Jay Cialone

Enrollment Coach at Dickinson State University

Don't Interview, Instead...

Jul 10, 2015

I know that his headline may make you think I am speaking about not going to an interview for a job but it is actually about that and students who go to interview at colleges. Again, I am not advocating that they actually not go to these important events. I am saying that the event of the interview should be considered in a different light.

We often prepare for these events by careful study of the institution we want to attend or potential company we wish to work at. We anticipate questions we may be asked and make an intelligent list of those we know we should ask. We network with people who may have worked or gone to school there and we seek advice on who is best to try to get in front of. Thee are all good practices and we do well to continue them.

However, we know how differently things can turn out once we are in "the room." We then have the spotlight on ourselves and feel that we are in the proverbial hot seat. We sweat, get anxious, fidget and stammer. We forget the intelligent answers and questions we had prepared and walk out dumbfounded as to what just happened over the last two hours. Now, how many of us think about the other side? They also had high hopes for having a person they thought enough of to invite to their work space to hopefully be impressed. They have the added pressure of trying to make the right choice or fit. On both sides, this is a disaster in the making.

I submit to you an alternative to "the Interview." We all know that the goal of the interview on the side of the interviewer is to find out what makes you a good candidate or "fit" for their respective places of business. How do they draw out that information? Through questions, watching for none verbal cues, listening to your tone and on and on. I believe that we accomplish our goal of getting across to the interviewers what they are looking for... who we are. The way that can alleviate the stress and the game of it: Don't interview...Build a relationship.

You don't sweat or babble or worry when you talk to someone you have built a relationship with. You may have taken time to build trust and relay things in an easy fashion. It's approaching your interview with the goal of building a mutually beneficial relationship that we can do this. The interviewer senses more confidence and learns more about you. Knowing how you'll interact with them and your potential fellow students/colleagues can be a great way for them to see what they are looking for. Changing the way we look at the interview and process can change everything.

I'm not sure who said it but it is often quoted by Dr. Wayne Dyer: "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." It's time to look at interviews differently.

A selection of job offers in Science, Research, Academics or Administrative
Ind	Jobtitle	Academic Institution	Country	City	Date

1	No further academic job vacancies found.

A selection of job offers in Science, Research, Academics or Administrative

Ind

Jobtitle

Academic Institution

Country

City

Date

No further academic job vacancies found.

1	Don't Interview, Instead... (This link leads to the external institution page)	Dickinson State University	United States-USA		2015-07-10
	Jay Cialone Enrollment Coach at Dickinson State University Following Don't Interview, Instead... Jul 10, 2015 I know that his headline may make you think I am speaking about not going to an interview for a job but it is actually about that and students who go to interview at colleges. Again, I am not advocating that they actually not go to these important events. I am saying that the event of the interview should be considered in a different light. We often prepare for these events by careful study of the institution we want to attend or potential company we wish to work at. We anticipate questions we may be asked and make an intelligent list of those we know we should ask. We network with people who may have worked or gone to school there and we seek advice on who is best to try to get in front of. Thee are all good practices and we do well to continue them. However, we know how differently things can turn out once we are in "the room." We then have the spotlight on ourselves and feel that we are in the proverbial hot seat. We sweat, get anxious, fidget and stammer. We forget the intelligent answers and questions we had prepared and walk out dumbfounded as to what just happened over the last two hours. Now, how many of us think about the other side? They also had high hopes for having a person they thought enough of to invite to their work space to hopefully be impressed. They have the added pressure of trying to make the right choice or fit. On both sides, this is a disaster in the making. I submit to you an alternative to "the Interview." We all know that the goal of the interview on the side of the interviewer is to find out what makes you a good candidate or "fit" for their respective places of business. How do they draw out that information? Through questions, watching for none verbal cues, listening to your tone and on and on. I believe that we accomplish our goal of getting across to the interviewers what they are looking for... who we are. The way that can alleviate the stress and the game of it: Don't interview...Build a relationship. You don't sweat or babble or worry when you talk to someone you have built a relationship with. You may have taken time to build trust and relay things in an easy fashion. It's approaching your interview with the goal of building a mutually beneficial relationship that we can do this. The interviewer senses more confidence and learns more about you. Knowing how you'll interact with them and your potential fellow students/colleagues can be a great way for them to see what they are looking for. Changing the way we look at the interview and process can change everything. I'm not sure who said it but it is often quoted by Dr. Wayne Dyer: "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." It's time to look at interviews differently.