Hi everyone,
I just came out of an interviwe and I didn't do very well...it seems like i often have trouble connecting with my interviewers.
Can you give me some tips on how to improve? Are there any good books I can read on that? How can I connect with my interviewer better?
Thanks!!!
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if your socially awkward..which it seems so then talk to one random person everyday. It will help a lot. I'm sure there are books you can read..but why? That is like learning how to drive standard reading it in a book, you've got to go out there and try it.
IBD favors jock/bro males and some few quantish types. For females, they want smiley, cheerleader types. Make sure to convey positivity. There's no book for this.
Try to turn the interview into a friendly conversation, smile and be positive and slip in a few opportune jokes. I used to be awkward in my interviews too until I started smiling!
I had the same problem during a interview today. I guess practice makes perfect, so just keep going to interviews and you will eventually become more comfortable in a interview setting.
Cheers
There are quite a few "networking" books out there- you can probably just google "networking basics" or type it in Amazon and lots of results will come up. I don't really have any recommendations but the classic would be How to Win Friends & Influence People and I actually saw one person reading "networking for dummies." It isn't going to be a short term cure for your interviews, but something that may make you more pleasant to be around if that interests you.
Go to more interviews at firms you have little interest in - you will be more relaxed and it's good for practice.
Also, think if consulting is really a good fit for you - you will often need to talk to clients and if you have troubles connecting with random people during the first meeting it will be difficult for you to convince them to give you information or data you require (i.e. you will be less successful at your job). That being said, any skill, even the softest one, can be improved so good luck!
do mock interviews with your friendsand try your best to be serious about them. be professional but always smile and talk to interviewers like you talk to your friends but be a little more reserved and professional. act like you're real happy to be at the interview
Yes! I did some mock interviews in a business communications class and they really helped. It can also help to think of examples you could use for the most common questions (don't recite it like you're reading from a text book though).
Dude... no book can teach you how to be sociable. That's like playing NBA 2K11 to learn how to play basketball.
Go out there, meet people and strike up a random conversation. Slip in a witty joke, throw out a nice yet not overly obnoxious look-at-me-I'm-trying-so-hard smile and see where it goes. Just relax and actually try to enjoy the conversation. A big no no to an overly toothy smile and a ridiculous gung-ho attitude... it screams 'FAKE' and it makes you look like you're trying too hard. You have to come across as genuine.
Specifically for interviews, you can often find common interests when you engage in short small talk before the actual interview spots. Stuff in common = increase in likability.
Do any of you feel that there's an unavoidable gender bias though?
I mean, as a girl, it's a lot more difficult to find common ground with interviewers that are predominantly male.
For more specifics, you can use "How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less" by Nicholas Boothman: http://www.amazon.com/How-Connect-Business-Seconds-Less/dp/0761125957
To project a positive attitude during the interview, the following podcast will help you (free): http://www.manager-tools.com/2008/09/5-ways-to-master-horstmans-3rd-law…
For conversations in general (free): http://www.manager-tools.com/2007/10/how-to-be-effective-in-everyday-co…
Nerdy? Yes, but this definitely helped me get my job at MBB.
Everytime you see a stranger in the elevator think of it as a challenge to make a good impression
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