A Qualifying Job Interview for Women
A qualifying interview gives you an opportunity to represent yourself to the potential employer. Participation in it allows you to present your best attributes or abilities, which do not come simply from a CV. It is also an opportunity to acquire information about your future place of employment and its organizational culture.
During discussion about employment, it comes to negotiations and comparison of what is expected from the employee and from the employer, detailed matters as to conditions of employment are explained. During this meeting you will be subjected to grading but the potential employer or persons conducting the recruiting in his name. Therefore you have to give it your all in order to show yourself in the best light and get the job you dreamed about.
In the first place, when getting ready for the meeting, you should remember that the first impression is often influencing the decision. People are often evaluated by a feeling which they experienced with the first handshake. It would pay, while shaking hands, to do it in a deciding matter, avoiding a feeble “swooning” shake, which might indicate weak vital strength or lack of self assurance. Before the meeting you can practice the greeting handshake and introducing yourself with someone from your family or a friend. It certainly would not be to your disadvantage and you may find out, that up until now, you didn’t realize that your handshake was somewhat anemic or that you have introduced yourself not clearly pronouncing your first and last name.
There is a saying that people “judge you by what they see” so it is very important to take good care of proper attire. For the meeting your clothing has to be toned down, elegant. Eccentric, sporty or representing musical style clothes unfortunately have to wait for a different occasion, unless you are trying to find employment in a music store or you are planning to do some creative work or your profession is strictly connected with doing sports. Get your clothes ready a day before your qualifying interview, make sure that you look clean and fresh. It is important that your outfit would be classical; it doesn’t have to be expensive. It would also be good to match proper shoes and a handbag (don’t forget tissues and a ball point pen), also an outfit of discrete, not flashy jewelry. If possible try to arrive at the designated place some time before the appointed time, in order to check your hairdo and make-up. Of course the make-up should also be delicate, a “daily” type. It is allowed to use only a small amount of eau de cologne.
It is sensible to prepare in advance copies of the set of documents, which were deposited with the potential employer. A folder with this material will give a picture of a person well organized and ready for the interview. Even if you find out that the use of the documents will not be necessary – you will have something to hold on to, so you would not flail your hands nervously or flip your flingers, scratch your face or correct your hairdo. Remember however, that while sitting during the interview, under no circumstance, not to put things you brought with you on the desk of the interviewer. Putting your hand bag, folder or gloves on the desk which belongs to the interviewer could be understood as lack of culture.
One of the most important things for which you should prepare before the interview, is to prepare answers for the most common questions. It is also good to rehearse them with someone close to you, who would friendly assess your way of expressing yourself.
Especially important is a reasonable explanation of some uncomfortable questions which may arise from your CV. Why did you leave your last employment? Why was there such a long break between jobs? Why did it take longer to complete your education than it is designated by the school program? Also questions on how you react in stressful situations, your weak character traits or problems with which you could not deal with in your new place of employment. These questions often appear during qualification interviews. It would be good if you could answer wisely and even with gaudiness for those difficult questions and not get discomposed.
Planning to attend the recruiting meeting you should also establish ahead of time the localization of the place of conference also the time it will take you to reach the place (also during rush hours!). Arriving late is not acceptable; in fact it is very hard to erase a bad impression which is formed if you arrive past the designated time. Also rain flowing down along with your make- up can somewhat ruin your looks. Make sure therefore, that if by any chance they do not predict rain. Then it would be necessary to take an umbrella with you.
In general, when you are going for an interview, it is most important for you to have an optimistic approach to the situation. Be positive. You can defeat other candidates and show that you are better than they are! If you feel jittery, have a cup of herb tea (dragonhead – dragocephalum), smile, and decisively enter the place of meeting. You are well prepared and you have all chances to attain the designated position!
PolishWomen.com