...shoOOonya...

  Over the years, in my job interview coaching experience and interacting with senior leaders giving as well as taking interviews, the one thing that has stood out as a crucial defining factor for ‘failures’ in job interviews was OVER-CONFIDENCE and that too BEFORE the interview.  And unfortunately, the ones with experience (more than 5 years) are the ones who fall for it. And as the experience increases, greater the over-confidence until they attain nirvana (enlightenment, often resulting from a failed interview).   We are not talking about the over-confidence shown by some candidates during the interview. Most interviewers find it very annoying and they want to get over with the interview as soon as possible in that case.  What we are talking about is the over-confidence BEFORE the interview. The over confidence that one can walk into a job interview WITHOUT preparation. After all, you know yourself and your work experience. So whats there to prepare? Right?...

  " So many of our dreams at first seem IMPOSSIBLE, Then they seem IMPROBABLE And then, when we summon the WILL, they soon become INEVITABLE ” - From Still Me: Autobiography of Christopher Reeve I came across this quote yesterday evening in one of the business coaching workbooks of The Alpha Group. It is something we take Business Owners and CXOs through when they join the Alpha Board to take their business to the next level. The journey from Impossible to Improbable to Inevitable is something that most individuals go through ... a job seeker, a senior manager, a CXO, a Business Owner. When they first face their challenge, they can suddenly be impacted by a mix of fear, self-doubt and even imposter syndrome; making the task ahead seem Impossible. As they gather their wits and begin to draw from the wisdom of their friends, colleagues, managers, mentors, coaches, etc. . . the task loses the impossible task and just becomes Improbable. Improbable yet because the self-doubt is still ...

  Do you have memories of watching a CIRCUS? It is a culmination of human as well as animal skills and of course, the clowns. ;) Over the years, the animals have been out of the circus. The human element is what we now see in a circus, enhanced by technology. I saw a circus yesterday, and while the human gymnastics, dance and clownery was refreshing to watch in person (rather than on a screen), WATER added to the spectacle. Water curtains and fountains along with laser lighting and focussed lights were used all along the show to create the spectacle. The biggest thing for me during the circus was the sense of WONDER.  The wonder I saw in my kid's eyes as they saw the fantastic, larger-than-life acrobatics and dangerous stunts by the performers.  The wonder I felt in my own heart while witnessing the human spirit and skills. We don't experience the same wonder when watching movies and the same things on screens.  Watching it in person makes it all too real for us. The...

  When you can help the interviewer connect the dots, you make it easier for them to evaluate you and increase the chances of your selection. Over the past few days, we have talked about knowing yourself and your personality, knowing the company and the job role, etc. All this is the foundation. The interview is when you put everything together, connecting the dots for the interviewer. Help the interviewer in seeing how well your personality ties in with the job and the company culture. The interview is a match-making process where you are matched to the job and company by the interviewer. Thats where you need to shine brighter than the other other candidates.  Don’t make it difficult for the interviewer. Make it super easy for them to connect the dots. The higher the number of dots you can help them see connecting; the higher the chance of your selection over the other candidates.   Connecting the dots is NOT an easy thing to do and you will have to be alert and aware du...