Human Resources Interview: Mistakes
To Avoid
ByCarl Mueller
The Human Resources interview is often the
first step in the job interview process.
It’s also one of the steps that job searchers
tend to look at as being unimportant. Job
searchers who treat the HR interview as being
unimportant risk losing out on jobs.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been
helping a job candidate prepare for a job
interview and have had to convince them that
the Human Resources interview that they are
preparing for is one that they actually need
to take seriously.
Many people seem to think that they
are smarter than the HR person they are
going to interview with and think that
they can confuse them with technical jargon
and bluff their way past HR to get to
the hiring manager.
If you are not making it past the HR
interview stage for various jobs you are
applying for, you need to understand the
differences between interviewing with
an HR interviewer and the hiring manager.
HR is brought into the interview process
to represent the company and to determine
whether or not you are a fit for the organization.
Here are some things you should consider
when preparing for a Human Resources interview.
1. Human Resources can prevent you from
getting hired.
I’ve seen cases where the HR representative
prevents the hiring manager from hiring
someone who the hiring manager wanted.
HR can have significant input into the
hiring process in some companies and in
some cases can be the final say as to
whether or not you get hired regardless
of whether you interview with them first
or last and regardless of how badly the
hiring manager wants you.
2. The Human Resources interview will
assess your suitability to join the company.
Before a company invests potentially
tens of thousands of dollars (or more)
by hiring you, they are going to ensure
you will fit within the organization.
If you can’t answer questions about yourself,
why you want to join the company and other
HR-type questions why would they hire
you? The questions may seem trivial to
you but they aren’t to the HR person interviewing
you, trust me.
3. Understand how Human Resources can
help you get the job.
I’ve seen some HR reps who tell me on
the phone that they particularly like
one candidate over another and basically
tell me that they are going to try to
steer the hiring manager towards that
candidate and away from the one they don’t
like as much. They aren’t necessarily
playing favorites, they’ve simply decided
that one candidate suits the company better
than another. HR can be your advocate
if you take them seriously.
4. People hire people who they like.
All things being equal, a company will
someone they like over someone who they
don’t like as much. When two candidates
are equal in all areas, a company will
hire the person that they feel will be
a better fit in their organization. It’s
really that simple. Performing well during
the Human Resources interview can only
help your chances at getting the job.
5. Don’t assume the HR rep doesn’t know
what you know.
Unless you know the Human Resources person
interviewing you or unless you’ve seen
a copy of their resume, how you can tell
what they know and what they don’t know?
Don’t assume that they won’t understand
your business or profession or that you’ll
confuse them by using technical jargon.
For all you know, they may have done your
job in the past and be very familiar with
your job. They may interview people with
your skills regularly so believing that
you can confuse them by mentioning technical
terms and phrases might end up costing
you when they see right through it.
Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur
and professional recruiter who wants to
help you find your dream career.
Visit Carl's website to separate yourself
from other job searchers: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com
Sign up for The Effective Career Planner,
Carl’s free 5-day course: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/effective-career-planner.html
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