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INTERVIEW PREPARATION CHECKLIST

В помощь готовящимся к иммиграционному интервью, ищущим серьезную работу, готовящимся к важной встрече.

TYPICAL REASONS FOR REJECTING AN APPLICANT

• Poor personal appearance - That's the easiest problem to correct: see our Image Consulting Page or talk to Elena Dubova. I would like to remark particularly on... to hell with it, let Elena speak to you on things like dental floss, desodorants and the importance of changing socks.
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm  - Learn to fake it! There are tricks. See our in-house cynic for advice on that.
• Apparent lack of interest - Learn to show it!
• Criticism of past employers/former country/ex-lovers, etc. - Speak well, think well of people and places
• Body language, poor eye conacts etc. - Speak with our Image Consulting Expert, Elena Dubova (duboelet@fsdn.msk.ru, tel. (095) 479-0222)
• Late for appointment /meeting - Pull your act together!
• Poor manners, eg. failure to express appreciation for the interviewer’s time. Attend interview preparation sessions!
• Unable to hold conversation - see Small talk & Helper phrases
• Unfocussed answers - YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO EXPRESS YOUR INTERESTS, PLANS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES CLEARLY AND CONCISELY. Our Sample Interview Questions documents (there may be a few of these) may help you in convincingly explaining the visa officer (and then your prospective employer) who you are and what contribution you can make to the economy of the country as a whole (at the immigration interview) or to that of a single business (at a job interview).
• Inability to express oneself clearly; poor voice, diction, or grammar - Hearing oneself on tape is a good excercise.
• Sloppy application form. Obtain sample application forms from us and PRACTICE.  You ABSOLUTELY need to come to terms with application forms before relocating to Canada.
• Prejudices, lack of tolerance. - If unable to be genuinely liberal and open minded, at least learn the concept of political correctness from your in-house cynic
• Lazy - Hm... See my "Skeptical assessment of you plans" document
• Narrow interests - Work, watch TV, plant potatoes at my dacha routine does not characterize a successful professional.
• Lack of tact & good manners
• Unwilling to make a contribution - Being a good citizen is valued greatly in North America, where problems have been traditionally solved by the people. Torquille wrote on America in the 30's of last century that, whenever a problem arises, in France it is solved by the government, in England by noble families, and in America - by associations of cooperating individuals.
• The ‘know-it-all’ complex
• Inferiority complex
• Indecision - At least, have a clear working version of who you are and what you want.

MORE THINGS TO DO / HINTS

• Sleep well
• Have your resume handy (a few copies)
• Know every word of your resume; be ready to elaborate
• Have a notepad and a pen handy
• Prepared a list of questions for the interviewer
• Formulate clearly and concisely WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU OFFER AND WHAT YOU WANT

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*For our Russian readers:  expression "sell oneself" (prodat syebya) has a clear positive connocation in English. To sell oneself is to be understood not as "prodatsya" but as "to prove one's worth" (dokazat svoyu tsennost)

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