INTERVIEW SKILLS

 

What to Do.... 

·         Do express yourself clearly with a strong voice and good diction and grammar. 

·         Do pay close attention to your personal appearance; dress to your advantage.

·          Do make concrete goals in planning for your career.

·          Do offer a firm handshake. 

·         Do look the interviewer in the eye (but don't stare him or her down). 

·         Do fill out applications neatly and completely.

·         Do have as much knowledge about the industry, employer, and position as possible. 

·         Do take criticism gracefully. 

·         Do equip yourself with a strong knowledge of the company. 

·         Do have prepared questions about the employer and position. 

·         Do display a sense of humor.

·         Do display self-confidence. 

·         Do bring a pen and small notebook with you to the interview. 

·         Do remember the interviewer's name and use it during the interview. 

·         Do take time to think before answering difficult or unexpected questions. 

·         Do take an extra copy of your resume and a list of references with you to the interview. 

·         Do follow-up with a thank-you note restating your interest in the position. 

·         Do contact the employer by phone if the interviewer does not contact you one week after the time from which he or she indicated you would be notified.

What Not To Do.... 

·         Don't be overbearing, overaggressive or conceited. 

·         Don't show a lack of interest or enthusiasm.

·         Don't emphasize money as your main interest in the job. 

·         Don't expect too much too soon - be open to the idea of starting at the bottom and working your way up.

·          Don't make excuses for unfavorable factors on your record.

·          Don't condemn past employers or institutions of education; keep comments positive.

·          Don't display a marked dislike for schoolwork.

·         Don't be indecisive.

·          Don't display intolerance or prejudice.

·          Don't interview unless you are interested in the job...don't just "shop· around." 

·         Don't be late to the interview. 

·         Don't state specific geographic restrictions. 

·         Don't contradict yourself in responses. 

·         Don't take notes during the interview - jot down your notes immediately after the interview. 

·         Don't forget: YOU control the content of the interview. 

·         Don't glorify your past experiences - getting into a job for which you are under qualified is not recommended. 

·         Don't assume that all employers will be delighted to hear of your plans for graduate school. 

·         Don't smoke; chew gum, etc. even if offered or if the interviewer does so.

TIPS TO FACE INTERVIEW:

 How to Answer the Most Common Interview Questions?

1.      So, tell me a little about yourself.

                  I'd be very surprised if you haven't been asked this one at every interview. It's probably the most asked question because it sets the stage for the interview and it gets you talking. Be careful not to give the interviewer your life story here. You don't need to explain everything from birth to present day. Relevant facts about education, your career and your current life situation are fine.

2.      Why are you looking (or why did you leave you last job)?

                 This should be a straightforward question to answer, but it can trip you up. Presumably you are looking for a new job (or any job) because you want to advance your career and get a position that allows you to grow as a person and an employee. It's not a good idea to mention money here, it can make you sound mercenary. And if you are in the unfortunate situation of having been downsized, stay positive and be as brief as possible about it. If you were fired, you'll need a good explanation. But once again, stay positive.

3. Tell me what you know about this company. Do your homework before you go to any interview?                               Whether it's being the VP of marketing or the mailroom clerk, you should know about the company or business you're going to work for. Has this company been in the news lately? Who are the people in the company you should know about? Do the background work, it will make you stand out as someone who comes prepared, and is genuinely interested in the company and the job.

4. Why do you want to work at X Company?

                        This should be directly related to the last question. Any research you've done on the company should have led you to the conclusion that you'd want to work there. After all, you're at the interview, right? Put some thought into this answer before you have your interview, mention your career goals and highlight forward-thinking goals and career plans.

5. What relevant experience do you have?

                        Hopefully if you're applying for this position you have bags of related experience, and if that's the case you should mention it all. But if you're switching careers or trying something a little different, your experience may initially not look like it's matching up. That's when you need a little honest creativity to match the experiences required with the ones you have. People skills are people skills after all, you just need to show how customer service skills can apply to internal management positions, and so on.

 

6. If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you?

                        Ok, this is not the time for full disclosure. If some people from your past are going to say you're a boring A-hole, you don't need to bring that up. Stay positive, always, and maybe have a few specific quotes in mind. "They'd say I was a hard worker" or even better "John Doe has always said I was the most reliable, creative problem-solver he'd ever met."

7. Have you done anything to further your experience?     

                        This could include anything from night classes to hobbies and sports. If it's related, it's worth mentioning. Obviously anything to do with further education is great, but maybe you're spending time on a home improvement project to work on skills such as self-sufficiency, time management and motivation.

8. Where else have you applied?

                        This is a good way to hint that you're in demand, without sounding like you're whoring yourself all over town. So, be honest and mention a few other companies but don't go into detail. The fact that you're seriously looking and keeping your options open is what the interviewer is driving at.

9. How are you when you're working under pressure?

                        Once again, there are a few ways to answer this but they should all be positive. You may work well under pressure, you may thrive under pressure, and you may actually PREFER working under pressure. If you say you crumble like aged blue cheese, this is not going to help you get your foot in the door.

10. What motivates you to do a good job?

                        The answer to this one is not money, even if it is. You should be motivated by life's noble pursuits. You want recognition for a job well done. You want to become better at your job. You want to help others or be a leader in your field.

11. What's your greatest strength?

                        This is your chance to shine. You're being asked to explain why you are a great employee, so don't hold back and stay do stay positive. You could be someone who thrives under pressure, a great motivator, an amazing problem solver or someone with extraordinary attention to detail. If your greatest strength, however, is to drink anyone under the table or get a top score on Mario Kart, keep it to yourself. The interviewer is looking for work-related strengths.

12. What's your biggest weakness?

                        If you're completely honest, you may be kicking yourself in the butt. If you say you don't have one, you're obviously lying. This is a horrible question and one that politicians have become masters at answering. They say things like "I'm perhaps too committed to my work and don't spend enough time with my family." Oh, there's a fire able offense. I've even heard "I think I'm too good at my job, it can often make people jealous." Please, let's keep our feet on the ground. If you're asked this question, give a small, work-related flaw that you're working hard to improve. Example: "I've been told I occasionally focus on details and miss the bigger picture, so I've been spending time laying out the complete project every day to see my overall progress."