JOB INTERVIEW
PREPARATION
 |
"It
is not the person who
is most
qualified
that gets the job.
The
person who gets the job
is the one
who
interviews best."
-EDWARD SULLIVAN
|
GRAD SCHOOL
n
CAREER PLANNING
n
COLLEGE TO CAREER
n
CAREER EXPLORATION
JOB MARKET
n
JOB SEARCH
n
INTERVIEW PREP
n
RESUME WRITING
n
WORKPLACE ISSUES
Click Here for Grad School Fair Info
INTERVIEW PROCESS
Candidates who know what
to expect in the interview process and who devote
adequate time and effort to their interview preparation are more
confident and therefore more successful. Candidates who pay attention to
the details of their presentation and who are aware of the psychological
and subjective factors of the interview process typically get more job
offers.
A job
interview is not an inquisition or a confrontation. It is not an
interrogation or a police line-up. A job interview is a presentation, a
performance, an audition. It is a conversation, a discussion, an
exchange of information. To be successful with a job interview means
putting your "best self" forward. Preparing for an interview involves
sharpening your communication skills, maintaining a positive attitude,
emphasizing your best attributes, and creating a good first impression.
 |
GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Interview
Process
Interview Preparation
Interview Preparation Checklist
Google: Interview Advice
About: Interviewing and Networking
Job Interview Network
Job Interview Tips
So You Wanna Ace the Job Interview?
Quint Careers: Job Interview
Tutorial
College Grad: Interview Info
Job Web: Resumes and Interviews
About: Acing the Interview
Employment Guide: Tips to Make Your
Job Interview Successful
Northstar Jobs: Interview
Preparation Checklist
SHU: Interview Preparation Checklist
Trusty Guides: Interview Preparation
Checklist
Interview Prep: Body Language
Video
Seminar: Interview Skills
Video Clip: Interview Tips (Part 1)
Video Clip: Interview Tips (Part 2)
Video Clip: Interview Tips (Part 3)
YouTube: Tell Me About Yourself
INTERVIEW
SKILLS
"I've met individuals who have saved
lives, built nations, or unlocked
the mysteries of the universe...
and the most easily observable
thread which connected these persons
was their ability to present well in
a job interview."
-WINSTON CHURCHILL
The
goal of a good job interview is to
get a job offer. No job offer...
no job. The interview is the last
stage of your job search. It is the
most vital prerequisite to getting
the job. Your efforts up to this
point have won you this
invitation... this opportunity...
this chance. You have successfully
grabbed the attention of an employer
who has decided it is time to see
you in person. The employer has
some idea that you might be
qualified for the job, otherwise he
would not be committing valuable
time to seeing you.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The
interviewer, quickly realizing that
he or she is in the spotlight and
positioned centerstage, might feel
somewhat intimidated and
self-conscious. However, a job
interview is not an inquisition or a
confrontation. It is not an
interrogation or a police line-up.
A job interview is a presentation, a
performance, an audition. It is a
conversation, a discussion, an
exchange of information.
To
be successful with a job interview
means putting your "best self"
forward. Preparing for an interview
involves sharpening your
communication skills, maintaining a
positive attitude, emphasizing your
best attributes, and creating a good
first impression.
Stress your skills, abilities and
strengths. Clearly communicate your
accomplishments and achievements.
"The core message about interviewing
is that you have to do a good job of
selling yourself. Through your
appearance, demeanor, and the way
you answer questions, you have to
convince the interviewer that you
possess the skills and personal
attributes necessary to be
successful in the job."
-MAX MESSMER
"You may already have an idea of
what an interview is like. Some
people break out in a cold sweat
thinking about it. The truth is,
interviews are not that scary. An
interview is not intended to be a
one-sided interrogation, where the
interviewer is waiting for you to
make a mistake... An interview is
nothing more than a meeting between
two people who are exploring a
possible working relationship.
Afterall, sitting across the desk
from you is not a company, it's a
person."
-BRADLEY RICHARDSON
"Throughout the job interview, the
successful candidate will seek to
project an acceptable image to the
interviewer. Since the process is
subjective and personal, all
preparation in this regard involves
five simple principles... be
respectful... be relevant... be
confident... be positive... be
genuine."
-MICHAEL LEBEAU
|
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GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Interview
Attire
About: Dressing for the Interview
About: Dressing for Success
Work Tree: Dress for Success
Quint Careers: Dress for Success
Tie a Tie
Virginia Tech Tips: Interview Attire
College Grad: Dressing for Interview
Success
Career Builder: Dressing for the Job
Interview
E-How: How to Dress for the Job
Interview
Quint Careers: What Should Women
Wear to a Job Interview
Tek Systems: Interview Attire for
Men
Discovery Center: How to Dress for a
Job Interview
Cliff Notes: Dress the Part
Video: Dressing for the Job
Interview
Interview
Prep: Researching Companies
BE RESPECTFUL
Arrive on time. Be punctual.
Better yet, arrive early. Treat
everyone you encounter as part of
the interview process... secretary,
receptionist, assistants, other
employees.
While waiting for the interviewer,
do something that looks relevant.
Read any company literature that
might be available. Don't fidget.
Don't pace. Don't look at your
watch. Act cool, calm, collected
and confident.
Greet the interviewer properly.
Address the interviewer by correct
title. Introduce yourself. Shake
hands firmly. Be aware of body
language... posture, gestures,
mannerisms. Be positive. Be
confident. Be energetic. Be
alert. Maintain good eye contact.
Listen carefully. Wait to be
seated. Be careful with small
talk. Display proper decorum and
protocol.
"When it's job-hunting time, then
you're going to have to begin to pay
some heavy attention to the
importance of professional images.
You're going to have to make
absolutely certain that you put your
best foot forward. You're going to
have to learn to sell yourself, to
show your strengths and to believe
in yourself."
-EDWARD GOOD
|
 |
"A
job interview is a business meeting
between a job candidate and one or
more interviewers. The purpose is
to determine whether a match exists
between what the company requires
and what the candidate offers."
-JOHN LA FEVRE
|
BE RELEVANT
Put
yourself in the employer's shoes.
Keep focused on what you can do for
the employer rather than what the
employer can do for you. Keep in
mind the specific needs and
interests of the employer. Address
the issues that you know the
employer cares the most about. Make
your comments employer-centered
rather than self-centered. Speak
the employer's language. Be sure all
your statements answer the most
important employer question: "What
can you do for me?"
BE CONFIDENT
Your goal is to sell the interviewer
on the fact that you are the best
person for the job. You have to
persuade and convince the
interviewer. You have to win him
over. A job interview is no time to
be humble or shy.
Be
confident without being cocky. Show
your stuff without showing off.
Emphasize your good points without
bragging. Be assertive without
being aggressive or overbearing. Be
positive without being presumptuous.
Make a conscious effort to use the
interviewer's name (title & last
name) from time to time as you speak
during the interview.
Phrase your statements so that you
sound sure of yourself. Speak
clearly and grammatically, using
good diction and good articulation.
Give specific examples. Provide
supportive evidence. When you talk
about your skills and experience,
use strong, supportive words. Offer
examples of accomplishments.
Support your claims with
illustrations, descriptions,
statistics and testimonials.
BE POSITIVE
Throughout the interview, your
comments should always be very
positive and uplifting. You should
project a positive attitude about
yourself and about anyone or
anything you make reference to.
When asked about your weaknesses, be
brief. Always turn weaknesses into
strengths by showing where you have
grown, learned or improved.
Your comments about your past
employers should always be
positive. Don't criticize another
employer or say anything negative
about any of your past experiences.
All of your previous relationships,
situations and circumstances should
be described in a positive light.
Present your work history as solid
and stable, with no reference to
conflicts or discord.
Any
discussion about your interactions
with co-workers, supervisors or
subordinates should reflect a spirit
of cooperativeness. Show yourself
to be an agreeable, fair and
likeable person.
BE GENUINE
Be
sincere. Be real. Project positive
feelings and emotions. The job
interview is a very subjective
process. In addition to
qualifications, the interviewer is
also looking for other clues that
help determine if you are a perfect
fit for the job...
Do
you have a pleasant personality?
Do
you have a positive attitude?
Do
you express yourself with good
communication skills?
Do
you possess good social skills?
Do
you display proper manners, courtesy
and protocol?
Do
you exhibit maturity, confidence and
poise?
Do
you dress appropriately and
professionally?
Do
you appear to fit in with the
organization?
A
good interviewee will not only
communicate the right information,
but will do so in a way that allows
the interviewer the opportunity to
see his or her personality. What
you say is not nearly as important
as how you say it. It is important
to express genuine feelings and
emotions; to exhibit a sincere
enthusiasm, dedication and pride in
your career pursuits. Through the
interview process, the interviewer
and the interviewee must succeed in
getting to know each other better.
|
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"Once an interviewer meets several
candidates who more or less fit the
criteria of the position, he won't
make the final selection by simply
narrowing the list until he finds
the most qualified candidate of
all. He'll select the candidate who
makes him feel the most
comfortable. The one whose style is
closest to his. The one whose mind
works the way his does."
-CAMILLE LAVINGTON
"Everything you do in a job campaign
will be wasted if you don't convert
interviews into job offers. Be
informed about potential employers.
Control your interviews. And tailor
your communications and the image
you project to what each firm is
seeking."
-ROBERT JAMESON
GERBERG
|
|
|
GOOD STUFF
CLICK HERE FOR HELPFUL
ARTICLES,
RESOURCES, AND LINKS |
Quint Careers: Salary Negotiation
Career Journal: Salary Info
Salary Negotiation Method
Job Star: Salary Negotiation
Salary.Com
Vault: Negotiating Compensation
Career Builder: Salary Negotiation,
The Art of the Deal
Responding
to Job Offers
About: Evaluating a Job Offer
About: Job Rejection Letter
Ohio State: Accepting or Rejecting
an Offer
Catalyst Careers: Rejecting a Job
Offer
Rediff News: Rejecting an Offer
Gracefully
PREPARATION
It
is vital to your success as an
interviewee to prepare for your
meeting with the employer. In
advance of the job interview, the
candidate should focus on these
important items: 1) Research the
company, 2) Identify key points, 3)
Collect relevant stories, 4)
Organize the portfolio, 5) Be ready
with questions to ask, and 6)
Rehearse.
RESEARCH
Prepare for your job interview by
doing some in-depth research.
Gather useful information about the
company you intend to interview
with. Learn what you can about the
employer. Be informed about the
job. Appear knowledgeable of their
business and their line of work. Do
your homework.
Where can this valuable information
be obtained? The public library,
chamber of commerce, business
publications, company literature,
annual reports, employee handbooks,
magazine articles.
KEY
POINTS
Plan ahead. Organize your main
ideas in advance. Commit to memory
the major points of your
presentation. Determine your key
qualifications. Identify your
strengths, abilities and skills.
Write them down. Learn them.
STORYTIME
Recall a few relevant stories you
can tell during the interview.
These stories or anecdotal examples
should reflect your past experience,
set you in a positive light and
provide supportive evidence of your
skills and abilities. Telling a
story allows you the opportunity to
communicate positive emotions and
feelings... a sense of enthusiasm,
pride and dedication. Telling a
story makes you more memorable to
the interviewer.
SHOW & TELL
Bring along some impressive examples
of your work (a portfolio), letters
of reference, an award, an article
written about you, a paper you wrote
or some kind of artifact or prop you
can refer to as evidence of your
skills and accomplishments.
QUESTIONS
Ask
questions in the interview. Prepare
a few good solid ones in advance.
Ask the kind of questions that
indicate your interest in the
company. Don't ask about salary or
benefits. Ask questions that reflect
your attitude and motivation.
REHEARSE
Practice the presentation. Rehearse
what you will say in the interview.
Conduct a mock interview.
Anticipate questions you might be
asked. Practice formulating and
expressing your responses.
CLOSE THE SALE
At
the end of the interview, don't
forget to ask for the job. Indicate
how your qualifications match the
needs of the company. State
confidently your assertion that you
can, in fact, make a worthwhile
contribution to the company.
As
an effective means of follow-up,
always send a Thank You letter
afterwards. It conveys courtesy and
appreciation. It is an opportunity
to reiterate your interest in the
company and to remind the employer
of your qualifications.
INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS
Preparing for a job interview means
anticipating the questions
interviewers are likely to ask. Here
is a list of sample questions that
candidates might encounter...
What are your long range career
plans?
Why did you choose this occupation?
What do you consider to be your
major strengths? Major weaknesses?
How would you describe yourself?
Why should I hire you?
How has your past experience
prepared you for success?
In what ways do you think you can
make a worthwhile contribution to
our company?
Name one of your greatest
accomplishments.
What have you learned from your
participation in extracurricular
activities?
What do you think it takes to be
successful with our company?
Why did you leave your last
employer?
Why did you decide to seek
employment with this company?
What do you know about our company?
How have other people described you?
How do you handle yourself in a
conflict?
What did you like most about your
last job? What did you like the
least?
How do you normally deal with
criticism?
What really motivates you to
perform?
Candidates are also expected to ask
questions in a job interview.
Here is a list of sample questions
that candidates might ask in a job
interview...
What will my responsibilities be?
What are my potential career paths
with this company?
What will I being doing in a typical
work day?
Where does this position fit in the
overall organization?
What role will I play in helping the
company achieve its goals?
What are the most important
qualifications for this position?
What plans for expansion does the
company anticipate?
What new endeavors is the company
actively pursuing?
To whom will I be reporting?
What are the company's mission and
goals?
Who are the company's major
competitors?
Who are the company's major
customers?
What will my priorities be?
What kind of leadership
responsibilities will I have?
What kind of input and feedback will
I receive from my supervisor?
How will my performance be
evaluated?
What kind of training will I
receive?
What are the prospects for
professional advancement?
PERSONAL
APPEARANCE
Your personal appearance is of great
importance to the job interview
process. The image that you present
through your personal appearance
creates an impression in the mind of
the interviewer. Your personal
appearance is determined by dress,
grooming and hygiene.
The
phrase "dress for success" means
that you project a professional and
positive image by wearing
appropriate attire to the job
interview. Regardless of your
career field, appropriate interview
outfits generally are conservative,
understated, and business-like.
Proper interview clothing is what
can best be described as "corporate
attire."
|
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How
you dress for the interview will
depend to some extent on the job for
which you are applying. Dress one
step above what you would actually
wear on the job. You should neither
underdress or overdress for an
interview. As a rule-of-thumb,
while "Sunday dress" might generally
be appropriate, anything resembling
"black tie", wedding, or prom attire
is too dressy. Clothing should be
cleaned, pressed and in good
condition.
Both men and women should choose a
simple, conservative business suit.
Women in certain career fields may
elect to wear a tailored dress.
Avoid sporty, cute or casual looks.
Solid, dark colors are better than
prints. Avoid pastel, bold or
bright colors. Muted plaids or pin
stripes are acceptable.
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Good suit colors for men and women
are navy, gray, charcoal or black.
Also taupe or pewter shades for
women. Skirts that reach the bottom
of the knee or longer are
appropriate.
Shirts and blouses generally should
be a solid neutral color. Men's
shirts should be white or pale
blue. Women's blouses should be
white, beige or red. For women's
blouses, most solid neutral colors
work.
Red
is the best color for men's ties.
Patterns should be subtle. Small
even patterns or stripes that
coordinate with your suit work
best. Motifs that are artsy, novel,
or loud should be avoided. The tip
of the tie should barely touch the
top of the belt buckle. Women's
neckware is crucial: a broach,
pearls, a pin, a rosette, a bow or a
tie.
Belts should match shoes. Black or
cordovan (burgundy) leather is best
for men and women. Also, navy,
taupe or deep brown for women. All
leather accessories should match.
Accessories to carry should be
simple and compact. A leather
folder, portfolio or small purse. A
good quality pen (The pen should be
carried in the inside coat pocket,
not the shirt pocket). Do not carry
a briefcase. Travel light.
Keep jewelry simple and to a
minimum. One ring and a watch. The
watch should be of good quality.
Women's earrings should be a simple
stud type. No dangling earrings or
clanky bracelets.
Shoes and socks should coordinate
with your suit. Women should select
pump-style shoes with a 1 to 2 inch
heel in a shade that coordinates
with the suit. Women should always
wear hosiery. Men should wear
mid-calf socks the color of the
trousers.
No
cologne, aftershave or perfume.
Makeup should be light and natural.
Fingernails should be cleaned and
trimmed. Clear or no fingernail
polish is best. Hair should be
trimmed, clean, combed and neatly
styled. Men should avoid facial
hair and earrings. Tatoos and body
piercings should be hidden. For
women, long hair should be pulled
back away from face.
GRAD SCHOOL
n
CAREER PLANNING
n
COLLEGE TO CAREER
n
CAREER EXPLORATION
JOB MARKET
n
JOB SEARCH
n
INTERVIEW PREP
n
RESUME WRITING
n
WORKPLACE ISSUES
ALABAMA CONNECTION
n
Virtual Career Center
