Somethin that might be useful for jobseekers like me.
Taken from www.monster.com.sg
The Six Species of Interviewers
Adapted from the new book, Monster Careers: Interviewing
by Doug Hardy
Over the years, I've noticed that people who interview job candidates tend to develop a distinct personal style. If you can quickly read an interviewer's style and establish rapport, you will appear more confident and knowledgeable. Here are six common types to know:
The Absentee
His Style: Sometimes an interviewer isn't mentally in the room. Maybe his boss dropped a big project on him earlier that day, or maybe he's completely unprepared.
Your Best Approach: It's almost impossible to make a strong impression on someone so distracted, so keep it simple. If this person is strapped for time, offer to reschedule. Get your most important message across, and then focus more time on your interview follow-up.
The Buddy
His Style: Smiles, jokes, and tells you to relax: "Hey, let's go shoot some pool and talk about the job." There are actually two forms of Buddy I know: inept interviewers who just want to be liked, and expert ones who realize that putting you at ease can get you to reveal a lot of information you might otherwise not mention, like your salary range.
Your Best Approach: Be friendly in kind, but don't be lulled into completely letting your guard down.
The Inquisitor
His Style: Never cracks a smile or diverts from a "show me" attitude. Fires off tough questions about your experience. This is the interviewer you imagine when you say, "I hate to interview."
Your Best Approach: Stay cool, and project respect and confidence. Don't think the tough, poker-faced attitude means you won't get the job. Often, the Inquisitor believes a stressful interview unearths a candidate's hidden qualities. It's also important to remember that the Inquisitor can often become your best advocate throughout the interview process and on into the job.
The Laser Beam
His Style: This interviewer focuses on one topic, such as a sales job's quota. The Laser Beam is a common style for a line manager.
Your Best Approach: Satisfy his judgment, and move on. Save your wide-ranging questions for the HR department.
The Shotgun
His Style: Fires questions all over the place. One minute you're talking about sales quotas, and the next you're discussing company politics. The challenge is that the subjects don't seem connected, and you have no idea how the interviewer is judging you.
Your Best Approach: This is where your careful presentation really pays off, because you can relate your strengths to many different aspects of the job.
The Silver Bullet
His Style: Believes there's one magic question to ask -- and one magic response that determines whether you're right for the job. The Silver Bullet asks a few perfunctory questions about your skills, then leans back as he says, "Tell me, how do you tie your shoes?" or "If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be?" From your answer, the Silver Bullet decides yes or no.
Your Best Approach: Answer simply, and move on.
Tailor Your Approach to the Interviewer
You step into a position of power when you recognize the interviewer's style and adjust your approach accordingly. As you prepare for the interview, ask yourself, "How might my answers be different for different interview styles?"
With a Laser Beam, for example, you might offer him a choice when you begin answering a question ("Would you like to talk about this aspect of the job or that one?"). An achievement story for a Buddy might focus more on your teamwork skills, and the same story for an Inquisitor might begin by stating the results of your individual work. The more you show your emotional intelligence by understanding the interviewer's objective for that interview, the more likely he'll be to listen to you.
Good Luck!
Thanks for the info : )
ReplyDeleteu r welcome :)
ReplyDeletei remember my interview when i applied for my ssc job.... the asst chief executive fired a "silver bullet"... but i smoked my way thru and got it wrong but still got the job. haha....
ReplyDeleteInteresting...thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletehhmm...my own experience as an interviewer..honesty isnt the best policy..haha
ReplyDeleteooo..when i was interviewing the candidates for the post of welfare secretary for the main comm, i was the "Silver bullet."
ReplyDeleteI give all the candidates the same exact question and see who can came up with the best answer. funnily enough, out of eight candidates, only one person answered it properly and he got the job.
ooo so silver bullet seems like a favourite ey?
ReplyDeleteok dee, honesty is not the best policy but as long as u can "smoke" n impress, that'll take a candidate one step closer to nailin the job right?
Wahaha.. Oh my God. Like that how? I can be too honest at times.
ReplyDeletehaha..well...i need to relate the whole incident abt being honest/dishonest before you all can understand what i mean..hehe
ReplyDeleteWow.. thats gonna help esp for jobless ppl like me.. hee...
ReplyDeleteHaha, this is amusing, I wonder what "species" Im considered :)
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, there are no specific species of interviewers. Typically, Behaviourally Based Interviews (or BBI) are common practice. In an interview, their aim will be to gain evidence that the applicant possesses the particular combination of criteria that they are looking for. In short: prove to me you know how to do this or handle this, etc.. and you're the right match for my needs
Here are some examples of behaviourally-based questions:
1) Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult client. How did you handle it and what was the outcome...
2) Describe a time when you faced a stressful situation and how you handled that situation...
The best way to answer a behaviourally-based question is to use the STAR technique:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
This means to first frame your response with the specific situation you were facing in your example and the task you needed to accomplish. Then provide the specific action that YOU took in the situation…not your group members or co-workers…you. Finally, provide the result of your actions.
Some tips for behaviour-based interviews:
remember to draw on examples from different parts of your life such as university, work experience and extra-curricular activities
think of specific significant events in your life, either achievements that you’ve had or important decisions that you’ve had to make
Just my 5 cents worth ;) Good luck ya :D
PS: The above is totally textbook, in reality just bring your confidence and personality with you and remember to ask questions too :D
wahh ok, ur tips are really insightful! STAR STAR STAR...Gosh...i can only relate to last Sept's BBQ...that was a handful!
ReplyDeletethanx Shasya!! xox