A while ago, I set up face to face meetings for a foreign client of mine with a number of candidates. My personal favorite among a group of many candidates performed very poorly. The candidate, who had been referenced to me by many individuals, showed incredible competence in his profession and was very much in his element when I interviewed him personally. However, when we interviewed him together with my client, it was almost as if he had shrunk in the table.
The candidate’s reaction as soon as he walked out of the meeting was quite interesting. To follow the business ethics, we gave him feedback on his performance. We told him that although he managed the process very professionally and came as very sincere and confident up until the interview with the client; his impression did a 180 during the last meeting.
The candidate’s response was very sincere. He was aware of it all. He wanted the job very badly. He was upset because of an incident that happened a day before the interview at the job that he was working in at that time. He had come to the interview without being able to let go of it. And at the final step of his meetings for the job he wanted, he gave in to his fears and made mistakes he normally would not have made.
During the preparation period for the interview, always reach out to your advisor for guidance about the things you want to avoid. In the recent years, new support programs about this issue, such as Career Counseling, have emerged. Don’t pretend that everything is fine when there’s bothering you, especially if your interview is in a foreign language. When speaking in your native tongue, you may impulsively give the answer that you created in your head without really paying attention to the question. As a result, the person listening to you is forced to understand why you are trying to steer away from the topic and find the underlying reasons for it. At the same time, you have a possibility to get lost in the details because you are unable to stay focused on the subject.
Reach out. Ask for help. No matter what happens, start the interview with the confidence boost you get from the moment when you feel the best. Not able to get rid of that foul mood no matter how hard you try?
The candidate’s reaction as soon as he walked out of the meeting was quite interesting. To follow the business ethics, we gave him feedback on his performance. We told him that although he managed the process very professionally and came as very sincere and confident up until the interview with the client; his impression did a 180 during the last meeting.
The candidate’s response was very sincere. He was aware of it all. He wanted the job very badly. He was upset because of an incident that happened a day before the interview at the job that he was working in at that time. He had come to the interview without being able to let go of it. And at the final step of his meetings for the job he wanted, he gave in to his fears and made mistakes he normally would not have made.
During the preparation period for the interview, always reach out to your advisor for guidance about the things you want to avoid. In the recent years, new support programs about this issue, such as Career Counseling, have emerged. Don’t pretend that everything is fine when there’s bothering you, especially if your interview is in a foreign language. When speaking in your native tongue, you may impulsively give the answer that you created in your head without really paying attention to the question. As a result, the person listening to you is forced to understand why you are trying to steer away from the topic and find the underlying reasons for it. At the same time, you have a possibility to get lost in the details because you are unable to stay focused on the subject.
Reach out. Ask for help. No matter what happens, start the interview with the confidence boost you get from the moment when you feel the best. Not able to get rid of that foul mood no matter how hard you try?
Explain yourself with a sincere apology and ask to reschedule the interview if necessary. But make sure to go prepared.