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Interviewing
Tips |
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PREPARATION,
CAREER GOALS,
FIRST
IMPRESSIONS
PREPARATION:
Assume you were
one of 100
people applying
for a job. After
the initial
resume
screening, you
are one of the
five candidates
being
interviewed.
Your
qualifications
and experience
meet the
criteria the
company is
looking for.
What will make
the difference
between you and
the other
qualified
candidates? Your
attitude and
presentation. Do
your homework.
Learn as much
about the
company as you
can. Review
their Annual
Report. Ready
any
industry-specific
material you can
obtain. Learn
the company's
position in the
marketplace.
Determine what
skills and
experience would
be best suited
to this
particular
position.
Because you are
using the
services of
Premier
Solutions, much
of this
information will
be provided to
you. Review your
background and
work history.
CAREER
GOALS:
Be prepared to
discuss in
detail the
skills,
responsibilities
and achievements
for each of your
former
positions. Be
able to
verbalize your
short and long
term goals and
what you have
accomplished so
far to reach
them. Be sure to
have a career
path in mind.
Emphasize your
strengths and be
able to back
them up with
achievements.
Let your
weaknesses work
for you. If you
feel it
necessary to
mention a
weakness,
include a
statement of
what measures
you are taking
to overcome it.
Practice your
responses and
have all the
facts at your
fingertips. It
will relax you
and give you
additional
confidence
before meeting
the interviewer
face-to-face.
FIRST
IMPRESSIONS:
First
impressions are
lasting
impressions.
Therefore, your
professional
appearance and
pleasant manner
will set the
tone for the
interview.
Business attire
should be worn
and the rules
are the same for
both men and
women. A dark
suit,
conservative
accessories and
neat, trimmed,
simply styled
hair are
appropriate. Be
polite, alert
and calm. If
there is a
handshake, make
it a firm one.
Maintain eye
contact and
answer all
questions asked
with a brief, to
the point
statement. Body
language is a
tell-tale sign,
so sit up
straight, lean
into the
conversation as
opposed to
sitting back and
slouching. Most
of all, be
enthusiastic,
it's contagious.
INTERVIEWING FOR
SUCCESS, LASTING
IMPRESSIONS,
FOLLOW UP
INTERVIEWING FOR
SUCCESS:
Initially, your
interviewer will
ask you a few
questions
designed to put
you at ease and
then move into
the fact finding
session. The
interviewers
goals here are
twofold. The
first will be to
obtain
information to
determine if
your background,
skills,
achievements and
attitude will
fit the open
position. The
second goal is
to see how well
you handle
yourself. You
will be asked
questions
designed to
elicit detailed
responses, not
"Yes" or "No"
answers. Take
your time,
gather your
thoughts and
give thorough,
but not lengthy
answers. Be
positive with
regard to former
work
experiences,
supervisors and
co-workers. If
you are
resentful for
any reason, it
will show. If
you qualify for
the position,
the one thing
that will set
you apart from
other candidates
is your
attitude. Your
positive
approach, desire
for growth and
self confidence
may be just the
ticket that will
tip the scales
in your favor.
LASTING
IMPRESSIONS:
The interview
will come to a
close when the
interviewer has
all the
necessary
information.
this will
usually be
signaled to you
by asking if you
have any
additional
questions. If
you do, ask
them. If not, do
not try to
prolong the
session. You
should not be
the one that
asks questions
about salary,
bonuses, company
benefits
packages, etc.
That topic will
come up in
subsequent
interviews.
Don't be the one
to initiate
those questions.
At the
conclusion of
the interview,
summarize your
strengths and
make sure you
express your
interest in the
position. Don't
leave without
knowing what the
next step will
be. Ask for the
job. If you
don't ask, it
may be
interpreted as a
lack of
interest. Your
goal should be
to obtain a job
offer or a
follow-up
interview.
FOLLOW
UP:
Send a thank you
note. This
allows you to
thank the
interviewer for
his or her time,
recap your
strengths for
the position and
again express
your interest in
the job. The
employment
interview is
your opportunity
to sell your
experience,
skills and
knowledge to the
interviewer. The
more confident,
interested and
prepared you
are, the more
opportunities
you will create.
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