There is more to being a success at job interviews than simply having a good CV and the right skills. Whether you are attending an in-person interview or a remote one, you want to create the right impression and make sure your interviewer/s are impressed by your presence and personality. You want to be an appealing prospect, when it comes to someone they would want to work and collaborate with. Also important are the many verbal and nonverbal cues that are a result of body language in interviews.

Body language is how you hold yourself, your posture and demeanour, how you are subconsciously communicating with people and your ease with the environment around you. It’s what you say about yourself without speaking, if that makes sense. If you are naturally relaxed, even in stressful situations, you’re halfway there. Eye contact and a natural smile – not a pasted-on grin – are also big positives. But if you’re tapping your fingers, biting you nails or picking your nose, you might as well forget about whatever else you may offer your perspective employer. You are less likely to get the job.

Making a good impression

Here are some of my tips on how to be a natural interviewee. Try and make a good impression from the off. Think about what you’re going to wear beforehand and don’t wear something you’ve never worn before. Make sure you are comfortable – you don’t want to be distracted by a tight waistband or pinching shoes – but also smart. Be confident in your introductions and try to relax and be yourself. First impressions do count, so try to make a good one. 

Be natural

When you’re actually in the interview make eye contact and be responsive – nod that you’ve listened and understood, ask questions if given the opportunity, and make it a two-way conversation as far as the limitations of an interview allows. Be personable and likeable too and try to smile as part of your general demeanour. Sit up and don’t slouch and if possible don’t gesticulate too much. If you are someone who finds yourself waving your hands about when you speak, practice trying to reduce this. It’s okay up to a point, but can become distracting. Think about each question before responding and speak clearly and concisely, so the interviewer can hear your responses. Don’t mumble or speak too quickly, as this will feed into your own nervousness or even panic, if you get out of breath. And make sure you round things off nicely at the end of the interview – reinforce your enthusiasm for the role and your suitability for it.

Practice makes perfect

It’s a bit like public speaking. If you’re not naturally a relaxed person in this situation then the best thing you can do is practice. Get a friend or colleague to rehearse some questions with you and mock-up an interview situation. The more second-nature this becomes, the calmer you’ll be in the real situation. Get used to the sound of your own voice and how you can seem more confident by using a calm approach. Think about all the aspects I’ve outlined above – it will go towards making that next interview a whole lot easier.

 

Like so much in life, finding the right balance in work is so important. I was listening to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana recently, and when Kurt Cobain sings the line, ‘I’m worse at what I do best’, it really struck a chord with me. My interpretation is that those things that we enjoy and do best can become out of balance and take over our lives. This got me thinking and relating it to the workplace. Do you find you are giving too much of yourself to work or spending too much time in the office? It is important that you recognise if you are, as this is no good for family life and it is vital that you maintain a decent work/life balance.

Time management

Your work is important, but so too is your life outside work. By spending too long stuck at your desk or focusing on work means that you might be missing out on important stuff with family or friends, outside of the work environment. Also, long hours don’t necessarily mean high performance. They might actually mean you are not focusing on what is most important. It is worth remembering that the important and urgent tasks need to be done with alacrity, but there are also the important but non-urgent jobs, which can be scheduled in for a convenient time. And don’t forget, there are also the non-urgent, non-important jobs that perhaps don’t actually need to be done at all – or possibly delegated to someone else in the team.

Learning to say no

It is an important skill to learn how to say no. This doesn’t need to be seen as rude or unhelpful. However, if you are too busy – or not the best person for the job – most people would rather you highlighted this, than take on something that someone else would be better doing. By saying no, but offering a better solution, not only are you not taking on unnecessary work, but you are solving a problem too.

Manage expectations

Where you do take on additional work, there is a lot of sense in outlining – realistically – when this can be completed by. By setting out what you can do by when, you are ensuring that you are providing clear information and people know the situation. If you can’t make a deadline without working until midnight, make sure you inform the person that asked you to do the work. This allows the opportunity to redistribute the work if necessary.

With the advent of remote working, it is all too easy for people to be putting in additional hours without the knowledge or support of their team. Even if you are enjoying it, it is important to make sure you have the support you need in place.

 

Everyone likes a good read. It’s even more gratifying if the good read can feed into your career and personal life. I recently read a book that I really enjoyed that is actually about a subject very close to home. The book was titled Who is In Your Personal Boardroom?. It was co-written by Zella King and Amanda Scott. It was recommended to me by a client and is well worth going through, to formally identify those people who can make a difference to you in different segments of your life.

Choosing people, assigning roles and having conversations with purpose

The book’s full title is Who is in your Personal Boardroom?: How to choose people, assign roles and have conversations with purpose. It’s objective is to provide ‘A practical way to build the network you need to succeed.’ As the blurb states: “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with. But when did you last think about who exactly that is, and whether you’ve got the right people around you? How do you know how to select, from your network, the right combination of people to help you be truly effective as a leader and in your career? Drawing on their work with executives and on academic research on the networks of high performers, Zella King and Amanda Scott show how to home in on the six to 12 relationships that drive and sustain success.”

Finding your touchstones

I found it to be a great read and it made me think too. The people the authors identify from different points in your life can be those that inspire you, give you courage, or are experts who share their knowledge. They can also be ‘connectors’ who help you make connections. I have used it to identify businesspeople in my life that add value. I have found I have a few ex-clients who fall into some of these categories – they know who they are. The criteria can be extended to your personal life too. Where do you find your energy and touchstones when you need them? The people you rely on, the people you can simply chat to, or share problems with.

You need that level of support throughout your life. Good, supportive friends are not always easily found. Personally, when I have a quandary, I have a family member who I also talk through sensitive issues with. This helps make sure I create a ‘win-win’ situation, or at least not offend anybody. I found the book to be a real gem and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in creating their own Personal Boardroom. It’s made me look at my networks and relationships from a completely different perspective.

I was recently delighted to receive an unsolicited recommendation on LinkedIn from a client whose programme is coming to an end. It is so gratifying when someone thinks so highly of the service you have provided, that without asking, they take the time to write a recommendation and post it on your LinkedIn profile.  Of course, people are generally very busy or it doesn’t even occur to them to leave a review or recommendation for you. Afterall, they have thanked you in person, and that is so much more important, isn’t it?

Thank you for the thank you

While, yes, it is great to be thanked at the end of a session or after a programme has been completed, but by this client going the extra mile and posting their recommendation on my profile, they have not only acknowledged the benefit of what I provided to them, but also endorsed my services to a much wider audience. This sort of public approval is gratifying but it is also highly beneficial to you, particularly if you are looking to change your job or role within the business you work in.

Do as I say…

However, it’s not just the ones that do this unsolicited that are happy to do this, many people are delighted to provide you with a recommendation for your LinkedIn profile, if you just ask them to. It can feel so incredibly awkward asking for a recommendation, but it really shouldn’t. I tell my clients all the time that they just need to reach out and ask for that glowing testimonial or recommendation, even though I am guilty of shying away from doing so myself!

Regardless of how awkward it makes you feel to ask, it is so important that you have these public declarations on your LinkedIn profile. With over 800 million users across 200 countries (according to LinkedIn Stats for 2022), LinkedIn is an incredibly powerful tool, with an extensive reach.

LinkedIn, Trip Advisor for work?

In addition, we are now living in an age when sites like Trip Advisor and Trust Pilot are visited before a decision on a new car, a meal out or even the purchase of a holiday or washing machine are made. Why should it be any different for someone looking to recruit – and where would they look other than LinkedIn?

Do something different

So, next time you have received a good service from someone or are impressed with the quality of the work that is being carried out, don’t wait to be asked, make someone’s day and leave them a positive recommendation on LinkedIn. You never know what a good service you are providing them in return.

Welcome to the latest vlog from Career Evolution!

In our latest vlog, our director, Sue Thomas, pays tribute to her old boss and friend, Robin Wood, who sadly passed away suddenly. Sue and Robin set up CMC together back in 1990 and she describes him as a ‘force majeure’, dynamic, enthusiastic and fun to work with. Sue and her former colleagues came together again to let people know about his passing; Sue reflects that this is what makes a good team, empathy and the will to get things done.

Watch the video below: