Preparing for In-Person Interview Success in Winter
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
For most of my life, I lived in New York City and its suburbs, not near Phoenix or Miami. So, when I speak of winter, I am talking to you people who know what it means to check for the wind chill factor when you check the weather forecast. Some of you understand what it is like to go to an interview in sub-freezing conditions, ice on the ground, and salt stains on your boots.
To me, the first ten minutes of an interview are the most important because, like a first date, that is the time when the interviewer decides whether to pay attention to the rest of the time you spend with one another. Cold and snow are great distractors in that they can keep everyone from focusing on the interview.
I hope you notice that I said everyone—you AND the interviewer. Remember, if you have had to travel in these conditions so has the interviewer.
Guideline (not rule) #1: Try to avoid the first interview of the day and the last interview of the day. Avoid the first interview because, when it snows, you and they night be late. Avoid the last interview because they may be distracted by their concern for getting home. I refer to this as a guideline because if they want you to interview at these times, you do it.
Rule #1: Be warm when you arrive. Your mind may be distracted by the cold and your “heroic effort”\to arrive on time. Get yourself there on time and don’t make a fuss over what the weather was like or the obstacles.
Rule #2: Wait in the lobby for about five minutes to warm up your hands, settle your mind and regain your focus. I remember listening to someone speak for 20 minutes about their trip to meet me. It was unbearable! What kind of impression do you think they made upon me?
Warm your hands so that the interviewer doesn’t shake hands with an icicle. Talk about a distraction!
Probably the most important advice I offer is to settle your mind so that you perform well. You will have 10 minutes of first impression time to impress someone. Don’t waste a moment.
A few simple steps can make a world of difference in your interview performance on cold winter days. Those few moments of preparation can help you thousands more in a job you loves . . . or not.
Invest the time in yourself.
© The Big Game Hunter, Inc. Asheville, NC 2014, 2019, 2021
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