10 Habits to be aware of for Interview Success

At last! The wait is finally over! After countless hours of surfing internet job sites and applying to various positions, you have received a call to come in for an interview. Congratulations! The hard part might be over but that doesn’t mean the effort should stop there. Your first impression is vital when it comes to your success in an interview. Remember the Recruiter (a.k.a. ‘The Fit Finder’ as we like to refer to our Recruiters at SRG) is on your side. No one wants you to succeed more than we do!

Here are the most common mix-ups I face as a ‘The Fit Finder’, and why you should avoid them:

1. Attitude
   As ‘The Fit Finder’ my ideal candidate, qualifications aside, is someone who is easy to get along with and can follow direction. These are key soft skills that are high on the list of wants for most employers. Therefore, when asked to perform a task during an appointment that you are unsure of, maintain a level head and ask questions to clarify and reassure yourself. Trust me; your positive attitude will shine over experience any day!
2. Irritation
   Stay positive and motivated during your appointment – even when asked to perform dry administrative tasks like applications and orientation videos. Every company has policies and procedures they have to follow when it comes to Human Rights and Health and Safety that are required by the Ministry of Labour. We truly care about you as a Team Member and will go to great lengths to see that you don’t get hurt.
3. Dress for Success
   As a Workforce Training & Development company that hires for numerous manufacturing and industrial organizations, we are pretty lenient when it comes to what you wear to the interview. Focus on a neat and tidy appearance that compliments the position you are applying for.
4. Chattiness
   I’m glad you are so comfortable opening up to me, and I truly love hearing your stories. That aside, be sure to answer questions as directly as possible and be on point if asked for examples.
5. Reserved
   Over talking can be a concern, but not saying enough can also be hard for a Recruiter. Sometimes after leaving an interview I feel like I don’t know you any better than I did beforehand. The reason I brought you in was to get to know the awesome person I saw on paper- so don’t be afraid to open up and be yourself.
6. Insecurity
   If you don’t believe in yourself, it comes across in your answers. Most people do tremendously better on tests then they lead us to believe. So when we ask you to complete a math test don’t be so hard on yourself. We want to see that you will be confident in your abilities on the job. Give yourself a pat on the back for getting this far, and show me that determination I know you have.
7. Being too Casual
   A lot of times applicants think that if they act really casual it will help them land the job. I am always going to be courteous and polite with my applicants but please remember that an interview is also an evaluation. Be yourself as much as you want- but maintain professional conduct and rapport.
8. Flexibility
   At SRG, we want to know about your preferences and availability to start work as this is an important consideration when employing you. However, try not to be so rigid that you exhaust all your options- we want you to leave with a job and be successful.
9. Listening to Directions
   As ‘The Fit Finder’, I spend a lot of time with people and I start to find patterns in the questions they ask. Because of this I tend to over-explain the process so I can be as helpful to my candidates as possible. Taking direction is something our clients really look for as well, and we want you to be as successful as you can. However, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you still don’t know. I would rather have you ask questions than do the task incorrectly.
10. Communicating
    After successfully being hired, it is sometimes confusing for a new Team Member to know when they should be calling the office or if we are following up with them as a next step. If you’ve been interviewed and you still don’t hear from us in a few days don’t panic, this is normal. As a Workforce Training & Development company that hires for various businesses, we don’t always hear back from our clients right away or we may still be trying to reach your references, in which case we will inform you of the slow down and ask for your assistance. We appreciate a follow-up call to show your interest. Try to be patient after that– we like you and are eager for you to start as well.

So there you have it, 10 of the most common mix-ups we see as ‘The Fit Finder’ on a daily basis. Not so bad right?

All in all, there is nothing that makes me happier than helping someone find employment. A positive attitude and a willingness to learn will always go far. You’ve got the knowledge and the experience, and you might just find your new job to be something that you love. So come on job seekers, I know you can do it! Show me what you’re made of! 🙂