How to be Brilliant

Posted on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 21:22 | by The Insider

in a Job Interview

The day has come; you are standing nervously in front of the E&Y representative (or just in Silicon Valley, applying for a position in Google). Dozens of other applicants. Your aim is to beat them. Besides your professional contribution, your behavior and outfit matters as well.

In this article I have summarized the success and fail points, well known advices are avoided, instead I have concentrated on mistakes SSE Riga students are likely to make. Disclaimer would be too long, so use your common sense; advices may not work when applying to marketing companies. My word of thanks goes to 3 people who assisted me with information for the article, interviewer from one of the big four companies, former president of a top 50 Latvian company and the etiquette consultant for current president of Latvia.

Success

Extra knowledge on the company. Not the one you get on the front page of their website, but some in-depth info. A good advice - what's their share price? How has it changed?
Modest attitude. Golden rule - "Under promise - over deliver" Do not exaggerate your achievements.
Show your interest to stay with the company for a longer time. If you apply for the consultant position in E&Y tell them that you intend to become a manager.
A good advice for men is to go and ask for female opinion. They know not only that belt color should match the one of shoes.
Tasteful and charming looks. You don’t have to look like America’s next top model; yet, research shows that people are attracted by good-looking individuals and tend to assume they inherit more positive qualities.

Fail

Posh clothing. Anything from Gucci or Louis Vuitton will attract a negative attitude towards you; don’t try to look better than interviewer. If you receive a compliment on your expensive item, never admit it was bought on the Fifth Avenue.
Religious, weird symbols. No dead bugs in your necklace. Remove that cross from your neck. Don't use folk symbols. A lot of people have stereotypes about those who wear such things.
Sweat. No hand/facial creams. If it's summer your face will shine and look sweaty. If you get wet because of heat there is always a possibility to use washroom.
Perfume/deodorant. Avoid the first one; don't exaggerate with the second one.
Overdone make-up and hairstyle. Use no hairspray, no jelly (even if you're FE top score and look truly fine with jellied hair). Light make-up and that's it.
Lack of tights. If you are a woman, you have a skirt and it's below 27 degrees, you must have tights. If a man; wear a jacket, leave tights for women.
Don't stand out with anything in your outfit. You want to be remembered by your knowledge instead of your red lips or dirty shoes.
Stupid answers for the test question. They can ask you mean questions in order to test your reaction. A pretty regular practice in some of the companies and your answer isn't as important as your reaction. If you are insulted, never respond with an insult to the interviewer.
Mirror game. Interviewer might not notice if you do the mirror trick with him. Others will, so avoid it.

Overconfident attitude. There are stereotypes that young people tend to be too confident nowadays. In fact, it is not so bad to show a bit of fear, uncertainty and shyness, it definitely beats Mr. Perfect.
Correcting interviewer. He says that company was established 50 years ago. You will make an idiot out of yourself by saying "No, it's actually 63!" Even if other people sitting in room smirk; instead sit and be serious.
Exaggerated or no eye contact. If person doesn't look at you, don't look at him.

Additional advices.

If the interviewer makes a joke and 2 out of 5 people in the room burst to laugh, smile but don't join them. Even if you will be roaring with laughter together with the president of the company, chances are that others will be against hiring another idiot laughing about his jokes against to work with him/her.
Ask a smart question to demonstrate your interest. Don't ask whether Young is written with Y or J.
If a 5 people commission is interviewing you it doesn't matter who asks the question, you can answer to other people too. Don't look on the floor or clock behind the people, look at them.
Glasses don't make you look smarter. If you can go without them, do so.
Think how you'll be holding your hands and legs beforehand. Sit in the chair, not on its edge. Don't lean back; leaning forward is demonstration of interest.
Don't sit until you're invited to do so. Perhaps they want you to stand in American Idol style. Don't squeeze somebody’s hand without invitation.
If it's too hot, you may ask whether you can remove your jacket. Even if it's 30 degrees never ask this if interviewers are sweating in their jackets. You have to stay there 15 minutes; they will sit for another 2 hours.
One opened button in the blouse is maximum for the women.
Remove watch before the interview. There is a great temptation to look into it. Mobile phone has to be turned off.
Nearly impossible, but one of the very few things with which you can stand out, with your outfit in a positive way, is perfectly ironed clothes. Instructions: Iron clothes. Put them on. Don't sit anywhere until the interview.
Prepare answers to the most common questions like "What are your worst qualities?" "Why do you want to work here?" beforehand.

What would you answer to "What are your plans for future career in KPMG?" Bad option:"The average time for becoming manager is 5 years. I intend to do that in 4 and a half."Good one:"I have information that the average time period for becoming manager is 5 years. Is it correct? I intend to continue with manager's position in 5-6 years."Don't make a careerist out of yourself; you are likely to leave an impression of person willing to do anything to advance.

SSE Riga does provide you with an excellent knowledge background, yet in order to be successful you must remember about the other factors as well. Good luck!