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| "Dear Dr-Rick,
"I just got an interview that I've been hoping for. I wanted
to know if you have any words of wisdom to impart regarding
preparation or actual interview techniques.
I will be doing as much research etc. as possible over the next week, and of course I'll be buying a new suit or something else appropriate to the occasion. Thanks." > |
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| The Big Interview | |
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I am fortunate in that I learn a lot from my clients, which I in turn can pass along. The people who come to my office do so out of a commitment to make the most of their lives. This same focus on personal responsibility and development has benefited most of them in the past with areas of excellence. In fact, often people call me with two forms of motivation: pain, of course, which provides the motivation to change (see http://www.dr-rick.com/change/pain.html), and comparing one part of ones life with another part that is working better -- and wanting to match them up. So, a lot of what I am going to write is what I have seen work for others. There are also some books out on this subject, and it sounds like you are doing one of the things I always recommend. Doing research on the company allows you to walk in with some friendly expertise. You can find out both the successes and the struggles of the company. Besides Google, also check out www.ask.com, since it uses a different algorithm. Also, you can go onto Google's "groups" option and see the discussions going on regarding the company. If the business is too small to have such a presence, you can do the same about the type of business, e.g., "private practice psychologists." You can then be prepared to ask informed questions about the company and to point out aspects of your past experience that fit these challenges. Thus prepared, you can follow the most important rule: do not expect the company to be interested in you, no matter what they are asking you. They are really only interested in their business. They want to find out if you will be an asset, bringing energy and intelligence, and making work a better place to be. So, the first job you will be doing for them is to get hired, and you'll do that by showing interest in them. No questions about benefits to you until they choose you. Even if they ask you what you want to get paid, I'd suggest you delay it, as in "I am looking forward to working out all those kinds of details together after you decide that I'd be a significant asset to the company." Speaking of details, here are a couple others to note: If you are not sure how people in this position tend to dress, you can visit a similar company and notice what they are wearing. Also, I hope you do not struggle with cigarettes, but just in case you do, it is very difficult to realize how easily non-smokers detect the off-gassing of cigarette smoke from clothing. So, that day, only smoke outside and only when walking in one direction, with the wind against you. Finally, you might want to prepared a canned answer for an annoying but common question about identifying some flaw in yourself. Usually people pick something quite minor, like "I work too hard!" But, that's too obviously canned. Instead, you can focus on something that you had to learn to change before a previous accomplishment. It allows you to answer honestly, since any past flaw is something we need to watch, but it also shows you successfully overcoming it.
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| Best of luck on the interview! -- Dr-Rick Blum |
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