The Recruiter's Apprentice writes...

Beware of talking the hind legs off a donkey...

Everyone knows that interviews are all about selling yourself. And a key ingredient for a great interview is confidence. So lots of confidence is the recipe for success, yes?

Not exactly. Too much of one ingredient can spoil any recipe and over-confidence can be a recipe for interview disaster. It may be tempting to give loads of examples in your answer to every question, but don’t forget that the interviewer, however scary they may seem, is still a human being. This means that their attention span is probably about the same as yours, running out as the interview goes on.

There is a fine line between being articulate and being a chatterbox. A question is best answered with a direct answer and maybe an example if needed. Lengthy explanations are best avoided unless absolutely necessary, or if you are asked to elaborate. In fact, taking too long to answer a simple question can suggest that you are nervous or you are covering something up.

Be concise – but not too concise. There’s nothing worse than one word answers. Just answer questions without going off the point.

A final piece of advice. As well as talking about yourself and your amazing achievements, remember to ask the interviewer a question or two. By doing this you are not only showing your interest in the role and the company, you are also proving you have listening skills.

Posted Thursday August 14 2008