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Use media tricks to ace your next interview:
Train yourself to deliver the right message when
looking for a new job
Metro Careers - March 7, 2005
by Catherine New
If you were preparing to interview your favorite personality on TV, you would do your homework, right? Barbara Laskin, a media trainer and Emmy-award-winning former journalist, says the same things that make an on-air media interview successful can be used in interviewing for a job. “Preparation is the key to success” says Laskin. “Be somebody who’s actually done some research.”
Body Language
In a tight job market where competition is tough, it’s critical to set yourself apart from the pack. “You have to employ top-notch communication skills,” says Laskin. Delivering your message more effectively is as easy as changing your body language. Sit up straight and make eye contact with your interviewer. When you’re interested in something the interviewer is saying, lean forward in your chair slightly. “This signifies importance”, she says.
Train your Voice
Your voice is one of your most important tools to deliver your message, so you want it to be as easy to listen to, and understand, as possible. Listen to an announcer on the radio and TV and you will notice there’s a certain rhythm to the way they speak. Practice on your own voice answering machine, suggests Laskin. An important tip is to stand while you’re recording, and smile. Hear the difference?
“When you smile it’s impossible to have a voice that’s flat”, she states. This is especially helpful during phone interviews, where you can’t gesture to convey your enthusiasm. But what you don’t say is equally important. “Don’t talk forever. Remember to listen, too.”
Expect the Unexpected
Just when everything is going well, something goes wrong. Your coffee spills, or you say something you wish you didn’t. “Just acknowledge it quickly and move on,” she says. “The message is that you’re human.”
Into the Spin Zone
No matter how well prepared you are, something can catch you off guard, in which case, Laskin suggests crafting your answers to reflect you don’t know the answer, but will find out more. If questions veer into the personal, consider that a red flag. Keep perspective, says Laskin, “If they are asking inappropriate questions now, what will happen later on?”
Dress the Part
No matter how great you sound or how prepared you are, if you don’t look the part you probably won’t get the job. “Most people are looking for somebody to fit in” says Laskin. The devil has be in the details—remember to check your nails, wash your hair and make sure there is no dandruff in your collar. Laskin recommends doing a practice run in your interview suit—try it on and make sure it fits well. She adds that for men it’s important to wear knee socks—so your bare ankles won’t show if you cross your legs. Women, she says, shouldn’t wear dangling earrings or fiddle with their hair.
Close the Deal
As the interview is winding down, you want to leave a final, great impression. “Don’t be shy”, says Laskin. “Leave your business card, and if you want the job, say so. Don’t grovel, though. The most important thing, she says, is “Be Positive.”