Job Interviews Time Factor

I often coach and recommend resources to people to build confidence and knowledge around job interviews.  People often forget the time factor.  A job interview team generally allow 20 minutes to conduct an actual interview.  If they ask 15 questions that allows you just over one minute to answer each question.  Don’t forget the introductions, job details and asking the interview questions takes time too.  I encourage people to practise answers to typically asked questions before job interviews and when I assist through a 1-1 mock interview, I consistently track the time to ensure the necessary conciseness.  Editing your answers in advance, starting and stopping your answers with clarity, using your smile, breathing, and asking for interviewer for clarification will ensure your success.   If you are conscious of time in a job interview, employers may recognize you will use time wisely in your job or work day as well.   

Cell Phones & the Job Interview

QUESTION: Can I bring my cell phone or electronic communication device with me into a job interview?

ANSWER: Leave you cell phone in the car or better yet, leave it at home.  You can call me out of date or out of touch, but under no circumstances bring your cell phone to a job interview.  I recognize that job interviewers may be interrupted any number of times in a job interview by cell phone calls and other disruptions, but the job interview is your opportunity to shine and show what you are about.  If you are interrupted by a cell phone call or by a text, the interviewer will think you do not consider them or the job important.  Cell phones whether they are ringing or not are distracting to all and will not help you in landing your dream job.

The employer will wonder if the applicant can’t focus and manage his life for one hour;

how is this person going to manage the work place on a daily basis.