60 Seconds In The Life of An Interview

What’s the most important 60 seconds in an interview? The first 60? The last 60?
This one is up for debate, as one can make a strong case for either given their importance in the interview process. So I’d like to bat this one around for about, ohhh, 60 seconds.

I once had a young fella start hyperventilating within the first 60 seconds of our interview. He recovered. I assured him everything was cool and he finished strong. I will admit; it was hard for me to get the mental picture of him out of my mind. You know, the one where he’s passing out in my office.
On the other side of that pancake, I’ve had interviews where the candidate starts out like an “interview god” and then does the Safari’s version of “Wipe Out” in the last 60 seconds (hint: they didn’t know when to stop talking).
Although not an extreme example, I recently had three interviews (all for the same position). Each candidate did well throughout the interview, but in the final 60 seconds only one candidate separated herself from the pack. Only one looked me squarely in the eyes, with conviction and confidence, and clearly described how she would add value in the role and why we should hire her (by the way, she did get the job offer).
The point? None of the candidates “wiped out” in the final 60 seconds. But only one closed the deal.
No question, the first 60 seconds is critical. Although we’re trained otherwise, we all make judgments in the initial greeting. Therefore, job seeker, you’ve got to have those precious seconds down cold. Don’t leave the first impression to “chance.”
Likewise, don’t leave the interview wondering if you made the point you desperately needed to make in those final moments. As we used to say on the football team, “Don’t take anything with you – leave it all on the field.”
You only get one shot at a good first impression. Once made, seal the deal with the best 60 seconds you’ve got and make it so good that you leave them wanting more.
Good luck,
Dennis Smith
T-Mobile Recruiting
CareerBuilderBlog