Interviewing Tips Preparing for Interview: Preparation is an important part of the interview process. The time you spend preparing prior to the interview will be time well spent in your job search process. This will be help you win the interview and get the job offer. Preparation is the key to a successful interview! To do well at any job interview you will need to convince the interviewer that you are technically qualified to do the job. You will also need to show that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company's culture/organizational structure and the team in which you will work. The following are some tips on what you can do to prepare yourself before, during, and after a job interview. Before the Interview: Review the Job Specification and Position Description. Learn more about the department by visiting their web page. Review your resume and be prepared to discuss your relevant skills. Decide who your references are. They should be a current or past supervisor, coworker, teacher/professor, or associate who has knowledge of your work history, skills, abilities, accomplishments, initiative, education, and integrity. Get permission to use their name in advance and collect their current contact information (including e-mail address). Bring extra copies of your résumé and a notebook. Dress for Success -Appearance should reflect maturity and self-confidence. Be neat, clean, and dress in good taste. Find out where the interview will be, obtain clear directions, and confirm the time. Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early. You should also prepare some questions to ask the interviewer yourself During the Interview Relax! Think of the interview as a conversation, not an interrogation. Be enthusiastic, confident, courteous, and honest. Listen to the questions carefully and give clear, concise, and thoughtful answers. Convey interest in the organization and knowledge of the position. Ask relevant questions about the job or department. Present a list of your references and any letters of recommendation or reference that you may have to offer. End the interview with a firm handshake and thank the interview panel for their time and consideration. After the Interview Send a concise 1 3 paragraph thank-you letter within 24 to 48 hours of the interview. Reiterate your interest in the position, mention anything you know reinforces you as a good fit for the job, and your contact information. If you are not selected for the job, it is OK to politely ask an interviewer which area(s) you could improve on in the future!
Interview Tips That Will Help You Win the Job The better prepared you are beforehand the better your chances are of walking out of the interview with a confident smile on your face that says, I think I got the job! Keep in mind that in the competitive business world, there are sure to be dozens of other highly qualified candidates going after your job. It s important to make yourself stand out as someone special. Now is the time to practice exactly how you will sell yourself to a prospective employer during that crucial first meeting. Here are 10 important tips to help your next interview lead to your next job: 1. Do your homework: Research the company beforehand so that you can showcase that knowledge during the interview. This will boost your credibility with the interviewer and will help you to formulate intelligent questions to ask him or her. 2. Know where you are going: Make sure to find out where the office is and how to get there. Do you know how long the trip will take? Do you have the name and phone number of the person you will be meeting with? Do you know how easy it is to park? Save yourself time and unnecessary stress by knowing these things before heading to the interview. 3. Look the part: Your clothing should be neat, pressed, and professional looking. As it can be difficult to know the culture of the office environment beforehand, err on the side of conservative. Even if everyone s wearing jeans when you arrive, you re still probably better off having shown up in a suit. However, don t be afraid to inject some personality into your look, and don t neglect the details. Make sure to have a fresh haircut and clean, manicured nails. 4. Rehearse beforehand: Prior to your interview, prepare answers to common questions the interviewer is likely to ask, such as what are your strengths and weaknesses? Why do you want to work here? Why should we hire you? and the ever popular Tell me about yourself. Conduct a mock interview with a trusted friend as practice. 5. Secure your references: Find at least three key people former supervisors, colleagues, or instructors who are willing to serve as your professional references. Be sure to secure their permission beforehand, and be certain that they will speak highly of you if contacted by a potential employer.
6. Arrive early: Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview. Visit the restroom and check your appearance in the mirror. Announce yourself to the receptionist to let him or her know that you have arrived and that you have an appointment. Turn your cell phone off so it doesn t ring during your meeting. 7. Bring necessary documentation: Make a checklist of documents that you will need for the interview, and make sure that you have them in your briefcase before leaving home. These documents may include extra copies of your résumé, a passport, driver s license, Social Security card, or portfolio of writing samples or other professional work. If you are a recent graduate, you should also bring along your college transcripts. 8. Sell yourself: The interview is your chance to shine, so now is not the time to be humble. Develop a 25-second sales pitch that sings your praises. In business this is called an elevator speech, a compelling overview of why you? that can be recited in the time it takes to ride the elevator. It should include your strengths, your abilities, and what sets you uniquely apart from other applicants. 9. Don t neglect to ask questions: Based on your earlier research, ask how the responsibilities of the open position relate to the company s goals and plans for the future. Interviewers are often favorably impressed by candidates who show that they are knowledgeable about the organization. 10. Follow up: After the interview, don t forget to send a handwritten note or friendly email thanking the interviewer for his or her time and consideration, as well as restating your interest and commitment to the position. If you don t hear anything after one week, call to politely inquire when they will be making a final decision. Remember to keep this in mind: Every interview is a valuable learning experience. Even if you don t get this particular job, when the next interview rolls around, you ll be much better prepared and more at ease with the whole process. All of which can go a long way to boosting your confidence and improving your chances of being offered the next job. Good luck!
Questions to ask yourself To help you develop information about "you," ask yourself these Questions: Your Qualifications 1. What qualifications do you have that relate to the position? 2. What skills or abilities have you developed recently? 3. What are some examples from a previous job where you have shown initiative? 4. What have been your greatest accomplishments? 5. What is important to you in a job? 6. What motivates you in your work? 7. What qualities do you find important in a manager or a coworker? Your Career Goals 1. What would you like to be doing five years from now? 2. How will you judge yourself to be a success? How will you achieve success? 3. What type of position are you interested in? 4. How will this job fit in your career plans? 5. What do you expect from this job? 6. When can you start? Your Work Experience 1. What have you learned from your past jobs? 2. What are/were your major responsibilities? 3. What specific skills used in previous jobs relate to this position? 4. How does your previous experience relate to this position? 5. What did you like most/least about your last job? Your Education 1. How has your education prepared you for this position? 2. What were your favorite classes/activities at school? 3. Why did you choose your major? 4. Do you plan to continue your education?
Factors that can cost you the job Being unprepared for the interview. Poor/limp handshake. Saying unfavorable things about previous employers. Not being able to communicate clearly and effectively. Being aggressive or acting in a superior way. Making excuses for failings. Job Interview Body Language One of the key job interview skills is making sure you give out the right signals. You should always look attentive - so do not slouch in your chair. Never lie to anyone in an interview, your body language and tone of voice or the words you use will probably give you away - classic body language give-aways include scratching your nose and not looking directly at the other person when you are speaking to them. Afterthoughts If you are not getting the job offers you desire then you need to look carefully at your interview technique. You should try and get as much feedback as possible from the people who have interviewed you. If you have been unsuccessful in obtaining a job, ring up the interviewer and ask them where they think you fell down, and how they think you could do better. Once you have got feedback you can modify your interview technique and hopefully do better at the next job interview.
Top 10 Interview Mistakes Most experts will tell you that the job interview offers you the best opportunity to sell yourself to a company. It s an old adage, but it still rings true: you don t get a second chance to make a first impression. A candidate can make any number of interview mistakes that can cost them the job, but if you avoid the Top 10 Interview Mistakes listed below, you will likely be on your way to interviews that will yield successful results. 1. Arriving Late Get directions from the interviewer or company website ahead of time and double check them with an online map service. Leave home early to give yourself plenty of time to arrive for the interview. If you are running late, call the interviewer to let him/her know and see if they want to reschedule. Arriving late can show disrespect for the interviewer, lack of preparation, or lack of interest in the position. 2. Dress Wrong Candidates make an impression on the interviewer literally within seconds after meeting him/her. You want to be sure that you make the best impression possible. Dress neatly in a conservative suit that is neutral in color (tan, navy blue, or gray for example). Women should wear simple jewelry that complements the outfit and doesn t distract. Women should wear polished low heels and men polished dress shoes. Make sure your hair is cleaned, combed and worn in a professional manner. Your teeth should be brushed, and you should wear a deodorant with a mild scent. Arrive several minutes early for the interview, so you can take time to check your appearance in the restroom before the interview. 3. Bad Mouth Other Employers Even if you can t stand your former boss, a job interview is not the time to trash talk or complain about your former employer. Avoid any negative references to your former boss. If you were laid off or fired from a previous position, be prepared to give a simple explanation that puts a positive spin on what happened. A potential new employer may figure that they could be the next target of your negative feedback, if this position doesn t work out! 4. Appear Disinterested or Arrogant Make sure you are familiar with the position that you are interviewing for, and practice talking about your experience, strengths, education, and abilities and how they directly relate to the position and the company. Do not just sit there like a zombie, waiting for the interviewer to draw information out of you. Worse yet, do not brag endlessly about how amazing you are! Smile, sit up straight, answer the questions appropriately and ask your own. Be engaged in the interview and show your enthusiasm for the position. Finally, thank the interviewer for taking time with you.
5. Lack of Research Prepare ahead of time for the interview; the interview is NOT the time to do your research on the company. Know about the company s products, services, clients, goals, annual sales, and other important information that you can learn from the company s website, other internet sources, professional organizations and magazines, and current and former employees. By demonstrating knowledge of the company, you show enthusiasm for the position and are more likely to be taken seriously by the interviewer. 6. Insufficient Answers/Not Prepared PRACTICE for the interview ahead of time; an interview is not the time to wing it. Be familiar with the job description of the position and ready to articulate your strengths, abilities, and what you bring to the job. The more you can connect your experience, education and strengths to the position, the more likely you are to land the job, by clearly showcasing WHY you should be hired for the position. Don t ever lie in an interview. If the conversation turns to a topic that you are unfamiliar with, be honest with the interviewer and use the opportunity to show how you would find a solution to a particular problem for example. 7. Failure to Ask Questions Use your research to prepare a list of 3 or 4 questions in advance to ask the interviewer. Your questions will help you better understand if this is a company that you are interested in working for. Employers appreciate candidates who ask insightful, intelligent questions since it shows your interest in the company and in the position. Not asking questions can show an interviewer that you don t care or that you came unprepared. 8. Talking Too Much Be careful not to talk too much and about topics that are of no interest to an employer. Do not bring up personal matters about a divorce, family problem, etc. Be careful not to interrupt an interviewer. Listen carefully and thoughtfully answer an interviewer s questions, feeling free to take a moment to think about your response. Don t let your nerves cause you to blather endlessly. Instead practice ahead of time so you give well thought out responses, to the point responses to questions. 9. Discuss Salary Too Soon Don t talk about compensation too soon in the interview process. Wait for the interviewer to bring up the topic, after you have already discussed your qualifications and the company s needs. To focus on benefits, salary, and other employee perks early in the interview, may cause you to lose the position. Salary will certainly come up in time but follow the employer s lead and let he/she bring it up when ready.
10. Forget to Follow Up Follow up the interview with a handwritten thank you note or an email, expressing your appreciation for the time the interviewer shared with you. Be sure to re-state your interest in the position and why you think you are an excellent candidate for the job. Follow up after that, several days to a week later, with a phone call to the employer to make sure you stay in front of them. Do not make a pest of yourself though, by constantly calling and/or emailing the employer.