Face To Face Interview successes ?

[alreadypacked]

100%

But I have not been looking for a while, things may have changed.

Hopefully they will have changed back by next June, when I'm looking again.

[Moscow Mule]

When I left uni I had a 66% hit rate on face to face interviews (got 3 interviews & 2 offers).

Since then, I've never failed to get an offer. I think it has a lot to do with confidence.

I think prospective clients pick up on confidence and are comforted by it. Don't forget that the interviewer doesn't want to make a mistake too. If you can project confidence and give them the feeling that you will be a "good fit" then that's half the battle.

[lukemg]

Got the last 5 in a row but overall about 75% I reckon. People will tend to hire people who are like them. One place had a meeting of technical teams from 2 sites, north and south. North team was full of white middle class techies, managed by the same. South team was entirely Asian for the same reason. Nothing wrong with that but interesting that the best candidates at both sites always ended up being just like the boss ! So just as with chatting up women, key is to find out what kind of people they like and be like that.
I rate myself good at interviews, I enjoy the challenge and want to win, I have a big stock of 'competency' based real events from previous roles which I can draw on to cover most questions I might face. It's a sales job as discussed, I can do the work you need because I have done it elsewhere and by the way I will get on with everyone in the team/place too.
Problem for me has been getting the interviews in the first place, I am inflexible on location and it's a small North-West pond I am swimming in.
Unfortunately, everyone is carrying stereotypes and prejudices, even if they can consciously suppress them. If you look a bit scary, you will have to overcompensate by being over friendly to counterbalance this, same as fat people have to be jolly, very pretty girls are dull (they can afford to be) and why do you think comedians are almost always very average looking at best !
Location will influence this too.

[juststarting]

Got the last 5 in a row but overall about 75% I reckon. People will tend to hire people who are like them. One place had a meeting of technical teams from 2 sites, north and south. North team was full of white middle class techies, managed by the same. South team was entirely Asian for the same reason. Nothing wrong with that but interesting that the best candidates at both sites always ended up being just like the boss ! So just as with chatting up women, key is to find out what kind of people they like and be like that.
I rate myself good at interviews, I enjoy the challenge and want to win, I have a big stock of 'competency' based real events from previous roles which I can draw on to cover most questions I might face. It's a sales job as discussed, I can do the work you need because I have done it elsewhere and by the way I will get on with everyone in the team/place too.
Problem for me has been getting the interviews in the first place, I am inflexible on location and it's a small North-West pond I am swimming in.
Unfortunately, everyone is carrying stereotypes and prejudices, even if they can consciously suppress them. If you look a bit scary, you will have to overcompensate by being over friendly to counterbalance this, same as fat people have to be jolly, very pretty girls are dull (they can afford to be) and why do you think comedians are almost always very average looking at best !
Location will influence this too.

Many good points there , and you taken more psychological view. My personal psychological view is that there are few things that really matter for the interviewer ( or th girls ) . Perhaps one or two. Things like : are you good , not that good , man , woman , appear stupid , seem to be a self starter , have black skin , make him laugh , have nice breasts ..... In other words , given you meet the basic requirements , it is few irrational factors that really matter. That said I can see how socially savvy person can have a great success at interviews ( 70 % plus ) The same as with women.
I am too completly convinced that other than tech factors have at least equal importance and more ( considering we are professionals , and having the skill is granted ).

It is hard though. I was not provided emotional / social education in my youth, unlike the "best English Families" . I am compensating now with books on the subject but not the same as having these skills instilled during childhood.

[Not So Wise]

Somewhere in the region of 80-90% success rate (contract offered, not necessarily taken) over my contracting life, would be 100% but there was a learning curve at the start

After a day of interviewing people yesterday I do despair at some of the contractors out there (though will be delighted thinking about them when time comes to start looking for a new contract), not one turned up in a suit and tie, I don't care if agent tells you it's a "relaxed dress workplace", turn up in full suit and tie for the interview ffs, first impressions count, especially if role will be client facing

Next, be animated, lively (though not like a Chihuahua on crack please, let interviewer get some words in), try to get interviewers to like you at least a little bit, because while they want to know if you are good enough to do the job, they also want to know if they can actually work with/alongside you also do no put interviewers in a position where they are trying to stay awake (yes you like your hobbies, but don't assume interviewer does just because he is trying to be polite)

And mainly remember, you are selling yourself as well as your skills, if the previous stages (agency filtering then client filtering) have been done, all the other candidate will be in the same ballpark skillset/experience wise as you, so it really will come do to who you are personally and how you present yourself, so sell yoruself as well as your skills

[Diestl]

On the dressing subject , people seem to be horrified when I wear a suit. I am 6.4" , bad look ( although I try hard to project friendship ) , rough face lines. On my way to my last interview I asked a teenager on the street for the right building. The fella could barely keep eye contact with me and seemed to be expecting me pulling a gun and shooting him in the head , after he was done telling me the address ( you know like in gangster movies )

Then on the interview itself three interviewers. One of them had horrible face control and couldn't hide his complete mistrust in me by constant eye shifting and awkward face impressions. The other two interviewers had no such issues , but with some people I do have to put extra effort to convince them I am not there to shoot everybody.

Get a pair of thick glasses and apocket protector or become a bouncer.

[swamp]

After a day of interviewing people yesterday I do despair at some of the contractors out there (though will be delighted thinking about them when time comes to start looking for a new contract), not one turned up in a suit and tie, I don't care if agent tells you it's a "relaxed dress workplace", turn up in full suit and tie for the interview ffs, first impressions count, especially if role will be client facing

I love hearing this! More contractors that turn up badly dressed the better!

I wear a good conservative suit every single time. Doesn't matter it it's a nu medja outfit sitting on bean bags or an investment bank, I will look smart and be prepared. And it needs to be a good suit, though not too flash, so I avoid Hugo Boss and definitely not Paul Smith or Botang!

[EternalOptimist]

I too look like a bit of a gangster, but I have an excellent technique for disarming them.

I make the b@stards line up against the wall, legs apart, quick frisk, ask them who wants to first, then make them an offer they cant refuse

[Not So Wise]

On the dressing subject , people seem to be horrified when I wear a suit. I am 6.4" , bad look ( although I try hard to project friendship ) , rough face lines. On my way to my last interview I asked a teenager on the street for the right building. The fella could barely keep eye contact with me and seemed to be expecting me pulling a gun and shooting him in the head , after he was done telling me the address ( you know like in gangster movies )

So basiclly you look like a bouncer and are intimidating?

Knew a guy in banking that had same problem, he used to scare client clients when he met them (especially Asian clients), crew cut did not help either.

So he basically stopped wearing very dark suits, went for more classic cut, tossed on a waist coat with a little bit of personality (but no to much, he was in banking after all) and pocket watch. Then first impressions were basically more as "a little bit quirky" rather than "dangerous". Worked wonders

[juststarting]

So basiclly you look like a bouncer and are intimidating?

Knew a guy in banking that had same problem, he used to scare client clients when he met them (especially Asian clients), crew cut did not help either.

So he basically stopped wearing very dark suits, went for more classic cut, tossed on a waist coat with a little bit of personality (but no to much, he was in banking after all) and pocket watch. Then first impressions were basically more as "a little bit quirky" rather than "dangerous". Worked wonders

Good Idea , In fact my next suit may as well be pinkish. Gay people have always openly liked me , maybe some pinkish colours will soften my first impressions with straight people ? ... very good points about dressing though , never really thought about this , and to be honest I think it is twisted that we have to. Sorry but women with their looks fixations have brought this upon men. We are men FFS - we hunt prey and make no excuses. I mean , i shouldnt be actually considering buying a pink suit for the purpose of softening my first impressions. It is against man's nature....