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INTERVIEW TIPS PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW PROPER RESEARCH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INDUSTRY PREPARE A PORTFOLIO KNOW IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM MEMORY ANTICIPATING THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED PREPARE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN ASK THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW... DRESS ACCORDINGLY BE PUNCTUAL COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN DETAIL SMILE, BE ENTHUSIASTIC BE SINCERE ASK INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS DISCUSSING SALARY CONCLUDING THE INTERVIEW AFTER THE INTERVIEW... SEND A THANK YOU NOTE THE OFFER CONCLUSION PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW... An interview is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "a formal meeting or conversation with a person, held in order to assess his or her merits as a candidate etc. or to obtain comments and information." This is usually done by asking a series of questions. By now your resume has hopefully gotten you a scheduled interview, so you need to prepare yourself to present a professional, capable image to the potential employer. The following are some proven tips that can help you present yourself to a prospective employer in a manner that can get you the offer for the job you desire. These are suggestions that all applicants, for any type of position should follow. 1. RESEARCH THE COMPANY AND THE INDUSTRY The ability to discuss with a prospective employer information about their company or industry can be very impressive. It demonstrates initiative and true interest in the position. Some excellent resources include the library, current customers, competitors, and inside sources such as customer service departments or company web pages. Your goal should be to learn as much as you can. You may want to copy articles that highlight their accomplishments and bring them with you. 2. PREPARE A PORTFOLIO This can again demonstrates your interest in the position, as well as your preparation skills, initiative and creativity. It can be as simple folder containing copies of information to be left behind with the interviewer, or as elaborate as a nicely bound binder (which you keep and take to each interview) with the various pieces of information presented in sheet protectors. In either case, some suggested information to include would be the following: Copies of educational diplomas, certificates, accreditation's, etc. Awards won. Reference letters. Past employer evaluations (if positive) and recognition letters. Information learned about the company and industry. At some point during the interview you will be given the opportunity to ask questions. This is usually the appropriate time to present your portfolio. You may want to say something to the effect of: " I've prepared some additional information for your review which further shows some of my abilities, please feel free to look it over. " A well prepared portfolio can separate you from your competition . . . but likewise, a poorly prepared portfolio could do more damage than good. Keep in mind, anything that you present to a prospective employer should be the very best it can be; it is a reflection of you and what you could bring to their company as a future employee. 3. KNOW IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM MEMORY Believe it or not, many people have a resume, but often times don't know what information is on it. It is common for interviewers to ask questions just to verify information that you have already provided in writing as a way to check your accuracy and truthfulness. It is important to be able to explain, without a doubt, all of the information you provide; names with proper spelling, education and employment dates including months and years, facts and figures, etc. Information which you provide verbally, must match exactly what you have provided in writing. Discrepancies can raise suspicions, and this is certainly something you don't need when interviewing for your perfect job. Equally important - anticipating the questions you will be asked, being aware of the questions you legally don't need to answer, and preparing intelligent questions to ask the interviewer are also part of the successful preparation process. 4. ANTICIPATING THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED How you answer questions during the interview plays a major part in the hiring decision. For example, if responses seem vague it may indicate a weakness in a particular area, or an indication that something is being hidden. Likewise, responses that tend to ramble on may indicate the inability to make a decision or to communicate effectively. In most instances, as you probably know, this is not the case at all. These undesirable responses are usually due to the fact that the candidate is caught off guard by the question, and therefore panics. A good interviewer will ask certain questions just to see if a candidate can think quickly on their feet. To hopefully help you avoid all of this, a list of some of the more commonly asked questions for most types of positions has been provided. To be thoroughly prepared, it is recommended that you review these questions and think about, not memorize, how you would answer them. You might even want to have someone ask them to you so that you can practice a response and think about what you would. While there are various resources available that attempt to provide you with the answers you should give when asked questions; using these "canned" answers is not suggested for the following reason. Experience has shown that these "canned" answers are quickly recognized by most interviewers and can often work to the detriment of the candidate. Interviewers have been known to ask follow-up questions based upon your response,and these "canned" answers make it very difficult for you to provide additional information. Avoid looking foolish! It is to your benefit to review these potential questions and formulate responses that truly represent you as a person and your abilities. If the answers are yours, not someone else's, it reduces the risk of sounding foolish or unprepared. On the same note, do not over-prepare your own answers. When the questions are asked, your responses should be smooth, concise and communicated with confidence. Not "canned or "rehearsed"! Additionally, as you think about answering the questions, it is important to be direct, to the point, and answer them as they relate to your experiences. Most importantly, you want to be truthful, and if during the interview you are asked questions regarding skills or experiences which could be perceived as a weakness, there is no need to apologize. In most cases companies recognize that some lack in experience is only a direct reflection in the lack of opportunity, not the lack of ability. The question sections that follow have been broken down into four different categories. While the categories here are in no particular order (they will vary by interviewer) you will find that most interviewers will ask the questions in some sort of logical sequence. Education Related How many years of education have you completed? Why did you happen to pick the particular school or institution you went to? What are your overall thoughts on the school or institution you went to? Why did you select your particular course of study? Did you complete your program or course successfully? If not able too why not??? Why did you decide on majoring in that particular field? What courses did you do best in? What courses did you have difficulty with? What courses did you get the most out of? Why? What courses did you get the least out of? Why? What courses did you like best? What about them appealed to you? What courses did you find disappointing? Why? What was your grade average in your major? What was your grade average overall? Where would you estimate you stood in your class in terms of overall academic performance? Do you feel that your grades were a fair reflection of what you could do? If not, why not? If you had it to do over again, would you have taken the same course of study? Would you have gone to the same school? What did you like most about the school? Looking back do you feel your education was worthwhile? Why or Why not? To what extent did it live up to your expectations? Are there any particular circumstances that influenced your academic experience? Describe for me school activities / projects you were involved in that would demonstrate team building. Are you a collegiate member of any professional organizations? What have you learned through your membership? What aspects of your education do you feel will bring you success in this position? Previous Position Related How was that position obtained? What attracted you to that position? Describe your duties and responsibilities. Describe a typical day. Describe your supervisory responsibilities. (if applicable) How did you plan how you were going to spend your time? What kind of decisions did you make? What types of reporting did you do? Why were these reports necessary? How was your work assigned? How was your department structured? How often were you evaluated? How were you evaluated? What is the main form of communication? What types of teamwork situations did you work in? How did your position affect other people/departments? What type of communication did you have with others inside or outside the company? Describe your supervisor. Describe the worst supervisor you ever had. How would your supervisor describe you? How often did you have contact with your supervisor? How much freedom did your position allow you? What was the role of your supervisor when working together? How would your co-workers describe you? How are your references going to describe you? Describe a recent difficult professional situation and how you handled it. How would you describe your management style? How would those you supervise describe you? What strengths did you bring to this position that have helped make you successful? What skills have you acquired since being in this position? What specific types of training have you received? What did you find most challenging about this position? What did you like most? What did you like least? If you could make a suggestion to improve your current or most recent company, what suggestion would you make? What would you say was your greatest accomplishment in this position? Why did you leave/are you leaving? Position "Applying for" Related What do you know about this industry? What do you know about this company? Where did you obtain this information? When you were made aware of this position, what created an interest? Why are you applying to this company? What skills do you currently have, which you feel can help you succeed in this position? Are there any other experiences, skills, or qualifications which you feel would especially fit for work with this company? As you understand this position, please describe it to me. Are there any hours that you would not be available to work? Describe the ideal supervisor. Describe the perfect position. 5. PREPARE THE QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK So many times when candidates are given the opportunity to ask questions they don't know what to ask. They fumble around and try to come up with something off the top of their head. This is unfortunate, because this is your time in the interview and the absence of questions can be viewed by a potential employer as a lack of true interest in the position or lack of preparation. Besides - most good employees are inquisitive... When your question time in the interview comes, you want to have the questions prepared and ready to go. This is your time to find out as much as you can about the position and to be sure this is the opportunity you really want. The following list is provided to aid you in generating some questions which can help you stand out among your peers. What makes your company better than others in your industry? What makes your company different from others in your industry? Why do people like working at your company? Outline a typical career path for someone with my experiences. Why is this position available? Describe for me the initial training program I can expect. What types of ongoing training and support can I expect? Describe for me a typical day in this position. What would you say are the two most important skills to be successful with your company? Describe the management philosophy / style of your company. Based on what we've talked about, what do you feel are my greatest strengths? Where do you see the company in 10 years? What attracted you (the interviewer) to the company? Hopefully, you are now completely prepared for your upcoming interview. It is time to put your best foot forward on the actual meeting. THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW... Now that you have gotten the interview, completed the research necessary, reviewed potential questions you may be asked, and prepared questions to ask; all that is left to do - is to perform your best at the interview. It is important to make a strong, positive impression on the interviewer so that they will remember you after talking to several candidiates. Here are some relatively simple, yet often overlooked tips to having a successful interview. These tips would apply to any position that you would be interviewing for. 1. DRESS ACCORDINGLY For all positions this would include such things as being well groomed, wearing professional and appropriate attire for the particular position, and appropriate and clean footwear. Good judgement should be used depending upon the position for which you are interviewing. As a general rule things to avoid include: excessive jewelry, shorts, jeans, tee shirts, open toed shoes and very bright colors. It is advisable to cover tattoos or pierced body parts! While these personal expressions may be in style, the business world for the most part frowns on them... Even if a position would involve wearing casual dress on the job," business casual" rules should be followed for the interview!. If you are ever unsure dress professional! 2. BE PUNCTUAL This is another early test that most companies evaluate closely, and one which can have hiring implications. Being punctual should never be downplayed! This shows the employer what they can expect from you if hired As a general rule, you should always plan to arrive at least one half hour early. This will allow you time to get a drink of water, use the restroom if necessary, and relax somewhat. To accomplish this, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the interview location a day or two in advance if possible. Such things as knowing your route and how long it will take to arrive should be accounted for. Plan for the worst (traffic jams, bad weather etc.) If you happen to arrive too early because of your planning, spend the extra time somewhere nearby looking over your questions and getting prepared. Remember, being late, even with an excuse, is usually not acceptable nor, more importantly, considerate. 3. COMPLETE THE APPLICATION IN DETAIL, BE TRUTHFUL At some point in the hiring process (usually prior to the interview) you will be required to complete an application. Keep in mind that employers look at both, the way an application is filled out as well as the information on it. Think of the application as your first job assignment; an example of how you would perform on the job, the first true reflection of your abilities. Read the directions closely before writing anything. (I.E. Is it asking for your most recent job first?) You may find it helpful to write the information on a blank piece of paper first to ensure accuracy and then copy it to the application. This will avoid possibly having to cross something out, thus making the application look sloppy. You will want to have all pertinent information handy. (Dates, names, numbers, etc.) Fill in the form neatly and completely leaving nothing blank; never write "see resume". Never misrepresent your education or work experience. Most companies now conduct very thorough background checks, and any misrepresentation will be uncovered -- this will spell "doom". Always be honest. Present only the facts. Always write the word "open" in the space for salary desired. 4. SMILE, BE ENTHUSIASTIC The final outcome of many interviews may be decided during the first few seconds of the introduction. For this reason it is very important to greet your prospective employer with a firm handshake, eye contact, and a smile. You want to project an enthusiastic, professional image right from the start. Characteristics that contribute to a professional image include self-confidence, maturity, a sense of humor, warmth, and prompt concise answers to questions. This will then carry over into how well the prospective employer gets along with you. To develop a good rapport, speak clearly, listen closely and show interest. When the employer asks something that requires an answer, it is a good idea to think for just a moment and then comment. Body language is important, too. Always sit up straight, lean forward slightly and maintain constant eye contact. You never want to smoke, even if the interviewer does. 5. BE SINCERE Most interviewers can see right through the "fluff" if you really pile it on. It is important to say how you feel without making it sound fake. In other words, do not keep telling them what you think they want to hear. Talk to an interviewer like you would talk with a business associate. You will find that some prospective employers may ask very broad questions such as "tell me about yourself" just to hear what you will say. Instead of talking about your childhood, family, or personal ambitions, (you want to try and avoid personal information as much as possible) mention specific accomplishments that show your abilities and determination to succeed in this job. Your answers should communicate to this prospective employer why you would be an asset to their company, not personal reasons why you need the job. 6. ASK INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS As previously indicated, at some point during the interview, usually at the end, you will be given the opportunity to ask questions. Many prospective employers evaluate applicants based on the questions they ask (see Preparing the Questions You Can Ask section). Your questions should be hand written or typed in advance, and pulled out when the prospective employer gives you the opportunity to ask them. Again, this shows interest and preparation. Many times however, your questions may have alreadt been answered during the interview - that is OK! You don't need to ask them again unless you want to confirm something. Just mention to the interviewer that they have been very thorough and that many of your questions have been answered. By having a list of questions ready to go - it shows you were prepared and interested in the job. It is also a good idea to have a notepad and pen so that you can take notes when your questions are answered. As a reminder, common courtesy says to always ask permission before taking notes. 7. DISCUSSING SALARY Since you wrote "open" in the space for "salary desired" on the application, the prospective employer may ask how much money you're expecting. You need to be careful here - this can be a deadly trap!!! Many good candidiates bomb at this critical point by asking for too much... To avoid getting into trouble after coming so far - an effective response would be something along the following: "I'm very interested in the position and I'd like to earn as much money as I am qualified to earn. How much income would you feel is fair for someone with my qualifications?" Now - This puts the decison back into the companies hands... at which point you can start to negotiate. If you come right out and state a number you may appear to be "money hungry" or if the amount is slightly more than they thought they wanted to pay they may say anything and just not offer you the job! Many candidates have actually been able to get more than the company was willing to pay initially by using this approach! If they really pin you down and want an answer - quote what you are or were making most recently and let them know that this is the "ballpark" you would like to be in... and that there are lots of other considerations and that money is not the sole deciding factor in you accepting the job!!! If the employer eventually makes a fair offer (and hopefully they will) and you really want the position, you should accept it immediately. If you are undecided, don't be afraid to ask for a day to think it over. However, It should never take more than 24 hours to make a decision even if you're undecided at the time of offer. The longer you wait the less interested the company becomes and they may offer the job to someone else. Likewise, you should never refuse an offer of employment until after you've had time to think discuss it with a significant other or a recruiter if appropriate. However, as a common courtesy, be sure to get back to them when you said you would. 8. CONCLUDING THE INTERVIEW At the conclusion of an interview, it is very important to find out how well you did, and more importantly, what the next step in the process will be. This is important so that you will know when you can expect to hear from the company, and what, if any, additional steps need to be taken to help them generate the job offer to you! At the end of the interview, if the interviewer does not specifically state that they are interested in you (and most will not), you need to "help them" come to the decision to make you the offer. One good way to do this is to tell the interviewer: "That based on the interview you definitely feel that you are both qualified and interested in this opportunity, and that you want to proceed." At this point, you can try to obtain feedback regarding their interest level. A tip here to help obtain this information may be to ask something along the following: "Do you have any additional questions or issues that need to be clarified that may prevent you from making me the offer?" Although you may feel that this question is somewhat bold, in fact it is not. Many prospective employers are waiting for you to ask it (particularly, if this is for a sales position). Remember, that while you are on an interview, you are really a salesperson selling your skills. You would probably not think about making a major purchasing decision without knowing what the cost of the product is. Equally as important, you should not leave an interview without knowing how you did. AFTER THE INTERVIEW... The actual interviewing meeting has just ended and you remain hopeful that things went well. However, there are still a couple of final steps yet to be taken. 1. SEND A THANK YOU NOTE If the position is one that you truly have an interest in, be sure to send a thank you letter or note immediately. This is very important. Again, reiterate why you feel you would make a valuable contribution to their organization. A nice touch is to fax the letter so that it will arrive as soon as possible. This can be accomplished by asking the interviewer for a business card (which usually has the fax number on it) or by asking them directly for their fax number. A sample thank you note for an accounting position has been included. Ima Candidate 123 Main Street Any town, USA 99999 (123)456-7890 Today's Date Mr. N.T. Viewer Manager of Human Resources Widgets Unlimited Fax (999)111-2222 Dear Mr. Viewer: I wanted to thank you for taking the time yesterday to meet with me and for sharing information on your company and the career opportunity available. I found this interview process very informative and useful as a tool for exploring my career path opportunities with Widgets Unlimited. As we discussed yesterday, it is my belief that my accounting skills and experience would prove to be a valuable asset for your company. I am looking for a career that will utilize my current accounting skills,while allowing me to grow and learn more working with an industry leader who is progressive in the marketplace. After meeting with you and learning more about the company and corporate goals, I believe this would be a successful match for both of us. Again, it was a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next step in the recruiting process. Sincerely, Ima Candidate 2. THE OFFER This is of course the ultimate goal of the entire process just outlined, and hopefully at this point, the offer would be forthcoming. As previously mentioned, most companies will not make an offer during the interview even if they really want to. They may need to verify information, etc. so expect this! While situations will vary, as a general rule some positive signs that the interview went well include: The interview lasts longer than you expected and the company said it would. The interviewer asks you at the end if you're still interested? They give you a very specific date that they will be following-up (they will be vague otherwise). If they provide you with an exact date, it would be a good idea to be ready for a call early that morning. Most companies like to make a job offer first thing in the day to catch you at home. So be awake and alert early! This leads to another very important issue which is your phone answering machine or service message. It is stressed, that during your job search your message to be short, to the point, and professional. Some things to definately avoid in your message during this time would be music, humor, jokes, etc... In other words, use good judgement and don't let your phone message be the "hang-up" to getting the job you want! Hopefully your job search will be short lived and you can change your message back quickly! IN CONCLUSION... The steps just outlined have been proven to increase the chances for interviewing success. However, like most information of this type, the true results will have to be left up to you. We hope your results meet with success! As you begin your job search adventure remember- The most qualified candidate is not always the individual who gets the job offer! It is usually the individual who is reasonably qualified, and who has done the best job of preparing for the interview. Additionally, this individual has a much better chance of not only obtaining the job offer, but of obtaining a BETTER offer than the other candidates would have! Preparing for the Interview Congratulations! You got the interview. Now the work begins. Your goal is to get as much info about the company and the management as possible. Where do I get info? Right here online, at libraries and from the company. The most up to date info is available online if you know where to get it. And we will show you how. Online resources would include: 1. Search the company name in Yahoo, Lycos and other search engines. You should get a reasonable amount of reference pages if the company is public and even a fair amount if it is private. Most companies, even smaller ones, have their own web pages. SURF through them , print them out and start compiling a file. You will be amazed what will pop up......press releases, trade articles etc. 2. Check out major business publications on line like Business Week and Inc Magazine. Just go to Yahoo and look under the directory listings, or conduct a search. Most of these publications have searchable databases for articles. If you are an AOL member you can check out these and other publications available at the site. 3. D&B reports, S&P stock reports, Moodys Stock reports and Morningstar reports all available either through AOL,the web and ., Of course, the library and even your stockbroker or accountant. Other resources would include: 1. Contact the company directly. Most have press folders about the company and possibly annual reports. Or ask the operator to speak to someone who could help you with info. You just might be surprised how cooperative they may be in providing information. 2. One great way to learn about the company, especially if they produce a product, is to visit stores that sell the product and talk to sales clerks. also, ask people who own the product what they think. If it is a service, get the sales literature and see if a sales representative will spend a few minutes with you. 3. Determine what industry or trade shows your target company participates in - see if there is one in your local area and try to get admission as a consultant. If attending a show is not feasible then call the company to get a list of their trade publications....and either find these online, check with the library or call the publication to get a copy. The info in these trade publications will give you another perspective on the company and it's competitors - well worth the effort.

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