To land a dream job, it’s not enough to have the required skills and write a compelling resume. Your potential employer or a representative of a staffing agency will want to ask you a few questions by phone, during a video call or at a face-to-face meeting. In this article, we’ll share tips on how to talk to a recruiter to produce the best impression on them.
6 aspects to focus on in a job interview
During your first contact with an HR manager, you should be ready to focus on these parameters:
- Communication skills. Are you a good listener? Is it easy to understand you? Do you feel comfortable discussing professional issues?
- The art of taking a pause. Some people think that if they will be talking non-stop, this will make them look confident and optimistic. In fact, most recruiters will appreciate it if you know how to take pauses to plan your answers. You may say “Thank you for a good question! Could you please give me one moment so that I could think it over?”.
- The recruiter needs to understand that money is not the only reason for you to apply to this position. An ideal candidate should be passionate about what they do and eager to evolve.
- Location and availability. When will you be ready to start working? Are you ready to relocate if needed?
- Job type. Would you prefer a contract job role or a permanent one?
- How much do you expect to earn per hour / per month?
Think over these six aspects in advance and prepare answers to the above-listed questions.
Advice on improving your manner of answering the recruiter’s questions
During a conversation with a job candidate, the recruiter expects them to be honest, articulate and logical. The recommendations below should help you provide the smartest answers to the most common questions.
What kind of job do you want?
In your answer, you should not only mention the position that you’d love to land but also the reasons why it attracts you.
Are you qualified enough for this job?
List only those of your skills and competencies that are relevant to this position. Back up your words with evidence — that is, mention diplomas, certificates and other documents that you have.
How much would you like to earn?
Explore the market in advance to find out about the average salary for your desired position in your area. Let the recruiter know that you’re aware of the salary range in your profession. If you expect to get more than the average sum, explain why you deserve it (accentuate the skills and experience that make you stand out from the rest).
When can you start?
If you’re still with your previous employer, it would be a norm to say that you need 2 weeks to leave your current workplace. If the only thing that you’re busy with is job search, it would be great to say that you’re available immediately. If you’re unemployed but can’t start a new job right now, let the recruiter know when you’ll be ready to begin and why. For instance, “I can start working in a week because I’m relocating to another city and need a couple of days to settle down”.
Would you prefer to work as a staff member or a self-employed professional?
The answer to this question largely depends on the respective locations of the employer and the candidate and the legislations of their countries. Do independent research so that the HR manager doesn’t need to explain to you the specifics of various work formats in their country.
Importance of a positive Mindset
Most likely, your communication with a new employer will start with a telephone interview. The representative of the hiring company should understand that you’re a proactive and positively-minded person with good communication skills.
Try to record yourself in audio and video formats. Analyze these aspects:
- Do you talk too slow, too fast, too low or too loud?
- Do you smile all the time or do you look stressed?
- When you take a pause, do you remain silent or do you say something like “Mmm”?
Preserving a positive mindset in any situation is a skill that can be developed. The more you train it, the easier you’ll succeed at job interviews. IT professionals need to be serious and tech-savvy — but it doesn’t mean they have to be boring!