Job Interviews
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| What's The Purpose |
 To supply information about yourself that is not contained in your resume.
To enable the employer to evaluate your personality and attitude in terms of the demands of the organization and the position you are applying for.
To let the employer find out who you are. This is an opportunity to “sell yourself”. Convince the employer you are the best person for the job |
| Before the interview |
Be on time!
Being on time (or early) shows the interviewer commitment, dependability and professionalism.
Be positive.
Smile and shake the interviewer’s hand firmly. Don’t make negative comments about current or former employers.
Relax.
Be yourself. Think of the interview as a conversation, not an interrogation.
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| During the interview |
Show self confidence.
Make eye contact and shake the interviewer’s hand firmly. Speak clearly and remember to smile.
Avoid negative body language.
An interviewer plays close attention to the message you send with your body language. Avoid these signs of nervous tension: Frequently touching your mouth or face, biting your lip, tight or forced smiles, swinging your foot or leg or other inabilities to stay still, biting your nails, folding or crossing your arms, slouching or avoiding eye contact.
Clarify.
It’s okay to ask a question to clarify something the interviewer said, just make sure you are listening. Asking questions to clarify a specific point makes sense. Asking someone to explain an entire subject over again gives the impression you have problems listening or comprehending.
Reflect before answering a difficult question.
If you are unsure how to answer a question, pause momentarily to collect your thoughts and then answer the question. You may also reply with another question. For example, if the interviewer asks you what salary you expect, try answering by saying, “That is a good question. What do you plan on paying your best candidate?”
Remember to listen.
Communication is a two-way street. If you are talking too much, you will probably be missing some cues concerning what the interviewer feels is important.
Show you want the job.
Display your initiative by talking about what functions you could perform that would benefit the organization. Use specific examples of how you have helped past employers. You might also ask about specific details of the position such as responsibilities, who you would work with and who you would report to.
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| After the interview |
End the interview with a handshake and thank the interviewer for their time.
Restate your interest in the position and your qualifications. If they do not offer to contact you, ask if you can call them to check on the status of you application. If they offer to contact you, politely ask when you should expect the call.
Send a thank you card or letter.
Thank the interviewer for their time. Be sure to deliver it no later than 1-2 days after the interview.
FOLLOW-UP
Visit the business if you are not contacted within a week of when the interviewer indicated you would be. Following up with the employer is essential in today’s job market. Following up with an employer after an interview demonstrates that you have initiative, a quality all employers look for. Not only will that person take note of your continued interest in the position, but you will help to give you an edge over the other applicants.
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| Common job interview mistakes |
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Arrive late for the interview.
Dressing inappropriately or displaying an untidy personal appearance.
Slouching in your seat.
Lack of eye contact.
Inability to express information clearly.
Not making the employer see the connection between your skills and their needs.
Displaying no enthusiasm about the job.
Calling the interviewer by his/her first name unless you are instructed to or using the wrong name.
Badmouth your current or former employee.
Display a negative attitude.
Chewing gum.
Bringing someone with you.
Leaving your cell phone on.
Bringing food or drink in with you.
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| Common Interview Questions |
One of the easiest ways to build confidence before a job interview is to prepare answers to questions you might be asked. While you can never be exactly sure what questions will be asked in an interview, there are common questions normally asked by the employer. Look at the following questions and practice your answers. Let your answers reflect your skills and abilities that apply to the job by focusing on specific tasks and accomplishments.
Sample Questions
1. Tell me about yourself.
This is a question that everyinterviewee should be prepared to answer. Have something clear in mind for this one before you even go in the door. The best answer highlights aspects of yourself that make you stand out from the average person.
2. Tell me what you know about us.
This question simply tries to determine if the person being interviewed has done their homework. An exceptional candidate will be able to deliver a lot of information about the company, but mostly this eliminates people who didn’t even bother to do minimal checking, these are people we don’t want.
3. What sets you apart from other people that might apply for this job?
This is a chance for you to really sell yourself. Most interviewers will usually sit back and see how well you can sell. Are you bilingual? Do you have prior experience?
4. Tell me about the most difficult project you ever faced.
The interviewer could usually care less what the exact project is. The question is mostly looking to see if you have faced serious difficulty and how you overcame it.
5. Tell me about your dream job.
Most interviewers ask this question to see if the applicant is enthusiastic. If you can’t get excited about your dream job, what can you get excited about? Instead of telling them a specific job title, stick to specific traits by naming aspects of what would be your dream job. Some of them shouldmatch what the company has available, but it’s actually best if they don’t all perfectly match.
6. Have you ever had a serious conflict in a previous employment? How was it resolved?
This question mostly looks for honesty and for the realization that most conflicts have two sides to a story. It also opens the door for people to start bashing their previous employer, something which leaves a bad taste in most interviewers’ mouths. The best way to answer usually involves telling the story, but showing within it that there are two sides to that story and that you’ve learned from the experience to try to see the other person’s perspective.
7. Have you ever been asked to leave a position? Tell me about the experience.
Obviously, it’s great if you can answer “no,” but it’s usually not a deal breaker if the answer is “yes.” In fact, a “yes” answer can be turned into a positive, it’s a great way to show that you’ve made mistakes and learned valuable lessons from them. Be honest here, no matter what, but don’t spend time bashing the people that let you go.
8. What do you feel this position should pay?
If you have had little or no experience, an appropriate answer would be, “the beginning wage for this position.” If you are experienced you may answer, “What do you normally pay people in this position”.
9. Where do you see yourself in your career in five years?
Employers ask this question to determine if you will be a long term employee, or if they will need to fill your position again six months from now. Regardless of what your career goal is, convince the interviewer that you will be employed while you are working toward your goal.
10. Do you have any questions about this job?
Not having questions is a sign that you aren’t really that interested in the position. Thus, your job as an interviewee is to have a few questions already in mind when you walk in the door. Some questions you might ask could be, “What would my typical day here look like”, “Is there a dress code”, or “How will I know if I was chosen for the position”. Refrain from asking about sick days or vacation until you have already been offered the job. |
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