Submitted by editor on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 1:28pm.
Employment experts say that hiring managers usually make up their mind about a job candidate within the first twenty minutes of an interview, and they suggest that no matter what you do beyond that point, little can be done to change the mind of the hiring manager and get the job.
As such, all job candidates need to be especially mindful to show enthusiasm for the job for which they are interviewing, especially during the first twenty minutes of the interview. During the first twenty minutes of the interview, the majority of hiring managers are unconsciously screening potential candidates for enthusiasm about the job.
Having said that, the irony about most job hunters is that when they go into the interview, they are somewhat unsure as to whether or not they want the job, and they unconsciously resolve to make that decision based on what they learn in the interview.
While that is an excellent strategy that I recommend to job candidates going on interviews, in many cases this sort of “interview the interviewer” strategy tends to have the candidate exude curiosity, rather than outright enthusiasm when they interview—which in some cases may cost them the potential job. Instead, they show their enthusiasm towards the end of the interview (which some interviewers interpret as enthusiasm that interview is ending) or try to demonstrate their enthusiasm in a follow up thank you note or phone call.
Based on what the experts say, minute twenty one of the interview is already too late to begin showing enthusiasm for the position being offered, so trying to express enthusiasm for a job on the follow up or thank you note is way too late— but you should still do it.
In order to show enthusiasm from the outset of the interview, you need to go into the interview convinced that you want the job, whether you know it or not. It is perfectly acceptable to show enthusiasm for a job, get the job, and then decide that you don’t want it. But if you don’t show enthusiasm for the job from the outset of the interview, you may never have the chance to decide whether you want the job.
However, dedicating the first twenty minutes of the interview to showing enthusiasm while answering key interview questions may mean that you will have to save those difficult, probing questions you planned on asking the interviewer for when you are actually offered the job. Instead, try to ask questions that demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic attitude toward your interviewer and the company.
Those first twenty minutes of an interview can make or break you as a viable candidate for a company. Use them wisely and show all your interviewers that you truly are enthusiastic about that potential job and that your enthusiasm will be manifest in your performance—even if you aren’t sure if you want the job yet.
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