All about the Environment

                                                    

     It’s really important to be in or create an ideal ambiance in order to have creative yet structured discussions. There are many different things that need to be considered for in preparation for a telephone interview, face-to-face interview and training/developing sessions. Some things to ask yourself before conducting a telephone interview would be to prepare in advance by jotting down some points in logical order. As soon as you connect, immediately making your name and your corporation known. Most importantly you should ask if this is a good time to speak for the interviewer, if not schedule another time that is good for both of you. Though these things may not seem "non-verbal" at first, they play a big role in the atmosphere and feelings that are being conveyed to others.

     For a basic face-to-face interview there are more factors that will concern you, people will generally feel more vulnerable when they are with you in person. It’s important to make them feel comfortable by ensuring that they will be in an undisturbed environment. You can do this by keeping your phone on silent, alerting other co-workers of your interview and making sure the room is clean, safe and appealing. It is also important that when making your questions you apply both open and closed ended questions, this allows the interviewer some time to elaborate on their answers. Don’t forget to sum up the main points of the interview at the end so you can ensure that you are both on the same page!

     Some things that you should not do during the interview is talking about yourself constantly, this makes it seem as though you are too self-interested and bragging about your position. Make sure to not let any emotions or preconceived notions affect your decisions or get the better of you. An important note is to never speak negatively about your job or co-workers, even if you feel strongly at the moment, it’s not worth it. Overselling the position or jumping to assumptions about the interviewee's answers are also red flags. The biggest thing to remember is that the point of the interview is to get to know the interviewee, this means taking your time with it and showing your undivided attention, no rushing!

Here’s a look at two different interview rooms, it is very clear which one gives you a better feel.

   

Can you point out some things that went wrong with this interview?