You may have a job interview coming up. In today’s environment you will often have a larger number of competitors for a position that previously. That’s why you need to particularly ‘own’ the first seven minutes of the interview process.

My view is this. Interviewers will decide to hire you, or not (even though they won’t admit this) based on the the impressions you leave in the seven minutes (approximately) – starting from the time you enter the office where the interview will take place and from impressions you leave in the following sequential steps:

Sitting in the waiting room; Being greeted and escorted to the interview room; Initial pleasantries in the interview room; Being asked the first formal interview question; Concluding your answer to the first question.

Anytime someone can see you or hear you it forms an impression and a potential for loss or gain. If you maximise the number of positive impressions you leave. You’ll maximise your hit-rate and getting what you want. In this case a job role.

Here are my recommendations to give yourself an edge to winning a position.

LEARN and become ‘fluent’ with the following sequences:

for FACE-TO-FACE Interviews

#1 Enter the office and approach the reception desk – Radiating Warmth and Acceptance and Calm Enthusiasm (RWA – CE) especially through your facial expression and body movement.

#2 Warmly smile and greet the receptionist. Note the colour of the person’s eyes to make a strong connection.

#3 Take a seat and casually own space.

#4 RWA – CE as you meet the person who will escort you to the interview room. Note the colour of the person’s eyes to make a strong connection.

#5 RWA – CE as you enter the interview room and greet the interview panelists.

#6 Sit tall feeling the back of the chair with a ‘long’ neck and your arms uncrossed on the table.

#7 After the pleasantries, answer the first interview question using a Message>Fleshout the message>Repeat the message structure. Here is a 2:28 video clip How to answer the first, job interview question demonstrating this structure and that details an example of that structure.

for VIDEO INTERVIEWS

#1 Watch the ten, two minute video clips of The Art of communication through video conferencing, to ensure you’re competent in setting up a video office and in your delivery.

#2 RWA – CE as you enter the virtual interview room and greet the interview panellists.

#3 Sit tall feeling the back of the chair with a ‘long’ neck and your arms uncrossed on the table.

#4 After the pleasantries, answer the first interview question using a Message>Fleshout the message>Repeat the message structure. Here is a post that details this process that gives an example of that structure.

 WECID (What Else Could I Do) that my competitors won’t do?

From the time you’ve been selected for your first interview, repeatedly ask the WECID question. Doing this may become laborious and many of the ideas you come up with will not be useful. But there might be one that helps you outpoint the second place candidate. Here is a post with an example that aligns to the WECID approach.

Own the Conversation

Whatever stage you are in the job interview process, consider in the next seven days what specific action you could take from the above recommendations.

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p.s here is an offer. For the first five people to email me prior to 12:00 noon, next Monday 27 July, with the subject line ‘Job interview offer’, to michael@michaelkelly.com.au – I’ll give a complimentary 25 minute Zoom/phone consultation.