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INTERVIEW TIPS & TOOLS - PRE & POST INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Preparation for an interview is critical. Confidently walking into the interview room, sitting down and having an amiable, but professional, interview is what wins the job. Sweat pouring down your forehead tells the employer you can't take the heat, you can't stand scrutiny and you're incapable of interpersonal dealings. Prepare and practice your interview. Refresh your memory and re-learn the history of your career so that when you're asked something about YOURSELF, you can answer almost automatically and without thinking, pausing and "ummm". And get comfortable talking about yourself and doing so in a positive manner.
Almost every interviewer will ask you: "Tell me about yourself." When answering, pretend you're conducting the interview. Answer what you think would be important for you to know.
Ask someone to interview you in front of a camera. This is practice under (simulated) pressure. Then, with that person, review the video and critique your performance, spot mistakes and identify strengths.
Know the industry. Learn everything you can about the industry and specfically the position, the company and its needs. During the interview, mention some of those things. It shows genuine interest in the company. Knowing these facts will enable you to prove how your background meets those needs.
Draw up and practice questions you can ask the prospective employer. Employers are as interested in your questions as they are in your answers. It is a huge plus if you ask intelligent questions about the position, the company and the industry.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The first few minutes are critical, and will set the tone for the interview. To succeed, you must project enthusiasm about the position and show confidence and competence. Your goal is to convince the interviewer that you would be an asset to the company. You may not "seal the deal" within the first minutes, but you can break it for sure. More people fail to get the job because of the first impression than any other reason.
Dress appropriate for the position you're seeking, whether it's business casual or suit and tie. Don't be afraid to ask beforehand what kind of office attire people wear. Walking in with a tie when no-one else wears one isn't a tragedy, but not wearing one when everyone else does most certainly is. Your attire must fit well in the office and be immaculate. Your shoes should be polished; pants/skirts and shirts pressed. Clean hair and fingernails are essential. Avoid excessive cologne, jewelry or make-up. Basic rule: shower, wash your hair, cut your nails and wear slacks with a button-down shirt and tie.
Always be on time or a few (no more than a few) minutes early. Allow extra time for traffic, parking and slow elevators. Do whatever it takes to arrive a few minutes early. If you don't know how long it will take to get there, make a trip beforehand and find out. On the day of the interview, plan on arriving 30 minutes early. If you don't get delayed, sit in your car for 25 minutes and review your resume, comb your hair and take a few minutes to relax. Walk into the building no more than 5 minutes ahead of time. You don't want to make them wait and they don't want to make you wait.
THE INTERVIEW
Assume the interviewer hasn't seen your resume until about 10 minutes before the interview. He most likely hasn't. It was pre-screened by someone else. Bring extra copies for everyone and hand them out at the beginning of the interview. BUT... don't just recite the resume to the interviewer. He wlil look at it later if he has questions that are unanswered after the interview. When speaking, talk freely, not like a chronological listing or dictionary.
Most of all... SELL YOURSELF! That's exactly what you're doing. You are asking the employer to purchase your services for a salary. If you don't act and talk as though you're selling something valuable, then you'll lose the sale. Be confident and self-assured about who you are. This is the single-most important behavioral aspect that will (and it will) make or break the interview.
Address your weaknesses frankly and honestly. A common question is, "Identify one of your shortcomings or areas you think you need to improve on." Be honest. Be COMFORTABLE talking about your weaknesses and don't come across as embarrassed. Also emphasize that you are and will continue to work to improve on those areas and indeed all aspects of your work abilities. Finally, don't drone on about your negatives. Be concise and get it over with. The employer wants to know your weaknesses, but not feel like a psychiatrist.
Don't ask about salary. If asked what you've made in the past, be general. And be honest that you don't normally want to be too specific because you don't want the employer to feel pressure about what offer to make. Monetary discussions can come later. After all, if they don't want you, then it doesn't matter. And also mention that you know the salary offered will be good, otherwise you wouldn't be there, and that you're interest and concern is the opportunity and position itself.
Interview the employer. Talk about the company and mention any noteworthy accomplishments in the company's history. It shows interest and a desire to be a part of the team. Ask questions of the company. Ask the interviewer about the company's weak areas needing improvement with a hint that you'd be the perfect fit for accomplishing that. Employers appreciate being interviewed. In a sense you're asking them why they think you should want to work for them. In a sense, you're putting the interviewer in the position of selling the company to you. And that's a good thing.
When you leave, be enthusiastic, not tired. Thank everyone who interviewed you and be genuine about it. Mention that you look forward to hearing from them and that you'll be in touch AND... that you look forward to working at the company.
Throughout the interview, speak as though it's already been decided that you'll be working for the company. Don't use "if" words. When asked about a hypothetical situation, don't say "If I worked here..." but rather "When I'm working here..."
Make sure to leave the impression when leaving the interview that you fully believe you aced the interview and WILL be working for the company. Confidence is contagious and if you're confident in yourself, they'll be more confident in you as well.
Leave business cards, and ask for them before leaving.
FOLLOW-UP
Sned a thank-you note after the interview. If you were connected to the company by a recuiting agency, place a followup call immediately after the interview for a debriefing. The "headhunter" will also be following up with the company to try to complete the "sale"... so he can make his income.
In your thank you, summarize your conversation and re-emphasize the skills you would bring to the position. Be specific in the letter, what you thought of the interview, why you think you'd be a perfect fit for the position and summarize the interview in a paragraph. Be personal, but in a business sense and make your thank you letter, and hence interview, more memorable.
REFERENCES
If you weren't asked for them at the interview, be prepared to provide a list of references. Vette your references and make sure they will speak well of you and will follow all the rules YOU followed during the interview. And yes, make sure they can speak in more than one syllable words. You don't want to ruin a fantastic interview because of guilt by association with a semi-literate co-worker.
Obtain a written letter of recommendation from a previous supervisor if possible. These days, you won't always be asked to provide one, but it's better and more impressive to have one ready if necessary. The same rules apply to references. Many times only one or two will be contacted, if at all, but providing the contact information itself is a sign that you know there are people who will vouche for you.
Include one or two personal references. Employers may want to know what the people who know you best, family and acquaintances, think about you. You can be ok in the office but if you kick your puppy at home and make the baby cry, that could be a sign to an employer to take a pass. Likewise, if your pastor gives a glowing reference for your volunteer work in the community feeding the homeless and taking in stray pets, that might be something advantageous to you.
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