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5 Potential Job Interviewing Mistakes to Avoid for Asian Professionals |
| By:Angelika Blendstrup on Thu 05 Mar 2009 2:55 PM under Business, Careers and Job Search, Communication |
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Many Asians, even if they live in the US, face a different set of problems in the US interview than they might have if they lived overseas.
#1. First impressions are important. Due to cultural differences, walking into a room, giving a firm handshake, smiling, making eye contact, and having a good line to begin the conversation is not easy! This is something that can (and should) be practiced until it becomes a lot easier for you to do and feel natural about it.
#2. Many Asian clients, who come to work with me, sit in a chair, a little hunched over, with both hands between their knees. This does not convey confidence. Make sure you are relaxed, your hands in your lap, while you are sitting up straight in the chair but at the same time a little bit on the edge of your seat to show your eagerness and engagement in the conversation.
3#. As non-native English speakers, you have to know how you sound speaking English and if people can understand you clearly. If your colleagues ask you to repeat frequently and people have a hard time understanding you on the phone, get professional training so your English pronunciation is clear and accurate.
The best thing is to work with an accent reduction specialist (not a speech therapist who doesn’t speak any foreign languages, or if he/she has no training in accent reduction) until you like what you hear when you tape yourself speaking.
#4. When you are asked the typical questions in the first interview, “what can you tell me about yourself, run me through your resume” you need to have concrete examples with which to answer the questions. Just saying, “I was at company x in a marketing position” or, “I have great people skills” won’t do it. You will be forgotten the minute you walk out of the room.
Prepare a “problem, solution, results”, script for every question you think you might be asked and practice your answers often. This will assure you looking and sounding confident and it will make you much more memorable to an interviewer who has seen 200 clients in the last weeks.
#5. Have energy; be passionate when you talk about your work and your wish to work in the prospective company. I often work with very intelligent, creative clients and they are so soft spoken and modest, that if I had not know what things they have accomplished already, I would not have gotten an accurate picture of their skills.
Don’t underestimate the “likability” factor in the interview. If the interviewer likes you, he/she will be more understanding about any awkward moments that can come up when you might have to pause to refocus your thoughts. If that happens, breath in deeply, smile and keep going.
Enjoy the possibility of putting your best qualities forward and showing the interviewer that you are someone who would fit into his/her company.
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Arti Says:
Great article Angelika. Thanks for your insights. Arti.