Posted on 04/16/2002 11:18:30 AM PDT by KantianBurke
Pay attention to your shoes, make sure they are shined and the heel not worn down.
Wear a watch.
Get to the interview location early -- but don't show up at the interviewer's office or waiting area early.
Follow the interviewer's lead -- people tend to like (and for that matter, hire) people who are like them. If the interviewer is friendly and outgoing, you be the same, without going over the top. If s/he is thoughtful and reserved, you be the same, without becoming morose.
Have actual examples ready to discuss of certain situations -- the best interviewers won't ask: "How would you handle numerous tight deadlines?" They will say, "How have you handled tight deadlines in the past?" Be ready to give an example -- regardless of how the question is asked.
Know something about the company before the interview -- do some research.
Have a "fault" prepared to respond to the "What would you say is your greatest fault?" There ARE faults you can show to be positive for your employer.
DO NOT DISCUSS SALARY OR BENEFITS OR VACATION AT THE FIRST INTERVIEW. If the interviewer brings it up, then, of course, respond.
Have a question ready for the inevitable, "Do you have any questions for me?" Something like, "What can you tell me about the day-to-day responsibilities of the position?" or "How much client contact can I expect?" When interviewing with someone who might be a peer, I always asked, "What's top on your to-do list today?" or, if the chemistry was right, "What's making your head hurt today?"
Relax and be yourself -- and lots of luck!
Good advice, but you should know about the company going in.
Look it up on the net, look into stock positioning/history.
A favorite question is "Why do you want to work here?"
That one always stumped me, because I had to read the interviewer's intent ... Am I a globalist and I'd just love to work for this Fortune 500 operation with fingers in China, Uraguay and Venezuela?
I'm behind in my bills and I think I could show up long enough (before getting fired) to get myself out of debt?
I'm young/old and I would be an asset to your company because of ...
You get the picture.
I was never good at text-book "interviewing" ... All I ever did was be me, and if there was opportunity to be personable ... I was.
Be aware that many company's pay big bucks to someone to make the right choice the first time. I was always flusterred by the professional woman sitting behind/beside (this is Mary ... she's just sitting in) the guy interviewing me. He was cool ... she was stoney.
Life is a trip ... dig it ... and you're sure to encounter some slugs along the way.
Do what Jesus recommends ... If they receive you not, dust off your shoes and go to the next town/job.
Good luck.
Make a point of learning about your prospective employer BEFORE the interview. Find out what they do and how they do it. Remember, they aren't just interviewing you, you are interviewing them. Ask questions about the job and duties and how it fits in the broarder picture of what they do. If you know who you are interviewing with, see what you can find out about them. Company websites are treasure troves for info about the bigwigs.
When answering questions, make eye contact. Answer directly with confidence. If they ask you a question that you don't know the answer to, tell them you don't know; don't try to wing it. Nobody likes a bullshitter. Anticipate the questions and come up with answers in advance. THey will likely ask about your background, and how you think you can help them. Come up with a good answer. When I interview law students for jobs at my firm, I ask them why they want to be a lawyer. They always come back with the "wanting to help people and make the world a better place" crap. Then I ask them how they think they could accomplish that here. Usually stumps them because they never anticipated the question. Good way to see how they think on their feet.
Be articulate. Speak up. No one wants to hire a "yinzer" as we call them in Pittsburgh (a yinzer is someone with a very bad local accent that speaks in the vernacular and does not articulate--for example, in Pittsburgh a yinzer would say "I wanna work dahntahn cuz I live up on Mount Worsheentin an I can take the incline" as opposed to "I would like to work in the downtown area as I reside on Mount Washington and can utilize public transportation"). nothing hurts a job canidate more than poor verbal (and writing) communication skills. THat brings up something else; if the job involves writing, take some writing samples along (just not FR posts!).
They will likely ask what you like to do for fun. Don't tell them that you are a political junkie (or God forbid, a conservative who likes to lurk at FR) as they will see that as potentially disruptive to the workplace. Tell them your real hobbies, how you spend your free time. If you are active in the community, mention it, especially if it is something like working with oldfolks or kids...employers like that.
The best advice that I could give however is to be yourself. Don't try to be the person they are looking for. Be honest, be forthright and frank. Answer directly and completely. And if you are the type to walk around with a chip on your shoulder, leave it at home.
Is also the wrong answer. :)
Always show you are willing to learn. Don't walk in and let them think you know all about the job. Make sure you tell them you have a lot to learn and are willing to to what it takes to learn. Then, show them an example of something that you didn't know how to do at first, but learned, and mastered.
Always, always, make sure you have questions ready for them that shows them you have done your homework on the company. Have the questions pre-planned, but always ask one or two based upon what the interviewer has said. i.e. I heard you talk about________, what contribution would I making towards that goal?
Never ask about salary, especially because this is a first job. You should be happy to get the job so you can show your stuff. If you are just starting in the job market and money comes up, this line worked for me, (and didn't cause me to make the first offer") "While money is important, I am just starting out, and know I have a lot to learn. Once I perform up to expectations I am sure the money issue will work itself out. For now, the most important thing for me to do is show you I can do the job."
Always answer the question put to you. Do not venture off onto tangents (unless the interviewer does i.e. about a subject of mutual interest - getting the interviewer to like you is HUGE - just make sure you can speak intellegently about the subject at hand).
Make sure you come prepared with examples of how you have succeeded in other aspects of your life and relate them to the job.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS be courteous, pleasant, and thankful to the support staff you encounter.
This may seem stupid, but when you go into the interview write down the name of the person you are interviewing on teh top of your notepad (You should always have a pad of paper with prepared questions with you). With all the pressure your mind may go blank as to the name of the interviewer.
Good luck.
Don't try to be too cute or funny, answer questions directly and succintly and DON'T RAMBLE.
Considering the current status of the Baby Boomers, you'd have better career prospects had you studied Mortuary Science.
seriously..lots of good advice here..best one is to do some research on the company in advance of the interview....what they do....who the owners are, etc....also, if you can find out anything about the interviewer..it'll help you get your mindset focused in advance...
Gal was a very personable lady of 45-ish. She said, "So you're looking for a copywriter."
I said, "Absolutely. Are you good?"
"I've won some Addys," she answered, "and I know the production system you use here."
"You busy the rest of the day?" I asked.
------------------
The pay had been published, so we had nothing to negotiate. And she turned out to be a fabulous asset to the company. That was most certainly my fave job interview of all time.
Michael
Don't be an asshole.
Nobody likes to work with assholes unless they can make them tons of money.
The sooner you can prove you're not an asshole, the better chance you'll get hired.
Show your sense of humor. Assholes rarely have one.
Show that you don't take yourself too seriously. Assholes always take themselves way too seriously.
Show that you love your parents/wife. Assholes rarely do.
In other words, act like yourself and don't be an asshole in the interview.
Needless to say, you would have a hard time making up a scenario on the fly. They wish to know your actual experiences. If your school experience applies to the question, by all means use it. In the above example, perhaps you had a group project with other students that you could describe.
Some other tips: Relax. Interviewers understand the stress you are putting yourself under. Be honest. Assume every item you tell or give them on paper will be checked for accuracy. Ask questions. The last thing you want is to accept a job you don't want, and they don't want to hire someone who won't have a good chance of being happy.
Good luck!
Research both the company and the position. You should arrive at the interview knowing what the company is all about and how the position actually supports the company.
Not only dress well, but also dress appropriately. When you researched the company, you should have noted the dress code (whether or not one is written down). Make sure your interview attire is at the top end of what is appropriate for the position. Be very careful of jewelry. Example; The only universally appropriate ring is a wedding ring. Less is generally best.
Speak proper English well. This is a critical indicator of intelligence and potential!
Listen very carefully to the interviewer's question and ANSWER THE QUESTION. Don't answer what you think the interviewer meant to ask. If a question is posed you cannot answer, tell the interviewer you do not know the answer. Do not be afraid to ask for clarification of the question. Do not "tap dance"! Be prepared to follow this answer with how you would solve the problem (find the answer). Do not babble!
Be prepared to answer these types of questions; "What makes you the best candidate for this position?", "What is your worst trait?", "What is your best trait?".
Always portray yourself in a positive light. Many interview questions have no correct answer. Rather, they are probes to see how a candidate handles himself. Do not try outguess the interviewer. Be yourself and give "your" answer.
If the position requires skills (typing, spreadsheeting, welding, etc.) be prepared to demonstrate. Make sure your interview attire won't interfere with a possible demonstration.
Here's a hard one, "Attitude". Be neither arrogant nor servile. Be respectful and enthusiastic about the position.
Remember, you've already opened the door with your application/resume'. The interviewer doesn't know you (usually). The interview is your chance to show just how good you are. Make the interview pleasant for the interviewer, and it will be pleasant for you.
Don't be discouraged if you are not hired. There are many elements that go into an employer's final choice. Just learn from every interview.
Good luck!
First impressions are critically important. The first 10 seconds will often determine whether you get an offer.
Body language is as important as verbal communication. Don't fold your arms. Imitate the interviewer. If he crosses his legs, cross yours. If he leans forward, you lean forward.
Tension is bad. it shows up in your voice and your posture. Keep all these suggestions in mind, and then ... Relax.
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