Ten Ways To Be Liked in Your Job Interview
1:38 AM Posted by Pink Lemonade Liz
By Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershonco-authors of I Hate People!: Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job
The dreaded job interview. No matter your resume and talents if you mess this up you won’t get that job. In today's tough economy you need every possible edge. As authors of the new book, I Hate People! Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What you Want Out of Your Job, we see it as a simple equation: You want to be liked – not hated.
Here are ten simple things to do that will dramatically increase your chances: from wearing the right expression, to knowing what not to say, to never ever breaking a sweat.
1. Don’t be a Smiley Face
Excessive smiling in a job interview is seen for what it is – nervousness and a lack of confidence. A Smiley Face exudes phoniness, which will quickly be picked up by the interviewer. Instead be thoughtful and pleasant. Smile when there’s something to smile about. Do a practice run in front of a mirror or friend.
2. Don’t be a Know-It-None
Your job is to be knowledgeable about the company for which you’re interviewing. Random facts about last night’s episode of Dancing With The Stars episode or your favorite blog will not get you the job. Never feel you have to fill an interview with small talk. Find ways to talk about serious subjects related to the industry or company. Pockets of silence are better than padding an interview with random babble.
3. Don’t Sweat
You can lose a job by wearing an undershirt or simply a little too much clothing. Sweaty palms or beads on your forehead will not impress. You are not applying to be a personal trainer. Sweat will be seen as a sign of weakness and nervousness. Do a practice run with your job interview outfit in front of friends. The job interview is one place you definitely don’t want to be hot.
4. Put down that Stop Sign
Interviewers are seeking candidates eager to take on challenging projects and jobs. Hesitance and a nay saying mentality will be as visible as a red tie – and seen as a negative. Practice saying “yes “ to questions about your interest in tasks and work that might normally give you pause.
5. Don’t be a Sheeple
Asking the location of the lunchroom or meeting room will clue the interviewer into your lack of preparation and initiative. Prepare. Don’t ask questions about routine elements or functions of a company: where stuff is, the size of your cube and company policy on coffee breaks.
6. Don’t be a Liar Liar
Studies show that employees lie frequently in the workplace. Lying won’t get you one. In a job interview even a slight exaggeration is lying. Don’t. Never stretch your resume or embellish accomplishments. There’s a difference between speaking with a measured confidence and engaging in BS. One lie can ruin your entire interview, and the skilled interviewer will spot the lie and show you the door.
7. Don’t Be a Bad Comedian
Humor tends to be very subjective and while it may be tempting to lead your interview with a joke you’ve got to be careful about your material. You probably will know nothing about the sensibilities of your interviewer, let alone what makes them laugh. On the other hand, nothing disarms the tension of a job interview like a little laughter, so you can probably score at least a courtesy chuckle mentioning that it’s “perfect weather for a job interview!”
8. Don’t Be High Maintenance
If you start talking about the ideal office temperature, the perfect chair for your tricky back, and how the water cooler needs to be filled with imported mineral water, chances are you’ll be shown a polite smile and the door, regardless of your qualifications. Nobody hiring today is going to be looking for someone who’s going to be finicky about their workspace.
9. Don’t Be A Minute Man
At every job interview, the prospective hire is given the chance to ask questions. Make yours intelligent, to the point and watch the person across the desk for visual cues whether you’ve asked enough. Ask too many questions about off-target matters and you’ll be thought of as a Minute Man, destined to waste the company’s resources with insignificant and time-wasting matters.
10. Don’t Be A Switchblade
Normally the Switchblade is thought of a backstabber, often taking credit for someone else’s work. In an interview setting, the Switchblade can’t help but “trash talk” his former employer. If you make it seem like your former workplace was hell on Earth, the person interviewing you might be tempted to call them to find out who was the real devil.
©2009 Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon, authors of I Hate People!: Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job
Author Bios
Jonathan Littman, is the author of I Hate People! and numerous acclaimed works of nonfiction, including The Fugitive Game, The Watchman, and The Beautiful Game. He is also the coauthor of IDEO's The Art of Innovation and The Ten Faces of Innovation. He is a contributing editor for Playboy and a columnist for Yahoo! Sports.
Marc Hershon is the coauthor of I Hate People! and a branding expert who helped to create the names for the BlackBerry, Swiffer, nüvi, and many other influential products. He is also a comedy veteran who has worked closely, with Dana Carvey, Bill Maher, and Robin Williams.
We have one (1) copy of I Hate People!: Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job to give away to one lucky reader.
There are several ways to enter - here are the rules:
Please note: Your email address MUST either be in your comment or available on your blogger profile or your entry will NOT count!! **
* Leave us a comment on any post here at Pink Lemonade (be sure to comment on this post & let us know where you commented). Feel free to leave a comment on this post telling us why you may need this book.
* Become a follower on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know your twitter name (if you are already a follower, leave me a comment with your twitter name).
* Become a fan on our new Facebook page. Leave me a comment to let me know your Facebook name.
* Subscribe to our RSS Feed or sign up to receive Pink Lemonade by Email. Leave me a comment to let me know you. If you are already a subscriber, leave me a comment and let me know.
* Blog about our contest on your blog. Leave me a comment with your post url.
* Place our widget on your blog (it's toward the bottom of this page in the far right column - just click "get widget" at the bottom of the widget). Leave me a comment with your site url.
* Become a member of our Social Network. Leave a comment with your username.
There you have it! Seven very simple ways to enter our contest - how easy is that? Complete rules can be found on our Contest page.
This contest ends Friday, July 17th at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all seven entries! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.
- Liz
Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade
July 11, 2009 5:31 AM
this book sounds very helpful for anyone looking for a job or looking to upgrade...
July 11, 2009 5:31 AM
rss subscriber
July 11, 2009 12:55 PM
My son in college could definitely use this informative book!
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
July 11, 2009 12:56 PM
I follow you on Twitter!
Many thanks, Cindi
cmh512
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
July 11, 2009 12:57 PM
Facebook Fan!
Thanks, Cindi
Cindi Hoppes
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
July 11, 2009 12:58 PM
I am an email subscriber!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
July 11, 2009 12:59 PM
I am a member of your Social Network!
Thanks, Cindi
Cindi Hoppes
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
July 13, 2009 7:44 PM
I could so use this book! My boss is an a$& and I could definitely use some pointers in dealing with him!
nhmummab@comcast.net
July 14, 2009 11:46 AM
Sounds like a very interesting and useful book.
July 14, 2009 12:59 PM
I would like to win the book for a friend who is looking for a job con5459(at)gmail(dot)com
July 14, 2009 1:39 PM
i would give this book to my husband mverno@roadrunner.com
July 14, 2009 2:13 PM
good tips
Kawaiineko2008 at aol dot com
July 14, 2009 2:47 PM
Yeah, I'm on unemployment & it sucks. I think this book would help me get my confidence back.
Thanks!
July 14, 2009 4:22 PM
My husband is not a people person & I think this would be a great book for him!
July 15, 2009 2:37 AM
I need this book - I hate my job but dread the idea of going out to interviews and starting all over!
pamela.callahan@sbcglobal.net
July 15, 2009 6:36 AM
I have worked with some pretty challenging people over the years, and would like to know how to cope better. Thank you!
July 15, 2009 10:40 AM
My DH needs this.
July 15, 2009 11:17 AM
My daughter needs this.
July 15, 2009 4:56 PM
I tried to comment on another post, but I couldn't get it to go thru. So I'll comment on this one. :)
This book looks awesome. Great review.
July 15, 2009 4:56 PM
e-mail subscriber: dontaskme22@yahoo.com
July 15, 2009 4:57 PM
joined social network, just waiting for confirmation
July 15, 2009 4:57 PM
following on twitter: heathersphere
July 15, 2009 4:57 PM
facebook fan: heathersphere
July 15, 2009 4:58 PM
blogged: http://iblameitonthecat.blogspot.com/2009/07/lovin-me-some-lemonade-pink-lemonade-of.html
July 15, 2009 4:58 PM
widget: iblameitonthecat.blogspot.com
July 15, 2009 5:15 PM
this book would be perfect for my brother
July 15, 2009 7:55 PM
I need this book because I have read every other book in my house!
July 15, 2009 10:03 PM
I'd love to win this to help me out at work, my office is a competitive place and I feel kind of lost at times, this sounds like a really interesting book
July 15, 2009 10:04 PM
I follow on twitter as jessilyn82
July 15, 2009 10:05 PM
I subscribe via email
July 15, 2009 10:06 PM
Blogged: http://jessilyn82.blogspot.com/2009/07/head-over-to-pink-lemonade-to-win-copy.html
July 15, 2009 11:02 PM
Thanks for the top 10 things for the job interview. I need this book for the school in which I work--lots of backbiters and drama. I would just like to go to work and enjoy my job.
July 15, 2009 11:21 PM
I commented under Teaching Kids The Value Of Saving. Thanks for the giveaway!
July 15, 2009 11:23 PM
I followed you on twitter (sunnyview99).
July 15, 2009 11:24 PM
I became a fan on Facebook (sunnyview99).
July 15, 2009 11:24 PM
I subscribed via reader.
July 15, 2009 11:26 PM
I blogged: http://wut-givz.blogspot.com/2009/07/pink-lemonade-of-life-i-hate-people.html
July 15, 2009 11:26 PM
I added your widget: http://wut-givz.blogspot.com/
July 15, 2009 11:26 PM
I became a member of your social network (sunnyview99).
July 16, 2009 6:08 AM
I would love to read this.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
July 16, 2009 7:48 AM
I'm working on starting my own business so I'd like to win this to help me deal with employees.
July 16, 2009 2:57 PM
Great book for the office!
July 16, 2009 9:42 PM
We always joke about this at work!
ceimusic@aol.com
July 17, 2009 10:35 AM
ooh I need this book! I seem to get stuck sitting with or next to people I love to hate, One guy complained to out boss that I wasn't helping him enough- I told my boss that I thought it was better to ask the guy questions to make him think about what he was doing rather than doing the work for him.
Thanks for the giveaway!
email in blogger profile.
July 17, 2009 10:38 AM
I'm a fan on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/js2222
email in blogger profile.
July 17, 2009 10:40 AM
I Subscribe to your RSS Feed via google reader
email in blogger profile.
July 17, 2009 10:41 AM
i follow on twitter - js22222222 .
email in blogger profile.
July 17, 2009 1:21 PM
For my neighbor!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
July 17, 2009 1:29 PM
I blogged about it here
July 17, 2009 1:29 PM
I'm in your ning group!
July 17, 2009 1:29 PM
I'm a facebook fan: http://www.facebook.com/doot65
July 17, 2009 1:29 PM
I follow on twitter (blueviolet)
July 17, 2009 1:30 PM
RSS subscriber!
July 17, 2009 1:31 PM
Commented on Hot Chelle Rae
July 17, 2009 7:03 PM
I need this book. My skills in job interviews and office politics are really bad. I am starting a search for another job. This book would be great. garrettsambo@aol.com
July 17, 2009 9:24 PM
The perfect to and not so too; many thanks in the world of recession for the job. Thanks raymondw345@AOl.com
July 17, 2009 10:14 PM
I liked the article about the job interview. This advice would help even if you are already working.
July 17, 2009 10:25 PM
thanks for the top 10 list, i'm out looking for a job right now
July 17, 2009 11:04 PM
looks very useful:)
July 17, 2009 11:20 PM
I would like it for job hunting.
donna444444@yahoo.com
July 17, 2009 11:20 PM
subscriber
donna444444@yahoo.com
July 17, 2009 11:21 PM
follow on twitter. (donnak4)
donna444444@yahoo.com
July 17, 2009 11:21 PM
Button on my blog.
http://donna444444.blogspot.com/
donna444444@yahoo.com
July 17, 2009 11:36 PM
I could really use this book right
now having a hard time finding
a good job and don't understand why
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
July 17, 2009 11:37 PM
Following on Twitter (Swtlilchick)
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
July 17, 2009 11:39 PM
Fan on Facebook (Charlene Kuser)
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
July 17, 2009 11:41 PM
I am a subscriber
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
July 17, 2009 11:46 PM
member of social network
(Charlene Kuser)
CharlieGurl57@aol.com