Hiring for the class of 2013 graduates appears to be slightly up than last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The Job Outlook Spring survey indicates that employers anticipate hiring only 2.1 more new college graduates in 2012- 2013 than they did in 2011-2012.
The percentages of new hires projected make the job market for millennials even more competitive and every opportunity to the make the most of an interview counts. Millennials (those born in 1981-2000) will make up 36 percent of the work force by 2014 and 46 percent by 2020. Millennials as a whole are identified as being the first generation to make social communication a way of life. Texting and social on-line networking play a huge role in staying connected to friends.
115892360A manager once described his reaction of shock turned to disrespect as he interviewed a student who began taking notes on his tablet while answering questions, making eye contact briefly. While the candidate’s skills matched the job description, part of it was based on communication and how well they could interact with customers. The manager felt uncomfortable and as a result, the candidate did not get the job. According to a survey by USA Today, millennials are performing badly during interviews.
The leap from changing comfort zones of social communication to a more traditional approach during an interview can be challenging to recent graduates. The reality of the job market is such that you will be judged on how well you connect with the hiring decision-maker during the interview.
Rapport-building skills will set you apart from other candidates and make you memorable to employers in a positive way. While communication methods have changed over the years, the face to face interview is still based on personal interaction. Your ability to communicate by using social cues based on non-verbal and verbal interaction sets the stage in building rapport and chemistry.
At least 80 percent of the interview is spent on developing rapport with the interviewer. Interviewers will focus a great deal of attention toward your attitude regarding past and present employers. An interviewer’s goal is to discover if you fit into the work culture. Key to remember: Employers offer positions to people they like.
Signs that you are not prepared to interview:
Lacking knowledge of what services the company provides.
Giving short answers to employer’s questions, winging it on the spot.
Being overly confident in your answers, pretending to know what the employer is talking about.
Focusing on your needs in wanting to have a flexible work week rather than meeting the employer’s needs.
Complaining about a lack of offers and the difficulty of the job market.
Lack of enthusiasm and interest in wanting to contribute to the employer.
Only asking questions relating to company benefits and pay.
Being vague with your work experience.
Social communication is important and the technical ease at which millennials operate gives them unique advantages in the workforce, however, never under estimate the power of building rapport in having a conversation in person.
How important is rapport-building during the interview?
