By, Renee Siemiet, NCMBC, MatchForce Public Relations
Be prepared. This means more than merely making extra copies of your résumé. It means having researched the industry and company, as well as thought about how your skills match the responsibilities of the position, says recruiter and career coach Rick Nelles.
Dress to impress.
Your interview attire should be tastefully simple, clean and wrinkle-free. Forgo trendy for conservative when deciding what to wear.
Be on time.
Being on time for an interview really means arriving at least 15 minutes before your scheduled interview. Not only will your punctuality be noted, the extra time allows you to calm down, focus and review your résumé and notes you prepared for the interview.
Make eye contact.
Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake, warm smile and direct eye contact. Avoiding the gaze of the interviewer can make you appear inexperienced, unsure of yourself and untrustworthy.
Show your enthusiasm.
If you're locked in a dead heat for a job with other candidates, you need to find a way to stand out. "In a tight candidate race, the most enthusiastic almost always gets the job," says Martin Yate, career coach and author of several career advice books, including "Knock 'Em Dead 2007 -- The Ultimate Job Search Guide." Your enthusiasm for the job tells the recruiter you will be a highly-motivated employee.
Demonstrate that you're a team player.
Employers want a team worker who can take direction, Yate advises. No one wants to hire an unmanageable employee. They also are looking for someone who can galvanize a team to work toward a common goal. So give some examples of how you worked together with colleagues to tackle a large project or service an important client.
Sell yourself.
The interview is a sales pitch in a sense. Have a list of things you want to make sure the interviewer knows about you and be ready to bring specific topics up on your own if they are not adequately touched on in the interview.
Be honest.
You should never stretch the truth on your résumé or during the interview. Today's technology makes fact checking far reaching and lightning quick. Remember, companies are looking to fill a position, not hand out the Nobel Peace Prize. You don't have to be a Renaissance man (or woman), just the right person for the job.
Act professionally.
You would think this goes without saying, but candidates often need to be reminded not to chew gum, slouch or steer the conversation too far off work-related themes. Sit up straight and conduct yourself with a professional demeanor at all times.
Ask questions.
An interview is meant to be a fact-finding mission for both the interviewer and the interviewee. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the responsibilities of the job, clients or projects. In fact, it is to your detriment to be completely passive and reactive in an interview. If you do not engage the interviewer, you appear weak and ineffective.
Say "thank you."
Close the interview with another firm handshake, a "thank you" and a smile. Ask when they will be making their decision and if you should follow-up. Later, send a note or e-mail thanking the interviewer for the time spent and letting them know you are interested in the position and will contact them again soDave Stanford, executive vice president of client services for contingency and contract staffing firm Winter, Wyman Companies suggests asking:
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* What do you see ahead for your company in the next five years? |
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* How do you see the future for this industry? |
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* What do you consider to be your firm's most important assets? |
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* What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth? |
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* How do you rate your competition? |
The position's history
Asking about why the position is vacant can provide insight into the company and the potential for dvancement. According to Annie Stevens and Greg Gostanian, managing partners at executive and career development firm ClearRock, good questions include:
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* What happened to the last person who held this job? |
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* What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job? |
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* What types of skills do you NOT already have onboard that you're looking to fill with a new hire? |
The department
Asking about your department's workers and role in the company can help you understand more about the company's culture and hierarchy. Stanford suggests asking:
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* What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit the structure? |
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* What are the career paths in this department? |
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* What have been the department's successes in the last couple of years? |
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* How do you view your group/division/department? |
The job's responsibilities
To avoid any confusion later on, it pays to gain a solid understanding of the position. FGP International's Eddie Payne recommends inquiring:
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* What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job? |
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* What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position? |
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* Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company? |
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* Could you describe a typical day or week in this position? The typical client or customer I would be dealing with? |
The expectations
To determine how and when you will evaluated, Payne recommend advises asking:
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* What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months? |
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* What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months? |
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* How will I be evaluated at XYZ company, and how often? |
The next steps
At the end of the interview, don't forget to ask:
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* What are the next steps in the interview process? |
It happens all the time: A candidate looks perfect on paper, but once he opens his mouth in the interview, the hiring manager can't wait to hustle him out the door.
Even the most well-prepared, intelligent job seeker can turn into a bumbling mess once anxiety enters the equation. Nerves can't be avoided -- but some of the most common interview mistakes can.
Timing is everything
Getting to the interview is never as simple as expected. If you need to be there promptly at 8 a.m., you can bet there will be snow, gridlocked traffic or a complete meltdown of your city's public transportation system.
Since you can't precisely predict your commute time, leave as early as you can.
"It may be only five minutes to you, but showing up late for an interview is inappropriate," says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, principal of Northampton, Mass.-based Human Resource Solutions.
"Do what you have to do to get out the door early," she says. "Worst-case scenario: You sit in the parking lot and listen to your iPod until it's time to go in."
Clothes make the (wo)man
If punctuality is important, dressing appropriately is downright crucial. Hiring managers complain that candidates come to interviews dressed in T-shirts, jeans and flip-flops.
"Research the company dress code and dress one level above company policy," suggests Dawn Gill, district director of Spherion Staffing Services in the Southeast.
"If you find the company dress code is business casual, for example, then plan to wear dress slacks or a skirt and blouse," she says. "If the company code is casual, plan to dress at the business-casual level -- which may mean khakis or other comfortable slacks or skirts paired with proper shirts."
If you have any doubt what clothing will be appropriate, wear a suit. And remember: While taking care of your appearance is a good thing, vanity can work against you.
"During the interview process, I've had a few candidates adjust their hair in the reflection in the window behind my desk -- sometimes they check themselves out three, four, five times," laments Greg Wilson, vice president of Levick Strategic Communications in Washington, D.C.
"Vanity does not become anyone in the interview process," he says. "Get it together before you show up. Otherwise I'll think you've never met a mirror you didn't like."
The company does what?
Your preparation shouldn't stop with your wardrobe. Never walk into an interview without at least a working knowledge of the company, its products and its industry.
"An interviewer will often ask, 'What do you know about our business, firm, company, etc.?'" says Ellen Yerman, executive director of career services and cooperative education at Villa Julie College in Stevenson, Md.
"If the candidate stares blankly or gives a very broad answer, they already have an uphill battle to win the enthusiasm and support of their interviewer," she says. "The solution, of course, is research, research, research."
The night before the interview, visit the company's Web site and pore over its financial statements, press releases and corporate mission.
A little too revealing
"What do you know about the company?" isn't the only question throwing job seekers off course. Unfortunately, many nervous job seekers begin rambling when confronted with a tough question, revealing potentially negative information about their skills or character.
"Usually it's the most sensitive questions where people don't know where to stop," says Diane Wilson, a Chicago career and executive coach and author of "Back in Control: How to stay sane, productive and inspired in your career transition."
These tricky questions include: "Why did you leave your last job?", "What are your strengths and weaknesses?", and "Tell me about yourself."
"The best thing to do is to write out your answers and do some inner preparation," Wilson says.
It's not just what you say
The smoothest talkers could still wind up in trouble.
"Even if you say all the right things, your body language can send the wrong message," says Erika Weinstein, president and co-founder of Stephen-Bradford Executive Search.
Tapping your pen and fiddling with papers signal to the employer that you are nervous, she says. Slouching and leaning back indicate disinterest.
"Always remember to smile," Weinstein says. "Friendliness is crucial. Remember, if they have invited you for an interview they already believe you have the right skills, and what they are really trying to decide is if they want to work with you each day."
| Q: "What are your weaknesses?" |
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"Don't take this literally and go into a detailed explanation of your weaknesses," says John Challenger, CEO of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. He advises taking a potential weakness and putting a positive spin on it. |
| A: "I am very detail oriented and in some industries that may not be a good fit. But for this accounting position, I think this trait truly will help me excel." |
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| Q: "How would you solve this problem?" |
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Challenger says that these kinds of hypothetical questions can be risky. First of all, they may not like your answer; if they do like it, there's a chance they will steal it. That's what happened to June Sullivan when she interviewed for an activity director's position at a long-term care facility. When asked about marketing ideas, June laid out her entire plan. Well, she didn't get the job, but later recognized some of her strategies being used by the facility. |
| A: "I think you can increase product awareness by enacting some marketing strategies that could employ advertising, direct mail or media placements." |
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| Q: "Why did you leave your last job?" |
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Again, Challenger suggests presenting everything in a positive light. An interview is not the time to dish the dirt on your previous employer. |
| A: "The company just wasn't a good fit for my innovative personality. But what I learned is that organizations have distinct personalities just like people do. Now I know to concentrate my job search on companies who value independent thinking and alternative methods." |
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| Q: "Why do you want to work here?" |
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Questions like these require you to do your homework before the interview. |
| A: "I want to be a part of a global company that last year alone invested $1.4 million in research and development of eco-friendly industrial processes." |
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| Q: "Tell me about yourself." |
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This is a chance for you to shine -- but not to tell your life history. Begin by listing your traits and accomplishments you feel are relevant for the position. Don't delve into personal information unless it relates to the position you're vying for. |
| A: "I am very creative and resourceful. I have been a sales manager for the past five years and used my creativity to devise unique incentives to keep the sales representatives motivated. Because of this my sales team earned numerous company awards." |
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| Q: "Tell me about the worst boss you ever had." |
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Take the high road and don't give into the temptation to vent any past frustrations. |
| A: "While none of my past bosses were awful, there are some who taught me more than others did." |
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| Q: "What are your goals?" |
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This is best answered by reiterating your objective statement on your resume. Keep your aspirations to be a vice president of marketing, own your own company or retire at 40 to yourself. |
| A: "I want to secure a civil engineering position with a national firm that concentrates on retail development. Ideally, I would like to work for a young company, such as this one, so I can get in on the ground floor and take advantage of all the opportunities a growing firm has to offer." |
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