by Mike Vermillion - Jun 02, 2010
00:00:00.05
Before a word is spoken, an interviewer will assess a new acquaintance and look for evidence to back that impression, says Gitte Lindgaardt, Ph.D., of Ottawa’s Carleton University. And according to a study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, we’re wired to attend to males who display dominance. Stand out (but don’t stick out” with just one of the following: cuff links, a tie clip, a pocket square, or an unorthodox tie. A polished look helps you secure subconscious approval.
00:00:03.00
A limp handshake makes a worse impression on a prospective employer than body piercings, tattoos, or a crazy hair color, according t a 2008 survey of employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. And a strong handshake can convey vitality, say researchers at the State University of New York, whose findings back the belief that grip strength may correlate to genetic fitness. Keep your wrist and forearm horizontal to maximize force. An inverted or rotated wrist diminishes grip strength.
00.09:17.00
Don’t worry if you feel you’re talking too little. In a seminal study, people who were eventually offered jobs spoke about 2 minutes less than their interviewers did. Use prompts – “Tell me about a problem your team recently faced” – so your interviewer has a chance to talk shop, and you can flash your problem-solving skills.
00:10:.00
A typical interviewer can assess integrity with high accuracy in 10 minutes, say the researchers at the California State University. Still, as many as 75% of applicants lie, according to a 2007 Journal of Applied Psychology study. So tell the truth and resist “image-protecting behaviors”, the study warms. Chance of success dropped by two-thirds when applicants omitted details, distanced themselves from failures, or hid embarrassing chapters. Omissions that surface later hurt double.
00:25:00.00
Interviews may not remember your answers, but they do remember how you answered. Be specific. “They’re looking for examples that indicate how you’ll function in the future,” says Carole Martin, the author of Boost Your Interview IQ. Come prepared with stories and examples that demonstrate leadership ability, communication skills, integrity, and proven performance that can shoehorn any answer.
Refresh Your Resume
To land an interview, you first need to catch the attention of a screener.
Name
An odd name can hurt your chances of being hired. If yours qualifies as unusual, use your middle name or pare down your first name. Once you’re hired, you can tell your coworkers what you’d like to be called.
Work Experience
Screeners may forgive up to 8 months of unemployment, a Harvard study shows. Don’t fudge dates, and use your cover letter to explain gaps. Fill jobless time with volunteer or temporary work.
Extracurricular Experience
Work Experience and academic performance matter a lot to employers. But involvement in business and social organizations demonstrates leadership and can offset shortcomings, a study says.
Competency Statements
Emphasize practical abilities such as communication, organization, and initiative-taking skills. One study found that resumes with accomplishment statements were more appealing to screeners.
Courtesy of Men's Health Magazine (July/Aug), page 82
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