YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO...
Professional Salespeople are taught to follow a basic credo, "ABC"! This is the acronym for ALWAYS BE CLOSING. This is to remind them that if they are in the company of a prospective buyer of their product/service, they should never forget to ask for their business or close them!
This is a good motto for job seekers to follow as well (with a less aggressive approach perhaps). When you enter an interview setting, anyone you come in contact with could potentially impact your chances of employment!
This means that if your interview is with Human Resources, you should not only focus on them. From the moment you walk into an office, you should be mindful of everyone and how you interact. The Receptionist may not be the decision maker, but he/she could very well voice their opinion of you to those people. This is true for anyone you come in contact with. From the guy in the elevator who got off on the same floor to the person you discussed the weather with in the restroom. Do not ever discount an opportunity to enlist the aid of an "Inside Salesperson" who may be in a position to influence others!
You should treat everyone you interact with at an interview site with the same level of respect, courtesy and enthusiasm. If you are in a waiting area prior to an interview, engage the people you see in conversation. Let a few folks know you are there to interview and just how excited you are about the opportunity. Obviously, do not run up and start campaigning with EVERYONE, but take inventory of who's around, who appears to be a "leader" and be aware of your surroundings.
I have seen candidates that have had average interviews with Human Resources run into a "powerful influencer" in a hallway, strike up a conversation and subsequently move to the top of the list for consideration. I have also seen this scenerio work against overconfident, rude and lackluster candidates. Always be gracious, poised, courteous and genuine. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO!!!!
"I address the haters that underestimate us...and ride up on them like they escalators!" - FABOLOUS
This is a good motto for job seekers to follow as well (with a less aggressive approach perhaps). When you enter an interview setting, anyone you come in contact with could potentially impact your chances of employment!
This means that if your interview is with Human Resources, you should not only focus on them. From the moment you walk into an office, you should be mindful of everyone and how you interact. The Receptionist may not be the decision maker, but he/she could very well voice their opinion of you to those people. This is true for anyone you come in contact with. From the guy in the elevator who got off on the same floor to the person you discussed the weather with in the restroom. Do not ever discount an opportunity to enlist the aid of an "Inside Salesperson" who may be in a position to influence others!
You should treat everyone you interact with at an interview site with the same level of respect, courtesy and enthusiasm. If you are in a waiting area prior to an interview, engage the people you see in conversation. Let a few folks know you are there to interview and just how excited you are about the opportunity. Obviously, do not run up and start campaigning with EVERYONE, but take inventory of who's around, who appears to be a "leader" and be aware of your surroundings.
I have seen candidates that have had average interviews with Human Resources run into a "powerful influencer" in a hallway, strike up a conversation and subsequently move to the top of the list for consideration. I have also seen this scenerio work against overconfident, rude and lackluster candidates. Always be gracious, poised, courteous and genuine. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO!!!!
"I address the haters that underestimate us...and ride up on them like they escalators!" - FABOLOUS
