Job Interview Can Be Quite

¶ … job interview can be quite stressful. Experts say that one of the biggest mistakes they see, at all levels, is someone coming to the interview unprepared to answer appropriate questions, an understanding of the company or position, or even a set of cogent questions for the interviewer. Research acknowledges that the interview process is atypical within the business world -- in that the dynamics of the interview, the questions being asked, and even the general premise is rarely conducive to real world situations. However, in the contemporary world, one must first get past the computerized algorithm before human eyes will even review one's qualifications (Tips and Techniques for Dymanic Job Interviews, 2010).

Some of the challenges faced by both human resource professionals and aspiring candidates are due to the number of applicants for any given position coupled with the vast amount of web-sites, books, magazines, journals and other helpful "How to's" on interviewing. Because recent research indicates that conventional interviewing techniques are flawed the "first impression a job candidate makes in an interview becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy." Additionally, not only is that initial handshake one of the major defining moments in the entire interview, it is likely that if interviewed by a group, all group members will likely vote the same way -- thus preserving their own hierarchy of being. Because of this, most interviewers are now fully aware that a candidate has practiced the "right" answers to a typical interview question. It is the task of both levels of professionals; interviewee and interviewer, to change this paradigm so that a fit or disconnect can be handled professionally and all parties have a greater chance for a win-win situation (Zarowin, 2002, 103).

For example, instead of memorizing the "correct" answers to certain questions (e.g. tell us about a challenge you faced, a difficult employee, a difficult supervisor), be prepared to answer questions like "You are in a situation where you have two very important responsibilities, bot have deadlines coming up that are impossible to meet. You simply cannot accomplish all. What will you do?" The authors of this study, in fact, say that there is no right or wrong answer; that the key, for both sides, is to establish how you will process and problem solve. Will you use a particular communication style to communicate with supervisors on deadlines? Will you amass a team effort to ensure compliance? Is your approach self-centered or team oriented? Do you show that you can handle multiple-horizontal priorities? Remember, the interviewer is likely not to be able to answer those questions, too. Instead, this is a clear psychological plow to see what happens when you are placed in a stressful situation -- do you turf it, lie, figure something out, or come up with an answer that works? (For more on this, see: Sando, 2010)