GOALS
OF THE INTERVIEW
Have you given any thought to what you want to accomplish
in your interview?� In other words, what
are your goals of the interview?
The ultimate
goal of the interview process is for you to get an offer for a job that meets
your needs.�
How well you
perform in this interview will determine if you make it to the next step
(invited in for an on-site interview or extended an offer).� Therefore, your main goal of the interview
should be fairly obvious:
1. You need to
present your background and accomplishments in such a way that they will
want to go to the next step with you.�
Discuss your experience around their needs.� The rate and tone of your voice will play a
large part in your success (especially in a phone interview).� You must show assertiveness and
enthusiasm.� Today, interpersonal skills
are just as important as technical skills.
2. Your second
goal is to gain information about the company and the position that will help
you in making your decision on this career opportunity.�
Remember, many
times the person conducting the interview has only one thing in mind - and that
is to determine if you meet their needs.�
So it�s critical that you focus on the first goal - presenting your
background and accomplishments.� At this point it�s critical to focus on
their needs!
THE COMPANY
What
do you know about the company?� What
research have you done?
q
Regarding the location you are interviewing with (what
product or services are provided here, sales volume, number of people, how long
it has been in business, etc.)�������
q
What do you know about the company overall? (where are their
other locations � including corporate headquarters, the sales volume of the
whole company, other divisions or subsidiaries of the company, the name of the
parent company, major product lines, recent major events in the company, etc.)
Most people
don�t do proper research on the company they are interviewing with.� First, this research will make sure you know
who you are interviewing with and will help you to decide if you really want to
go to work there.� Second, you will have
opportunities to share what you know about the company in the interview � and
this will impress them.� It is CRITICAL
your information is accurate.� Giving
incorrect information would leave a bad impression.
You can get
most of the information you need over the internet.� Do you know the company�s web address?� Do you have access to the internet at home?� If not, go to your local library.�
THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND THE COMPANY�S NEEDS
Be
sure to get a thorough job description before your interview.
What
are the main duties and responsibilities of the job?� You should know the 4-5 main aspects of the
job.� What are the things that the
company wants?� Prioritize the top 4-6
wants and needs.� This could be
technical, interpersonal, educational, or other.
Do
YOU have these things?� If so, put in
writing (before the interview) a T � chart and study it.� Write a large �T� on a sheet of paper.� On the left side list the needs of the
company.� On the right write down the
experiences you have that show you meet the need of the company.� What are the end results likely to be desired
by the employer?� What results have you
achieved around each need that would be of interest to the employer and could
serve to communicate your �value� to the employer?� In the interview you will want to give very
specific examples with specific results.
If the company has a need
that you don�t have the experience to meet, you should communicate other
experiences you�ve had that will make the company feel comfortable that you can
overcome this.� For example:� The company needs someone who has experience
with certain computer software.� If you
don�t have that, you could show that you know similar software and then give an
example of where you learned other software very quickly.� You might even say you would be willing to
take a night class to learn it.
Who will you be interviewing with?
Every
person you meet on the interview is important.�
The Receptionist or even the person who has you complete the application
can cause you not to get the job.�
Typically you will meet your potential boss and their boss in the
interview process.� Obviously, they are
the most important people.
If you did
great with the boss, that doesn�t mean the job is in the bag.� Companies today make team decisions and every
person on the team gets one vote.�
Common questions in an interview.
We
don�t know all of the questions that come up in an interview.� However, the following are some pretty
predictable ones.
1. Tell me about
yourself/your background/your current job. ���
You want to focus on their needs � focus on the �must haves� of the
job.� Start with your current position
and work your way back to college.�
(Normally it�s only necessary to review your background for 10 years if
you have been out of college longer than that.)�
Companies don�t want to know where you were born or where you grew
up.� Remember to include accomplishments
in your answers wherever appropriate.
2. Situational
Questions - Many times you will be asked situational questions.� These are questions that begin like, �Tell me
about a time when��, or �Give me an example of��, or �Have you been in a
situation where��.� Interviewers are
looking for detailed answers to these questions, not a simple �yes� or
�no�.� When a candidate answers with
detail, it tells the interviewer that they really have had the experience and
the candidate�s answer will tell how well they handled the situation.
We suggest you use the STAR method for answering these
questions.� This stands for Situation, Task, Actions, and Results.� You will want to use these words as an
outline for your response.� Don�t use the
words in the acronym STAR, just use it as a guideline.� For example:
Question:� �Have you ever had to discipline an
employee?�
Response:� There was an instance a few months ago when
an employee came to work late three days in one week. (This is the Situation)
It
is my responsibility to make sure that this doesn�t continue to happen. (Task)
So
I went to the employee one day after work and told them that I needed to talk
to them about a few things.� We set a
time to talk the next day before work.�
When we met, the first thing I told them was that I was pleased with the
quality of their work and with the way they interacted with the rest of the
team - which was true.� Then I told them
that I knew they had been coming to work late and that it needed to stop.� I told them there are others who are unable
to do their work until they got theirs done and we can�t have that.� I told them that the next step would be a
written warning and the next step would be a day home without pay.� I finished by telling them I hoped we
wouldn�t have to go that far. (Actions)
Now
the employee comes to work on time every day and they are truly one of my best
employees. (Results - happy ending)�
Many times you will be asked about
projects you have worked on or teams that you are involved with.� You can use this same type of response by
first giving the Situation (or problem that caused the need for the
project).� Then give the Task. (If on a
team, give the whole task and then give your specific responsibilities.� This will show the interviewer that you were
really working and not just sitting back and taking some of the credit.)� Explain the Actions taken.� Finally give the Results (Of both you and the
entire team).
3. Why are you
leaving?
�� You should share appropriate
drawbacks.� Examples would be �company is
having financial difficulties�, �major downsizing will eliminate 25% of all
jobs over the next six months and I don�t know if I will lose my job�, or �I am
trying to move to the Midwest to be closer to my family�.� Most times �working too many hours� or
�political reasons� is not received positively by companies.� This is a screen-out question and answers
need to be worded very carefully.�
However, you should never lie or mislead the company.� You need to give enough information to let
them know you have good reasons to change jobs.�
However, you don�t want to talk negatively too much about your current
employer.� Keep this answer short and to
the point.
4. How much money
do you make? - You should never lie or mislead the company.� Share with them your base salary, any paid
overtime, bonuses, profit sharing, and the date and expected amount of your
next raise.
If you feel that you are paid so
much that the company feels uneasy about considering you, and you are willing
to accept what they will offer, then you may want to share only the base
salary.� You may not want to tell the
employer that you make $10,000 in overtime or get a bonus of up to 15% if these
issues will hurt your chances of being considered.� Again, don�t lie.� If you are asked if you make overtime or
bonus, tell the truth.� Then follow up
with the statement given in the �How much do you want?� section below.�
If your base salary is more than
the company wants to pay, you should tell them what your base salary is and
then give the response mentioned below in the �How much do you want
section�.� Again, we would recommend you
not bring up any bonuses unless you are asked.
5. How much money
do you want? - If this question comes up after they ask, �How much money
are you making?�, say something like, �Money isn�t the only thing important to
me.� I�m excited about the company, the
position, and the career opportunity.�
I�m confident that if I�m right for you and you�re right for me, we can
come to an agreement on compensation�.
If this question comes up before
they ask, �How much money are you making?�, you should give compensation
information as stated in the section above.�
Then use the response just given - �Money isn�t the only thing important
to me��
If they insist on getting a number DON�T GIVE THEM
ONE!� Say �There are many pieces to a
compensation package.� Benefits,
retirement programs, and bonuses.� Since
I don�t have a complete understanding of your compensation program it is really
difficult for me to give you a number.�
SHOWING INTEREST IN THE COMPANY AND POSITION
For
a person to be offered a job, they must have shown interest in the company and
the position.� Asking questions is one
way of showing interest.� It is critical
that you ask questions in your interview.
We
highly recommend you have 10-12 questions in writing before the interview.� They will answer half of them before you get
a chance to ask.� You want to be able to
ask 4-5 questions that show interest in the company or position.� If
you will be interviewing with multiple people you should prepare appropriate
questions for each one.� In other words,
you will want to ask your potential boss different questions than you would ask
a potential subordinate.� Examples of
questions are:
q Could you tell
me about the history/present/future of the company?
q What are some
of the biggest challenges facing your company today?
q Could you go
into more detail concerning the duties and responsibilities?
q What is a
typical day like?
q What are the
biggest challenges of this position?
q What needs do
you have that could be solved by this position?
q What do you
expect out of me in the first 6 months on the job?
q Is there
anything else I could answer to help you better understand my background?
q WHAT OTHER
QUESTIONS DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD ASK?
You should not
ask any questions that say �What�s in it for me?�.� These would be questions around money,
benefits, or advancement.� Companies want
to hear that you are interested in this position before you start talking about
getting a promotion.� Remember, Companies won�t expect you to make a
decision on an offer until all of your questions are answered.� Some of these questions should be held until
after you get the offer.
If
you are on an on-site interview and meet more than one person, don�t be afraid
to ask different people the same questions.�
This will help you to get the best overall understanding of the company
and the position.
OTHER
WAYS TO SHOW INTEREST
1.
If you like their response to a question you have asked,
tell them. (i.e. �That�s great� or �This is exactly what I�m looking for�).
2.
Before you end a phone interview, say something like �_____,
I really appreciate your time today, and I want you to know I am very
interested in the opportunity.� I would
like the opportunity to come visit you and the people at the plant.�� If you are on an on-site interview, thank
each person you talk to and let everyone know that you are very interested.
3.
Smile.� Give firm
handshakes.� Show enthusiasm.� In other words, your body language.� Even if you are on a phone interview, the
person on the other end can tell if you are smiling � they can tell if you�re
interested.
FILLING
OUT THE JOB APPLICATION
Most companies
will have you complete a Job Application.�
You should complete this neatly and in full.� The application usually asks for additional
information that is not provided in your resume.� DO NOT put �see resume� on the
application.� Use your resume to help you
complete the application.
The
application will ask why you are looking.�
Refer to the earlier section on this question.� You have to be consistent with your
answers.� Give them your true base
salary.� When it asks for desired salary,
put �open�.
Take a
reference sheet with you on the interview.�
Do you have a professional looking reference sheet?��
INTERVIEWING
QUESTIONS
Here is a list
of common interview questions.� How would
you answer these questions?� Make sure
that you are as prepared as you can be because you have only one chance.
q
Tell me about yourself.
q
What do you know about the position you are applying for?
q
What do you know about our organization?
q
What do you know about our industry?
q
Why are you interested in our company?
q
Why have you decided to change careers?
q
Why have you changed jobs frequently?
q
Describe your ideal job?
q
What salary are you looking for?
q
How do you spend your free time?
q
Have you ever been fired?
q
Don�t you feel overqualified for this job?
q
How many sick days did you take last year?
q
What are your short, medium and long-term goals?
q
What are your most significant accomplishments? (give a
work-related answer)
q
Give an example of when you had a confrontation with a boss?
Peer? Subordinate?
q
How do you react to criticism?
q
What are the most important things you are seeking in a
career?
q
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and
weaknesses?
q
Why should I hire you?
q
How could you contribute to our organization?
q
Why did you choose the college you attended?
q
Why didn�t you go to college?
q
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
q
Are you willing to relocate?
q
What type of a work environment are you seeking?
SUMMARIZE
Remember that
you are on an interview the entire time you are there, including lunch time,
waiting between interviews, driving in the parking lot, and even when you are
with the realtor!� If they use profanity,
drink martinis, or loosen their ties at lunch, it doesn�t mean you can!�
�����������
q
Do you have all of the travel arrangements?
�
Flight schedules (if e-ticket have picture ID)
�
Rental car � do you need a credit card?
�
Hotel � have your confirmation number and the phone number
of the hotel
�
Directions to hotel and interview
�
Have phone number of your contact and your recruiter with
you
q
Show up at the interview 10 minutes early.� No earlier.�
Wait in the parking lot if necessary.�
DON�T BE LATE � not even one minute.
q
How should you dress for the interview?
�
Professional dress unless they request something else
�
Are you having dinner with them the night before � wear
appropriate attire for this too
�
Shine your shoes
q
Meals � don�t order sloppy foods or alcoholic beverages �
even if they do.
q
Get a haircut if necessary.
q
Take all notes concerning company and position to study
before the interview.
q
Take a portfolio for notes during the interview.
q
Know your resume.�
Know the details.� Be ready to
discuss and give examples.
q
Get business cards from the key people so you can send
�thank you� letters.
q
RELAX and you will do much better in the interview.
����������� �
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR INTERVIEW!
