How to Ace a Job Interview or Business Presentation
3 Ways to be Unforgettable
Have you got a job interview or a business presentation coming up that you’re nervous about? Let me help you with that. Remember…
Personality counts for so much – they’re trying to decide if you as a brand fit with them as a brand – so use your (genuine) character, voice, language, facial expressions, and gestures to get your point across. Don’t be a clown, but don’t be bland.
If an interviewer asks how your journey was…
WRONG: Fine, no problem, I found it easily, thank you.
RIGHT: Great directions, thank you! That was one less thing to be stressed about on the day of an interview! [BIG SMILE]
Opening line to your business presentation:
WRONG: My name is Lisa, I’m from the UK. I’ve been working for ACE for seven years…
RIGHT: Raise your hand [RAISE HAND TO INDICATE WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO] if you’ve ever been to Southeast Asia. Ooh, what a bunch of adventurers! OK, keep it up if you’ve ever been to Malaysia…
Nobody cares where you grew up, how old your kids are, and what you like to do on weekends. They want to know how you can help THEM.
If an interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself:
WRONG: I’m single. Well, technically, I’m divorced. I studied art and design – that was a long time ago but I still like to visit art galleries. I love travel, and coffee…
RIGHT: I specialise in coaching teams to work better together so that HR can focus on recruitment. At ACE I trained the entire head office HR team, both in Malaysia, and in six of their main international offices, how to deal with conflict…
When introducing your company in a business presentation:
WRONG: Our head office was established in 1979 in Kuala Lumpur. We have 10 offices around the world, and employ 30,905 people worldwide.
RIGHT: I’m guessing the average age of everyone in here is about 40, right? Raise your hand if you’re over 40… Haha, nah, I’m just kidding, some of you would need to raise both hands which I know is difficult at your age! So, in just your short *wink* lifetime (if you’re about 40, you young whipper-snappers!) ACE has gone from nervous-but-optimistic Southeast Asian start-up to over 30 thousand employees in 10 global offices and growing, with an average staff retention of six years – twice the average for companies in our industry. TER-WICE! Two times the average! [WHISPERING CONSPIRATORIALLY] Want to know our secret? Of course you do, that’s why you’re here…
(None of these “facts” about me or “ACE” or HR stats are necessarily true, by the way, they’re just for illustration purposes.)
Emotional two-way connection is what will get you remembered and hired, and will allow you to find out whether you actually want the job, so find ways to get the other party to contribute meaningfully to the discussion.
If an interviewer asks you if you have any questions:
WRONG: No, I think you’ve covered everything. When will you make a decision?
RIGHT: Yes, I have two. Firstly, I’d like to know about the team I’d be working with. What’s the main project they’re working on at the moment and how are they organised? Secondly, what types of training do you offer executives? This is something I’d be keen to either implement or get involved with if you already have a program.
What you SHOULD do is ask questions throughout the interview – it’s a two-way street, remember. Don’t wait until the end!
If you run out of time for a Q&A
WRONG: We’re out of time but if you have any questions, I’ll leave my business cards here on the table for you to get in touch.
RIGHT: I have a question for you: If we could solve just ONE problem in your business that would have a giant impact on your day to day, what would it be? Oh darn it, I’ve just been told we’re out of time. OK, here’s what I want you to do: When you leave this room, go grab a coffee and biscuit from the table outside – they’re free, grab a handful [WINK, CHEEKY GRIN] – and come and sit with me in the lounge. Genuine invitation. If you have to run, come and hand me your business card and I’ll get in touch this week for us to have a quick conversation.
And I have bags and bags more tricks revealed in my course Interview-Ready.
If you want to be prepared for your next interview, find out about the course, here…
“An amazing person and a real expert in her profession, Lisa helped me to build confidence and to prepare for a job interview at a European agency. I really recommend her.” – Dagmara, Poland
“When they said tell me about yourself I [took your advice] and got 3 simultaneous nods and smiles off the interview panel!” – Chris, UK
“Hi Lisa! How are you? I want to thank you for supporting my thesis qualification presentation. It was beneficial and helped me a lot. The performance was excellent, and I believe that it will provide great results. I want to say those things [in person], but your schedule is full! See you, Demetrios.” – Demetrios, Brazil
“Dear Lisa, Hope you’re having a lovely day. It’s been about a month since I had a lesson with you. I really wanted to make reservations with you again, but all your slots were already booked out for this month. Could I please ask to be notified when you have available spots? I’ve just completed my Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law with a high score. Thank you very much for your help in preparation for my client interview test and Tribunal Hearing test. I look forward to talking with you soon! Gloria” – Gloria, Australia
As you can see, my clients are having FANTASTIC results. If you, too, want to learn how to be unforgettable – for all the right reasons – in interviews and presentations, find out more about my new, low-cost, self-study course Interview-Ready…
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