Preparing yourself
Interviews are nerve-wracking, for both candidate and interviewer, until you are used to them. As a new manager, interviewing is something you don't have a lot of experience with yet. This may be your first conversation with your new team member, and you'll want to make a good first impression, so you need to prepare yourself enough to get out of the interview what you need to.
As a new manager, you need to develop the ability to perform at a moment's notice. You are in the spotlight. Perhaps you did some amateur dramatics? As kids, we all played make believe and adopted the stance and voice of our heroes and heroines. If that is what you have to do now, then find an appropriate role model and copy their behavior. You will develop your own style and your own brand in time.
You need to appear confident and not display symptoms of excessive nerves, which might include the following:
A flushed face
Trembling hands
A nervous stutter
Perspiring
A faltering voice
When you practice your 2-3 minute introduction in front of people, make sure you also test your ability to control your nerves.
Practice your greetings in front of a mirror. Check for the following:
A natural, welcoming smile
Smiling eyes
A steady gaze
A sensible positive handshake: neither limp nor crushing
A good form of words for the greeting: "Hello and welcome to..., my name is ..."
You should dress for the interview as you would dress for a meeting: relevant to your job, neither too smart nor too casual. First impressions endure, and you are a representative of your employer to the candidate. Dress and behave appropriately. Pay attention to the candidate; maintain eye contact and keep an open body posture, avoiding folded arms or legs. Switch off your cell phone and e-mail.
I have talked about the importance of performance quite a lot. The next section contains valuable tips on how to get into a high performance mindset when you need it, and conducting your first interview is exactly when you'll need it!
