INTERVIEWING

What's the most important thing you can do before an interview? Preparation  How can you prepare for the interview BEFORE you go in to meet the employer? Figure out as much as possible about the employer's needs. Find out more than the average interviewee about the company and the hiring manager's concerns. Practice your interview questions and answers.

Critical Success Factors  Positive attitude toward work  Proficiency in field of study  Communication skills (written & oral)  Interpersonal skills  Confidence  Critical thinking and problem-solving skills  Flexibility  Self-motivation  Leadership  Teamwork

What’s the single most depressing factor in interviewing?  Chemistry  What is chemistry -- and why is it important in a job interview? The chemistry or rapport between you and the interviewer. Do you "click" with the interviewer? If not, there’s a good chance you won’t get the job. It’s depressing because there’s not a lot you can do to improve chemistry.

How long will the interviewer take to decide whether you are a good fit with the company?  The interviewer will probably decide whether you are a good fit with the company in the first five minutes of the interview.

Does it really matter if you're just a few minutes late to the interview? Surveys reveal that if you're even a few minutes late, you're usually eliminated. Always strive to get to an interview early, thus protecting yourself from unexpected delays. Getting to an interview a bit early also allows you time to collect your thoughts and observe people (and corporate culture) while waiting.

How should you dress for an interview?  Risky for both: Visible body piercings/tattoos Body odor; too much perfume/colgne  Risky for men: Nonmatching suit Long hair/ponytail Facial hair  Risky for women: Hair in eyes; wear hair up or back Too much make-up

How should you greet and shake hands with your interviewer? Greet your interviewer enthusiastically. Stand up and extend your hand for the handshake. Medium-to-firm handshake -- no dead fish, no bone-crusher. Ultra-warm smile "Good morning, I'm glad to meet you" and "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a candidate for this position."

How can you make the most of the period of small talk to establish rapport? Try to find common interests. Look around interviewer's office for clues.

Should you bring a copy of your resume to the interview?  Yes  Offer a copy of your resume or at least have one handy if interviewer has trouble locating his or her copy. (And bring extra copies in case you have more than one interviewer.)  And if you have one, bring your career portfolio as well.

How important is eye contact with the interviewer? Extremely important Don't look up at walls and ceiling for answers. Don't cast eyes downward.

What other nonverbals cues are important in a job interview?  Facial Expressions Smile Posture Sit up straight. Sit on edge of seat to appear eager. Gestures Personal Space

What kinds of bad habits and inappropriate body language create problems in job interviews?  Um's and uh's  Speaking too softly  Touching face, mouth, scratching head  Chewing gum  Twiddling thumbs  Tapping a pencil or fork  Stretching parts of the body  Staring  Using slang or profanity  Calling the interviewer by his or her first name (unless asked)  Fidgeting  Twirling in chair

What's the best way to show ENTHUSIASM in a job interview?  Big, warm, consistent smile.

What's the best way to show CONFIDENCE in a job interview? Strong, forceful voice.

Handling frequently asked interview questions: Tell Me About Yourself  Don't give the story of your life.  Give a very brief rundown including education, previous job titles targeted very specifically toward how your experience and/or education will be useful in the position for which you're applying.

Handling frequently asked interview questions: What are Your Strengths?  Talk about strengths that are very specific to the job you're interviewing for.

Handling frequently asked interview questions: What are Your Weaknesses?  Give a negative that's really a positive:  "I am sometimes impatient, which drives me to work excessively."  "If I start on a project, I sometimes forget to go to lunch."  "Since I'm such a perfectionist, I sometimes find it hard to delegate because I’m concerned others won't do the job as well as I can." Caution: The perfectionist response is overused.  Give a negative that is really inconsequential and has little to do with how well you would perform the job:  "I am not a good speller, so I keep a dictionary handy."  More choices for responding to weakness question:  Simply reassure the interviewer that you know of no weaknesses that would stand in the way of your performing this job.  Reveal a trait that once was a weakness, but explain how you overcame it and learned from it.

Handling frequently asked interview questions: Where do you want to be in 5 years?  Strike a delicate balance when responding to this kind of question: Honesty/Ambition/Your desire to be working at this company.  Avoid responses like starting your own business, running for Congress.  Not totally inappropriate to mention the personal (marriage, family), but focus should be on professional goals. Response could be:  "I'm here to let you know that I am the best person for the job. If in the future you feel I would be a candidate for a higher level position, I know I wouldn't be passed up."  OR: "I hope to stay at the company and expect that in five years, I’ll make a significant advance in the organization."  OR: "I would like to become the very best ______________ your company has."

Handling frequently asked interview questions: YES or NO Questions  Are you a team player?  Are you a goal-oriented person?  Do you handle conflict well?  Do you handle pressure well?  Never respond with just "yes" or "no."  Always elaborate and be prepared to give specific examples.  Use fairly current examples. Examples from high school and before are probably too old.  Use a variety of examples. Not all from sports, or being an RA, or fraternity/sorority.