When Herman Cain (who actually thinks he can be president) sat down to talk with the Journal Sentinel editorial board about his ideas on foreign policy I bet he thought, "pshh I got this". What he got was a wake up call. Smooth talk and home spun language can only take you so far, Herm (Can I call you Herm?). And what we got was a cringe worthy viral video where Cain stammers and stutters for five whole minutes.
Mr. Cain, (he told me I couldn't call him Herm) really should have known better. Before running for the highest office in the land, Cain made his living as a public speaker. Corporations would hire him to motivate their underlings and middle managers at lavish conferences. (this was after his stint as a Godfathers Pizza CEO)
So what went wrong? While Cain's campaign manager later said the republican candidate was just tired, it's clear he just wasn't prepared. Running for president is one long job interview. Seeking employment demands certain things of an interviewee; preparation, active participation and good follow-up. Herm (he'll always be Herm to me) should have kept in mind what his specific goal was. The reporter, as a proxy for the American people, wanted to know if he was qualified for the job he wanted. And judging by this video, I don't think we'll be calling him back.
To be fair, we've all had some gaffs during job interviews. I once flubbed my lines so badly at an audition the casting director had to keep me from breaking down and crying (I really wanted the job, the pay was awesome). Not everyone will have to remember pages of dialogue the day before, what essentially amounted to, a job interview, but everyday, interviews are held with people on the hunt for all kinds of jobs. Whether its a position in a corporation, in government, in academia, in doctors or lawyers offices the skills you need to land that job are basically the same.
Prepare your butt off. Not only will good prep get you ready for the interviewers questions, it will do a lot to diminish whatever nerves you may have before the interview. Get on the computer and find out as much as you can about the companies history, it's products or services, and it's size (size matters). And while they may throw some curve balls your way, you'll do well if you can answer these frequently asked interview questions:
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- How does your experience relate to this position?
- What are you salary requirements?
- If you are hired, how long do you think you would stay with this company?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What do you feel are you major strengths and weaknesses?
Cain did do one thing right during his interview, he asked a question. Granted his question made him look even less educated on the subject but when it comes to your interview, your ability to ask smart questions will probably make a more positive impression on the interviewer than your answers to her questions. You don't want to take up too much time but these are some questions you should ask at your interview:
- What would be some of my specific duties at this company?
- Is there room for advancement?
- Can you tell me a little bit about the immediate supervisor I would be working with?
What I love about an acting audition (my kind of job interview) is that it encourages active participation. When you show up, how your dressed, and how you engage the material are all verbal and nonverbal signs of your willingness to participate in the interview. Doing this well creates the single most important impression of you.
This is a no brainer but you should always be on time. There's a saying that goes, "early is on time, on time is late, and late is never" or something like that. In any regard, show your respect for your potential new employer and get there at least 15 minutes early.
Good grooming applies to any job interview (another no brainer). Even if your going in for a job that will require you to get dirty, your appearance should be neat and clean. and please don't over do it with the perfume or the cologne. Some people find certain scents unbearable. Go light or none at all.
Herman Cain was a rambling mess in that video. You should keep that in mind; nobody likes a rambler. Answer questions fully then stop. Going on and on makes you seem unfocused. On the other end, don't make you answers too short. Single word answers like "yes" or "no" leave an awkward void (Do you have experience? "yes" uhh, What are they? "yes") The interviewer wants to hear you talk. Don't try to BS your way through and answer like Herm did. If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to explain. If you don't know the answer, say so.
Finally, Listen carefully to everything that's being said to you. Eye contact in this situation says it all. Along with a pleasant expression, it lets them know your paying attention, your glad to be there, and focused.
Actors can be some of the pushiest people out there, when it comes to a job they really want. I've worked for casting offices where people will actually show up and ask how they did and if they got the job. Any actor worth his salt know that's not the way to go about it.
Is there a none pushy way to follow up? A simple post letter or email will do. In the letter, you want to thank the person for the opportunity of being interviewed (the wording is up to you but be concise, they don't have all day).
Thank god they don't put all our failed job interviews on camera. I wouldn't want someone remixing my mistakes to a techno beat (it's coming Herm, it's coming). But bombing an interview you know you could have aced, if you had just prepared a little better, is even more embarrassing.
------------------------------
I welcome all your comments and suggestions. Leave them here or send them to HowToTalkInAmerica@Gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment