Key Messages
7 Essential Principles of a Successful Job Interview
Nailing that dream job starts with understanding the basics.
No matter how fancy your résumé formatting skills are, it’s important to remember the essentials of acing an interview if you want to succeed in today’s competitive job market.
The tips provided in “60 Seconds & You’re Hired!” help break down the process and remind readers of the handful of critical elements they need to get right.
This includes understanding why looks are more important than books and learning exactly what you need to tell your future boss to grab their attention.
Knowing these basics can be a great way to make sure you shine during every stage of your job interview and secure the position that may just change your life—all within 60 seconds or less!
The 60-Second Strategy: How to Hold An Employer’s Attention in a Busy World
Employers face immense pressure when they are making a hiring decision.
If the wrong candidate is chosen, it can cost the company a great deal of money; up to three times their monthly salary plus training and recruitment costs, as well as any mistakes that were made by the individual.
In Tony Hsieh’s case, bad hiring decisions have already cost his company millions of dollars.
The problem is that employers have to make quick decisions in order to find an ideal match: they must review hundreds of applications and this makes it difficult for them to remember each individual applicant.
That’s why it’s essential for job seekers to grab the attention of potential employers with concise answers in 60 seconds or less–to ensure their voices are heard above the din.
This isn’t just important for interviews; brevity is key in today’s fast paced world where people communicate through texting, Twitter updates, and news clips; so telling your story clearly and quickly can make all the difference between being unnoticed or standing out from the crowd.
Employers appreciate when applicants are clear about what they bring to the table immediately; job search success can depend on grabbing their attention in that crucial sixty-second window.
Use the 5 Point Agenda Strategy to Stand Out From the Crowd During Job Interviews
When it comes to interviewing, the key to standing out is to quickly and effectively convey your five most marketable skills.
This way, the interviewer can be assured that you have what it takes to do the job.
To do this, create a 5 Point Agenda for each interview consisting of your five most important abilities and skills.
One great way to make sure that you’re mentioning your marketable skills enough during the interview is by developing a customized 5 Point Agenda specifically suited for each job opportunity.
Before any given interview, research the company first and look at websites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor so that you can figure out which of your skills are most applicable in this situation.
Then, write down your main experiences and responsibilities as well as those areas where you excel or have had success in the past.
You should also focus on what this role requires since companies value their bottom line more than anything else.
Once all these steps are taken care of, keep going over these five points throughout the entire duration of your interview and emphasize them when possible.
Focus on how those qualities make you fit best for the specific job and how they tie into either past successes or future ambitions that align with company needs.
In essence, you’ll be demonstrating to the interviewer why you’re a great fit for this opening and why he/she should trust that you can handle whatever tasks come along with it successfully.
Three Essential Steps to Conquering Job Interview Anxiety
Preparing for a job interview is essential if you want to ace even the toughest questions.
You need to do some basic preparation and research the company and products or services they specialize in.
Doing this will help you answer common interview questions.
It’s also important to be able to provide specific examples that prove you are qualified for the job.
This means being ready to describe situations in which you solved challenging problems or helped save money and time, including volunteer positions, student organizations, etc.
Beyond that, you should also prepare yourself to sell yourself as an ideal worker persona.
Employers like to categorize people and it’s necessary to fight any stereotypes that come your way.
Your answers should set you apart as the ideal, quick-learning and dedicated employee with stellar communication skills who has a success attitude: one who is focused on productivity and ways of improving their performance as well as that of the company too!
Do Your Homework and Prepare Your Questions: How to Make the Most of Your Job Interviews
When you’re asked if you have any questions at the end of an interview, you should be ready for it.
Asking insightful and job-related questions is essential in order to make a good impression, and also to determine if the job is right for you.
It’s important to never ask anything related to salary or benefits, as this will make you seem unprepared and only interested in the money aspect of the job.
It’s wise to prepare ten to fifteen questions before hand so employers know that you have done your research on their company.
Even if your questions have been answered throughout the interview process, mention them anyway as a sign of accountability.
Include questions about issues that were brought up by the interviewer, or on topics they haven’t touched on yet.
Also remember that you can always ask follow up questions one the interviewer has finished answering them previously all together.
An imperative step for successful interviewing is avoiding any salary or compensation conversations until an offer has been given by the employer.
A manager from AT&T noted how candidates who only ask these types of questions come off as uninterested in actually doing their job, instead being solely focused on how much money they can make from it.
Making a Lasting Impression: How to Dress, Act and Communicate to Nail an Interview
It’s not enough to simply have the right qualifications and skill set for a job you want.
You also need to dress the part and practice your nonverbal communication skills in order to make a lasting impression on employers.
When interviewing, it’s important to present yourself neatly with clean and well-fitting clothes, trimmed nails, and tasteful makeup or jewelry if you’re a woman.
By presenting yourself in this way, you’ll show prospective employers that you understand their company culture and can represent them in a professional manner.
Also focus on developing your nonverbal communication skills during your job interview – consider how movements, gestures (like handshakes) and facial expressions send cues about your personality.
Start off strong by offering a firm handshake when meeting recruiters, followed by eye contact which shows confidence and trustworthiness.
Finally, don’t be afraid to flash an honest smile; nothing speaks more louder than genuine enthusiasm!
Wrap Up
With the 60 Seconds & You’re Hired! book, readers are provided with a simple and effective way to stand out in their interviews.
Whether you’re just entering the job market or a seasoned professional, this book is sure to have helpful advice that you can use.
The main takeaway from this book is that interviews are an art and require practice and preparation.
The key to success is to answer questions in less than 60 seconds while showing how they relate back to the position and your strengths and experience.
Lastly, be sure to follow up with a handwritten thank-you note no more than 24 hours after your interview.
Doing so will show your interviewer that you took the time to think about them and will set you apart from the competition.
