Top 10
Candidate Interviewing Tips
Remember you are selling an
overall package: "Yourself". For you to be successful you need to know
"Who you are", "What skill sets are important", and
"Why a company should hire YOU over any other candidates." Put together what we call a two
minute talk about yourself so it is fresh for the interview. You will want to
relay this information to the Interviewer smoothly and concisely.
1. Be Prepared
Interview preparation is one of the
most important aspects of a successful job search. Before each interview, Hire
Consulting Services will provide you with coaching and detailed information on the
company and the available position. However, you should also be prepared to:
·
Conduct your own research on the
company. Utilize the Internet, get the URL (Web-Site) of the company and study
them thoroughly. Understand the history, products and services offered,
competition, mission statement, financial performance, recent press releases,
etc.
·
Think over your accomplishments,
skills and experience and how they will benefit the company. Write these down,
make some notes, know what you want to say.
·
Be able to explain your past career
moves and why you are interested in making another change. Make sure your
career-move explanations show foresight and planning.
·
Avoid making negative remarks about
your previous job or manager. This will only hurt your chances of getting
hired. Don't be bitter. Be professional.
2.
Make
a Good First Impression
Our research shows that initial
impressions are made within the first minute of an employment interview. You can
make a positive first impression if you:
·
Bring a fresh copies of your resume.
Your resume should be outstanding.
·
Bring a smart attaché case or a professional binder and a fine
quality pen. By all means, take notes during the interview.
·
Start the interview with good eye
contact and maintain it throughout the interview. Eye contact is key. You will
benefit greatly from looking them in the eye.
·
Wear professional business attire,
preferably a dark blue, gray or black suit with understated accessories and
jewelry. Use good judgment if corporate dress code is business casual. When in
doubt - ask what's appropriate.
·
Make sure your clothing is
meticulously clean and color coordinated. Shoes polished.
·
Create a more polished appearance by
being well groomed with neat hair and nails (go ahead and treat yourself to a
haircut or a manicure before the interview).
·
Make sure you have a firm handshake.
3. Be Enthusiastic and Confident in Your
Abilities
Being enthusiastic about your work,
the company and its projects shows the interviewer that you are a viable
candidate. During the interview:
·
Be confident about your abilities but
not egotistical. The "I can do everything" approach will not score you
any points.
·
Don't be afraid to give detailed
information about HOW
you can contribute when responding to questions. Make sure you
answer with more than just a yes or no. Respond to a question with information
or possibly a follow up question.
·
Whenever possible, anticipate
questions and be ready with answers. Some examples of this are: (Know that
these are coming...)
Q: Tell me about yourself?
A: Very open ended question so try
and find out more what the interviewer wants to discuss, then touch upon points that emphasize your background. Should include interest, hobbies, and kind of
work you enjoy. Keep it 2 minutes max. If you are prepared you will be
able to do this smoothly and concisely.
Q: Why are you looking to change jobs? and Why should we consider
you for the job?
A: Make sure you have logical
business reasons why you are making a change and why you left your previous
employers. (more $$ doesn't cut it). Ideally
to advance your skills or position.
Note:
When you claim a skill, back it up with
on-the-job examples
by
"how"
you did it
and be persuasive.
4. Emphasize your Strengths
Almost every interview follows a
basic pattern with the person conducting the interview trying to determine your
strengths and weaknesses. You'll want to:
·
Talk about your strengths in terms of
teamwork and projects you are proud to have worked on. Bring up your biggest
accomplishments and where you have made the greatest impact, but most importantly
explain HOW you did it.
·
Project strength of character and
strong work ethics (i.e.: goal oriented, flexible, committed, persistent,
self-motivated, ambitious, hardworking, finish projects on time and on budget,
good listener, dedicated, intelligent, multi-tasking, work-well under pressure).
·
Address the interviewer's chief
concerns (i.e. if an HR Manager conducts the interview you might want to
emphasize your interpersonal skills. On the other hand, if you are interviewed
by a Technical Manager you might want to emphasize your technical skills)
5.
Turn Weaknesses into Strengths
Employers look for people who know
their own limitations and are interested in self-improvement. Mention a weakness
and then stress its positive aspect, e.g., "I don't like to be over
supervised, because I have a great deal of initiative, and I like to anticipate
problems before they even arise."
6. Ask Great Questions
It is important for you to leave the
interview with a good understanding of the position and company. You are
interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Your goal is to make a
good career decision. Therefore, make a list of great questions to ask during the interview,
such as:
·
What are the responsibilities of this
position, and what are the most important?
·
What are the top 5-6 critical
objectives that need to be accomplished by the person that gets this job during
the first 6 to 12 months in order for you to feel you made the right choice?
(Important: Take good notes and respond accordingly to this answer throughout
the interview)
·
Why is this position open?
Replacement or expansion?
·
What didn't the last person
accomplish that needed to be done? and What were the obstacles?
·
What are the limits of my
responsibility and authority?
·
What problems and opportunities are
associated with this position?
·
What are the goals of this company
and department?
·
What support is available for me to
meet these goals?
·
Are there any projects currently in
motion?
What is their history and status?
·
What type of training and support do you provide?
·
What criteria is used for performance
reviews?
7. Don't Discuss Salary
If you state a salary figure that is
too low or too high, you may not be considered for the position at all. Let your
recruiter negotiate the best possible compensation package for you, it is absolutely
essential that you do not state salary requirements. Instead:
·
Focus on the opportunity and say you
prefer to leave the question of salary open for now.
·
Tell them what you are currently
earning and that you are negotiable. "I know you will make me a fair offer
based on what ever the market will bear."
8. Ask for the Job
The close of the interview provides
a chance to sum up your qualifications and ask for the job. You can use this
opportunity to:
·
Ask the interviewer how well your
qualifications fit the company's needs. "How do my qualifications fit the
position you are looking for." This makes the employer evaluate your
background right there and now. You can then cover anything missed.
·
Address anything that was missed to
reinforce your candidacy. Clear up any employer concerns or confusion before the
end of the meeting.
·
Express interest in the position and
a desire to proceed to the next step of the hiring process. " I am very
interested in this position because (try and mention some reasons) and I look forward to working with you in the
future. Who else do I need to meet with to help with your decision."
· You
can get some instant feedback from the interviewer by asking "How you rank
with the other people they have already interviewed?" Be quiet, and
listen to the response.
In most cases, their answer will indicate how well you just did during the
interview.
9. Write a
Thank You Note After the
Interview
This simple courtesy goes a long way
towards making a favorable impression. Your personal, handwritten note should:
·
Always thank the interviewer for
their time
·
Reiterate your interest in the
company
· Re-state your abilities to make an immediate contribution
·
Letter should be brief and well
written
10. Read a Book
There are many good books to help
you better understand the interview process and give an edge over the
competition. We recommend:
·
"Rites of Passage" by John Lucht
·
"What Color Is Your
Parachute" by Richard Bolles
·
"Dress for Success" by John
Molloy
·
"Knock 'em Dead" by Martin
Yate
Hopefully these tips help you do a
better job on your interviews. We can not stress enough how important it is to
be prepared and we want to help you do your best. Please pass these on to a
friend. We know it will help.
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