An interview with a psychologist when applying for a job is much less common than an interview with an HR specialist or immediate supervisor. It is most readily used by internal affairs bodies, financial organizations, primarily banks, and... large companies with a sufficient budget for recruiting personnel.
As you know, successful interviewing and subsequent hiring depend not only on the candidate having the necessary experience, skills and knowledge. The suitability of the applicant for the job according to formal criteria is determined at the stage of reviewing the resume. Further selection is much more difficult - after all, it is important for the employer to know whether the candidate is suitable for a specific position and suitable for working in a given company, whether he will be able to fit into the team, whether corporate values are close to him, etc. Some employers try to find out these matches at the very first interview with the HR department. But HR specialists in most cases have a very superficial knowledge of psychological techniques for assessing a candidate. There is always a risk that HR managers will let the “wrong” candidate through, guided by personal sympathy or the desire to quickly fill the vacancy. Therefore, companies that cannot afford to take such a risk, for example, reputable financial organizations whose employees have access to trade secrets, keep a psychologist on staff. Is it difficult to pass an interview with a psychologist? In what form is it carried out, and what is it aimed at?
A standard interview with a psychologist can be of two types: in the form of a conversation and psychological tests. Interviewers may use one or both of these practices. It happens that applicants have to wait some time until the psychologist sums up the test results and calls the candidate to talk about the results. Let's consider the tools from the psychologist's arsenal in more detail.
Psychological tests
The set of tests for each psychologist is individual. Of course, the candidate is not offered the entire set at once - the combination of tests depends on the position for which the applicant is applying and the competencies that a specialist must have for this position.
- Personal
As the name suggests, this type of test is designed to identify certain personality traits, such as communication skills, leadership skills, and stress resistance. A specific quality or a number of these qualities can be assessed. The tests are a verbal questionnaire with different answer options. Usually consist of many questions. Some tests require only “Yes” and “No” answers, while others require multiple choices. Here's an example from Cattell's dough: « If Mary's mother is the sister of Alexander's father, then who is Alexander in relation to Mary's father?» Answer options: cousin, nephew, uncle.
In the Cattell test, the assessment is carried out on several scales, such as sociability-withdrawnness, gullibility-suspiciousness, impulsiveness-self-control, etc.
Also popular Eysenck test— 57 questions on sincerity, introversion and neuroticism. Examples of questions: “ Do you ever lose your temper when you get angry?» « Do you like to be in company often?» « Do you often have thoughts for which you would be ashamed?«
A favorite test among psychologists interested in ideas Carl Jung about personality typology is based on this theory Myers-Briggs test or MBTI(Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). In the MBTI, any respondent can be classified based on the totality of his characteristics as one or another personality type. The assessment is carried out on the following scales: orientation of consciousness (extroversion - introversion), method of orientation in a situation (sensory - intuition), basis for decision-making (rationality - irrationality), method of preparing decisions (ethics - logic). The result is one of 16 personality types, each of which has its own manner of behavior and its own character traits. Opponents of the Jungian theory of personality types say that the division is very arbitrary and does not always reflect the real essence of things. However, the Myers-Briggs test is popular not only among psychologists, but also among HR managers.
Experienced psychologists know that test results can be distorted, because from excitement a person is able to choose completely different answer options than he would have chosen in his normal state. Therefore, if certain qualities are being tested, competent interviewers try to select questionnaires in such a way that these qualities intersect.
- Projective
In essence, they are a subtype of personality tests, but are sometimes separated into a separate category. Projective tests work using the association method: the candidate is invited to transfer his own experiences and intentions to some object or animal that needs to be drawn, described, and so on. At the subconscious level, the candidate will place emphasis in accordance with his priorities, and problems that the applicant would prefer to keep silent about in a simple interview will come to light through projective tests. Example: "Non-existent animal" test. It asks you to draw a non-existent animal and call it a non-existent name. According to psychologists, an animal reflects a person’s inner world - if the picture has sharp corners, the person is aggressive, and if the animal consists of pleasant roundness, the candidate is good-natured and accommodating in nature.
IN Luscher test you need to consistently choose the most pleasant colors. The test consists of eight cards. The basic rule: do not choose black, brown and gray first. IN Rosenzweig test you need to write captions for pictures illustrating life situations. It is suggested, for example, to give a response to the response of the driver who sprayed you or the wife who accuses you of breaking your mother’s favorite vase. IN The “House-Tree-Man” test asks you to sequentially depict three objects from the name. The test allows you to identify a whole range of properties: the presence or absence of internal conflict, openness or closedness, attitude towards others, family relationships, etc.
A big disadvantage of this category of tests from the point of view of a psychologist is that detailed transcripts of the tests can be found on the Internet. There you can also practice passing, which is successfully used by advanced candidates. So, one of the readers “ Planets HR"shared her own experience with us. Before visiting a psychologist, she carefully prepared: she looked on the Internet for examples of possible tests. And she didn’t miscalculate - when the psychologist asked her to draw a non-existent animal, the girl willingly depicted cute fluffy yellow creature that looks like a pokemon. The psychologist was completely satisfied with the test results, and the applicant was hired.
- Professional
Designed to identify the candidate’s suitability for the position for which he is applying. Knowledge of professional terms, the presence of a theoretical basis and practical skills are tested. For example, one of the professional tests for teachers consists of describing situations that can happen in the classroom. The interviewee’s task is to adequately respond to the students’ actions. Another example: in a test for PR managers, you need to select from a list the correct definitions for the terms “media kit”, “jeans”, “SWOT analysis”, “press release”, etc.
A very interesting general test for managers called “Manager’s Folder”. Candidates are asked to imagine themselves in the role of a plant director who has been hastily appointed to replace his predecessor and has not yet had time to get up to speed. At the workplace of the former head, a folder with internal notes was found in which specialists and business partners of the plant asked for help in resolving a wide variety of issues. In an hour and a half, you need to correctly prioritize your work and, taking into account the information received, draw up a further plan on how to “resolve” the situation.
- Intelligent
The name of the category speaks for itself. The most popular tests of this type are IQ tests. Consist of many mathematical and logical problems. For example, find a numerical pattern, understand which picture should go next in the line etc. The principle of solving tests is to give the maximum number of correct answers in a certain period of time.
The disadvantage of such tests is that the resulting IQ indicator very conditionally refers to the intellectual capabilities of a particular applicant and rather indicates his ability to solve a certain type of mathematical and logical problems. As practice shows, some creative people may have a fairly low IQ.
Conversation
An interview in the form of a conversation also involves assessing the competencies required by a future employee, and also allows you to identify other things important for working in the company - for example, the candidate’s tendency to lie, his life priorities, etc.
The applicant is asked ordinary and often expected questions: “Why did you leave your previous job?”, “Tell me about your shortcomings,” “Why do you want to work in our company?” and so on. A prepared candidate tries to give so-called “socially desirable” answers to them and produces pre-programmed options. When asked about shortcomings, the answer may be: “ My main drawback is workaholism, I can get overworked and completely forget about time". Psychologists (as well as recruiters) have long been accustomed to such versions and do not pay much attention to them. Seeing the psychologist’s favorable or neutral reaction, the candidate can relax. However, after some time, the interviewer may return to the topic, not just by asking the question in different words, but by forcing him to remember a specific situation. For example, asking the question: “ Tell us how you dealt with a specific problem at work?". An unprepared candidate begins to improvise and gives himself away - with speech slips, pauses in the story, incorrectly constructed phrases, etc.
Unlike psychological tests, which are easy to fake, it is quite difficult to deceive an experienced psychologist in a personal conversation. If a candidate decides to tell a small lie - for example, about the reasons for leaving his previous job, and has rehearsed it so well that he is ready to tell the story from any place and in any key, here the psychologist can reveal the lie, since the candidate is given away by his deliberate smoothness , “learning” of the answer.
Although the results of psychological testing, by law, cannot be grounds for refusal to hire, many employers try to take into account the opinion of the psychologist and not hire “irrelevant” candidates. And this is another reason to think before embarking on the long and thorny path of a multi-stage interview: do you really want to work in this particular company or are you just acting on luck? If you chose the latter, then remember - time is valuable, including other people’s. And if the answer is “Yes, I want” - then good luck with the interview!
Conversation with a psychologist
You will need to prepare answers to some common questions.
Be prepared for:
– the fact that the psychologist will say little and ask a lot;
– that a conversation with him can be decisive.
This may not be useful if:
– there will be no interview with a psychologist;
– the interview with a psychologist is purely formal.
In addition to passing psychological tests, a psychologist or HR specialist can talk with you. Since the assessment of the test results takes some time, the psychologist will try to visually determine how suitable you are for the vacant position.
What questions can a psychologist ask?
1. His previous place of work is very important to him. The time you worked there is a kind of indicator of the stability of your life positions. In addition, your attitude towards your former job will be projected onto your future one.
2. The reason for leaving is also important. The psychologist thereby wants to find out for himself the presence of your social and interpersonal communication skills, the strength of emotions and expressiveness of speech. Try not to show irritation, choose the least negative reason. The safest is “low wages.”
3. It is also important why you want to get this position. This way, it becomes clear whether you really want to work or are just putting another tick on your track record, how you can be motivated in the future, and what expectations you have.
4. It is important to find out what position you want to work in the future. The psychologist wants to see incentives for career growth, ambition or subordination.
5. Expected salary is a key point in the conversation. The salary you name is an indicator of how much you value your work in this position. It’s okay if the amount quoted is significantly higher than what the employer is willing to pay. It is known that a person may well agree to a significantly lower salary than the one he is striving for. It’s worse if the amount you name turns out to be less, in which case the salary will probably be less than it could be.
The psychologist will definitely pay attention to the following points during the interview.
1. Do you fit into the collective background, will you stand out like a black crow? If a vacant position involves working in a team, then people of a certain type will be selected. This is done in order to prevent distractions from conflicts and character development. However, sometimes, on the contrary, they prefer to take people under the leadership type, thereby suppressing personal relationships with colleagues. It depends on the type of your activity.
2. Will you be able to complete the entire scope of work? You may find yourself easily carried away and unable to concentrate on the routine of filling out papers or writing reports. The psychologist needs to immediately determine whether you have labor potential. The questions asked by the psychologist are found in the questionnaire, but instead of a dry and short answer, you can voice your point of view in more detail.
Omit all unpleasant facts. Only positivity and determination should be present in your answers. Of course, there is a possibility of unexpected questions. If you are stumped, ask again, this will give you time to think about your answer. Or reinterpret the question in your own way and voice it, then answer. Most likely, they will not interrupt you, but will listen and continue the conversation further.
Avoid using "I" too often. Of course, this is an important particle, but in psychology it is regarded as a manifestation of self-centeredness and selfishness. Use “we” and “together” more often, but also know when to stop.
Your facial expressions, gestures, and postures will also be assessed. Behave as confidently and calmly as possible.
Don't worry, remember that a conversation with a psychologist is not aimed at identifying shortcomings, but at showing strengths and positive qualities for this job. To work in a team, psychologists must select a non-conflict, sociable, friendly and efficient candidate. In a separate place of work (that is, when part of the work is performed by only one person, and all elements of each project are clearly distributed among employees), qualities such as concentration, consistency, dedication, and the ability to complete what is started are required. If the work involves communicating with partners and clients, diplomacy, sociability and optimism are required.
Today, as part of the topic “Successful Interviewing,” we will talk about the questions most often asked during a job interview. After all, most applicants are afraid of interviews precisely because of the tricky questions. Many are shaking at the mere thought that now I will ask them the most terrible questions, each of which contains one, or even two, tricks. After all, if you answer even one of them incorrectly, they will immediately kick you out into the street with a kick in the ass, throwing your resume and application form, crumpled up in their hearts, at your back.
What questions are asked at an interview? How to unravel the catch in them and answer adequately? Moreover, these questions are provided with correct answers. So all you have to do is read the article, digest it, and pass the job interview with flying colors.
What questions are asked at an interview?
We provide you with a list of interview questions and tell you how to answer them.
Tell us a little about yourself
This story needs to be thought out in advance. Let it be coherent and contain information about your work experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities. Tell us about where you studied and worked, focusing on education, achievements, successes, professional experience and interest in the field of activity in which you are looking for work. Try to speak clearly, confidently and to the point.
Why did you choose our company?
Try to provide strong evidence: the opportunity for career growth and self-realization in this company, useful and necessary experience, etc. Show that you are not primarily attracted to the opportunity to earn money. You should not talk about the fact that you are unemployed and that you are now having a hard time financially. Demonstrate some knowledge of the company's products, technologies and achievements.
Why are you sure that you are suitable for the vacant position?
The answer to this question is best prepared in advance. After all, you are expected to prove that you know a lot about the company and the industry in which it operates.
Why are you leaving (left) your current (previous) job?
Never talk about a conflict at your previous place of work, even if there was one, and do not blame your former employer or colleagues. After all, such behavior will immediately lead the interviewer to think that you will criticize the new company where you came for an interview in the same way. Those. You will rightfully be suspected of being disloyal, and this threatens with nothing less than a refusal to hire.
It would be more correct to indicate some real reason, but absolutely unrelated to relationships in the team and earnings. For example, point out limitations in professional and career growth, reorganization, inability to realize your full potential, inconvenient location, frequent changes in management, inconvenient work schedule, etc.
What did you do when you didn't have a job?
You need to answer in such a way as to show that this was not an empty and useless pastime. Tell us that during your active job search, you managed to do a lot around the house (repairs, general cleaning, etc.), attended courses, received special education.
Which job do you like best and why? (as an option - what did you like at your previous job?).
It is important for the employer to see your desire to work in this particular job, i.e. Your motivation and personal qualities that determine your ability to get along with the team and management. Therefore, your answer should contain as much information as possible.
You must show how much you like your specialty and the business you are doing or want to do in a new position. If possible, describe your previous organization positively, show your communication skills and ability to “get along” in a team.
Name your strengths
Tell us about the qualities that you think would be useful for this position. Support your words with examples from your past life. And don’t be shy to praise yourself; three or four positive qualities will be just right.
Name your weaknesses
When answering this question, be extremely careful and very careful. You should not admit any shortcomings or weaknesses. You can pretend that you understand the question as an opportunity to talk about gaps in professional knowledge, pointing out minor gaps in areas that the new job obviously does not require knowledge of.
If you are nevertheless asked to clarify the weaknesses of nature, then indicate no more than 1-2, and those that would flow from the advantages and would become their reverse side. For example, you can say that you are overly impatient because you want to see the result of the work done as soon as possible.
Did you make mistakes in your previous position?
This question is one of the most tricky. Say that, of course, you made minor mistakes, but you don’t remember any big ones. The main thing here is that, having named your omissions, you can talk about how you corrected them yourself.
How will you behave if a conflict situation arises at work?
Here it would be correct to answer like this: “I will defend my opinion to the end only on fundamental issues on which the success of the whole business depends. If the issue is not so fundamental, I can make concessions.”
Do you have any other suggestions?
If you feel confident enough, you can try to speed up the decision-making process about enrolling you in the company's staff - say that you have one or two interesting offers in mind, and that you need to make a decision within two days. There is a chance that the company will start bargaining and immediately give its consent, also with a significant increase in salary.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
It is best to avoid a direct answer to this tricky question. Say that you would like to work in the same company, but in a more responsible position.
What are your plans for your personal life?
You shouldn’t tell your future employer that you’re going to go on maternity leave in six months. Limit yourself to the classic answer: get married (if not already there), arrange a home, have a child. Let them understand that you are not going to give birth soon.
How do you spend your leisure time?
What kind of relationships do you have in your team?
Say that you are a team member, that it is easy for you to negotiate with people, that you are ready to help at the first request of your colleagues, and that you yourself will not refuse their advice.
What do you think a leader should be like?
The ideal answer would be: a competent specialist, a strong personality, a leader from whom you can learn a lot, who will give you the opportunity to test your own strengths, who will mentor you and, if necessary, correct mistakes.
What will be your first steps after being hired?
You should demonstrate your ability to take initiative and awareness. But don't overdo it.
What kind of salary do you expect to receive?
If possible, try to avoid a direct answer. If the interviewer insists, ask him how much the company can offer. If you are forced to give a specific number, indicate it a little higher than the average. If you name a small amount, you may be considered a bad specialist or a girl with low self-esteem, and if you significantly exaggerate, you may be considered too ambitious and proud.
If you have additional questions?
Never say that you have no questions left for the interviewer. You can ask about the features of the new position, what the company expects from a candidate for this position, why the previous employee quit/was fired, etc.
Good luck with your interview and only correct answers!
Hello dear readers. Today we will talk about how to behave during an interview - you will learn all the necessary information and even more: how to please a recruiter, what to wear for an interview, why some interviews take place over the phone and what to do if the conversation takes place via Skype, as well as: what you will most likely be asked, what tricky questions HR specialists ask and much more.
How to please and make a good impression
An impression of a person is created within the first 15 seconds after meeting. This is both good and bad news. You must immediately take the bull by the horns, or rather, pull yourself together. It is very important to arrive on time, or better yet, 5-10 minutes before the start of the interview. Appearance is of great importance, but we will talk about this separately.
Now it's important to mention attitude. It depends on him whether the first impression is good or not. Self-confidence is what matters. Not everyone has it, and in a stressful situation it is quite difficult to pull yourself together. Everyone understands this, including the employer, so a small discount is made here, but still, it is in your interests to create the appearance of maximum peace of mind. How to achieve this?
It’s good if you’re into yoga and know how to pull yourself together, but what if you’re not?
Replay in your head that you are as interested in a good job as the HR manager is in a great employee. Don't try to sell yourself. If you have a responsible approach to work and have all the necessary qualities, the employee will definitely notice this.
Remember that before finding a suitable vacancy, a person, according to statistics, attends about 3-5 interviews. This employer may not be lucky enough to get you!
Even if this is your first interview, you have every chance of being liked. Almost every applicant goes looking for a job, having some shortcomings and concerns: is everything in the document in order, and how will they react to the lack of a file or whether they will agree to certain conditions.
For example, one of my friends did not want to work after 18:00, but was ready to come an hour earlier. At first she was very embarrassed by this fact, but then she began to boldly state her demands. In her position, adjustments to the schedule were possible, and employers, seeing that the employee was really suitable, were ready to make a rapprochement.
Self-confidence is immediately noticeable. You automatically begin to trust a person, you see that he is reliable and responsible. All this happens on a subconscious level. This is why calmness and self-confidence are so important to create a good impression.
Remaining collected in any situation is the best quality of an employee. If you just can’t believe in yourself, sign up for a Skype consultation with me. By doing so, you will make a significant contribution to your future.
Self-confidence provides serious benefits in both your career and personal life. you stop worrying, being nervous and, as they like to call it, selling yourself. They sell themselves to you know who and you know where. It is important for you to present yourself, come, and then the employer will see everything himself.
In addition to confidence and calmness, a positive attitude is also important. Start the morning before your interview as calmly as possible. Wake up early so you're not in a rush. Turn on your favorite music, walk around the house and sing along, try to laugh with your loved ones, drink delicious coffee.
Do you think this is all nonsense? Okay, then you can stand in the hero pose, smile for 20 seconds in front of the mirror and jump on one leg to consolidate your success. Perhaps this method will help someone relieve tension, lift their spirits and make them smile sincerely in order to make a good impression on their future boss.
Your good mood is in your hands. Unfortunately, there is no secret technique or universal position in which some people immediately begin to like others. I’ll tell you more, HR officers have long known about all the “secrets” from the Internet, and as soon as they see that you are trying to apply them, they immediately draw their own conclusions: “Yeah, this person is very interested in work and is trying to manipulate. Interesting".
The main thing during an interview is to behave naturally, confidently, calmly and have a positive attitude. In this case, you have every chance of being liked. Read also
How to look for an interview
How to look at an interview is a very serious question for many. Today, everyone can afford to dress beautifully and look impressive. You don't need hundreds of thousands for this. If 5 years ago no one paid such serious attention to this point, now the situation has changed dramatically.
What to wear
When creating their image, many people make mistakes and do not get the desired vacancy. Some dress formally where it is not necessary and give the impression of an overly interested employee - this is alarming. Others, on the contrary, prefer the Casual style when it is completely inappropriate.
Don't overdo the seduction; if the recruiter gives in to temptation, what will you do? What's better to wear to an interview? You need to start from your place of work and the position for which you are applying. You can go to the address where the company is located in advance and see what the employees of this company wear.
If this is a bank, then you must adhere to the dress code already at the interview - an official formal suit and classic flat shoes, a tie is required.
Women should wear a plain shirt or a light-colored business blouse, a pencil skirt just below the knee, and formal low-heeled shoes. With all your appearance you should shout about reliability and integrity.
If the work is creative, then the appearance may indicate the creativity of its “carrier”. You will have to try to work out your image. It is difficult to give any specific instructions here. The only thing is, don’t forget about accessories. In your case, they will be welcome - neckerchiefs, bracelets and other little things that complement, emphasize and complete the image.
If you want to look your best, I advise you to watch some modern films or look through magazines with photographs of successful people from your field. If the company is very cool and the position is top class, it might make sense to talk to a stylist.
What not to wear
I wouldn’t like to write banalities, but apparently I’ll have to, since it’s difficult to describe images and specific things that you shouldn’t wear. It all depends on the position. Some things are inappropriate in some places, but in another position the same outfit will come in very handy.
The rule of what to wear is not the same for everyone: dirty and unironed clothes are inappropriate for an interview.
How to introduce yourself and present yourself correctly
Here I would like to repeat myself, because I think it is very important: do not try to sell yourself. Once upon a time, one very smart person told me: if a product is good, it’s enough to find out about it, but if it’s bad, then no amount of advertising will help.
If you don't want to become a slave, don't sell yourself at the interview. This is very true. As soon as you start campaigning, your value is lost. The employer just needs to know about your strengths. Talk about them calmly, with dignity.
What to tell about yourself
As a rule, during interviews they are asked to tell you about themselves. What should you tell the interviewer, and what should you keep silent about? There are mandatory regulations: introduce yourself, tell us about your education, name your previous places of work, and you can describe some of the projects you worked on. In general, this requires a history of your professional life.
It will be nice if you mention your goals and what you want to achieve. You shouldn’t run ahead of the locomotive and predict your interlocutor by answering trivial questions that will be asked one way or another.
The personnel officer must ask you something, and if you do not leave trivial questions, you risk running into a large number of tricky ones.
Remember everything you know about deduction. Play Sherlock. Pay attention to the table and objects that are in front of the interviewer. It's good if you are in his office. If there are no foreign or personal objects nearby, and all things are folded in strict order, most likely the person takes the matter responsibly and demands the same approach from others.
Some people advise using such things to find common interests with a person. For example, you see a photo of a cat and start talking about your Barsik. You know, you have to be very careful with these things. You are not the first in this office, and similar methods have long been known to HR specialists. Draw conclusions, use this information, but I would not recommend voicing it.
Leave humor, irony and everything about professional topics for the time when you already get a position.
How to answer questions
Everyone lies during an interview. You need to know at what point a lie will be useful, and when it is better to tell the truth.
For example, if you left your previous job due to a scandal, it is better to talk about it. If they like you, then perhaps your management or colleagues will call and find out everything. Don’t try to blame the employer or team for all the troubles; find your mistakes, point out them and show how you deal with them.
At my last job, I constantly stole pencils, but I already paid for it with a job and never again! Information about shortcomings is also not a reason for irony: perfectionism and hypertrophied responsibility are not an original answer to the question. It is important for the employer to know that nothing will interfere with your effectiveness. You can answer that your shortcomings are outside the professional sphere and they do not affect your work, but you would not like to talk about them.
Try to think two steps ahead: why are they asking you this question, what are they trying to find out and whether they can verify the information. Don’t be afraid to inflate the cost of your work at your previous job, lie about your own merits, advantages and positive qualities.
It’s not bad if you can illustrate some facts - use a portfolio, some documents, graphs, as if you accidentally took them with you.
How to prepare for an interview
If it makes you feel safer, you can draw up a questionnaire in advance and have an “interview” with your wife or child. However, this is not necessary; I am afraid that in some cases it will even be harmful. It is quite possible that in this way you will only heat up the situation and worry more, and the main thing in this matter is complete calm and confidence, as you remember.
Better work on your resume and evidence base. Write how great of an employee you are. Do not use ready-made samples. Most likely you have already sent one to your employer. Write something for yourself, in free form. You don't even have to take it with you. As a rule, after this a person begins to believe in himself more.
“I am the most charming and attractive, all employers dream of me.” Collect various documents that can prove your merits and advantages - remember successful projects, you can ask several clients to write reviews. All this is needed not so much for the interviewer as for you. Self-confidence works wonders.
The better the vacancy, the more difficult it will be to get distracted. Try to come up with a plan in advance for how to occupy your time so as not to walk from corner to corner and not worry. Also, don't eat too much. Excessive bliss and drowsiness will not do any good.
Features of video interviews, online and by phone
As a rule, telephone interviews are conducted in order to weed out those candidates who are clearly not suitable. This kind of interview is not that difficult. The conversation will last no more than half an hour.
During this time, you just need to tell us a little about yourself, answer a few basic questions and ask your own. They don't talk about salary over the phone, nor do they talk about job details. For this they use at least a video.
Online interviews via Skype are a more common and serious event. You have eye contact with the interlocutor and the opportunity to send some important files and documents.
If you are facing such an interview, you need to prepare: convert the necessary documents into electronic form, upload them to Yandex or Google drives, save all the necessary links, and also provide yourself with quick access to them so as not to rummage through folders on your desktop while the interviewer waits .
Even if you are interviewing online, do not forget about your appearance. Loungewear is not acceptable, pay attention to the background - panties hanging on the dryer will not show you as an excellent worker. Treat this interview as if it is taking place in the reputable office where you are applying.
What questions are most often asked during an interview?
Frequently asked questions
So, what is the most often asked question in an interview?
- Your shortcomings.
- Tell us about your achievements. (Don't take all the credit for yourself. Don't forget about the team.)
- Why do you want to work with us. (Read about the company on the Internet and retell their main advantages)
- Why are you leaving your previous job? (No career growth and being far from home are not the worst reasons).
- Tell us about your failures. (Here the interviewer wants to hear about how you can correct mistakes that you yourself have made).
- Why should we hire you?
Tricky questions
Tricky questions are asked in order to understand how you can get out of a difficult situation, whether you can quickly find your bearings and how stress-resistant you are. Don't be afraid to take a few seconds to think or come up with your own way to buy time in advance if you need it.
There are a lot of options for tricky questions, and as soon as information about them appears somewhere on the Internet, good HR specialists from large companies immediately change them. Here are a few examples that remain the same and are quite common:
- What will you do in the first three months working in our company?
- What do you think about overtime?
- What keeps you up at night?
- Would you like to take my position?
- If you worked for us for 5 years and didn't get a promotion, would you quit?
- Describe your dream job.
- Who and where do you see yourself in 10 years?
You have time to practice answering these questions quickly and wisely. I deliberately did not present my options here.
What questions can and should be asked to an employer?
Asking questions after an interview is not only possible, but also necessary in order to consolidate a pleasant impression of yourself. Read information about the company on the Internet and come up with a few questions regarding their work. Take a notepad with you so you don't forget important things. You may want to take some notes during the interview.
In addition, do not forget to ask, if the employer did not talk about such important points as the schedule, the scope of the performer’s responsibilities, whether additional training is expected, clarify information about the probationary period, when you can expect a promotion and what maximum point of success you can achieve in this company.
You can find a lot of information about questions in Ron Fry's book " How to pass an interview at your dream company" The successful author of best-selling books on personal effectiveness believes that you can get any job by learning to ask the right smart questions.
By asking questions to yourself and preparing them for the recruiter, you can easily create a plan for the entire conversation and stop panicking.
What to take with you to an interview
So, what can you use during an interview?
- Summary.
- Recommendations from management or reviews from customers.
- Portfolio.
- Diplomas, certificates.
- Notepad and pen.
- Some employers post questionnaires for applicants on their website. If there is one, it is better to fill it out at home and bring the finished version with you.
The most common mistakes
The most common mistake in an interview is lack of self-confidence. It seems to a person that the employer is less interested in him than he is in this company.
For this reason, various protective mechanisms are triggered - unnecessary fuss, strong excitement, sloppiness, lack of composure, lies, embarrassment. In some cases, aggression, excessive frivolity, talkativeness, inappropriate humor, attempts to manipulate or use some “secret” techniques.
If you are not confident in your own abilities, sign up for a Skype consultation with me before communicating with a recruiter from your dream company.
conclusions
So, now it's time to briefly summarize:
- The most important thing for a candidate for any position is self-confidence, calmness and a positive attitude. I can offer you a publication about.
- When going to an interview, dress as if you already work in this company: clean, neat and in accordance with the official or unofficial dress code.
- Prepare a short story about your professional life and a resume. Don't forget to bring diplomas, certificates, customer reviews, or other documents that prove your qualifications. If communication takes place via Skype, prepare links.
- And most importantly, don’t be afraid or worry about anything. The employer is no less interested in a good employee than you are in a great company.
Hello dear friend!
Psychological testing during hiring is not used as often as is commonly believed. However, it would be frivolous to ignore the question “How to pass psychological tests during a job interview?”
Most often, psychological testing takes place in the following ways:
- Questionnaire format
- Format of projective questions on any visual aids. Most often pictures.
1 . It is not at all necessary to cut down the whole truth about your beloved self.
When answering testing questions, the rule is: “I am plus.” That is, we write to ourselves a little better than in reality. But only a little bit. I don't recommend being too original. Trying in itself is a good start, but this is not the case.
When trying to present yourself as a knight without fear or reproach, it is important not to overdo it . Your task is not to get confused yourself. Sometimes there are “traps” in such tests, for example: the same question, with words rearranged, is contained in the test several times. If the answers are different, you may be suspected of lying or inadequacy.
There are questions that a person of “high moral principles” is drawn to answer. Example:
“Do you always pay for travel on public transport?”, “Do you often get irritated?”
You should not pose as a champion of conscience or the personification of Buddha. There is nothing criminal about traveling as a “hare”. But insincerity is a reason to doubt whether you can.
2. Show an attractive set of qualities:
Focus your answers on reading approximately the following qualities:
- honesty
- performance
- the ability to rationally manage your time
- the ability to draw conclusions from mistakes;
- seeing problems as challenges
- ability to remain calm in difficult situations;
- politeness
- emotional stability
3) Demonstrate a positive outlook on the world
Nobody wants to deal with gloomy assholes, nervous, restless people. It is usually not difficult to choose an option in the answers so as not to appear as such.
Review of popular projective tests
a) Luscher test. Favorite color
There are 8 cards in front of you. They are all different colors. You are invited to arrange them, starting from the most pleasant for you and ending with the most unpleasant.
The purpose of the test is to determine dominant needs and emotions.
- red color – activity, action
- yellow – determination
- green – self-affirmation
- blue – constancy
- gray – desire for peace
- crimson (sometimes purple) – a tendency towards fantasies, avoidance of reality
- brown – need for protection
- black – depressed state
The sequence of cards means: the first and second - your aspirations, the third and fourth - the current state of affairs, the fifth and sixth - an indifferent attitude, the seventh and eight - antipathy, suppression.
From the first to the fourth, arrange the cards red, yellow, green, blue - in any order.Place brown and black last.
Sometimes they ask you to take the test a second time. You can change the colors a little, but only slightly. Under no circumstances should you choose the first colors: black, gray, brown.
b) Test “Interpretation of pictures”
Show pictures with images. As a rule, these are people in different situations. Your task is to comment: what is the situation, what is the person doing, what is happening, why is he doing it?
It is believed that a person transfers pictures to his life and explains situations based on his worldview, fears, desires, and view of the world.
Example: there is a laughing man in the picture. The subject is expected to talk about his motives and reasons for joy.
Images should be interpreted from the most positive perspective.
c) Test "Blots"
Pictures showing a symmetrical blot are shown. Tell me what you see?
A positive interpretation of the image (for example, a conversation between good friends) characterizes you as a person with a positive outlook on life. A negative interpretation (for example, -monster) indicates that your mind is dominated by fears or you are depressed.
Same as in the previous test - comment in a positive way. It's enough.
Candidate mistakes
- Too frivolous attitude. The answers are “out of the blue.” There are also incidents. In the author’s practice, there was a case when a seemingly adequate candidate gave strange answers in the questionnaire. To a puzzled question, he simply answered that he forgot his glasses. Not bad, right?
- Inattention. Please read the instructions carefully before completing the test. If you screw it up through carelessness, who will figure it out?
- Being smart. There are applicants who cannot resist commenting on the tests. Show your knowledge or simply criticize. It is better to refrain from such attacks; no one will appreciate your outlook. Quite the opposite. It's better to pretend to be a simpleton than to be considered a bore.
- Stuck. You shouldn't slow down, it's better to skip the question for now. Complete the questionnaire to the end and then return. With this approach, you may notice patterns. For example, repeated questions in slightly modified wording.
- Giving excessive weight to a test. Generates nervousness.
Keep in mind that testing is an auxiliary tool in selection. The main ones are almost always the study of and. When testing, you don’t need to strive for an “A”; it’s enough not to mess up and get a solid “B”.
3 points in conclusion
So, let's summarize. When performing psychological tests:
- Follow the “I’m a plus” rule. That is, about yourself a little better than in reality. But only a little bit.
- Try to ensure that your answers reflect a positive attitude and a positive perception of the world.
- Psychological tests are an auxiliary tool for selection.
A test is a case where the best is the enemy of the good. There is no need to strive to appear as a knight without fear and reproach. It is enough to show yourself as just an adequate person. Don't be considered a bore, a psychopath, or a pathological liar. Follow the author's recommendations and you'll be fine :)
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