Tag Archives: Interview Preparation

By Gavin Redelman

As an expat interviewing for a job in a foreign country, you will experience a whole new layer of pressure of uncertainty. The reason? Cultural differences – and how you handle them can make or break your interview performance.

Don’t be intimidated because you don’t think you have all the skills that are wanted in the job specification. Most businesses will teach you as you go, so lacking a certain skill will not mean you can’t get the job. If you do lack certain skills or experience, you need to work twice as hard in your interview to portray what you do have that you can bring this job.

It is a myth to think that the most skilled person will get the job. When it comes to hiring the right person, it is about the overall package – skills, personality, confidence and also the passion you show in your interview.

The interview process

Typically the majority of job interviews will follow the same path. Ice-breaking question, followed by general questions before the tough part of the interview which are the behavioural based interview questions. Most interviews will finish with the interviewer asking the standard question “Do you have any questions to ask me?”

Although this is the standard path, as an expat it is important to understand cultural differences relating to the country and the company in order to answer the questions and behave in the right way. Nine out of 10 times this boils down to research. Common sense also plays a major role in the interview and being able to read the personality of the interviewer. For example if you are being interviewed in Australia by a laid-back hiring manager your approach needs to be different than if you are being interviewed in the UK or USA by a more formal, interviewer (or vice versa)

Ask questions or not?

In many western countries, it is recommended to ask direct and inquisitive questions during the interview. It shows your initiative, confidence and curiosity. For example, a fantastic question to ask the interviewer is about their background and why they decided to join the business. After all, from your point of view as the interviewee you want to know about the current employees and their background. However this type of approach in Asian countries would be generally be discouraged as many local managers would experience this type of questioning as disrespectful or even rude.

Social hierarchies

Social structure is also very different in certain countries and as an interviewee you need to be aware of these differences. In China for example the social structure can be more hierarchical than in the west. Where in the USA it is more common to see those of mixed social levels socializing one is less likely to see this occurring in China. It also means you should bow slightly to your interviewer in an Asian context to convey respect, while behaving similarly in a western context would be absurd.

Cultural differences

Ignoring culture differences can get an unsuspecting person into trouble. For example in western countries it is encouraged to speak about your achievements and your success. A friend of mine travelled to Sweden with the hope of finding employment. Having come from a background in investment banking and having worked in the USA he spoke freely about the money he his success and achievements. After five failed interviews he came across the idea of Jante’s Law, which in Scandinavian culture is the concept of a value of sameness, and a dislike for bragging about achievements. By not having an understanding the culture he was coming across as boastful and arrogant.

Arriving on time

Punctuality for in interview is standard interview behaviour, however in certain countries such as Korea ensure that you are not just on time but you are early! It is considered extremely rude to arrive late to a job interview in Korea. Remember in many Asian countries, culture dictates that personal contact is not encouraged and extending a hand for shaking can be seen as a sign of rudeness.

Dress right

Formality and manners is another area of difference between countries and by understanding the relevant culture you can best avoid any problematic issues when interviewing. As in most countries, different industries require certain dress codes. In France for example, the higher the position within a larger organisation, the more formal the dress code with formal suit and tie being worn. However, the further south you travel in France the more informal business dress becomes. Similarly, when interviewing for an advertising agency position, wearing a formal black suit could blow you out the water right away.

Religion and tradition

A countries religious affiliation and traditional values will also play a major role in your job interview. In a city such as Dubai despite being seen as modern tourist destinations its people are still conservative in many different ways. As a foreign expat you need to wear conservative and appropriate clothing as not to offend anyone.

The overall message is when you are interviewing in the global environment; research and preparation of the cultural differences are the keys to interview success.

Go the extra mile

Here is a true story to illustrate the importance of preparation. A candidate of mine was applying for a job at one of the large investment banks. Out of 150 candidates the hiring manager had selected the top 10 best resumes to choose first-round interviewees. Every interview was 15-20 minutes long. The final question the hiring manager asked to each of the candidates was “Tell me something about the company.” Nine out of 10 of the candidates rattled off information they had read from the company’s “about us page”, but one candidate stood out. After reading about the company’s strategic purchase of a new acquisition, the candidate was able to impress the hiring manager with his (somewhat different) knowledge.

The hiring manager later offered this candidate the role not because he was the smartest candidate, but because he showed his dedication by going the extra step in his interview preparation.

Remember one last tip: Always follow up after your job interview with a thank you email. No matter where in the world you are, a thank you email or letter will enhance your chances of getting hired.

During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

By Zig Ziglar

In our world of no job security, getting a job after a change in management, down-sizing or merging can be a harrowing experience.  Here are some tips that will make it easier for you.

First: Prepare in advance.  Learn as much as possible about the company to which you are applying, their major objectives, their product line, the history of the company and any other pertinent information. 
Second, be a few minutes early, properly dressed, including a pleasant smile.  If possible, talk with an employee and find out what he or she likes about the company. 
Third, concentrate on your qualifications, which you will have carefully and concisely presented in your resume.  Be confident, enthusiastic and cheerful, but not “gushy” or arrogant.  There will be questions that you will be asked and questions that you want answered.  You are judged as much by your questions as you are by your answers, so any pre-knowledge you acquire will be helpful.

When the bulk of the interview is over, in many cases you will be asked if there is anything you would like to add to what you’ve already discussed.  If they don’t ask the question, volunteer by saying, “I have some additional experience that I believe is very important.  I have 31 years’ (your age) experience of being honest, hard-working and dependable.  I am enthusiastic and willing to go the ‘extra mile’ to get the job done.  I recognize the importance of team play, so I’ve made a habit of being a team player.  I am loyal and work every day as if it were the day before vacation.”  Then pause, smile and say, “I believe these valuable qualities are needed by the person who fills this important position.  I hope you agree that they are the qualities you are seeking.”  Wait for an answer.  I believe if you will repeat that format in front of enough people you will soon become employed.  Give it a try and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator.  This article is an excerpt from Over the Top.  He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings.

By Hank Stringer

A dad asked me to talk to his son, a recent engineering grad, to give him a few pointers on an upcoming interview. I took him through the typical questions and as we approached the end of the conversation, I asked if he was excited about the opportunity.
“Sure” he said, “but I’d really like to work for company XYZ, one of their competitors.”
“Okay,” I responded. “Have you contacted them?”
“Well my favorite professor introduced me to one of their managers and he asked me to give them a call,” he explained.
“Did you?” I asked.

He stammered for a few moments and confessed he had not.

I know those of you reading this would not allow this to happen, you would have been all over the invitation to call and you may be thinking this college grad must be an idiot. That’s a good question and as I thought about how I should react to his response, I simply asked, “Are you an idiot?”

We talked through the situation and I tasked the young man to call the manager, tell him he would be in the area in a few days to interview with another company and would appreciate the opportunity to meet. Guess what, the manager invited him in, he interviewed and is expecting an offer.

So while he’s young and he may have time to make some mistakes, there are some important takeaways we can all learn from no matter how many years of experience you hold:
1. Please, react when invited to respond. I know it sounds simple and makes sense but we are human and we find plenty of reasons to procrastinate – don’t, you will regret it.
2. The second you line up an interview, get on the phone with other companies you are interested in working for to set up your next interview. If you don’t have any contacts, start networking to find them. You just got an interview, you feel good about yourself, it actually comes across in your voice and I promise you will be amazed at how one interview leads to another. DO NOT rest on the laurels of one interview with the classic, “this is the job I’ve been waiting for,” only to be disappointed later when it didn’t come through or meet your expectations.

And last reason to set up another interview once you have one scheduled, it makes negotiating offers much easier when you know there either is or even could be something else out there.