Yesterday, I attended an interview with Susan Mwangi (another participant in the World of Work 2007 team) at the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC). I believe the interview went quite well and I would be really happy if we could both be employed at the AICC.
Apart from the common features of an interview, I noticed that a single thing is common to all types of interviews. In this regard, you need to be clear of how you can contribute to the organisation or the company that you are applying for, what value you can add to it and at the same time what you expect to gain out of this experience.
I have been asked this type of question many times, but only now I start seeing that this is indeed a very important theme of the job-application process, both for yourself and for the organisation (the company) that you are applying for.
In fact, one needs to be aware that it is not solely just about you getting this job and your monthly salary, but about your relationship to the work itself, your relationship to your company and team-mates (colleagues) and, above all, how you value this relationship.
In other words, one needs to understand that this is a process in which you have to give your best on the road of working with your team-mates towards the same goal and agenda. In short, you need to be clear about your own position in the company, how you can contribute to the organisation and ultimately what you expect to gain out of it.
As one of the interviewers illustrated very well yesterday, you need to know what you expect to “have in your pocket when you walk out of this building” (ie. when your job ends). You also need to be clear of what you need to do in order to fit in with the organisation’s mission, its values, principles and goals.
Therefore, I am asking all the participants in the 2007 World of Work training programme to think carefully around those themes and make the right decisions when they chose their jobs!
Apart from the common features of an interview, I noticed that a single thing is common to all types of interviews. In this regard, you need to be clear of how you can contribute to the organisation or the company that you are applying for, what value you can add to it and at the same time what you expect to gain out of this experience.
I have been asked this type of question many times, but only now I start seeing that this is indeed a very important theme of the job-application process, both for yourself and for the organisation (the company) that you are applying for.
In fact, one needs to be aware that it is not solely just about you getting this job and your monthly salary, but about your relationship to the work itself, your relationship to your company and team-mates (colleagues) and, above all, how you value this relationship.
In other words, one needs to understand that this is a process in which you have to give your best on the road of working with your team-mates towards the same goal and agenda. In short, you need to be clear about your own position in the company, how you can contribute to the organisation and ultimately what you expect to gain out of it.
As one of the interviewers illustrated very well yesterday, you need to know what you expect to “have in your pocket when you walk out of this building” (ie. when your job ends). You also need to be clear of what you need to do in order to fit in with the organisation’s mission, its values, principles and goals.
Therefore, I am asking all the participants in the 2007 World of Work training programme to think carefully around those themes and make the right decisions when they chose their jobs!
Good luck, guys!
6 comments:
Hi Valentin. Now that I'm in the workplace I'm beginning to understand why it's so important to be able to fit with the 'company culture' - another way of thinking about what you are talking about here. People spend 8 hours and more in the workplace 5 days a week and are with their colleagues for all that time.. and if they can't 'gel' with the place then they're going to be really unhappy.
In my office people are fun and fairly relaxed and often joke with each other - the two bosses join in too!
PS Best of luck with getting the right job where you'll be happy.. let us know of any news
Very true. You need to have some kind of agency on the job. You do not just want to sit there and do as told. You want to walk away with somehting. Remember your best teachers? They had the same attitude. They wanted to get something from you, not just babling on about this and that.
Hello Valentin, I am glad the interview went well. I hope they recognise that you will be an asset to any organisation. Thank you for your insightful presentation of your interview experience, as well as your advice to the rest of the team. I agree with you and Susan A., that fitting into an organisation's 'culture' makes life a hell of a lot easier. As thomas points out, the trick is finding the balance between being a robot and actually contributing something to the organisation where you are employed.
Hi stallion,
Happy to read you. You are totally right. We have to be clear and short during interviews minding our input and our benefit. Wish you the best in your job. I know that you will do better than expected. God Bless you
Adam
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