Surviving the heat at work; it's a recurring theme. Ideally, you would simply leave your work for what it is with these temperatures and sit on the beach. But the work has to be done anyway and you don't have many days off. Then get on with it. If you find the heat at your workplace unbearable, can you actually just decide to work from home? Or in another place? First of all, it really matters what kind of work you do. If you have a job in healthcare, construction or if you work with certain equipment, then working elsewhere will of course be a difficult story. But if you have work that you can do from anywhere, it is often up to you and your employer to make mutual agreements about working from home. Your employment contract may contain agreements about work locations and working from home. In principle, what it says there is binding and you have to stick to what you and your employer have agreed upon. But if the work...
Interview
Yes, you can come to a job interview. That means you're a lot closer to a new job. In any case, you made a good impression with your cover letter and CV and already left a number of competitors behind you. Now it's time for the next step. How do you make sure you land that job during your job interview(s)?
Exactly what the application process looks like differs from company to company. You will have one job interview anyway, but sometimes there will be several rounds of interviews and you will speak with several people within the company or organization. For positions that do not require training or much experience, one interview is usually sufficient. If you apply for more demanding positions or at a very large company, you will go through several rounds.
The first conversation is the most important conversation. Your discussion partner will use this to make an initial assessment of whether you and the company and the position are a good fit. And vice versa, the same applies: the first conversation also gives you the opportunity to see if you like it. Because no matter how nice the company and the position seem to you, there must be a click. That is immediately a comforting thought. See the first meeting as a kind of intake, in which you both check whether there is a match.
A good start is half the work. Even when you go for a job interview. With proper preparation you can in any case not be faced with surprises. Read more about the company or organization, see who your discussion partner is and take a look at your cover letter. Also think about what you can expect to answer to application questions . Want to know what else you can do in advance to make your job interview a success?
Application Process
Exactly what the application process looks like differs from company to company. You will have one job interview anyway, but sometimes there will be several rounds of interviews and you will speak with several people within the company or organization. For positions that do not require training or much experience, one interview is usually sufficient. If you apply for more demanding positions or at a very large company, you will go through several rounds.
First job interview
The first conversation is the most important conversation. Your discussion partner will use this to make an initial assessment of whether you and the company and the position are a good fit. And vice versa, the same applies: the first conversation also gives you the opportunity to see if you like it. Because no matter how nice the company and the position seem to you, there must be a click. That is immediately a comforting thought. See the first meeting as a kind of intake, in which you both check whether there is a match.
Preparing for your job interview
A good start is half the work. Even when you go for a job interview. With proper preparation you can in any case not be faced with surprises. Read more about the company or organization, see who your discussion partner is and take a look at your cover letter. Also think about what you can expect to answer to application questions . Want to know what else you can do in advance to make your job interview a success?
During the job interview
If you've prepared your conversation down to the last detail, you really have no reason to worry. So try to be open-minded and not put too much pressure on yourself. There are a number of things you can do to shape the conversation. Many studies have been conducted into ways to positively influence a job interview. What are those tricks? And what should you not do in a job interview?
After your job interview
After your first job interview, your interviewer will usually let you know about the further procedure and within what period you can expect a response. Has the term expired? Then don't hesitate to give us a call to inquire about the current status. Do you get bad news? Unfortunately! Always ask the reason for the rejection and see if you can do something about it in the next conversation. Try not to get discouraged by it.
Second job interview
Are you through to the second interview? Great news. You are now one step closer to that job. While the first interview was mainly an introduction to you as a person and your abilities, in the second interview you will usually be punctured or tested a bit more on your suitability for the position. Sometimes this takes the form of a case or assessment.
You may have the second interview with someone different than the first. For example, a possible direct colleague who is more involved in the position in terms of content. In that case, prepare yourself that you may receive some of the same questions as in the first interview.
Also think of a few questions yourself. Because it is a second conversation, you can focus it a bit more on the content and layout of your work. What exactly will fall under your responsibility? How do you divide your time? With whom will you mainly work and what is the division of tasks?
You may have the second interview with someone different than the first. For example, a possible direct colleague who is more involved in the position in terms of content. In that case, prepare yourself that you may receive some of the same questions as in the first interview.
Also think of a few questions yourself. Because it is a second conversation, you can focus it a bit more on the content and layout of your work. What exactly will fall under your responsibility? How do you divide your time? With whom will you mainly work and what is the division of tasks?
Accepted?
In many cases you will hear after the second round whether or not you will be accepted for the job. Sometimes a third round is needed for the employer to reach a decision. This usually applies to the more demanding positions within larger companies or organisations. Will you be offered the job? Congratulations! Now it is only a matter of agreeing on your salary and working conditions .
Do's and don'ts for the job interview
During the job interview you want to show the best of yourself. At the same time, you should not put too much pressure on yourself. A relaxed you is the best recipe for a successful conversation. The do's and don'ts below will help you to have your job interview run smoothly.
Make sure you know exactly who you are interviewing with and where you need to be at exactly what time. Learn more about all peripheral matters: where can you park, how far do you have to walk, is there public transport nearby, etc. If you don't know exactly where it is, find out, for example via Google Maps / Google Street View. You feel a lot more confident - and more relaxed - when you know about these things in advance.
If you've researched the company you're applying to, you can make an informed impression and show your enthusiasm during the interview. This gives you an immediate advantage. Google everything about the company and scour social media for information. See what you can find about the company's vision and strategy so you can ask targeted questions and align your answers. Also google the people you are talking to. This way you find out what the responsibilities of this person(s) are and whether you have common (business) interests or connections. You can include this in your conversation.
Make sure you go out well-dressed and choose an outfit that not only suits you, but also the corporate culture of the organization you are applying for. Make sure you have neat shoes, a neat haircut and choose your accessories carefully. Avoid an overkill of make-up and perfume. If you are well groomed, you immediately show that you take the interview seriously. Read more about what clothes to wear to a job interview .
Arrive at the location where you need to be about ten minutes prior to the job interview. In any case, not too early and not too late. Take into account traffic jams on the road, the time you need to park your car or possible delays with public transport. You don't want to rush to get there on time.
When you go for a job interview, you will undoubtedly meet more people within the company than just your conversation partner. It may sound obvious, but be sure to greet them and possibly have a little chat. The recruiter or your potential employer may ask these people what their first impression of you is. For example, consider the receptionist.
Give a good firm handshake, make eye contact and smile when you greet or say hello to your conversation partner. Also look your interlocutor(s) in the eye during the job interview. Making eye contact makes you appear confident and what you say comes across more powerful. Your conversation partner will then automatically listen better and it gives more authority to the information you share. Also make eye contact when your conversation partner is talking.
Make sure you are friendly, alert and interested throughout the conversation. After all, your conversation partner is assessing whether he or she sees you as a potential colleague. Also pay attention to your body language. It's only natural that you're a little nervous for a job interview. Showing a little nerves is therefore normal and human, but you can do a lot with your body language to disguise the worst nerves. For example, put your feet firmly on the floor and rest your arms relaxed on the table. According to Eastern wisdom, you can remove restlessness in your body by pressing your finger and index finger together. Don't fidget with your hands or a pen, tap your feet, or continuously change position in your chair.
Ask the right questions during the job interview . These are questions that you yourself have not yet been able to answer based on your own research into the company. This way you can show that you are interested in the organization and what you already know and don't know yet. In addition, the questions you ask indicate your level of thinking and to what extent you have prepared yourself. And another advantage of asking questions yourself: it creates a two-way street, which creates a pleasant balance in the conversation. This will make you feel more at ease.
All products you buy have unique properties, or unique selling points (USP). You also have these as a job seeker. Your unique set of skills and experience will set you apart from the competition. Make sure you consider how they fit the position and culture of the company. Don't rely on your resume to sell you. No matter how qualified you are for the vacancy, you will really have to be able to explain why this is the case.
The expression 'you have two ears and one mouth' is there for a reason and means as much as: listen more than you talk. This applies to an important extent to your job interview. You can miss valuable nuances in the conversation if you're constantly wondering what to say next. By focusing on both the verbal and non-verbal communication of your interlocutor, summarizing his or her words allows you to double check what is being said - something that is generally appreciated. Moreover, you can also reinforce your own words with it. Too many applicants go into automatic sales mode.
Remember that the interview is also intended to determine whether the organization and position are in line with what you want. So evaluation works both ways; the job interview is therefore a two-way street. Being critical of the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization is allowed.
Do not step outside until you have asked what the next step of the application process looks like. Make sure you are aware of what your employer's next step is. Know when and from whom you will hear about a possible sequel and what action, if any, is expected of you.
You can be unceremoniously rejected as an applicant if you don't even ask during the interview. In that case, your conversation partner will undoubtedly wonder whether something is wrong. Are you not interested? Have you not prepared? Is communication not your forte? Always prepare a number of questions before the interview and write them down if necessary. But above all, listen to what your conversation partner has to say and respond to it.
Don't ask a lot of (critical) questions right at the start of the job interview to make an impression. There is a good chance that your interlocutor will then go into defensive mode. Give him or her the time and space to initiate the conversation and indicate the direction. So leave it to your interlocutor to start asking questions. Have your questions ready, but save them for later in the conversation.
Also not smart: say what you think your conversation partner wants to hear. In other words, give socially desirable answers. A good interlocutor will see through this anyway and otherwise you will run into the lamp at a later time. And if your socially desirable answers do lead to you being hired, you may find out later that you are actually not in the right place at all. Moreover, by giving your critical or deviating vision - one that you fully support - you can distinguish yourself much more than when you talk to the other person.
Many employers ask a number of 'standard' questions during the job interview . No matter how cliché you find these questions, it is useful to prepare them. If you don't, you will probably be less proficient in your words during the interview. Or worse, come up with examples or answers that don't match the question at all. So choose to be on the safe side and prepare your answers.
One of the most common mistakes is that applicants do little or no research about the organization they are applying to. If you are asked what you like most about the company, you should be able to make the answer as concrete as possible. And of course you also need to know what the company or organization is specifically involved in. If you imply that you don't really know this very well, there's a good chance that your name will immediately be crossed. Going into something blank can sometimes work, but not during a job interview.
We tend to talk in generalities when we talk about ourselves or proclaim a vision. For example, by speaking from the 'we' or 'you' form. Rather choose the I-form. By using the 'I' word in your answers, you come across a lot more powerful and convincing. When you talk from within yourself (“I took the initiative...”, “I was responsible for...” etc.), you put yourself in the center.
Don't interrupt the interviewer! Even if you think where the question is going and you have the most brilliant answer to it, this is one of the most annoying things you can do. Give the recruiter or hiring manager a chance to speak up. In addition, do your best to maintain eye contact and listen carefully. Be respectful and very interested in what the interviewer is saying.
Make sure you stay focused on what's important for the position. Of course you are allowed to tell something about your interests and personal life, but be careful not to rattle on and immediately put your whole life story (with all kinds of unnecessary details) on the table when you are asked to tell something about yourself. Your interlocutor will then quickly drop out.
Negativity - in whatever form - is a huge turn-off during job interviews. Make sure you stay positive, even if, for example, the reason why you want to leave your current job is not necessarily fun. Never burn down former colleagues or previous employers. Also pay attention to your attitude and appearance; sitting with your arms folded, yawning, or taking on a frown can give the impression of being disinterested. Try to formulate all your answers positively and adopt a positive, open attitude.
Salary is actually a forbidden topic during the first job interview. There are absolutely requirements for this. If you show that you are mainly interested in the job because of the attractive salary, your employer will soon be inclined to reject you. So do not focus (also in a possible second interview) on the salary, but ask questions about the company culture, position, colleagues, company strategy and the market.
DO'S
1. Be prepared for the journey
Make sure you know exactly who you are interviewing with and where you need to be at exactly what time. Learn more about all peripheral matters: where can you park, how far do you have to walk, is there public transport nearby, etc. If you don't know exactly where it is, find out, for example via Google Maps / Google Street View. You feel a lot more confident - and more relaxed - when you know about these things in advance.
2. Inform yourself about the company and your conversation partner(s)
If you've researched the company you're applying to, you can make an informed impression and show your enthusiasm during the interview. This gives you an immediate advantage. Google everything about the company and scour social media for information. See what you can find about the company's vision and strategy so you can ask targeted questions and align your answers. Also google the people you are talking to. This way you find out what the responsibilities of this person(s) are and whether you have common (business) interests or connections. You can include this in your conversation.
3. Dress for success
Make sure you go out well-dressed and choose an outfit that not only suits you, but also the corporate culture of the organization you are applying for. Make sure you have neat shoes, a neat haircut and choose your accessories carefully. Avoid an overkill of make-up and perfume. If you are well groomed, you immediately show that you take the interview seriously. Read more about what clothes to wear to a job interview .
4. Be strategically on time
Arrive at the location where you need to be about ten minutes prior to the job interview. In any case, not too early and not too late. Take into account traffic jams on the road, the time you need to park your car or possible delays with public transport. You don't want to rush to get there on time.
5. Greet other people in the company
When you go for a job interview, you will undoubtedly meet more people within the company than just your conversation partner. It may sound obvious, but be sure to greet them and possibly have a little chat. The recruiter or your potential employer may ask these people what their first impression of you is. For example, consider the receptionist.
6. Give a firm handshake and make eye contact
Give a good firm handshake, make eye contact and smile when you greet or say hello to your conversation partner. Also look your interlocutor(s) in the eye during the job interview. Making eye contact makes you appear confident and what you say comes across more powerful. Your conversation partner will then automatically listen better and it gives more authority to the information you share. Also make eye contact when your conversation partner is talking.
7. Take the right posture and pay attention to your body language
Make sure you are friendly, alert and interested throughout the conversation. After all, your conversation partner is assessing whether he or she sees you as a potential colleague. Also pay attention to your body language. It's only natural that you're a little nervous for a job interview. Showing a little nerves is therefore normal and human, but you can do a lot with your body language to disguise the worst nerves. For example, put your feet firmly on the floor and rest your arms relaxed on the table. According to Eastern wisdom, you can remove restlessness in your body by pressing your finger and index finger together. Don't fidget with your hands or a pen, tap your feet, or continuously change position in your chair.
8. Ask the right questions
Ask the right questions during the job interview . These are questions that you yourself have not yet been able to answer based on your own research into the company. This way you can show that you are interested in the organization and what you already know and don't know yet. In addition, the questions you ask indicate your level of thinking and to what extent you have prepared yourself. And another advantage of asking questions yourself: it creates a two-way street, which creates a pleasant balance in the conversation. This will make you feel more at ease.
9. Know your unique selling points
All products you buy have unique properties, or unique selling points (USP). You also have these as a job seeker. Your unique set of skills and experience will set you apart from the competition. Make sure you consider how they fit the position and culture of the company. Don't rely on your resume to sell you. No matter how qualified you are for the vacancy, you will really have to be able to explain why this is the case.
10. Listen carefully
The expression 'you have two ears and one mouth' is there for a reason and means as much as: listen more than you talk. This applies to an important extent to your job interview. You can miss valuable nuances in the conversation if you're constantly wondering what to say next. By focusing on both the verbal and non-verbal communication of your interlocutor, summarizing his or her words allows you to double check what is being said - something that is generally appreciated. Moreover, you can also reinforce your own words with it. Too many applicants go into automatic sales mode.
11. Evaluate the job interview
Remember that the interview is also intended to determine whether the organization and position are in line with what you want. So evaluation works both ways; the job interview is therefore a two-way street. Being critical of the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization is allowed.
12. Be prepared for the next step
Do not step outside until you have asked what the next step of the application process looks like. Make sure you are aware of what your employer's next step is. Know when and from whom you will hear about a possible sequel and what action, if any, is expected of you.
DON'TS
1. Don't ask questions during a job interview
You can be unceremoniously rejected as an applicant if you don't even ask during the interview. In that case, your conversation partner will undoubtedly wonder whether something is wrong. Are you not interested? Have you not prepared? Is communication not your forte? Always prepare a number of questions before the interview and write them down if necessary. But above all, listen to what your conversation partner has to say and respond to it.
2. Trying to make an exaggerated impression
Don't ask a lot of (critical) questions right at the start of the job interview to make an impression. There is a good chance that your interlocutor will then go into defensive mode. Give him or her the time and space to initiate the conversation and indicate the direction. So leave it to your interlocutor to start asking questions. Have your questions ready, but save them for later in the conversation.
3. Giving Socially Desirable Answers
Also not smart: say what you think your conversation partner wants to hear. In other words, give socially desirable answers. A good interlocutor will see through this anyway and otherwise you will run into the lamp at a later time. And if your socially desirable answers do lead to you being hired, you may find out later that you are actually not in the right place at all. Moreover, by giving your critical or deviating vision - one that you fully support - you can distinguish yourself much more than when you talk to the other person.
4. Not preparing for standard interview questions
Many employers ask a number of 'standard' questions during the job interview . No matter how cliché you find these questions, it is useful to prepare them. If you don't, you will probably be less proficient in your words during the interview. Or worse, come up with examples or answers that don't match the question at all. So choose to be on the safe side and prepare your answers.
5. Enter the conversation blank
One of the most common mistakes is that applicants do little or no research about the organization they are applying to. If you are asked what you like most about the company, you should be able to make the answer as concrete as possible. And of course you also need to know what the company or organization is specifically involved in. If you imply that you don't really know this very well, there's a good chance that your name will immediately be crossed. Going into something blank can sometimes work, but not during a job interview.
6. Speaking too little in the 'I' form
We tend to talk in generalities when we talk about ourselves or proclaim a vision. For example, by speaking from the 'we' or 'you' form. Rather choose the I-form. By using the 'I' word in your answers, you come across a lot more powerful and convincing. When you talk from within yourself (“I took the initiative...”, “I was responsible for...” etc.), you put yourself in the center.
7. Interrupting your conversation partner
Don't interrupt the interviewer! Even if you think where the question is going and you have the most brilliant answer to it, this is one of the most annoying things you can do. Give the recruiter or hiring manager a chance to speak up. In addition, do your best to maintain eye contact and listen carefully. Be respectful and very interested in what the interviewer is saying.
8. Tell your whole life story
Make sure you stay focused on what's important for the position. Of course you are allowed to tell something about your interests and personal life, but be careful not to rattle on and immediately put your whole life story (with all kinds of unnecessary details) on the table when you are asked to tell something about yourself. Your interlocutor will then quickly drop out.
9. Being Negative
Negativity - in whatever form - is a huge turn-off during job interviews. Make sure you stay positive, even if, for example, the reason why you want to leave your current job is not necessarily fun. Never burn down former colleagues or previous employers. Also pay attention to your attitude and appearance; sitting with your arms folded, yawning, or taking on a frown can give the impression of being disinterested. Try to formulate all your answers positively and adopt a positive, open attitude.
10. Being Too Focused On Salary
Salary is actually a forbidden topic during the first job interview. There are absolutely requirements for this. If you show that you are mainly interested in the job because of the attractive salary, your employer will soon be inclined to reject you. So do not focus (also in a possible second interview) on the salary, but ask questions about the company culture, position, colleagues, company strategy and the market.
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