The Meandering Style
This interview type,
usually used by inexperienced
interviewers, relies on you to
lead the discussion. It might
begin with a statement like "tell
me about yourself," which
you can use to your advantage.
The interviewer
might ask you another broad,
open-ended question
before falling into silence.
This interview style allows
you tactfully to guide the discussion
in a way that best serves you.
The following strategies, which
are helpful for any interview,
are particularly important
when interviewers use a non-directive
approach:
- Come to the interview
prepared with highlights and
anecdotes of your skills, qualities
and experiences. Do not rely
on the interviewer to spark
your memory-jot down some notes
that you can reference throughout
the interview.
- Remain alert
to the interviewer. Even if
you feel like you can take
the driver's seat and go in
any direction you wish, remain
respectful of the interviewer's
role. If he or she becomes
more directive during the interview,
adjust.
- Ask well-placed
questions. Although the open
format allows you significantly
to shape the interview, running
with your own agenda and dominating
the conversation means that
you run the risk of missing
important information about
the company and its needs.
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