Rejoining the business world after the pandemic

MOST of us gave up on believing that the coronavirus pandemic would ever end about six months ago, but it will eventually end. Well, it probably will end. We think so. Anyway, when it does, we will all have to relearn how to be a social species. Endless months of quarantine have given us skills that have helped us survive the pandemic but won’t transfer well to the real world, where behaviors such as wearing pants and not talking to houseplants are considered normal.

For many people, the challenges of getting used to living in a society again will be made even more difficult by the need to look for work. Millions have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and competition for available positions will be fierce. In order to catch the attention of interviewers and land that dream job – the one that will finally allow you to enjoy the finer things in life, such as living in a building or eating food – you need to stand out from the crowd.

I am something of an expert in this area, as I have on several occasions been employed. To help you set yourself apart and make an unforgettable impression on prospective employers, allow me to share these tried-and-true interview tips.

Before the interview

Preparing for your interview is almost as important as the interview itself, and good preparation can spell the difference between success and failure. Taking a shower and brushing your teeth are helpful. Also, take a little time to consider your outfit for the day; even though they might not have any direct relevance to job qualifications, wardrobe accessories such as shoes or a shirt with sleeves make a good impression.

Preparing an eye-catching resume is a subject in itself so I won’t go into a lot of detail here, but there are a couple of general good practices to remember. A resume is most effective if it is seen by as many people as possible, so make a number of copies. You don’t need to give one to every person in the company you will be visiting; about 50 or so should be enough to do it. You can make your resume stand out even more by adding some pictures, which is something most job applicants overlook. Choose pictures that subtly express your personality and goals; in my resume, for example, I usually include a couple pictures of giraffes.

Finally, you will want to demonstrate that you take job preparation seriously and have a solid work ethic. Of course, you will be able to stress this during the actual interview, but it is important to leave something with the interviewer to help keep your winning qualities in the top of his or her mind. One very effective way to do this is to prepare urine, blood and stool samples to include as part of your resume package, and don’t scrimp on them – use at least a pint jar for each, and if you have some leftover quart-sized jars, like the ones that are usually used for mayonnaise. Those are even better.

Make a winning performance The biggest key to successfully passing an interview, in my experience, is subtlety. You want to highlight your experience, education and other qualifications, and your personal attributes, but you don’t want to overdo it; try to keep your interaction with the interviewer as natural as possible. Here are a few helpful guidelines:

• When greeting the interviewer, be sure to pass him or her a folded P20- or P50 bill when you shake hands.

• Almost every interviewer will want to see that you are comfortable working within a team and are not excessively self-centered, so only refer to yourself in the third person during the interview.

• Whenever the interviewer asks you a question, look to see if anyone is standing behind you before answering.

• Show that you’ve done your homework and learned as much as you can about the company before the interview by casually mentioning that you know the owner. Do this several times during the interview.

• When you’re invited into the interviewer’s office, sit on the floor. Explain that you are not yet worthy in the eyes of the company to use their furniture; this will favorably impress the interviewer that you have a respectful attitude, and are willing to prove yourself.

• Even though you are in a professional setting, most interviewers will be genuinely interested in getting an impression of you as a person. For example, if you’re a smoker, don’t be shy about lighting up during the interview; this will make you seem more human and genuine. Another good way to add that “personal touch” to the interview is to bring your cat with you.

• Remember, interviewers are people, too; your interviewer may be just as nervous as you are. One good way to ease any tension is to occasionally stroke the interviewer’s hand gently while he or she is speaking.

• Wear your headphones during the interview, to demonstrate that you are able to multi-task.

Questions you should ask

Remember, an interview is a twoway street; just as the company is interviewing you for a position, you are in a sense interviewing the company to see if it is a suitable workplace for you. Most good interviewers will allow a bit of time at the end of the interview for you to ask questions of them, so use the time wisely. Here are a few things you will probably want to know about your prospective place of employment:

• Are Lazada and Shopee blocked on the company’s computers?

• What are the company’s rules on shouting racial slurs in the workplace?

•Do they have a fax machine? If so, you will want to demonstrate your faxing skills. If the interviewer seems hesitant to allow this, insist on it.

• Be sure to ask how many sick and/or personal days off you will be allowed. In fact, you will probably want to ask this at the beginning of the interview, if you have the opportunity.

• Is there any “wiggle room” in the company’s dress code?

• Is the company’s drug testing policy really “necessary?”

After the interview

A common mistake most job applicants make is assuming the interview process once the meeting and question-and-answer period is over. Nothing could be further from the truth, and you will need to follow up to ensure that the company keeps you in mind while it screens other candidates. Visit the office daily to ask if they’ve made a decision yet. If you encounter other interviewees when you visit, you can help improve your own chances by telling them that the position has already been filled, and that they can all go home.