It’s your interview…Who is in control?

Myth: In a job interview, the interviewer is in control.

Reality: You give an interview; you do not take an interview. It should be a two-way exchange. In a good interview, you should ask as many questions as the interviewer asks, if not more. You can show that you’ve done your research by asking questions about the company. Remember this is “your” interview and it is your job to leave the interviewer with the right impression about you. You cannot do that if you don’t make sure you tell them all the things about you that make you suitable for the position. Preparation is the only way you can be sure that you will tell the interviewer all the things they need to know. Take a note-pad and pen into the interview with you and have notes to yourself about what you want to say (so you don’t forget) and questions you want to ask. This simple act will impress the interviewer and show him/her that you are serious, organized and motivated.

markewicken: Mark Wicken is a marketing professional with over 30 years of advertising, communications and strategic planning experience within the retail and packaged goods industries. He has been a senior member of agency management teams with both account and brand management responsibilities. His strengths have always been on innovative thinking, solid organization and strong interpersonal skills. Starting in the advertising agency industry, Mark held senior account management positions at several multinational agencies including Leo Burnett, Foster, Caledon, Vickers & Benson and Saffer Advertising, and has been responsible for the management of accounts like IBM, McDonald’s, Esso and General Motors. Mark moved from his agency roles to the Client side and held the position of Divisional Vice President of Marketing for Domino’s Pizza International and Director of Marketing for KFC, Hardee’s and Sbarro restaurants in the Middle East. In 2002 he established The Mark Wicken Group, a business specializing in executive search, training and consulting within the marketing, advertising and communications industries. In addition to executive search, Mark has devoted much of his lifetime to teaching, education and youth development. He is President of MusicFest Canada ‘The Largest Annual Music Festival in North America’ and has been an instructor at the International Academy of Design and The Toronto Film School since 1998. Mark graduated from The University of Toronto, took post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, and is married with two sons.