Job Interview TipsJob Interview Tips

Get the Interview!Get the Interview!

Don’t hesitate to call the company hiring to Don’t hesitate to call the company hiring to see when they are conducting interviewssee when they are conducting interviews

Don’t hesitate to ask for an interviewDon’t hesitate to ask for an interview Be aggressive!Be aggressive! To be successful in your job hunt, you must To be successful in your job hunt, you must

first attempt to sell yourself, then your skills.first attempt to sell yourself, then your skills. Gain as much exposure as possible. The Gain as much exposure as possible. The

more your resume is seen by human more your resume is seen by human resource personnel the better your odds are resource personnel the better your odds are on getting an interview.on getting an interview.

Prepare for the interviewPrepare for the interview

Successful interviewing begins with Successful interviewing begins with preparation: preparation:

1.1. Know the companyKnow the company

2.2. Know yourselfKnow yourself

3.3. Know the questionsKnow the questions

4.4. Prepare questions of your ownPrepare questions of your own

“Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure."

- Norman Vincent Peale -

1. Know the Company1. Know the Company

Make sure you research the company you Make sure you research the company you are interviewing with so that you can ask are interviewing with so that you can ask

and answer questions intelligently.and answer questions intelligently.

Knowledge is power. Knowledge is power. 

There are a variety of ways to research:There are a variety of ways to research: Library (books, periodicals, magazines, etc.)Library (books, periodicals, magazines, etc.) Literature from company’s public relations Literature from company’s public relations

departmentdepartment Annual reportsAnnual reports Electronic sources of informationElectronic sources of information Interview someone who is already on the inside Interview someone who is already on the inside

You should become familiar with the You should become familiar with the organization’s products, structure, organization’s products, structure, services, financial status, competitors, services, financial status, competitors, reputation and any recent major reputation and any recent major changes.changes.

Try to discover information about the Try to discover information about the person who you will meet: background, person who you will meet: background, style and education.style and education.

2. Know Yourself2. Know Yourself

It is all about knowing yourself, your It is all about knowing yourself, your gifts and what you have to offer to gifts and what you have to offer to

the world. And it’s all about the world. And it’s all about deciding whether you want take the deciding whether you want take the

easy way and find “just a job”, or easy way and find “just a job”, or whether you want to do the hard whether you want to do the hard work necessary to figure out and work necessary to figure out and identify a job that really fits you.identify a job that really fits you.

What particular strengths make you What particular strengths make you different? What makes you unique? Be different? What makes you unique? Be ready to differentiate yourself. Be ready to differentiate yourself. Be ready to show your “competitive ready to show your “competitive advantage”.advantage”.

Remember your competition is sitting Remember your competition is sitting there in the classrooms with you. You there in the classrooms with you. You need to know and understand your need to know and understand your greatest strengths in relation to them.greatest strengths in relation to them.

“To be a great champion, you must believe that you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are”

-Muhammad Ali-

The night before the interview, spend The night before the interview, spend some time with a friend or family some time with a friend or family member, telling them why you would member, telling them why you would be the best for the position. be the best for the position.

Before you can possibly convince me Before you can possibly convince me as the interviewer that you are right as the interviewer that you are right for the job, you have to believe it for the job, you have to believe it yourself.yourself.

Don’t expect the interviewer to tell Don’t expect the interviewer to tell you why you are right for the job. you why you are right for the job.

3. Know the questions3. Know the questions Tell me about yourself.Tell me about yourself. Why are you applying for this job?Why are you applying for this job? What do you know about this job or company?What do you know about this job or company? What are your major strengths?What are your major strengths? What is your greatest weakness?What is your greatest weakness? What type of work do you like to do best?What type of work do you like to do best? What are your interests outside of work?What are your interests outside of work? What accomplishment gave you the greatest What accomplishment gave you the greatest

satisfaction?satisfaction? How does your education or experience relate How does your education or experience relate

to this job?to this job? Where do you see yourself five years from Where do you see yourself five years from

now?now?

What major problem have you had to deal What major problem have you had to deal with recently?with recently?

Do you handle conflict well?Do you handle conflict well? Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or

professor? How did you resolve it?professor? How did you resolve it? What are your goals in life?What are your goals in life? How do you plan to achieve those goals?How do you plan to achieve those goals? If I were to ask one of your professors to If I were to ask one of your professors to

describe you, what would he or she say?describe you, what would he or she say? What were you favorite classes? Why?What were you favorite classes? Why? Why is your GPA not higher?Why is your GPA not higher? How has your education prepared you for How has your education prepared you for

your career?your career? Are you willing to travel? How much?Are you willing to travel? How much? Is money important to you?Is money important to you? What kind of salary are you looking for?What kind of salary are you looking for?

The list goes on and on…The list goes on and on…

Beneath the dozens and dozens of Beneath the dozens and dozens of possible questions like those, there possible questions like those, there are really only are really only five basic five basic questionsquestions that underlie all the that underlie all the rest.rest.

The person who has the power to The person who has the power to hire you wants to know:hire you wants to know:

1.1. Why are you here?Why are you here?

2.2. What can you do for What can you do for us?us?

3.3. What kind of person What kind of person are you?are you?

4.4. What distinguishes What distinguishes you from nineteen you from nineteen other people who other people who have the same skills have the same skills as you have?as you have?

5.5. Can I afford you?Can I afford you?

1.1. What does this job involve?What does this job involve?

2.2. Do my skills truly match this job?Do my skills truly match this job?

3.3. Are these the kind of people I Are these the kind of people I would like to work with, or not?would like to work with, or not?

4.4. If we like each other, and both If we like each other, and both want to work together, can I want to work together, can I persuade them there is persuade them there is something unique about me that something unique about me that makes me different from makes me different from nineteen other people who can nineteen other people who can do the same tasks?do the same tasks?

5.5. Can I persuade them to hire me Can I persuade them to hire me at the salary I need or want?at the salary I need or want?

You have to be asking yourself the same five questions, though in a slightly different form:

One Interview Question One Interview Question That Nearly Every Student That Nearly Every Student

Fails Fails

One of the worst “sins” an interviewee can commit is to speak in generalities rather

than specifics.

Do not tell me how you would do it; tell me how you did it.

As you go through the exercise of interview preparation, carefully consider all questions in an “example” format.

“Suit the words to the action, the action to the words”-William Shakespeare-

A Side NoteA Side Note

Never interrupt or finish a sentence Never interrupt or finish a sentence for an interviewer. Even if they for an interviewer. Even if they

talk extraordinarily slow, be talk extraordinarily slow, be patient. Remember, they are the patient. Remember, they are the

one who holds the ticket for one who holds the ticket for admission.admission.

4. Prepare questions of 4. Prepare questions of your ownyour own

Employers are as interested in your Employers are as interested in your questions as they are in your questions as they are in your answers. And they will react answers. And they will react

favorably if you ask intelligent favorably if you ask intelligent questions about the position, the questions about the position, the

company and the industry.company and the industry.

This is your opportunity to separate yourself from the other interviewees

Smart QuestionsSmart Questions If you hired me, What would be my first If you hired me, What would be my first

assignment?assignment? Where will this company be in the next 5 to 10 Where will this company be in the next 5 to 10

years?years? Assuming I do a good job for the company, where Assuming I do a good job for the company, where

can I go from here?can I go from here? What do you enjoy the most about this company?What do you enjoy the most about this company? Would you please tell me about the people I will Would you please tell me about the people I will

be working with?be working with? Why is this opportunity available?Why is this opportunity available? Other than yourself, who else is involved with the Other than yourself, who else is involved with the

hiring process? Is it possible for me to meet with hiring process? Is it possible for me to meet with them today?them today?

Where does this position fit within the overall Where does this position fit within the overall organization?organization?

Is the leadership in your organization bottom Is the leadership in your organization bottom up or top down?up or top down?

Listening skillsListening skills

Listen carefully and ask questions to Listen carefully and ask questions to probe deeper into what the probe deeper into what the interviewer is telling you. interviewer is telling you.

Most interviewers are delightfully Most interviewers are delightfully surprised by a question such as, surprised by a question such as, "How could I help you solve the "How could I help you solve the problem you've just described?" problem you've just described?"

Make a Good First Make a Good First ImpressionImpression

The outcome of the interview will The outcome of the interview will depend largely on the impression you depend largely on the impression you make during the first five minutes. make during the first five minutes.

Your coursework, your average, your Your coursework, your average, your experience and your connections got experience and your connections got you to the interview but it is the “soft you to the interview but it is the “soft factors” that will take you to the next factors” that will take you to the next level.level.

First impressions count often for far more than is logical!

Keep in MindKeep in Mind

1.1. PunctualityPunctuality

2.2. DressDress

3.3. HandshakeHandshake

4.4. Body Body LanguageLanguage

1. Punctuality1. Punctuality

Do whatever it Do whatever it takes to arrive a takes to arrive a few minutes few minutes early. early.

Late arrival for a Late arrival for a job interview is job interview is never excusable.never excusable.

2. Dress For Interview 2. Dress For Interview SuccessSuccess

Your appearance will speak volumes before you ever

utter a word.

Men and WomenMen and Women• Conservative two-piece business suit (Solid dark Conservative two-piece business suit (Solid dark

blue or grey is best)blue or grey is best)• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is

best, pastel is next best)best, pastel is next best)• Clean, polished conservative shoesClean, polished conservative shoes• Well-groomed hairstyleWell-groomed hairstyle• Clean, trimmed fingernailsClean, trimmed fingernails• Minimal cologne or perfumeMinimal cologne or perfume• No gum, candy or cigarettesNo gum, candy or cigarettes• Light briefcase or portfolio caseLight briefcase or portfolio case• No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow

rings, etc.)rings, etc.)

MenMen Necktie should be silk Necktie should be silk

with a conservative with a conservative patternpattern

Dark shoes (black lace-Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)ups are best)

Dark socks (black is Dark socks (black is best)best)

Get a haircut; short hair Get a haircut; short hair always fares best in always fares best in interviewsinterviews

No beards No beards Mustaches are a Mustaches are a

possible negative, but if possible negative, but if you must, make sure it you must, make sure it is neat and trimmedis neat and trimmed

No rings other than No rings other than wedding ringwedding ring

No earrings (if you No earrings (if you normally wear one, take normally wear one, take it out) it out)

WomenWomen

Always wear a suit with Always wear a suit with a jacket; no dressesa jacket; no dresses

No high heelsNo high heels No purses, small or No purses, small or

large; carry a briefcase large; carry a briefcase insteadinstead

If you wear nail polish If you wear nail polish (not required), use clear (not required), use clear or a conservative coloror a conservative color

Minimal use of makeup Minimal use of makeup (it should not be (it should not be noticeable)noticeable)

No more than one ring No more than one ring on each handon each hand

One set of earrings onlyOne set of earrings only

3. Handshake3. Handshake

A firm handshake is appropriate A firm handshake is appropriate and projects confidence. and projects confidence.

Make eye contact when you shake. Make eye contact when you shake.

If you have difficulty maintaining eye contact, try this simple technique: Concentrate on noticing and remembering the color of the person’s eyes as you shake hands.

4. Body Language4. Body Language

Your Words tell me a story but your body tells me the whole story.

Communication is more than just what you say.

Nonverbal communication speaks the loudest!

The Most important The Most important Interview NonverbalsInterview Nonverbals

Eye ContactEye Contact Facial ExpressionsFacial Expressions PosturePosture GesturesGestures

Enthusiasm and Eye Enthusiasm and Eye ContactContact

Show your enthusiasm by making eye contact Show your enthusiasm by making eye contact and keeping an interested expression. and keeping an interested expression.

If you have difficulty maintaining eye contact due to discomfort at looking someone directly in the eyes, use The Nose on Their Face Technique.

Facial ExpressionsFacial Expressions

Eliminate any negative Eliminate any negative overall characteristics that overall characteristics that

might exist, then add a might exist, then add a simple feature that nearly simple feature that nearly every interviewee forgets every interviewee forgets

to include – to include – a smile!a smile!

PosturePosture

Posture sends out a Posture sends out a signal of your signal of your

confidence and power confidence and power potential.potential.

Stand tall, walk tall and most of all, sit tall.

GesturesGestures

Gestures should be very limited Gestures should be very limited during the interview.during the interview.

When you do use gestures, make sure When you do use gestures, make sure they are natural and meaningful.they are natural and meaningful.

Closing the InterviewClosing the Interview

You want to achieve four objectives at You want to achieve four objectives at the close of the interview:the close of the interview:

1.1. Make it clear that you want the Make it clear that you want the job. job.

2.2. Set the stage for the next step.Set the stage for the next step.

3.3. Create a final good impression.Create a final good impression.

4.4. Get an actual offerGet an actual offer

Analyzing the InterviewAnalyzing the Interview

If you don’t get an offer from this If you don’t get an offer from this company, you will succeed another company, you will succeed another

time.time.

Do not allow rejection to defeat you.Do not allow rejection to defeat you.

The One Thing You Must The One Thing You Must Do Before Your First Do Before Your First

InterviewInterview