Page 79 - 301 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, Second Edition

THE RULES OF THE GAME

BODY LANGUAGE

Make sure your body language remains open. That means keeping
the pad on the table instead of on your lap. Learn how to take notes
while still maintaining occasional eye contact. For example, don’t
let your note taking close you off from the interviewer. If you can’t
take notes without interfering with open body language, don’t take
notes.

At the same time, keep your note taking discreet. You don’t want
to give the impression that you’re a detective and your note taking
might be used against the interviewer. You know you have crossed
the line when the interviewer asks if you’re going to read him his
Miranda rights before questioning.

Again, learn to take notes without losing eye contact. Interview-
ers will be insulted if all they have to talk to is the top of your head.
Taking notes while keeping your head up is a skill that must be prac-
ticed. Here’s one way to practice this important skill: Turn on the
TV to one of the Sunday interview programs. As you take notes on
the interviewer’s questions, practice keeping your eyes on the screen,
glancing down only occasionally. You’ll know you’re ready for prime
time when you can record the questions in shorthand and are able to
repeat the questions.

WAIT FOR THE INTERVIEWER TO SPEAK

The most important thing to remember is that you should take notes
only when the interviewer is speaking. You should never take notes
or even refer to them when you are answering questions. Interview-
ers want to see how you think on your feet, not how you read notes.
The one exception, as mentioned earlier, is that when the interviewer
asks if you have questions, you can ask permission to refer to your
notes.

Always be prepared with at least four questions created specifi-
cally for each interview. These questions should be carefully crafted
to reflect the basic research you have done on the company com-
bined with the strongest aspects of your experience and qualifica-

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