Don't argue with the interviewer

By Tony Haley

This week I had a number of candidates interviewing for an opportunity with one of my customers. Among the candidates was someone I considered to be probably the strongest candidate, certainly in terms of skill and experience.

After the interview, I spoke to the candidate first and her feedback was positive. She said:

"I think they liked me. We got on very well and I was able to put my point across although he did disagree with me to start with. I could certainly work for him as he listened to what I had to say. I thought we had some good banter." 

 

His feedback was: 

"She argued with just about every point I made. A very strong character but if she is difficult to interview, I wonder how difficult she would be to manage. She would be very disruptive in my team."

I know it sound obvious but why do candidates so it? Interviews are two way discussions. They are not a battle of wits because in the interview there will only be one loser. The candidate. 

Make your point in the interview and be confident in doing so, but avoid arguing with the interviewer unless you don't want the job. 

Needless to say she was eliminated from the process.

Dealing With A Difficult Boss

Dealing With A Difficult Boss

Work is enjoyable when you have a good working environment and most importantly a good boss. However, everyone is not that lucky. You might have faced situations at your workplace when you had to deal with a difficult boss. It’s quite common to have bosses with whom you don’t get along and it is not possible to correct their behavior. So, how do you deal with situations like these? Read ahead to find out how to deal with a hard and a tough boss and find a solution to all your work problems….

• Do not react– It’s quite common to face situation at your workplace where your boss may verbally abuse you or criticize you for your work. So, don’t let your ego step in and do not react. Acknowledge your mistake and move on. Be calm and patient. Don’t loose your temper at any point of time. Remember boss is always a boss.
• Always indulge in a discussion– Rather than arguing and confronting your boss, always indulge in a discussion. Analyze what he/she expects from you, take advice and work on it, in order to improve your performance. This will certainly give an impression to your boss that you have the zeal to learn from your mistakes.
• Change your attitude– It’s always easy to criticize your supervisor and seniors. But always remember to praise your boss for his/her good qualities. Don’t always keep grumbling and cribbing. Always learn to appreciate and admire your supervisors for their goodness. It will surely help you to change your outlook and opinion towards them.
• Maintain professionalism– When you are a part of the working environment, always behave like a professional. Listen carefully to the instructions given by your boss and work accordingly. Don’t constantly judge the behavior and personality of your boss.
• Don’t think too much– When you are a part of professional work set-up, you are bound to face people with different attitudes and they may also be hard to stand by. So, just avoid thinking too much about your boss or supervisor. Concentrate on your work and deliver the best results. If certain things really disturb you and you find them taking toll on your mind, then the best option is to go for a job change.

It is quite common to have bosses who always keep nagging about one thing or the other. But, what is required from you is not to shout at them or get aggressive. This can have a negative impact on your job and in such cases you could be even fired from the job. So, the best way is to be tactful and follow the above mentioned tips to deal with a difficult boss.

What Is The Most Important Question You Can Ask In A Job Interview?

At a time when jobs are a plenty, but the jobseekers outnumber the job openings by a substantial margin, preparing for a job interview becomes a prerequisite. Over the years, job seekers have been perturbed by myriad facets of an interview for their much coveted jobs. Different people have different perspectives on the all-important question that must be put forth to the company. One can find many questions in various books related to diverse aspects of company. These questions range from the future of the company to the mission and vision.

However, not many candidates put forth a pertinent question at the time of interview to seek direct feedback about their performance in real time. Most candidates do not even contemplate asking the question, as they fear it may jeopardize their chances of a favorable reply. Being supplicant or polite is often seen as an endorsement or an affirmative reply. However, frustration creeps in once the company does not respond. The candidate is under the impression that the interview went well and a call from the company is eagerly awaited. However, the anticipation dies down soon. Most candidates find it tough to come to terms with the fact that they do not have a concrete reason for their ouster.

A question asking to highlight your own shortcomings can prove to be a panacea of sorts in such a situation. Most importantly, it helps you address your weakness, while you are present during the interview, which can be rectified later. Moreover, it shoes concern on your part and the keenness to learn, which might get you the job. ‘The candidate may simply ask the interviewer if there is any shortcoming, which he may have noticed in the candidate, which may impede the chances of getting the job’.

Asking such an introspective question highlights maturity on the part of the candidate and brightens the prospects of a favorable reply from the employer. So draft the question properly and do not be perturbed no matter what the interviewer’s reply is to crack the interview successfully or learn an important fact that can help you in future interviews.