GENERAL HINTS AND GUIDELINES

The Interview

• Arrive five or ten minutes early, but not too early. When waiting in the lobby, remember that the receptionist may be an informal part of the selection team. Behave professionally while waiting.
• TURN OFF Cell phone / pagers during interview.
• When greeted by the interviewer, respond with a smile and good eye contact. Allow the interviewer to offer his or her hand. Respond with a firm handshake, neither bone crunching, nor limp. Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic. Willingly engage in any small talk the interviewer initiates.
• Be aware of body language, both your own and your interviewer's. Sit up, don't fidget, wiggle your foot, or "talk with your hands." Try to maintain a relaxed, open manner. Keep your voice level at an appropriate volume. If you speak very softly, this may be interpreted as shyness or a lack of assertiveness. Speak clearly and in complete sentences, avoiding one word answers.
• One of your main objectives in the interview is to establish good rapport with your interviewer. The interviewer is looking for someone he or she would be comfortable working with. If you are overly nervous and monosyllabic, or if the interviewer feels that information has to be dragged out of you, chances are the job will go to someone more forthcoming.
• Listen well. Don't interrupt. Tune in to the interviewer's responses and body language. If you momentarily lose concentration, ask that the question be repeated, rather than answering the wrong question. This is a frequent occurrence in interviews. Get clarification before proceeding.
• Keep your answers focused on the job description and the employer. Your research should now begin paying off in helping you to provide information that is relevant to the job at hand. Be specific in your answers by giving appropriate examples.
• If asked about something you don't know, be honest, but try to avoid negative qualifiers in your answers. For example, "I really don't have much background in that, but I did have a summer job in which..." This answer would be much more effective if it began, "I once had a summer job..." Perhaps you don't feel the experience you gained that summer was very significant. It's difficult to predict how the interviewer will evaluate it, but don't sabotage yourself.
• You also want to avoid negative comments about your previous jobs or bosses. Discuss the positive aspects of your experiences. Above all, don't ramble. Focus on the question that was asked. Give direct, well-organized answers.

Ending the Interview

You are generally asked if you have questions or comments at the end of the interview. This is a good time to interject any important points not covered by the interviewer, or which you forgot to mention earlier. Questions should be few in number and not require lengthy explanations. This segment of the interview is usually allotted five or ten minutes before the conclusion. Don't annoy the interviewer by detaining him or her. On the other hand, it is considered very bad form if you have no questions or comments. Thoughtful questions display your interest in and enthusiasm for the job. They might include:

• Who would my supervisor be?
• What type of equipment is used (computers, software, etc.)?
• What are the most important skills and abilities that you are seeking?
• How does one advance in this organization?
• If I were offered the position, when would I start?
• When can I expect to hear from you?

Think About Your Goals

It is important before an interview to think about all the reasons why you are attending it and what you have to offer the organization. Be ready to discuss both short and long term career goals in general terms.

Research The Job

Before attending any interview it is a good idea to research the organization and familiarize yourself with the following:

• Size of organization, number of employees.
• History, how long have they been operating – do they have any affiliated organizations or belong to an umbrella group?
• General information about their services/products/aims etc.
• Major competitors or other organizations operating in the same field.
• Job description – understand the skills required for the position.
• Relationship between the open position and other members of staff - have a sense for the department.
• Have some well thought-out questions that would help further your understanding of the organization e.g. How do you see the organization developing over the next year/three years?
  

WHAT IS THE EMPLOYER LOOKING FOR?

Employers use interviews to confirm that an applicant has the required knowledge, skills and willingness to contribute and fit into the organization’s culture. They also want to see if your career goals are in line with opportunities available with their organization. They are looking for the potential in prospective employees to become valued, trusted, productive team members of their organization.

You must try to consider how you can display your skills and experience in a good and honest light and provide employers with the evidence that you are the right person for the job. Here are some brief points to consider:

• Are you a self-starter, able to work without constant supervision?
• Can you be depended upon in critical situations and follow work through to completion?
• Are you enthusiastic and easy to work with?
• Can you work under pressure?
• Recruiters need to know what drives you to want the job and why you want to work for the organization in particular.
• Can you manage your time effectively?
• How do you structure your day’s work?
• How do you plan your day and week?
• How did you handle sudden unplanned work or crisis?
• Can you handle constructive criticism in a productive manner?
• Are you objective in evaluating yourself and others?

You will rarely be working alone so being able to work as part of a team is valuable. Co-operation and ability to work well in a team environment are some the most valued skills in employees.

• Can you work well with a variety of people?
• What would you do to help a team of people work together better?
  

POINTS TO CONSIDER THROUGHOUT THE INTERVIEW

• Be prepared with answers to the traditional interview questions. Rehearse your answers with a friend who will give you honest feedback about the content of your answer and body language.
• Aim for clarity, brevity and above all, honesty. Give honest answers with a positive tone.
• Concentrate on the employer’s needs, not yours.
• Emphasize how you can help the organization achieve its goals.
• Describe your past responsibilities and accomplishments.
• Explain why you approached projects in a certain ways.
• Explain how the skills you bring will benefit the organization.
• Don’t downplay your accomplishments or attribute them to luck.
• Be specific in your answers. Avoid rambling or getting off on a tangent.
• Ask for clarification if you are unsure of the question.
• Ask the employer if they think it would be helpful to add information about skills or experiences that you believe are relevant but which have not been covered during the interview. Take responsibility for communicating your strengths. Don’t rely on the interviewer to pull it out of you.
• Consider the types of skills and characteristics you think the employer needs in the applicant to be successful in the job for which you are attending an interview, e.g. attention to detail, diplomacy, leadership, persistence, problem solving and planning, stress management, team building, technical.
• Once you have determined what you think the employer will be looking for, write out examples of situations that showed your skills in those areas. Explain your past successes, the more you can clearly describe the experience, the people involved, the challenge and the solutions, the more you’ll stand out in the interviewer’s mind.
  

Gaps In Your Resume

You will also need to explain gaps in employment. If you worked in a temporary capacity but didn’t put it on your RESUME, know the details of which companies you worked with, what you did for them and the length of the assignments. If you did not work but did search for a job give some examples of the research you did regarding job opportunities and the process you went through to find the position.

Reasons For Leaving

Prepare to discuss the reasons you left your previous jobs. If it was for a better opportunity, explain how it was an opportunity. If you left involuntarily, present the reason in the most positive light you can. Make sure your responses are honest and be positive.