Your interviewers seek to answer two questions (*):

1. Do you have the skills we need?
2. Can we put up with you? Or better: do we like you?

You most likely know how to prove 1. Here I focus on 2.

(*) In other words, Can we respect (1) and trust (2) you?

Books about connecting with people and persuading them:

• Getting more

• Convince them in 90 seconds (watch from 1:35-4:00 sec)

The application (IN DEVELOPMENT)

Before you apply

When you apply

After you apply

The interview

• Before you meet

• When you meet

• After you meet

What connects you to them?

• friends, colleagues;

• institutions, communities;

• hobbies;

• life experiences (e.g. cities you lived, places you studied);

• something else?

Use e.g. Google, LinkedIn, twitter, Facebook

(It's OK to say you researched their professional life, not their personal life–do it but don't say you did it).

What will they find about you if they look you up?

• I that what you want to show?

• Is there anything missing/inappropriate?

What will your personal references/people in common tell them?

• References written by a German or American may differ

• Their interpretation when they read such letters may differ

If you think you may need it, prepare a polite defense

First impression counts more than anything:

People judge if they like you or not in the first 2 seconds.

• Mix authority with approachability; look:

  • fresh, clean, up-to-date, approachable;

  • tidy, trustworthy, professional

Dress for your next job, not for the one you have!

Enthusiasm, curiosity and humility combine irresistibly!

Match your attitude with appropriate tone of voice and gestures.

Consider the job offer they advertised. What do they need?

Match their needs one by one with the skills you have.

Demonstrate your skills with examples.

A deal becomes more likely as its risk reduces.

What can you do to reduce the risk they face by hiring you?

Some (maybe crazy) ideas are these:

• let them get to know you better,
• prove skills based on past experience or a test,
• provide personal/professional references,
• be flexible to accept a casual contract,
• lower the salary,
• volunteer,

What else can you offer that makes the deal more likely?

(things not in the job description)

• Build capacity,

• mentor someone,

• do some management/administration,

• travel,

• do fieldwork?

Look straight into their eye

(Deeply enough to note their eye color.)

Remember their name.

Do some small talk first,

so you can find allies and common enemies, e.g.:

• "The receptionist is so nice!"
• "It is so hot today!"

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Open your body, you hearth should point theirs,

• don't cross arms, legs,
• don't hold anything in your hands, show them openly.

Mirror their tone of voice, gestures.

Questions help you to better understand their needs.

They help you collect information useful to make a deal.

State less, ask more.

Compare:

• "Today is a nice day!"

• "Are you having a nice day today?"

They are first people, then interviewers.

I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.

– Gandhi

If you said you would do something, do it.

Take from 1 to a few days to follow up.

(One week maybe around the limit.)

Ask for feedback, learn, and do it better next time.

Whatever happens you are closer to your next job.

–

There is no failure, only feedback.

–Nicholas Boothman (Convince them in 90 seconds).