You must prepare
for an interview!
The job interview is where you can assess a company
and it is where you have to sell yourself and your
skills. This requires the use of an effective job
interview technique.
Our interview guide, The Master Interviewer,
takes you from job interview preparation to the
follow-up. The guide has been written by human
resource professionals. Below are some quick
job interview tips that show you how to interview
in an astute and effective manner.
Your goal in an Interview
The interview is your chance to communicate your ability
and skills directly to the potential employer. An
interview is an opportunity for both parties to get to
know each other and to determine if there is potential
for a match. Because interviewing is a skill, anyone can
learn to interview effectively. Most people find
interviewing to be a terrifying prospect. Remember that
the key to a successful interview is preparation and careful
listening.
Before the Interview
The Master Interviewer gives details about polish
and preparation. These are the basics.
Make sure your hair is neat - get a haircut if
possible. Dress in conservative business attire,
composed of a dark suit, polished shoes, white
shirt or blouse, and, for men, a conservative tie.
All clothes should be neat clean and pressed.
Avoid excessive jewelry, makeup, cologne or perfume.
Learn pertinent facts about the company such as
annual sales revenue, principal lines of business
and locations. Know yourself and know your resume
and be able to easily provide examples of your
selling points, skills, values, and strengths.
During the Interview
During the interview, sit up straight in the chair
or lean forward slightly and DO NOT slouch!
Establish yourself as a self confident and
assertive person without being confrontational,
cocky or aggressive. Remember to be yourself but
to also present a professional, polished version of
yourself.
Answer job interview questions directly. Be
confident without being arrogant. At the same time,
admit to your weaknesses if they are brought up, but
do not bring them up. Instead, concentrate on your
strengths. Demonstrate energy, determination,
enthusiasm, motivation and passion for your work.
Prove that you are genuinely interested in the
company by showing that you have researched the
organization. You should always ask the interviewer
a few good questions.
Answering Interview Questions
Answer tough interview questions honestly and
completely - but be wary. Do not dwell on negatives
and you should avoid mentioning them. Sell
yourself on your true capabilities and
qualifications without exaggerating your abilities.
If you are asked a technical question and you do not
know the answer, do not bluff. If your bluff fails,
your candidacy will be seriously threatened.
Instead, say "I do not know the answer, but if I
were to venture an educated guess I would say...".
Never speak negatively about another person or
company.
The Master Interviewer contains a complete list of
questions to prepare for including some of the most
difficult questions you can be asked and the
appropriate responses.
Asking questions
The questions that you ask are just as critical as
the responses that you give. Asking thoughtful
questions demonstrates your intelligence, common
sense and your interest in the position to the
employer. By posing good questions to an
interviewer, you will gain additional useful
information about the opportunity.
Concentrate on the broad view of the company and on
specific details about the position at hand. Focus
on four areas during your job interview:
the company, the job opportunity, the interviewer and the
closing. The Master Interviewer gives specific and
insightful questions you can ask in each of these four
areas.
After the Interview
Keep them interested. After the interview, you
should send a short thank you letter to refresh the
employer's memory of your candidacy and to reaffirm
your interest in the position.
Allow the employer five to ten days to contact you
after receiving your letter. If you still have not
heard from an employer, you should follow up with a
phone call.
The Employer's Point of View
Practice interviewing. Have a friend ask you
questions that you may encounter during an
interview. If you have a VCR, videotape your mock
interview and try and identify any of your negative
factors, traits, habits, and actions. The Master
Interviewer, contains a full list of these negative
factors evaluated by an interviewer that you should
look to avoid.
Important Do's and Don'ts
The Master Interviewer contains a more
complete list, but these are some of the most
important ones.
DO
- Arrive 10 minutes early.
- Greet the interviewer with a warm, confident
"Hello" and a firm handshake.
- Be well rested.
- Dress and groom yourself with perfection
(Appropriate business attire, make-up, deodorant).
- Maintain good posture.
- Emphasize positive things about
yourself.
DO NOT
- Bring a friend or relative with you.
- Arrive late.
- Ask about the salary unless the interviewer
brings it up.
- Speak negatively about a former employer or
past co-workers.
- Smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers
you a cigarette. Do not chew gum.
- Answer with a simple "yes" or "no."
Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about
yourself that relate to the situation.
Conclusion
The Master Interviewer will ask you, How much
stress can you manage? And then will put it all
in perspective. The high point of any job search
campaign is landing the job interview. However,
the job interview can also be a very stressful
situation. Will you say the right thing? Will you
look appropriate? Will the interviewer like you
and be impressed with your qualifications? Will
you trip over your own two feet walking in the door?
Effective interviewing is a skill, not an art.
YOU can gain that skill. It takes research, alertness and practice to be effective
in an interview. The job interview is too important to do a mediocre job.
Be prepared!
If you would like a complete guide to interviewing, The Master Interviewer
is available for only $9.95 and is 15 pages in length. This
guide will provide all of the tools to prepare you including a complete list of
common interview questions, difficult questions and proper responses, and an all important look at the employer's
point of view. The final section also give a look at the big picture and has some hints to handle the stress.
The rest is up to you!
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"I was grilled by 3 interviewers for 2 hours. I would never have survived without
this manual! I not only survived, I got the Job!"
-Jane Ford
Social Worker
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"Everyone should prepare for an interview with a manual like this."
- Bill Carley
Guidance Councilor
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"I sure am glad I had such a large number of sample questions to prepare from! The
interviewer asked many of the VERY same questions and my answers just rolled off my tongue!"
- Chad Woolsey
Certified Financial Planner
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