How to Evaluate Your Interview Performance
What Your Interview Said About You
Well, you finally completed that all important interview and now you are on your way home. How do you think you did? Did you make a good impression or were you just one more person the interviewer had to sit and listen to? To get a better idea of how the interview went, here are a few questions you should ask yourself after every interview. Knowing the answers to these questions can help you prepare for the next interview and get the job you want and deserve.
Did you look at the person while you or talking or did you look all over the room, at the ceiling, at the floor, anywhere but at the interviewer? Eye contact while speaking to another person shows respect and interest. Remember to speak directly to the person while looking at the person. If there are two people interviewing you, do your best to look at each person directly when you answer their questions.
Did you speak clearly? Did you mumble, slur your words or look down at the desk while speaking? How fast did you talk? When nervous, many people speak very fast. Try to slow down your speech to a normal rate of conversation. If you were speaking very slowing, mumbling, thinking about every word, this can mean you really were not right for the position or you were not fully prepared for the interview.
Did you choose your words wisely? Hopefully your responses where not filled with slang words, technical jargon or any words that may have been offensive. Did your answers and questions show a lack of preparation by hesitation or asking “What?” too many times? Remember, not all slang words mean the same thing to all people. Choose your language carefully.
Did your answers provide personal examples when answering the interview questions? Were you prepared for the questions you were asked? If a question was asked that you did not expect, make a note of it and prepare a well thought out answer to the question. You will probably be asked the same question again in another interview.
What were your hands doing during the interview? If you are someone who talks while moving their hands all about, try keeping your hands folded together and placed in your lap while you talk, or consider folding your arms at your chest to avoid excessive gesturing. Where did you put your feet? Did you put them flat on the floor or did you rest your shoe on the back of the desk in front of you? Sloppy posture may be seen as a sign of sloppy work habits.
What was your body language telling the interviewer? Did you sit properly in the chair or were you slouched down and laid back? Or were you so nervous, you sat on the edge of the chair and appeared tense and anxious? During an interview, you should sit back in the chair properly and cross your legs at the ankles, not the knees. This is especially important for those wearing a skirt. If you cross your legs at the knees, you run the risk of showing too much skin and possibly your underwear.
What did you wear to the interview? Did you feel you were dressed appropriately for the position? How short was your skirt, how wrinkled was your shirt? Were your clothes clean and pressed? If you feel your outfit was the perfect interview outfit, keep track of what you wore so you can wear it next time. When you are comfortable in what you are wearing, it makes you appear more confident and at ease to the interviewer. Don’t forget to think about your shoes – dirty, scuffed shoes can make even the best interview suit look shabby.
By taking the time to evaluate your interview performance, you can see where your strong points were and decide what points need to be improved upon. If you are not sure about your interview performance, ask a friend to pretend to interview you. Let them read this list first, so they know what you are trying to accomplish. Many interview coaching teams visually record the interview so you can see how you act while being interviewed. If you have a video camera, this could be a great tool to help you see how you appear to others. If you know someone who interviews people often, ask them to evaluate your interview. You may be surprised at what you learn about your self.
