Interview Tips

Interview Routine Before the Interview During the Interview Preparing for the Interview Preparing for the Phone Interview Preparing for Questions Sample Interview Questions Questions to Ask Employers Follow Up Top Skills Desired by Employers Your Body Language Sends Signals What You Wear Is Important

When you register with SmartTalent®, make sure to ask for your free copy of HIRE ME! Secrets of Job Interviewing. You can learn the Secrets behind the game of interviewing to get the job of your dreams. Whether you have just started looking for a new job or are frustrated with your search this book should help.

Be familiar with the standard interviewing routine. A typical interview consists of three segments:

1. The ice-breaking period is the opportunity to make your first impression, and sets the tone for the interview. Some Human Resources professionals say it takes 20 seconds to form an opinion of the candidate, and the rest of the interview to confirm it.
   
   
2. The body of the interview is an information exchange. The interviewer tells you about the company and the particular position, and then asks you questions about yourself. You can use this portion of the interview to volunteer information, as well as ask questions about the position.
   
   
3. The closing is your chance to reiterate your interest in the position, and find out the next step. Ask if they will call you or if you should call them.

• Preparation is the key to successful interviewing.
• Research the position and the organization.
• Be sure you understand the position for which you are
  applying.
• Do a thorough self-evaluation of your skills. Be prepared to
  demonstrate how you can benefit the organization.

• Arrive at least 5 minutes early.
• Be yourself.
• Be positive, speak slowly and pause before answering.
• Be prepared with extra copies of your resume.
• Be courteous to everyone you meet: receptionists,
  secretaries and others.
• Meet the interviewer with a firm handshake, a friendly smile
  and a polite greeting.
• Be confident, poised, show interest and enthusiasm.
• Be professional and use professional language.
• Use body language to show interest (appropriate posture
  and eye contact).
• Ask about follow-up procedures and collect a business card.
• Remember to breathe and smile!

No matter what you have done, no matter where you went to school, no matter how much experience you have, if you don't know how to interview you won't get the job. In today's economy with so many people vying for the same job, the small things can mean the difference between getting the job or not getting the job. What are the most common mistakes made during an interview? Following are some helpful insights to help you get the job you want.

• Late to the interview. Make sure you're at your interview and ready at least 8 minutes prior to the start of your interview. Leave your children, with your spouse, at home, with friends, or with family, anywhere but in the lobby of the potential employer.
  
  
• Underestimating the influence of a company employee. Rather than seeing this individual as someone who is unimportant, view him/her as someone who may have influence - however small - with the hiring manager.
  
  
• Failure to express appreciation for the interviewer's time. Shake their hand. Make sure you give them a firm one and look them in the eye.
  
  
• No rÈsumÈ or poor quality. Make sure you have a clean crisp copy to present.
  
  
• Poor personal appearance. Make sure you are dressed appropriately. A common mistake is dressing for multiple activities for the day. If you want the job, take your interview seriously. Don't schedule other activities too close to your interview.
  
  
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm: passive and indifferent. Prepare for the interview and have questions to ask during the interview. You don't want to appear as if you have no interest in the company or industry.
  
  
• Endless answers. Try to be concise with your answers and refrain from talking too much about personal matters.
  
  
• Over emphasis on money. Be careful when talking about money and benefits during the first interview. They may think that you are not interested in the job/company, but only in the money offered.
  
  
• Condemnation of past employers or supervisors. You may come across as inflexible, uncompromising, or a complainer. A potential employer may not want to think that some day he/she will be viewed in that same light.
  
  
• Inability to express self clearly: poor voice diction or grammar. When responding to a tough question, take a minute to formulate your response. Don't make excuses, be evasive or hedge on unfavorable factors in your work history.
  
  
• Lack of courtesy. Don't forget your manners. Turn off your cell phone or beeper.
  
  
• Sloppy application or blank spaces. Make sure your paperwork is neat and that all of the questions or sections are completed. You may be viewed as someone with poor attention to detail skills.
  
  
• Wants job for short time. An employer may not want to invest their time and money if they think you are only going to be there a short time.
  
  
• Lack of planning for career: no purpose and goals. Always be prepared to answer this question. You don't want to be seen as someone who is just floating through life. It doesn't have to be thought provoking so don't pontificate too much.
  
  
• No follow-up after the interview. When the interview is over, make sure you get the person's business card and e-mail. You will want to send them a note thanking them for their time. You may want to follow-up later with information you feel will support your case that you are the right person for the job. Follow-up when appropriate by phone to check and see what the next step is.
  

Telephone interviews are often used in the selection process as a result of a rÈsumÈ you have submitted. They are usually done to speed up the selection process and are usually conducted by one person. Your preparation should be just as thorough as for a face-to-face interview, but extra with the advantage that you can use notes.

When conducting a telephone interview, it helps to remember that the other person cannot see your personality or body language. Instead, you will be relying on your voice to convey your qualities.

At the end of the telephone interview, take the initiative for moving the interview from the telephone to a commitment to meet. You could say: This opportunity sounds very interesting, and I know I could use my (mention either skills or background). When can we get together?

In preparing for your phone interview, there are several things you can do. To prepare for an unexpected contact:

• Tape your rÈsumÈ to a wall in view of the phone. It will be there for the call and will be a constant reminder for your job search.
• Keep all of your employer research materials within easy reach of the phone.
• Have a notepad handy to take notes.
• Keep a mirror nearby (you will see why in the next few pages).

If the phone interview is to occur at a set time, there are additional steps you can take:

• Place a "Do Not Disturb" note on your door.
• Turn off your stereo, TV, and any other potential distraction.
• Warm up your voice while waiting for the call. Sing an uplifting song to yourself.
• Have a glass of water handy, since you will not have a chance to take a break during the call.
• Speaking of breaks, if your phone interview is at a set time, make sure you answer nature's call first.
• Turn off call waiting on your phone.
• Write down the interviewer's name, telephone number and e-mail. Ask permission to call them back if you have any additional questions. Don't forget to follow-up and thank them for their time.

The Stand and Deliver Technique
Here is a simple technique to increase the enthusiasm and positive image that you project over the telephone: stand up. Whenever you are talking with a potential employer on the phone, stand up. It gets your blood flowing, improves your posture, and improves your response time.

The Vanity Technique
In preparation for a telephone interview (or any telephone contact), try having a mirror within view. Why? Because you will want to look into that mirror consistently throughout the phone call and smile. You will improve your telephone presence 110 percent just by using this simple technique. You will find yourself coming across much friendlier, more interested, and more alert. If you are at all self-conscious about seeing yourself in the mirror, you can use the mirror as an occasional checkpoint. But for most of us, seeing oneself reflected back gives us the kind of feedback necessary to make instant modification toward a more positive presence.

• List 2-3 functional skills you have to offer.
• Find unique skills to talk about with the employer.
• Think about 1 or 2 weaknesses and how you are working to
  overcome them.
• Know the information on your resume.
• Review your work and extra-curricular experience and find
  ways to relate it to the position for which you are applying.
• Listen attentively to the questions.
• Ask for clarification when you don't understand a question.
• Prepare for open-ended as well as factual questions.
• Give complete answers and use specific examples whenever
  possible.
• Be prepared to describe specific successes from your
  background that demonstrate how you can contribute to the
  organization's continued success.
• Don't be negative about previous bosses, employers or
  companies.
• Be prepared with questions to ask the employer.

• Tell me about yourself.
• What can you do for us?
• What are your short-term goals? Long-term goals?
• What motivates you?
• Why are you changing fields?
• How do you define cooperation?
• How do you define success?
• How well do you work under pressure?
• What is your greatest strength? Greatest weakness?
• What are your most important accomplishments thus far
  in your career?
• Could you have done more in your last/present job?
• What do you know about our company?
• In what way do you feel you can make the biggest
  contribution to this firm?
• What suggestions have you offered former employers that
  were actually adopted?
• What would you do to improve this firm?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• What did you like best about your last/present job?
• Give an example of your:
  ócreativity? óadaptability? óanalytical skills?
  innovative abilities? óleadership skills?
• What direct supervisory experience have you had?
• How do you interact with subordinates?
• How do you motivate people?
• What are your thoughts regarding promotion for yourself?
  For your subordinates?
• How did you get along with your last boss?
• How would you describe the "ideal" boss?
• Is your present/past income commensurate with your
  abilities? What salary range are you expecting?

• Why is the position available?
• What are your company's growth plans?
• What outside influences affect your company's growth?
• What are some common traits of your successful
  employees?
• What are some characteristics of your company that make
  it attractive?
• What is the greatest challenge facing your staff
  (department) now?
• What types of assignments may I expect the first six
  months on the job?
• What type of training is available?
• Why do you enjoy working for this company?
• Is relocation likely or required?
• What are your expectations for new hires?
• How will the person who accepts this position be
  evaluated? By whom?
• Do you have a detailed description of the position for
  which I am being considered?
• When can I expect to hear from you?

• Take a moment to make some notes after each interview
  and record your impressions and thoughts.
• Follow up with a thank you letter within 1-2 days.
• Forward any requested materials promptly.
• Be persistent and maintain an optimistic outlook. Employers
  will assume you can perform the job successfully.
• Follow-up! Again!

Right now, you might be asking yourself, "What is it going to take for me to land a good job?

In today's workplace it takes more than just showing up for work to get a job. What are companies looking for today?

You stand a better chance of getting hired by any company if you demonstrate these characteristics. Temporary assignments often result in full-time employment. There's no better way to get to know a variety of companies that could become potential suitors. Note what you like or don't like about each job. By playing the field, you find out what's available, and can weed out careers that won't make you happy. You'll also have the opportunity to make a good impression on companies that may make a commitment and hire you on a full-time basis in the future. SmartTalent® can help by putting you and keeping you in front of companies that look for these qualities and attitudes.

For all the power your words provide you should know that your body language says things you might not be aware of - or mean - at all. These signals send messages to interviewers, who often look for such signs.

• Eye Contact - It could be something as simple as shyness, but if you don't look directly at people, they may think you are shifty and distrusting
• Hands Behind the Head - You're probably just stretching or relaxing, but it looks like you don't care.
• Fingers Under the Chin - This is probably just a listening habit, but you appear skeptical and superior. Remember how the principal looked at you when you were called into the office.
• Arms Folded in Front of the Body - You cold be cold or simply accustomed to sitting like that, but you appear unreceptive and closed-minded.
• Fiddling with a Tie, Scarf or Pen - This action makes you look unsure of yourself. Check your attire and materials before the interview and then relax.
• Nail Biting - Once again, this could be childhood habit, but it is interpreted as fear, nervousness or panic.
• Swinging or Tapping Feet - Your way of relaxing or copying in a situation can make you appear hurried and uninterested.
• Handshakes Are Important - A handshake can secure - or lose - a job. Some of the most frequently asked questions about the handshake are:
  • Should I extend my hand first?
    Wait for the interviewer to extend a hand first.
  • Should a Man wait for a woman to extend a hand first?
    Those days are gone. Wait for the interviewer to extend a hand first.
  • Should I move my hand up and down a few times when shaking?
    No, it is not necessary to pump the arm, but a firm grip is important.
  • How hard should I squeeze?
    Learn the answer to this one by trying - shake hands with a few people and ask them.

Handshakes are so important; some of them have actually been named.

• The Dead Mackerel suggest a weak personality.
• The Bone Crusher is too aggressive.
• The two-handed Sandwich is too personal for business.
• The Grabber, in which you grab the arm while shaking the hand, is too personal for a first meeting.

Now that you are frozen stiff, afraid to move for fear of insulting someone, relax. The bottom-line is this: The person who exudes confidence, walks tall, looks you in the eye, has a firm handshake, and keeps the body movement minimal is most often trusted and accepted and usually gets the offer.

• The days of "Don't wear red," "black is power" are over. The one thing that has not changed is that wearing faddy, wild, large print and non-conservative clothing never works.
• Don't wear clothes that are too tight, too revealing, out of style or trendy.
• Details matter! It's the little things about your outfit (pins, pearls, scarves etc.) that reflect your professional image.
• Avoid anything soiled or that wrinkles easily.
• Don't wear skirts or slacks that are too short. Skirts should be down to the knee and slacks should touch the top of the shoes.
• Tennis shoes, sandals or shoes with straps are inappropriate. Make sure your shoes are polished.
• Don't wear socks or nylons with holes or runs.
• Keep nails short, clean and manicured.
• Two squirts of perfume or aftershave is enough.
• Avoid too much jewelry.
• Your hair should be clean and conservatively cut.

Most people think you have to be wealthy to look professional. What you really need is style. When shopping for the perfect interview outfit, just remember that you don't create a successful wardrobe by buying clothes you like, you do it by investing in clothing you love.