Secrets To 60 Second Job Interview Success Revealed

...AS FAR AS THE INTERVIEWER IS CONCERNED

You have been patiently sitting in the waiting room for the last 15 minutes while suddenly, the door opens and your name is finally called. The job interviewer is standing there looking at you as he extends his hand to shake yours. Ladies and gentlemen, the show has just begun!

It's Ok To Smile
Okay, first and foremost, and it goes without saying, you should be smiling and making direct eye contact with the interviewer. If smiling is not one of your major traits in life, then it's time for you to place it on the top of your list for this interview. Smiling is a universal sign throughout the world that means a person is a friend, and not foe. And the last thing you want to communicate to the interviewer is that you are a foe (in a matter of speaking).

Your Eyes Say It All
Not making eye contact is yet another crucial mistake. Your lack of eye contact can send a message to the interviewer that you either lack self confidence, or possibly may be disrespectful. Neither of these two traits may be true about you, in that your limited eye contact may just be a display of nerves. Nonetheless, your eyes are a form of body language which to an extent, you are able to control. So, much like smiling, make an effort to maintain normal eye contact from the first moment.

Starting Off With The Right Foot When Shaking Hands
The next aspect of your first 60 second interview comes down to the shaking of hands with the interviewer. You must make sure that your handshake is firm but not overbearing. No need to have a test of strength here. If on the other hand you provide the interviewer a limp, or "dead fish" handshake, then that will automatically translate a signal of potential personality weakness, and or lack of confidence.

Now you may be saying, "But in my culture, firm handshakes are not significant". Blah, blah, blah. In the United States, handshakes customarily indicate two parties' willingness to engage in business. And in business, one must exude confidence. So it is what it is.

If a firm handshake is not one of your strong points, then take time to practice different strengths of handshakes with your friends or family. Also, your handshake should be the same with men as it is with women. Equal opportunity is the rule to remember in the business world.

Lastly, if your hands generally become sweaty when you're nervous, remember to wipe them against your pants as you're waiting to be called for the interview. Nothing will turn off the interviewer more than a sweaty hand.

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE JOBS?

This question is a tricky one and is designed to elicit a negative response. So try not to point out a negative on one of your jobs to the point of bashing the company or your former boss. If anything, be politically correct. If your going to point out something negative about a job, water it down, or select a job that you had which really was (for lack of a better expression), a meaningless job (i.e. laundromat attendant in College). You might say that a job such as that is definitely more like a job and not a challenging as being a Real Estate Broker today in your career.

You know how they say, "Don't judge a book by it's cover"? Well, that's all nice, but in the real world of job interviews, it happens every day. And your book cover will be judged in the first 60 seconds of the interview.

After the first 5 - 10 seconds of your initial meet and greet with an interviewer, and by that I mean the formal introductions, the shaking of the hands, and exchanging of pleasantries (which lasts about 5-10 seconds) you now enter into the next 50 - 55 seconds of your initial job interview. This phase is still the book cover examination where the interviewer is feeling you out, to determine whether this is going to be a good interview or a bad one.

If no conversation ensues between the both of you after the meet & greet and while walking to the interviewer's office, then time stops momentarily. At least until you get to the interviewer's office, which is when phase two of your initial 60 second interview continues.

This phase is all about etiquette and manners. For instance, as you enter the office, you may feel the urge to place your briefcase, notepad, or purse on the interviewer's desk. You must immediately dispel this urge because at this point an time, you are sitting in the interviewer's turf. This is their home away from home. So treat his office and desk with respect. Please your item on the floor by your chair beside, or on a chair adjacent to yours.

With that being said, make sure you also don't place your hands on the desk. Unless you are in a conference room setting. Otherwise, your harmless act will be considered disrespectful.

Next, and this is a big pet peeve. Turn off that silly cell phone. Even if by chance you are interviewing with a telecommunications company, you must keep that cell phone off. Don't even keep it on vibrate. Once again, it's all about respect. If your phone rings or vibrates during a job interview, the interviewer will clearly take offense to that despite anything he may say to you.

Lastly, don't even think about bringing in your Starbucks Latte in with you during the interview. Even if the interviewer asks you if you would like some coffee, politely decline unless by chance he proceeds to get some coffee for himself. Then feel free to take one as well.

MEN
1. Clothes don't fit properly or are wrinkled or dirty

2. Shirts are too tight at the collar, or the buttons are ready to pop off around the waist - for Pete's Sake, Get a New Shirt !

3. Hands, hair or nails that are dirty. Also, nails look like they have been bitten off.

4. Shoes are dirty, scuffed, or are just the wrong color.

5. Clothes (particularly the tie) are the wrong style, or are out of style.

WOMEN
1. Inappropriate or too much jewelry.

2. Too much perfume or makeup; or too little makeup.

3. Shoes are scuffed or are inappropriate.

4. Clothes just don't match

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At the end of most job interviews, the interviewer will generally ask you at this point if you have any questions of him or her. You on the other hand may be thinking at this point that you just made it to the finish line, so why prolong this and hang around any longer? After all, it might just seem disrespectful if you take up any more of the interviewer's time. So let's get out of here!

Well hold your horses pal. If you actually think this and do this, I guarantee you that you will very well walk yourself out of a potential job opportunity.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU'RE ASKED IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
When you are being asked if you have any questions to ask this time of the interviewer, you are in essence being asked to display your level of intelligence, and ability to articulate, as well as level of interest you may have in the company or organization you are applying for. Therefore, one of the biggest mistakes you can make at this point is to say, "No I don't have any questions". If you say no, you basically blow your chances out of the water for this job because you have now told the interviewer in more ways than one, that you are disinterested in the company. If however the interviewer detects that you are nervous, he/she may instead believe that you just cannot think on your feet. And that doesn't make for a good prospective employee, does it now?

RIGHT QUESTIONS AND WRONG QUESTIONS
So what questions should you be asking? Well, the top question on your mind that you may have shouldn't even be asked at this point, which is in regards to salary. You also shouldn't ask about vacation or sick time, as well as any specifics about the medical benefits. Questions such as these will be considered self centered and reflect no interest on your part for the company.

Instead, you should have a brief list of questions written or thought of ahead of time. Here are several:

Why is this position open at this time? Is it due to attrition or because someone is leaving?

(If the answer to the above question is due to someone leaving, then ask this) Why is this person leaving?

I have told you a little about myself and my qualifications, but can you tell me how your company differs from your competitors in regards to the environment that you provide to employees for career and growth opportunities?

Can you tell me the average length that employees in this department have stayed with the company?

Can you tell me what goals I would have to accomplish in the first 6 month of working here that would reassure you of work ethic level and abilities?

Can you tell me what the next phase of the selection process is and when do you expect for me to hear back from you?

There are a host of questions you can come up with in addition to these, or variations thereof. The important thing to remember is when your turn comes up to ask the questions of the interviewer, who may in fact be your future boss, you shouldn't be initimidated to ask such questions. At the same time, you shouldn't be abusive to the point of asking a laundry list of questions. Excessive questions may also be construed as insulting.

In any case, remember, seize the opportunity to interview your boss back. But also know that in as much as you may feel you are momentarily in control, your questions of him or her are being constantly scrutinized. Therefore, the interview never stops until the final handshake and walk out the door.

OVERWORKED I have found out the real reason why I'm tired, because I'm overworked! The population of this country is 237 million: 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work. Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government. This leaves 19 million to do the work. 4 million are in the armed forces, which leaves 15 million to do the work. Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for the city and state government and that leaves 200,000 to do the work. There are 188,000 people in hospitals so that leaves 12,000 to do the work. Now there are 11,998 people in prison. That leaves 2 people to do the work, You and Me...
AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE SCREWING AROUND ON MY JOKE PAGE!

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When it comes to making an initial positive impression on a job interview, there are several items you must bring with you for display purposes, as well as to have accessible on your person at all times. On the other hand, there are also some items that you shouldn't even dare bring with you. Because if you do, you can say goodbye Charlie to any chance of getting the job.

THINGS TO BRING
First of all, whenever you go on a job interview, you should never leave home without your leather pad/portfolio, or briefcase. Carrying one of these with you presents a professional and business like image. If it's a portfolio, just make sure it's slim and it doesn't contain tons of personal paperwork in it that makes your portfolio look fat and or disorganized. In the case of a briefcase, don't bring something that will be oversized, or even contain your laptop in it. There's no need for anything like that unless for some reason the interviewer asked you to bring your laptop ahead of time.

Second, within your portfolio or briefcase, you should keep an extra copy of your resume and the cover letter you sent the employer. You never know, the interviewer may by chance tell you that they misplaced your resume. You will want to at that point impress them by saying, "Oh here, I have an extra copy".

Third, it goes without saying, have a pen accessible. Maybe that sounds very basic, but it's easy to take for granted. And the last thing you want is for the interviewer to ask you to write something down, and then you end up asking them for a pen. That will definetely show (much like back in school)that you are unprepared.

THINGS NOT TO BRING
Do not bring your cellphone with you. There's really no reason for it. Unless you think for some reason that you will need to call 911 in case the buidling catches on fire. However, if you absolutely must have that cell phone on you, then make sure it is either off, or at minimum, on vibrate mode. Just remember, if you forget to turn off that ringer, and while you are being interviewed that phone goes off, then you will come out looking rude and inconsiderate of the interviewer's time and needs.

Secondly, leave any and all coffee cups you got before coming there in the car. Do not even consider bringing your coffee to the waiting room, because you never know - receptionists talk. So in as much as you may think that you can act any way you wish in the waiting room in front of the company receptionist, think twice.

Lastly, do not bring chewing gum with you. If you do and if for some Godforesaken reason you decide to chew gum during the interview, then you should consider this particular interview as an exercise in futility. Why? Because you will not get the job.

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