Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

If you really want your interview to stand out and surpass the competition, and be able to talk about yourself with ease and confidence, you need to prepare.  You may have the best education and a stellar resume, but chances are the other applicants can say the same thing. Knowing how to answer, when asked about you, may make the difference between getting the job and looking for different employment opportunities. These are the hard questions that will likely determine whether you are the best fit for the company’s needs.

Practice how you will answer the question.  Better yet, enlist the help of a friend or family member who will objectively critique your response. If you are adequately prepared, you will be able to answer the question with confidence and professionalism.

Job Interview Success

You know that your response to the question “tell me about yourself” may be what sets you apart from the competition and garners you the position.  But, what do you say?  How to you ensure job interview success?

Here are a few key points to consider:

* Be concise
* Don’t ramble on
* Pick what is likely to be most relevant
* Be personable

Before the interview, when you are practicing, it’s a good idea to write down what you want to say about yourself. Be as concise as possible and figure out how to say the same thing in fewer words, if necessary.  The interview time will be limited, and you want to maintain the interest of the person doing the interview.

To ensure job interview success, don’t ramble on and on.  This is where practice is essential. Be confident in what you want to say, so you won’t get flustered, especially if you tend to ramble.

Pick items about yourself that will likely be of interest to the interviewer and be relevant to the position.  For example, he/she probably doesn’t want to hear all about your childhood.  However, if you are applying for a job at a daycare, and you are the oldest of 10 kids, it might be important information.  You know what it’s like to work with kids.  After all, you helped raise your siblings.

When asked about themselves, many people take a more clinical approach.  Don’t.  Let your personality shine through and don’t be afraid to be yourself. In fact, your personality may be the determining factor in deciding whether you are a good fit for their organization.

If you are prepared to answer the tough questions like “tell me about yourself”, and can answer with confidence, you are well on your way to job interview success.

Copyright 2010, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Attention to Details

During the interview, the person(s) conducting the meeting will be looking, as well as listening.  Sometimes, what is not said speaks louder than the actual spoken words.  Therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to the following details:

• Clothing
• The Handshake
• Feet Positioning
• Seating
• Arm Position
• Space between you and the Interviewer
• Eye Contact

In fact, if the position is truly desirable, your body language for a successful job interview is worth practicing.

Professional Interview Tips

The “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of successful job interviews have been compiled by knowledgeable people that normally sit behind the desk. The advice is almost universal; and, it begins with the clothing chosen for the occasion.

Clothing

It is vital to wear something physically and emotionally comfortable.  People who feel good about how they look tend to experience a more successful job interview.  Of course, it is also important to dress appropriately for the appointment.  While some individuals feel at ease in their best bathrobe and slippers, or shorts and a t-shirt, looking like a future employee of the company is a better plan.

The Handshake

Something as seemingly simple as the handshake can ultimately set the tone of a successful job interview.  In general, it’s best to wait for the person conducting the interview to offer his/her hand first.  When a hand is extended in greeting, grasp the entire hand firmly and palm up, so not to appear aggressive.

Feet Positioning

Sitting up straight, with feet planted firmly on the floor, is the best posture for a successful job interview.  Women should avoid crossing their legs, and men should not sit with their legs too far apart.  Casually sitting with ankle resting on the knee is definitely taboo.

Seating

The best interview tips suggest waiting until a seat is offered by the interviewer.  In the event a person is left standing, it is important to ask which seat to take.  Nevertheless, it is a good idea to sit where all participants of the meeting are clearly visible.

Arm Position

Amazingly, one of the most coveted interviewing tips regards arm position during the meeting.  Typically, with so much at stake, people tend to have trouble knowing what to do with their arms and hands.  So, the best rule of thumb is basically to do nothing.  Relax.  Allow the arms and hands to rest naturally in the lap.  Of course, animated hand gestures while speaking is still a good idea, as long as it is not overdone.

Space Between You and The Interviewer

While it shows an interest in the conversation to lean slightly forward, it’s never a good idea to crowd personal space.  Job interview success often depends on appearances.  So, it is vital not to give the perception of being aggressive.  Allow 30-36 inches of space between the interview participants.  However, leaning into the conversation, with enthusiasm for the potential position, is a great attribute.

Eye Contact

Finally, maintaining eye contact is vital to a successful job interview.  When addressing and individual, look him/her straight in the eye.  It conveys honesty and a straightforward personality, which is a much desired trait in good employees.

In short, preparing for a job is much more than showing up on time and having the right answers.  Your body language for a successful job Interview often speaks louder than your words.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Was It as Bad as You Thought?

First of all, let’s make sure it really was a bad interview. Often, people are their own worst critics, and this is by and large a good thing. But when it comes to a job interview, you might be seeing things that weren’t actually there, or, at least, that weren’t nearly as bad as you perceived them to be. Give yourself some time. Take a walk, and clear your head. Try to put the interview into perspective. Obviously, things like arriving late are indeed negatives that will count against you, but others are less clear cut. Did you really stutter your way through the most important questions, or are you remembering it to be worse than it was? Were you really caught flat-footed by one of the interviewer’s questions? If you were, did it show? Did you fail to impress your interviewer with your knowledge of the company? Are there several things that were on the tip of your tongue that you were never able to express?  Answer these questions, and you’ll be able to tell yourself whether the interview was as bad as you first thought.

Is The Job Really for You?

Even if you’ve had a bad job interview, it might be a blessing in disguise. Did you feel like you weren’t able to connect with the interviewer? Did you feel out of place in the office? Were the questions exceedingly simple and not a challenge to you? Or were they largely over your head?

If you feel you’ve had a bad job interview, you need to ask yourself whether it’s a symptom of you being ill-suited for the job in the first place. Sometimes job interviews convince the perspective employee that they wouldn’t be right for the job, rather than the other way around, and there’s no shame in that. If you think this might have been the case, don’t be afraid to tell the employer so. Thank them for their time, and tell them that, based on the interview, you don’t believe you’d be a good fit for the job at the present time, and explain why. This will let the employer know where they stand and allow them to correct the record if you misunderstood something in the interview.

It Was a Bad Interview, and You Want the Job. Now What?

If you’ve carefully considered what occurred in the interview, and you’ve come to the conclusion that you did indeed perform badly, and further, that you’re still very interested in the job, it’s time to go to work. The first thing to do is to analyze what went wrong.

Ideally, you would have recorded the interview, so you can go back and check your responses to each question. If you don’t have the luxury of a recording, you’ll have to do your best to remember, with the aid of any notes you took. Go back over the questions you answered, and write down all the things you wish you’d said in response to each question. For example, if you were asked to describe one project where you took charge and completed the work in a  unique or outstanding way, and you weren’t able to remember the specifics, take the time to write down everything you can remember, now that you’re not under the gun. Go back through your records and come up with stats to back up your answers. If you feel you need third-party materials, such as a note from your old boss talking about that particular project and what they thought of your work, don’t hesitate to ask for them.

Once you’ve got everything assembled, it’s time to write a thank you/recovery note. This is a way to follow up your bad job interview with concrete examples to back up your less than stellar answers to the interview questions. If the interviewer was otherwise impressed with you but was under whelmed by your answers to a few of the questions, this is your chance to set the record straight and take back the initiative. Put together a concise, hard-hitting letter, using verifiable facts to back up your case wherever you can. When your prospective employer receives the letter, they will know, even if you didn’t show it in the interview, that you very much want the job and further, that you’re uniquely qualified for it.

There are any number of reasons why you can have a bad job interview. Often, it’s not as bad as you thought, and equally often, the interview gives you additional information that convinces you that the job isn’t for you after all. But if you have a bad job interview for a job you really want, writing a timely, fact-filled and enthusiastic recovery letter can show the employer yet again that you are the best person for the job.

1.   Dressing Dreadfully:  According to a Careerbuilder.com survey, the single most common mistake made by candidates in job interviews is inappropriate dress. It’s almost a certainty that you as the candidate will be expected to wear a business suit or other formal dress to the interview. The one exception to this rule can be high-tech companies, where anything other than jeans and flip flops might make you stick out like a sore thumb.

2.   Badmouthing The Boss:   Believe it or not, the second most common mistake made by a job candidate was badmouthing their former boss. How do you think your perspective boss will feel if they hear you harping on your prior boss? They’re going to wonder whether they’ll be the topic of conversation if you should happen to move on to another company in the future. Even if you have excellent reasons to be bitter, don’t do it.

3.  Lack of Excitement:   If you can’t get excited for the job interview, your interviewer will probably figure that you won’t be very enthusiastic while you’re on the job. Sit or stand up straight. Smile! Make sure the interviewer knows how excited you are to be interviewing for this particular job.

4.  Acting Like a Know-It-All:   There’s probably nothing that annoys an interviewer more than an applicant who comes in and is aggressive to the point of arrogance. While it’s very important to engage with your interviewer and ask questions, there’s a fine line between showing interest and monopolizing the conversation to the point where the interviewer can’t get a word in edge-wise. Be sure to let the interviewer finish their sentences, and try not to ramble on when you’re speaking.

5.  Lack of Preparation:  On the other hand, it’s vital that you prepare for a job interview by researching the company and preparing for all the typical questions you’re likely to be asked. If the interviewer asks a question you don’t know the answer to, you’re much better off telling them so than stuttering and mumbling as you grope for an answer.

6.  Not Asking Pertinent Questions:   An interview is a two-way street. You don’t want to ask a bunch of irrelevant questions at a job interview, but you do want to ask pertinent, well-thought-out questions that require more than a yes or no answer.

7.  Late on Arrival:   You never get a second chance… No doubt you’ve heard it before. If you’re going to be late, call and tell the interviewer, the sooner the better. If it’s earlier in the day, ask if you can reschedule for later that day.

8.   Being Inarticulate:   One of the questions you’re almost sure to hear at a job interview is “what are your strengths and weaknesses?” Although it might seem like a simple question, more often than not it’s tough to articulate the answer, so practice. Rehearse the answers you plan to give for questions like this.

9.  Being too General:   When the interviewer asks you a question, do your best to give examples or connections that link your answer to the job under consideration. You’re usually better served with concise, specific answers rather than longer, rambling answers that don’t necessarily apply to the job you’re seeking. 

10.  Asking about Salary : Don’t be too eager to talk salary. While it’s vital not to sell yourself short, you don’t want to make your salary requirements the centerpiece of the interview. If it doesn’t come up during the course of the interview, you can ask about the salary toward the end.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Be Spontaneous

The trouble with a phone interview is that your potential employer can spring one on you at any time, so you must be prepared for the possibility. Here are some telephone interview tips that can prepare you for a spontaneous interview:

• Keep Your Resume Handy: You may need to recall key points at a moment’s notice. Ideally, you’d memorize them, but if that’s not possible, be sure your resume is within easy reach.
• Know Your Stuff: If this is a job you’re really interested in, one of the first things you should do is commit to memory the key facts about the company and the requirements of the job you’re after.
• Keep a Pen in Your Pocket: It’s always a good idea to have a pen and paper handy, just in case you hear something you’ll need to know in the future.
•  Keep Your Cool: Remember, your questioner knows they’re putting you on the spot.  If you’re not sure of an answer, or you need to get your thoughts together, don’t be afraid to take a few deep breaths. It’s better than umm-ing or uhh-ing your way through the interview. This is sound advice for a scheduled phone interview as well.

Be Prepared

If you’ve got some time to prepare, in addition to the above telephone interview tips, try to:

• Keep Hydrated: Phone interviews can be lengthy. You don’t want your voice giving out on you at a critical moment.
• Control Your Environment: If you’re at home, make sure there’s no obnoxious background noise. If you like to walk and talk, make sure you’re not going to encounter a chain saw on your route.
•  Dress for Success: Yes, even for a phone interview. How you dress can affect how you act. Dressing nicely will help you to project confidence over the phone.
• Remember to Smile: Just as dressing can help your confidence, smiling can help your disposition. Keeping a smile on your face will come through in your voice, even if you don’t notice it.

These are some job interview tips that are uniquely tailored to a telephone interview, but you can apply most of them to an ordinary job interview as well. As with any interview, phone interview questions can be all over the map, so be prepared to answer everything from why you’re looking for a job to how you would respond to a challenge. 

If you have time to prepare for a job interview, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to think about how you envision the interview proceeding. Come up with a pitch that sells yourself and presents your unique qualifications for the job. If there are items on your resume that you don’t want to dwell on, think about how you can transition to a positive aspect of your skill set.  Remember, if someone referred you to this position, it never hurts to drop a name.

It takes days to prepare for a job interview, but a phone interview sometimes doesn’t give you that luxury. Hopefully, these telephone interview tips will allow you to avoid potential pitfalls and put your best foot forward during your next phone interview.

Unlike a traditional job interview, an informational interview doesn’t involve a follow up to your resume; an informational interview is far more proactive. Rather than waiting to hear back after you’ve applied for a position and then meeting with members of the Human Resources department, this job interview technique involves identifying the types of companies that you think you would like to work for and the positions that you want to explore and setting up appointments to talk with someone who can give you “the inside scoop.”

Why is looking into this type of interview so beneficial when you are looking for a new position? Here are just a few of the reasons:

* When you are able to sit down with someone who works in a position similar to the one you are looking for, you will be able to learn more about what the job is like – what happens during a typical day, what responsibilities fall on someone with that position, and how busy an average day is.

* By taking advantage of an informational interview, you’ll be able to learn more about how the individual got his or her job – what education, work experience, and interests helped to open the door.

* When you’re able to communicate with someone in a position that interests you, you’re able to learn more about them, about the team they work with, and about why they chose the company that they are working with rather than others in the area.

In other words, when you’re looking for job interview advice and your goal involves learning more about local businesses and the types of positions that interest you, you’ll find that taking the initiative and talking with someone in those roles is a great option. Not only will you be able to learn more about a given job and company, but also you’ll discover additional benefits. You’ll find that:

* If you’re comfortable, you can ask the interviewee to look over your resume or otherwise compare your qualifications to those needed for the position; if you’re looking to break into a new field, this will help you to determine which skills you need to further develop.

* You’re able to make a new contact – someone who may be able to help you later in your job search.

* You have the opportunity to show your interest in the company and the position and to let those on staff learn more about what you have to offer.

While all of those benefits can have a dramatic – and positive – impact on your job search, there’s one more reason to explore this job interview advice. When you look into informational interviews, you also have the opportunity to prepare for future interviews, to learn more about the vocabulary of a given position, and to make sure that you’re exploring options that will ensure that you’re on the right career path.

Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

In other words, when you interview a candidate, you are going to focus on more than just his or her experience and qualifications for the position. You are going to want to focus on the individual’s work habits, whether or not he or she has what it takes to become a great leader within your company and whether or not the candidate is someone who will be a great fit within the environment of your company.

In order to determine whether or not the candidates that you are considering for the position are going to be a great fit for the company, some of the job interview questions that you ask should be focused on the way that the candidate performed in the past. You will want to ask questions such as:

Those job interview questions are going to help you to get a sense of more than just the applicant’s experience. You will be able to get a feel for what he or she finds challenging on the job, how the applicant responds to the expectations of a workplace environment and how he or she feels about working as a member of a team.

These basic questions will help you to determine the candidate’s experience, their level of confidence and, to some extent, what challenges they have faced and how they have dealt with them. The more that you are able to get a feel for how the applicant responds to different situations, the better the position you will be in to explore their work habits and their responses to various situations.

That information will also give you a sense of whether or not the candidate for the job is someone who feels comfortable taking on leadership roles – particularly when you follow with job interview questions that address leadership characteristics:

Not only will these job interview questions help you to get a sense of how others at the candidate’s previous position felt about working with him or her. Addressing these questions will give you perspective. You will be able to focus on the answers given, and to move into questions about how the candidate would perform in various situations within your company.

You will have the opportunity to bring up scenarios that have taken place within the company. You’ll have the chance to ask questions about the way in which the candidate would handle particular tasks that he or she would be faced with and about the way that they would respond to examples of the politics of the office.

What you will find is that, by bringing up day-to-day challenges that may be faced within the office, is a sense of how a given applicant would respond. You will be able to see whether his or her answers are in line with those given about past circumstances – in other words, you are going to find yourself in a position to look at the previous answers given as well.

Unless you are able to ask the right questions during the interview and are able to interpret the answers, it is going to be difficult to determine whether or not a candidate is qualified – however, you are going to want to be sure that you are asking job interview questions that will help you to look at more than just the basics. In other words, you are going to want to be sure that the candidate you choose for the position will not only be qualified but will also prove to be a valuable addition to the team.

Focusing on job interview questions that will help you to build a solid team will help you to ensure that the company continues to succeed and that new leaders continue to emerge.

Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Before the Interview:

Use the 3 P’s – Plan, Prepare, and Practice

1. Prepare for the interview; research the company and prepare questions based on your research.

2. Do mock interviews in order to prepare for all questions, especially uncomfortable ones.

3. Dress professionally even if the company dress code is business casual.

4. Arrive early! (12-15 minutes before the interview)

5. Give your interviewer a firm handshake. A powerful handshake and a genuine smile will get you off to a good start.

6. Beware of your Body Language; sit erect, stand and walk with confidence, lean forward toward the interviewer.

7. Build rapport – use powerful, effective communication techniques.

8. Be a good listener. Answer only what’s asked, in a brief but effective manor.

9. Show enthusiasm and sincere interest. Don’t act desperate.

10. Take notes. You may need to refer to them later in the interview.

11. Communicate your skills, qualifications, credentials and the benefits you offer.

12. Demonstrate your accomplishments; how you improve sales, reduce costs, improve productivity, solve organizational problems, etc.

13. Make eye contact. It demonstrates confidence, trust, and power.

14. If you want the position, ask for it – directly.

After the Interview:

15. Send a follow-up thank you letter. The letter should state what interests you about the position, why you are suitable for the job, and your appreciation for the interviewer’s time.