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Interviewing PreparationWHAT IS AN INTERVIEW?
A meeting of people face to face to confer.
The employer will be trying to find the best possible candidate for the position they have available.
This is the time to expand on the information contained in your resume. To supply information that may not be in the resume.
The interview is another way to market yourself.
When an applicant has been called for an interview, they have been considered a qualified candidate
on the basis of the resume or application.
GENERAL HINTS FOR AN INTERVIEW Listening is a major sense of communication. Do not interrupt, listen carefully to tell if the interviewer has finished speaking or is just pausing to gather more thoughts or breathe. Go alone. Don't take a friend or animal. If you have a disability that requires assistance, the employer will understand. Arrive approximately five minutes early, no more than 15 minutes. Be friendly to the secretary and all others. Courtesy and tact will do a long way. Be patience while waiting for your interview to begin. Don't smoke, chew gum, clip fingernails or anything that is distracting. Always smile, and use a firm handshake when greeting the interviewer. Have good eye contact, keep good posture, and avoid nervous habits. Don't use slang expressions, and avoid being critical. Show interest and enthusiasm, and avoid discussing personal problems. One important point to remember is to be yourself, don't play act. Few individuals can act well enough to fool an interviewer. Thank the employer for the interview. NEATNESS COUNTS - GOOD GROOMING Personal hygiene is extremely important. Good grooming usually means cleanliness and neatness. Your hair should be neat and clean. Hands should be clean and manicured. Your body must also be clean, be sure to bathe the day of the interview. A light fragrance of cologne or aftershave lotion will breathe a pleasant smell. Don't overdue the scent. Actually it is best not to use any fragrance. Choosing clothes to wear to the interview is sometimes difficult. You should be professionally dressed. Do not wear jeans, tennis shoes, fluffy or sexy attire. Your clothes should be dry-cleaned or washed and well pressed. Your shoes need to have good heels and be shined. Be conservative when wearing jewelry. You will only need to enhance your appearance. Don't wear jewelry that will be distract from the interview. Ladies carry a handbag or briefcase that will complement the outfit you are wearing. Gentlemen, of course you don't want to carry a handbag. Each of you could carry a briefcase or folder for the extra resumes. Remember, conservative dress appeals to employers. TYPE OF INTERVIEWS The heart beat of an interview is exchanging information. There are two basic types of interviews: screening interviews and selection interviews. SCREENING INTERVIEW - This is general and relatively short. The employer will screen applicants to decide which candidates are qualified to meet their needs. SELECTION INTERVIEW - This a longer more thorough interview. Sometimes this interview can last up to an hour or more. QUESTIONS JOB INTERVIEWER FREQUENTLY ASK Many questions will have an open end. This is the time that you can describe the situation, the tasks you were involved in, the action you took, and the results you achieved. Remember not to bore the interviewer but you can provide detailed answers that will give you an advantage over candidates who give more general answers. Tell me about yourself. (Tell them about yourself on the professional level, not personal) What are your strengths or weaknesses? (Remember, all weaknesses can be made into a positive statement and could be a strength. Mention all the positive aspects, e.g. skills, reliability, experience, enthusiasm, pride in a job well done, efficiency, etcetera. What was the most rewarding or disappointing experience you have had? Have you ever done this kind of work before? (Never say "no" to this question. Tell about your past experience, your education or training, and how quickly you could learn that type of work) Why should we hire you over other candidates? (Quickly list your skills and characteristics) What are your short and/or long range goals? (The interviewer could be trying to find out whether you are serious about this job opportunity) Can you work under pressure or tight deadlines? (Give examples of activities that involved deadlines and pressure. Stress how capable you were in handling the situtation, you did not mind the stress, and even possibly enjoyed it) What skills did you learn on your last job that you can use here? What have you learned from your mistakes? Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing? QUESTIONS TO THE INTERVIEWER Ask questions which are important and relevant to you as you consider a particular employment opportunity. Ask questions that will pertain to clarification of information. Do not prolong the interview by trying to fit in all your questions. There will probably be time to ask further questions before you will need to respond to an offer of employment. If you do not have questions you could ask if it would be alright to give them a call if you think of some questions after you return home. CONCLUDING THE INTERVIEW Most interviewers will conclude the interview by indicating when you can expect to receive further word on your status as an applicant. AFTER THE INTERVIEW It is appropriate to ask the interviewer for his/her business card. This will give you the correct spelling and information that will able you to address your correspondence to the right person(s). As a matter of courtesy, it is very important to send your interviewer(s) a short thank-you letter. It only needs to be a few sentences long. Learn from your interview. Review your interview performance. Did you make a good first impression? Were you properly dressed? Did you ask intelligent questions? Did you show enthusiasm? Did you respond well to questions you were asked? What would you do to make your next interview better? | ||||||||||||||
