wasn't expecting and how i almost dropped the ball there but i kept my cool, gave it a little thought and answered something that unfortunately don't remember (post traumatic shock i guess).
Anyway, i think it went great overall and even if hadn't it was a great experience for the next one to come since ill go better prepared for sure as i know what to expect.
To conclude, ill leave the challenge, tell me.. what are the 3 negative aspects that you would say in a n interview? leave you creative response below.
Cheers!
A couple of advices:
ReplyDelete1) Be honest and don't lie. The people that are sitting on the other side of the table are not stupid, so they can actually spot if you are telling the truth or not. They are trained for that and have years of experience. Plus, when you lie eventually someone will find out later (for example you say you completely dominate excel, when actually you just know the basics..)
2) Don't tell the classics: "Ohh I sometimes find myself putting too much effort on things and I want to do all at the same time..."
Everyone has negative aspects, real things that you are not good at it. And it's actually good if you let them know. Shows honesty and that you know yourself well.
An advice... Whenever you tell a drawback of you, always say that you are working on that! So for example "I am not that good in presenting in front of big audiences, but I have been working on that lately. I was in this workshop and blabla.. Moreover I am attending this theater classes in order to improve my skills (whatever)."
3) Look at the interview as a simple conversation.
They are getting to know you but, at the same time, you are there also to get to know more about the company and the people that work there. So relax and enjoy!
It may also be quite handy to 'give them' something that interests them. If you're applying to work in a cosmetic's company, you tell them how much you care about your body and skin every day (without sounding gay), if you're applying to a film company, you tell them how you spent all your childhood watching films and how with years you started learning how they do it, and so on.
ReplyDeleteIt's important not only to prepare yourself to thrive under pressure, but also to know what you're going to. Going to an interview requires homework, knowing the company, what they sell, to whom they sell, their strenghts and weaknesses and figure what you can add to that company.
The people that are interviewing you are looking not only for a person they seem to fit in their personal criteria, but also someone that delivers, someone they can rely on and someone that acctually add something to their projects!
The most amazing coincidence!
ReplyDeleteYesterday at the last minute i was able to attend the VII conference "Conquering your first job interview" and just before leaving home i saw your reply Mr. Nazaré.
I was amazed how as the presentation went on, everything the speaker explained was around your ideas and because of that i was able to understand the whole presentation much better and take bigger benefits since i had your previous info.
Now when i was about to answer Mr. Nazaré's post i see your also brilliant reply Mr. The Fool. You shared here some pretty important information that the speaker focused on and you also sent me this site that i will now share with every one in hope that some day it may help someone.
http://www.cvtips.com/interview/identify-your-strengths-and-weaknesses.html
To both of you Congratulations as you were quite professional and very right with the tips you shared. Thank you very much.
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