| Topic Name: |
Second Interview with HR |
| Message Name: |
Eye contact |
| Date Posted: |
04/12/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I have a second interview with HR and need some advice. The first interview was with 2 hiring managers in research and development and went well. They want to expand their international projects, and I think I'm the only international candidate (American in Germany). They said they had 2 other candidates and apparently couldn't decide between us, so now HR is supposed to help "give an opinion". (I actually don't know if all 3 of us got 2nd interviews.)
So here are my questions for any HR reps:
1) If the department couldn't make a decision based on our research backgrounds, what is HR looking for?
2) How technical can I be when I describe my research? Can I expect HR to know something about the projects in the department or should I describe my scientific research in very general terms?
3) I desperately want this job. How can I best sell myself to HR folks?
Thanks! |
| Message: |
I am not an HR rep but it really sounds like they are doing things backwards. I mean, aren't you supposed to see HR first then go to the hiring managers? I guess at this company HR is required to play some role, however strange. Does every company in Germany do it that way? My only advice would be to go in, be confident, professional, not overbearing. A good tactic I learned for interviewing concerns eye contact. You know it is very important to make eye contact with the person you are speaking to, for sincerity's sake. You can look at the bridge of their nose, right between their eyes, and they don't know the difference. It appears to them that you are looking them directly in the eye, and usually they are the first to break the eye contact. Don't do it as if you are staring at them. But maintaining good eye contact imparts sincerity and definitely makes them feel like you are hanging on every word they say. It's worked for me in the past. If they break eye contact first, it's almost like you win a victory. I know some of you will laugh at me, but honestly, try it sometime. It also works well when you are trying to sell someone something. Good luck.
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