A candidate who has applied for several jobs should expect the phone to ring at any moment and be called for an interview. The employer or recruiter will introduce himself, will say what the job is about and, perhaps, the date on which the candidate has applied. Also, he will ask the candidate if he is still interested in this position, and if the answer is a positive one, they will establish a first appointment.
Usually, this first meeting of the candidate will be with a recruiter or with a representative of the human resources department. Although it is considered one of the easy steps to pass in the recruitment process, there are things that might disqualify the candidate. Therefore, we plan to present some things that might help a candidate to pass this stage of the recruitment process, and that would help to get the desired job.
Emotions should be left at home
There’s no need to mention that punctuality is mandatory for the first appointment. Of course, it is not adequate for the person who has a job interview to show up an hour earlier at the meeting. Once there, the candidate must think that he is just living the chance of obtaining the desired job, and that in front of him is just a person like him, who will choose him or not depending on the impression left.
Emotions should be constructive, but trembling hands and voice, looking lost, being stammering, or giving monosyllabic responses are signs of insecurity and lack of confidence concerning one’s skills. No company wants to see that in a potential employee, especially when it comes to positions involving initiative or creativity.
Attitude is crucial
Of course, the other extreme, when the candidate thinks he already knows everything about the company, job and how should be the company’s strategy is not a successful way of trying to get a job. There are candidates who want to dominate the conversation with the recruiter or employer by all means, and such an attitude is not usually a winning one.
The talk between the employer and the one who wants to be employed must be one in which the two sides are on an equal footing. They should make an exchange of information designed to reveal to both of them if there’s place for collaboration with the other party.
The outfit: Formal or not?
Accordingly, the visual impact is important. For example, if the job is one that involves fieldwork and outdoor work or increased mobility, it would be unwise for a candidate to appear in a very formal and visibly uncomfortable outfit at the interview. Correspondingly, if the position involves many business meetings and sessions, it would be detrimental for the candidate to come to the interview in a sporty outfit.
Last but not least, a person who is willing to get a job must be prepared and has "to do his/her homework" before the interview. It is not recommended not to know anything about the company or the job. The Internet is full of information, and candidates should use this to their advantage: they should document in advance and be prepared to answer any questions from the employer.
Once past this first step, the candidate should face various aptitude tests, interviews with managers or team leaders, or even interviews with the employer’s customers and associates. For these, the candidate needs more thorough preparation.
BIA HR TEAM