Page 168 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want
P. 168
It is a relief for them to admit that.
‘Listen,’ I’ll say. ‘Relax. Would you like something to drink?’
I’ll completely change the subject and always add a gentle
touch of humour. I will stop whatever is going on. If you’re there
to sell to me, I’ll do something di≠erent. If you’re trying to inter-
view me, we’ll take a break from the formal conversation.
I need to take you out of this zone because, if I’m interview-
ing you, I can’t really work you out. Your nerves are disguising
who you are. I am struggling to evaluate you. I need to know
about you, but your nerves are creating a shield. I am in danger
of picking up the wrong message. Do i think any the less of
you because you are nervous? no, i don’t.
I think this is a very important message. Because your
display of nerves tells me that you care. Generally when people
are nervous in a job interview, it’s because they really want
the job. Obviously all candidates set out with the aim of hiding
their nerves. They don’t want me to notice. But if I do, it’s not
a bad thing, because my reading of it is that you clearly want
the job.
So, don’t crumble. Don’t feel you’ve failed. It’s part of
human behaviour. Don’t be disconcerted by it. If it happens,
just deal with it. If you feel flustered, and you have the strength
of mind, you can always say, ‘Oh, could you give me a minute,
could I have some water?’ You need to buy yourself a little
time.
I once turned up for an interview and felt very intimidated,
because I had imagined I was going for an interview with
one person, and when I walked in I saw it was a panel of four.
156 get the job you really want