A job interview can be a stressful event, even when you feel fully prepared and the interviewer seems to genuinely like you. There are times, however, when "stressful" only begins to describe the experience. Once in a while you will be in the unfortunate position of sitting across the desk from an interviewer who asks difficult questions and seems to be trying to get you to fail. Not to worry; if you ready yourself for this possibly ahead of time, you'll handle yourself just fine.
- Keep a positive attitude. Even if you are feeling anxious, take a deep breath and smile. Maintain a pleasant appearance. The interviewer will never know that your knees are knocking and you have sweaty palms!
- Always be honest. Most interviewers are experienced at deciphering the truth from exaggeration, so be sure to present yourself as trustworthy right from the start.
- Be aware of which questions the potential employer has no legal right to ask, but be prepared to address them, anyway. If you were to respond, "Legally, I do not have to answer that question," you wouldn't be likely to get the job. You may be right, but you have to ask yourself if you would rather be right or be employed.
Once a question is out there, whether it is fair or not, you'd be wise to calmly deal with it. It helps if you try to understand why they feel the need to know the answer. For example: If an interviewer asks if you have children, you may want to say something like, "Be assured that my family responsibilities would not interfere in any way with my ability and willingness to be a dedicated employee." This way you have addressed his/her likely concerns and since he/she knows that they have already asked an unacceptable question, they aren't likely to press you further on the subject.
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Author: Elizabeth Grace