| Interviewing Tips
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| Be Quiet and Focus | One common mistake candidates make when interviewing is talking too much. It's important to listen to the question asked and answer that question. Keep your answers to two to three minutes at the most. When you limit your time, you tend to stay more focused. It is very easy to stray off the subject and ramble about things irrelevant to the job if your answer is too long. Watch the interviewer's eyes -- if they glaze over, you've lost them. |
| Look Them in the Eyes | Eye contact is one of the most important aspects of nonverbal communication and can make a significant difference in how you present yourself. If you look away when speaking to someone, you're viewed as lacking confidence or interest. If you have a problem looking into your interviewer's eyes, try looking at the “third eye” right above and between the eyes. |
| Be Ready for the Screen Call | A telephone screen call can come at any time. Be sure everyone in your household -- children, roommates, etc., are aware you may be receiving calls from recruiters and companies. Ask them to answer the phone in a polite, professional manner. While you're at it, make sure your voice-mail message is professional and upbeat: No music or jokes for the time being -- just a straightforward message |
| Get the Info | Informational interviews are a great way to get leads and information regarding an industry, company or position. It is important that the person you contact understands you're seeking information -- not a job. Be prepared when you ask for an appointment to say what you're looking for and why you want to talk to this person. At the informational interview, have a prepared list of questions. At the end, ask if the person has any recommendations of others you could speak with. |
| Virtual Thanks | You can send follow-up letters through email if this is the way you and the potential employer have been communicating all along. But before sending an email thank-you, consider the downsides: Email is overused in some companies -- it doesn't all get read, there won't be a hard copy unless the recipient prints it out, and you need to beware of sending viruses to your interviewers -- it happens. |
| Know What You Offer | Prepare answers for open-ended questions, like, "Tell me about yourself," by making a list of your skills and traits that match the employer's requirements. The closer your skills and traits are to the job description, the better chance you have of landing the job. You should leave the interviewer with a clear picture of what you have to offer. |
| Keeping Time | Try to arrive early for the interview, but not too early. Get to the site 20 to 30 minutes early to allow for any surprise disasters. Don't enter the building until 10 to 15 minutes before your interview. Arriving too early could throw the interviewer's schedule off and start you off on the wrong foot. Use the time spent sitting in the lobby to get a good feeling for the environment |
| Your References | For your reference list, you want three to five people and their contact information. Don't forget to get permission to use your references' names, and while you're at it, ask how they prefer to be contacted. You should also send them a copy of your resume so they'll be aware of what you're saying about yourself |
| Waiting by the Phone | f the interviewer doesn't call back after the interview as promised, don't be surprised -- it happens a lot. Waiting for that call is one of the most difficult parts of the interview process. If a week goes by after the decision was supposed to have been made, call and ask if the position is still open. If the answer is yes, ask if you're still under consideration. |
| Prove What You Could Do | Always put a positive spin on your answers to difficult questions. If you lack a particular skill or don't know a certain computer program, be sure to emphasize how quickly you learn. Give an example of a time when you were able to get up to speed in a similar situation. Companies are interested in people who can hit the ground running. |
| Sell Yourself | Interviewing is about selling. The product you are selling is you. Give them reasons to buy. Tell them what you can do for them. Emphasize what you can bring to the company, department and position. Convince them that your product is better than the competition's. |
| Talking Salary | Timing is everything in the interview. Let them bring up the subject of money. If you are asked what your salary expectations are too early in the process, just say you would rather postpone that discussion until you have more information about the position. Ask, “Could you tell me the range budgeted for the position?” |
| Don't Forget to Listen | Most candidates are so nervous about answering interview questions correctly that they forget to listen. Listening is one of the most underused interview skills. Follow these tips:
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| The World's Toughest Job Interview Question | Here's a real heart-thumper: Why have you been unemployed so long You won't make a great impression by saying, "I wanted to be a full-time parent." Or worse, "No one would hire me." What You Could Do Today When asked this question, give a brief answer and then move on to explain that you're a good fit for the position. For example, "I wanted to be a full-time mom, but I've stayed current in the field. Now that my child is older, I'm eager to get back to work. When I saw your ad, I got excited, because I could be of help to you." |
| Managing Time in a Job Interview | In an effort to try and dig themselves out of trouble, most job interviewees give long answers to hard questions and they give short answers to easy questions. Mistake! That increases the proportion of the interview spent on weak points. What You Could Do Today Rule of thumb: Short answers for hard questions and longer answers for easy ones. Another tip for managing time in a job interview: You want the employer to picture you in the position, especially if your job history is weak, so spend as much time as possible discussing what you'd do in the new job. The mantra: Focus on the future, not the past. |
| Think of an Interview as a First Date | When facing a job interview, the natural tendency is to gird yourself against the onslaught of killer questions and to do everything you can to snow 'em. That can be a prescription for failure. You will likely come off as defensive, even disingenuous. Under pressure, job seekers frequently utter turn-off canned phrases such as, "I'm seeking a new challenge," or, "I believe I'm uniquely qualified for the position." What You Could Do Today Instead of the Inquisition, think of a job interview as a first date: You're both trying to figure out if there's a match. This mindset proffers many advantages. You come off as curious, not desperate, you don't assume that too-formal, phony-appearing job-seeker persona, you talk about what you want to talk about instead of just passively getting bombarded with the employer's probes and you're more likely to ask questions during the interview. Those questions will help you assess if you really want the job, or if the tasks will be annoying and the coworkers dumb? Treat the interview as a first date, and you'll both be better informed when deciding whether you should hook up. |
| Get to Work! | Unemployed? Then your job right now is to find a job. Don't let personal distractions keep you from putting in the hours necessary to continue your search. Think of this as going to work. Research companies, industries and positions. Knowledge is power, and power gives you confidence -- something you'll need to succeed in interviews. |
| Ask the Power Questions | Great questions to ask early in a job interview: "What are you most hoping to find in the person you hire?" and "What would be my first priorities on the job?" The earlier you can ask these questions, the sooner you can start tailoring your answers to the employer's priorities. At the end of the interview, ask, "Based on what we've talked about today, I feel good about the position. Do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?" Often, that gives you a chance to counter any objections. What could you do today? Print out the above tip and put it in the briefcase, purse or folder you know you'll bring to your job interview. While waiting for an interview, review the three questions to remind yourself to ask them. |
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