No interview takes place in a vacuum. Each interview occurs at a given time, place, with given surroundings. Either party may initiate the process and each comes with perceptions of what is about to take place in this setting and why.
Place
Consider whose turf is best for the interview. For instance, if you are likely to feel more comfortable and relaxed and less threatened in your home, room, office, or business. On the other hand, a neutral place might work best for a journalistic interview or in the prospective employer's office for an employment interview. We protect our turf. Think of your reactions when you walked into your room or office and found another person in your chair or at your desk or when you went to study in the library and another student chose another chair close to yours.
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When possible, select
the location most conducive to effective communication.
The setting might be your place so you can feel more relaxed and
"in charge".
The setting might be neutral such as a restaurant or conference
room. It might be the other's residence because you want to talk
about family concerns, the campus because you want to recruit to
see its beauty, or the other's place of business because you want
to talk about business insurance or investment.
Surroundings
Objects and decorations can create an appropriate atmosphere and interview climate. Trophies, awards, degrees, and licenses attractively displayed communicate achievements, professional credibility, and stature in field. Pictures, statues, and busts or organizational leaders or famous persons communicate organizational and personal history, success, recognition, endorsement, and contacts. Colors of walls, types of carpeting, wall hangings, wallpaper, and curtains can provide a warm, attractive atmosphere conducive to effective communication.
Noise in an interview
is anything that interferes with the communication
process, including background noise, doors opening and
closing, music, other talking, objects being dropped, and traffic.
The interview may be interrupted by a ringing telephone, arrival of
a faxed letter, or an e-mail message. People coming in and out of
the room, walking by an open door, or asking for assistance are
common distractions.
We generate a kind of noise
when we come into an interview fatigued, angry, overwhelmed with
personal problems, or thinking about the next interview. We may be
distracted by a headache, upset stomach, or cold. It is easy to
look out a window at traffic, building construction, or scenery, or
concentrate on pictures, objects, furniture in the room, or the
other party's mannerisms.
Eliminate negative
influences of noise by selecting locations free of
background noise or taking simple precautions: close the door,
window, or curtain; take the phone off the hook; turn off a cell
phone, television, or CD player. Inform others you do not wish to
be disturbed.
"Limit
self-generated noise by coming to each interview physically and
psychologically ready to concentrate."
Image Credits:Drue Kataoka, MarkCiz, Thehour, Evanrossmurphy
