Stand Up, Stand Out!

I love to practice interviewing with clients! And mostly, I love to see the confidence that emerges when the client knows they're ready to hit the streets. Take earlier this week, for example, when a client was struggling with the FAQ, Tell Me About Yourself. We had practiced several times and for the most part, we were getting nowhere fast. On that, we both agreed! :-)

Stand up, I suggested.

You want me to stand up?

Sure, why not?

The client stood up...now what?

Now I would like you to think about the PAVES strategy.

The what strategy?

PAVES -- bear with me...I am not making this stuff up!

P is for posture

A is for attitude

V is for voice

E is for eye contact

S is for smile

Our session continued and the client's FAQ responses were noticeably improved. I asked him how he felt about his presentation and he quickly quipped these three things:

1. I feel more confident standing up.

2. I sound more knowledgeable.

3. I think better on my feet.

If your interview practice isn't going the way you'd like, consider practicing your presentation standing up. Then, at the real deal - when the interview counts - you can stand out, sitting down!

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Resume Service]

Ahh yes. Practice makes perfect! It’s always a good idea to practice either in front of a mirror or even better, with a friend. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become. You can always count on “canned questions” during an interview. Where do you see yourself in five years? Why do you want to work for this company? What are your strong points? What are your weak points? While you will certainly come across canned questions, your answers don’t have to be. Be honest and natural with your responses and your personality will definitely shine through!

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[Louisa]

This is such a great post! I work as a recruiter in Boston for Hollister (www.hollisterstaff.com) and naturally see my fair share of people who do not know how to interview effectively. Your PAVES strategy is really great, I can't wait to share it with some of my candidates who have upcoming interviews. Thanks for the tip!

[billiesucher]

Teena, thanks for your comment. Excellent point about practicing in front of a mirror; it makes a difference for sure! ~ Billie

[billiesucher]

Louisa, thanks for your feedback about my post. I really like the PAVES strategy, too...it's so easy for clients to remember. Happy you liked the tip! ~ Billie