Easy Ways to Improve your Interview Skills
I did an afternoon PhotoReading™ Keynote Presentation for RBS, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and they immediately invited me back to do an evening Session with their Women in IT Group. One of the attendees contacted me later that week saying that she had been successful in securing an interview, her first ever in almost 10 years, and wondered if PhotoReading™ might help her prepare because she didn’t know where or how to start after such a long time being in the same job, and from what I had shared during my Keynote Presentation, it sounded as though PhotoReading™ and my ideas around NeuroSuccess™ could be ideal.
Dealing with Interview Nerves
Are you worried about how to remain calm and relaxed during and interview?
Not only was she nervous about the interview itself, which can be stressful when you don’t know how to relax and prepare, she was also overwhelmed by the amount of reading and research that needed to be done beforehand because there was a practical and presentation element to the interview. And, at the point of speaking to me, she only had a couple of days to prepare.
Step 1 of PhotoReading is all about how to get both physically and mentally relaxed, a key requirement and very useful combination when you are sitting there in the spotlight or facing a panel interview. There are 6 components which collectively take just 60 – 90 seconds to do yet they really do pack a neurological punch. An easy starting point is to relax your breathing because your mind and body then tend to follow suit. If you know Huna I would also recommend a bit of Haaaaa Breathing in the restroom before you enter the interview arena or go live if you’re delivering a presentation. Your intention and sense of purpose is also key.
In the ‘new normal’ of the remote world, you can read my interview with The Guardian Newspaper here: https://www.theguardian.com/the-abcs-of-recruiting-teachers-remotely/2020/may/01/the-new-rules-of-remote-recruiting-how-to-prepare-for-an-online-interview
The Visualisation Storyboard
We did a 1-hour Skype Session about how to put the PhotoReading into practical application, plus I included my now infamous Speak It Into Existence Process, where we created a internal visual representation of the chain of events leading up to the interview and neurologically mapped out and installed how the interview would unfold.
How to Answer Tricky Job Interview Questions
I also shared some ideas and suggestions about how to answer those tricky and from their perspective embarrassing questions such as: “Why haven’t they moved or progressed or applied for a promotion in the last 10 years” which can potentially have you feeling like an underachiever or one lacking in ambition or drive, which was a requirement for taking on the kind and level of role that they were applying for.
The basic strategy here is to turn such problems into an advantage, and if people aren’t really getting how to do that, I’ve got a spreadsheet Exercise that I get them to do which always elicits a “WOW” and good feeling within minutes. It’s those good feelings, and sense of confidence that you want to take into the interview with you.
Interview Preparation
Even when you are short on time; with this client we did a 1-hour Skype Coaching Session a couple of days before their interview, you can still prepare seemingly at warp speed and do an amazing job.
From Nervous and No Preparation Time to This . . . .
One of the things that I am often asked is: “How do I get so much done at such speed and in record time?” The answer to that isn’t that I physically warp time, well, not always, it is PhotoReading™, Accelerated Learning, and NeuroSuccess™. She had 2 and a bit days to both read through all of the interview preparation material and get her head together.
One of my bit tips around appearing to create and distort time is the power of mental preparation and rehearsal. Not only does it help to prepare you physically, emotionally and mentally, it also helps bring your resume to life.
Here’s what happened at the interview in her own words:
“Hello Marilyn,
Thank you for the information.
The interview went as it was supposed to lol.
I was extremely relaxed after practising step 1 several times, and so when it came to the event it worked like a dream.
Imagineering was crucial for the interview and it also helped with placing me in that relaxed state however, what threw me was that the
questions were not asked the way I had imagined. They were framed in a way that demanded several responses to particular aspects, so a question may have 4 parts to it.
I took my notes but didn’t refer to them, which in hindsight I should have but all in all, it was good experience even if I do not get the job.
Have a good evening.”
-0-
Not only did the interview go well, and just the way that we had planned it and discussed, she also got the job!
Interview Tips
- Deal with your nerves and anxiety. If you’re a PhotoReader then Step 1 is all about creating that sense of instant calm and clarity, if you’re not, start with relaxing your breathing and doing some form of physical relaxation exercise.
- Set a clear intention about what you want to have happen during the interview and how you want it to go. With the particular client we did some work with what you would call her Timeline and looking at putting the energy of that intention out into the future. The premise being that when you get there you kind of catch up with it, which is the experience that my clients very often have, and exactly what also happened in this case. Part of that process includes what I call ‘creating the visual chain of events.’
- Answer the tough questions before you get to the interview and take yourself through a Soundboard Process so that you’ve already done your own mini mock interview by the time you walk through the interview doors. I took my client through a mini version of the #ThinkTankThursday Process I use for my monthly Membership Group Facebook Live Sessions.
- Review your past. This often goes hand in hand with the confidence piece. I have noticed that people often only think about the job they are in and the job description and job profile in hand when it comes to their interview preparation. While it is definitely a great idea to research the company or organisation that you are interviewing for, also remember who you are and the vast array of both life and business skills that you bring to the table. I have designed a spreadsheet format for my client to do an Exercise around this, and even those who protest that they haven’t got any useful skills are always stunned within 10-15 minutes of doing this.
- Make best use of your time. There were 2 scenarios here, one was to do some work on getting clarity on how to prepare, the other was to stress and worry about the interview and have that get in the way of your preparation. Rather than worrying and stressing out, use the time It takes just a few minutes to do each of the things that I have discussed here, however it really can mean the difference between walking out of the interview kicking yourself, or walking out feeling super confident that even with a couple of days or hours preparation time, you did a good job.
- Be Prepared. Have a few questions up your sleeve to ask the interviewer. As well as the employer assessing you for the job, you also want to make sure that it is right fit for you. This also shows that you have done your homework and are serious about getting the job.
- Remember who called who. Yes, you are the one who applied for the job, however they called you to come in. Of the 5, 10, or 500 people that applied, you got the callback, so remind yourself of that even if it has been 10 years since you did an interview and although it’s several levels above your current position and grade.
Good luck with your interview, and if you found this Blog useful or know anyone that might, please feel free to like and share.
Marilyn Devonish
The NeuroSuccess™ Coach
Further Information
For further information about in-person PhotoReading Workshops go to: http://www.tranceformationstm.com/photoreading/
Online PhotoReading Certification Training: http://www.tranceformationstm.com/photoreadinglivedvd/
Private 1-2-1 PhotoReading Online Coaching Session: https://bookme.name/marilyndevonish/photoreading-skype-coaching-session Sessions are available by phone, Skype and Online Meeting Room.
For those going back to work or taking professional exams and struggling you might find this Blog interesting: https://marilyndevonish.com/how-to-go-from-failure-feeling-defeated-to-training-yourself-for-success/