INTERVIEWING
BASICS
- Review Resume Key Points:
Your resume is the potential employer's outline of your career—and in most
cases, the basis of questions asked during the interview. Make sure you
are prepared to provide details and expand on key points.
- Dress for Success:
Look the part of the position you're interviewing for (appropriate attire,
meticulous grooming, etc.). Take the time to properly organize any
paperwork you bring along (i.e., extra resume copies, letters of
recommendation, references, performance evaluations, questions).
- Arrive on Time:
Check out the address and parking facilities BEFORE the interview date.
- Be extremely Polite – Not only to the
interviewer, but also to the receptionist or secretary.
- Use a Firm Handshake,
direct eye contact and a friendly smile; demonstrate a sincere interest
and enthusiasm for the job.
- Always Display Loyalty to Your Former
Employers—no matter what they did (or did to you) never,
say anything negative about them.
- Maintain a Positive Attitude and
believe in yourself!
- Strategically Schedule Your Interview
Appointment. If possible, try to schedule your
appointment so that you're not the first person being interviewed.
(Research indicates that the first person interviewed gets the job only
17% of the time, while the last person interviewed gets the job 55% of the
time. According to this study, it is also recommended that you avoid
interviews on Monday or late in the afternoon.)
RULES OF THE INTERVIEW
- Keep your answers brief and concise.
Unless asked to give more detail, limit your answers to two to three minutes per question. Tape yourself and see how long it takes you to fully answer a question. - Include concrete, quantifiable data.
Interviewees tend to talk in generalities. Unfortunately, generalities often fail to convince interviewers that the applicant has assets. Include measurable information and provide details about specific accomplishments when discussing your strengths. - Repeat your key strengths.
It's essential that you comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how the strengths relate to the company's or department's goals and how they might benefit the potential employer. - Put yourself on their team.
Ally yourself with the prospective employer by using the employer's name and products or services. - Image is often as important as content.
What you look like and how you say something are just as important as what you say. Studies have shown that 65 percent of the conveyed message is nonverbal; gestures, physical appearance, and attire are highly influential during job interviews. - Ask questions.
The types of questions you ask and the way you ask them can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer. Good questions require advance preparation. Just as you plan how you would answer an interviewer's questions, write out specific questions you want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them during the interview. Don't ask about benefits or salary. The interview process is a two-way street whereby you and the interviewer assess each other to determine if there is an appropriate match. - Maintain a conversational flow.
By consciously maintaining a conversational flow—a dialogue instead of a monologue—you will be perceived more positively. Use feedback questions at the end of your answers and use body language and voice intonation to create a conversational interchange between you and the interviewer. - Research the company, product lines and
competitors.
Research will provide information to help you decide whether you're interested in the company and important data to refer to during the interview. - Keep an interview journal.
As soon as possible, write a brief summary of what happened. Note any follow-up action you should take and put it in your calendar. Review your presentation. Keep a journal of your attitude and the way you answered the questions. Did you ask questions to get the information you needed? What might you do differently next time? Prepare and send a brief, concise thank you letter. Restate your skills and stress what you can do for the company.
