Many candidates ask us how to prepare for their job interview.
Below are some basic tips that might be helpful to review:
1) Research the company. Look at the
company website.
Prepare interesting questions.
2) Dress for success. Although, many
companies are business
casual these days, it’s still important to dress appropriately
for an interview. For men, that means wearing a dark suit and
a tie. For women, that means wearing a nice business dress or
a business suit with a skirt.
3) If you have not interviewed in a
while, buy a book on
interviewing. Go over sample questions and think about your
answers. You don’t want to sound overly rehearsed, but
you
don’t want to be rusty either.
4) Make sure you know where the interview
is. Practice driving
to the facility, if necessary, so you know how much time
it will take to
get there. Arrive early. If you are late, make sure to apologize
to the hiring manager, and explain why. It's almost guaranteed that you won't get a job offer if you arrive late,
so do everything possible to be on time.
5) Make sure you make eye contact in
the interview. Shake the
interviewer’s hand. Sit up straight, and look interested
during
the discussion. Don’t fiddle or fidget. Do not use slang
during the interview. Be professional, serious and polite.
6) It should go without saying that you should not bring
friends or parents, and that iPods should be put safely
away.
Cell phones should be put on silent.
7) Answer
the interviewer’s questions with demonstrated
accomplishments. Many employers train their managers in
behavior based interviewing techniques. That means they
want specifics on demonstrated accomplishments. Therefore,
don’t answer questions with just a yes or no answer. Don’t
dodge the question. However, don’t ramble on and on as
well. For sales people, be prepared to discuss your quota and
your attainment against your quotas. Speak in a clear voice.
8) Be truthful. Never mislead or lie about your
credentials, but
make sure you make the most of your background. You
should not leave an interview without the potential employer
knowing about an important accomplishment that you think
relates to the position you’re discussing.
9) Answer salary questions directly. Too many candidates
are
vague about their salary and that is an immediate turn-off to
potential employers. If you have flexibility in your salary
requirements, state that. Don’t go in asking about benefits
and stating what you need before you will accept a job.
You’ll end up not getting an offer if you make demands right
up front.
10) Ask for the job before you leave. Thank the
interviewer for
their time as well. Shake their hand and ask when you will
hear from them next. Ask for their business card. Follow-up
with a brief and polite thank you via e-mail.
_____________________
Additional job hunting tips:
1) Just in case it's not obvious, you should remove any compromising photos or posts from the
internet, MySpace, Facebook, etc. Employers are hiring investigators to see what potential employees have posted on their
websites.
2) Make sure you have a professional sounding message on your voice mail. Take off any crazy lyrics or
raunchy rap music from your cell phone answering system.
3) Use polite e-mail addresses. JakeTheDrunk@yahoo does not sound very professional, and yes real people have lost jobs because of it.
