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Job Interview Tips
The following tips have been created by Alexander Personnel to assist in
maximizing the self image during a job interview.
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Ingredients for a Successful Interview |
The Face-to-face Interview |
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Closing the interview |
Telephone interviews |
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Here are some suggestions to help in preparation for your
interviews. We ask that you review them carefully. Feel free to print these
lists out to read at your convenience. We hope that you find something here
that will help make your interviews more successful. Remember the 5 P's for
successful career development. Always be:
Punctual, Polite, Professional, Positive, and Pro-Active.
Ingredients for a Successful Interview
Preparation for the Interview
Here are some questions that you might find helpful during the interview:
 | A detailed description of the position |
| The reason the position is available |
| Anticipated indoctrination and training programs |
| Advanced training programs available for those who demonstrate
outstanding abilities |
| Earnings of those successful people in their third to fifth year |
| Company growth plans |
| Your potential career path within the company |
| What are your long term goals - where do you see yourself in 2/5/10
years |
| Know your interviewer -
research the company you are interviewing with by going to the library |
| Dress in acceptable business attire (no sport clothes). |
| Be neat and well groomed. |
| Plan to arrive a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview
is never excusable, and in many cases you may need to fill out a job
application. |
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The Face-to-face Interview
| Greet the interviewer by surname if you are sure of the pronunciation.
If you are not, ask for it to be repeated. |
| Shake hands firmly. Smile genuinely. |
| Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright in your
chair; look alert and interested at all times. |
| Be a good listener as well as a good talker. |
| Never smoke even if the interviewer smokes and offers you a cigarette.
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| Do not even chew gum during your interview. |
| Maintain good eye contact with the employer and don't fidget. |
| Follow the interviewer's leads, but try to get the interviewer to
describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that
you can relate your background and skills to the position. |
| Never answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain your
answers whenever possible. Tell those things about yourself which relate
to the situation. |
| Make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a
factual, sincere manner. Keep in mind that you alone can sell yourself to
an interviewer. |
| Make the interviewer realize the need for you in the organization. |
| Be prepared to answer typical questions like: What kind of job are you
looking for? What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? What do you know
about their company? Why did you choose your particular vocation? What are
your qualifications? |
| Never lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as "to the point"
as possible. |
| Never, ever make derogatory remarks about your present or former
employers or companies. |
| Never "over answer" questions. The interviewer may steer the
conversation into politics or economics. Since this can become a sticky
situation, it is best to answer the questions honestly, trying not to say
any more than is necessary. |
| Always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you
are discussing. |
| Never close the door on opportunity. It is better to be in the
position where you can choose rather than the company saying no. |
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Closing the interview
| Ask for the position if you are interested in it. Ask for the next
interview if the situation demands. If the position is offered to you, and
you want it, then accept it on the spot. If you wish some time to think it
over, be courteous and tactful in asking for that time. Set a definite
date when you can provide an answer. Never be too discouraged if no
definite offer is made or a specific salary is discussed. The interviewer
will probably want to communicate with the office first, or interview more
applicants, before making a final decision. |
| If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and
that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show.
Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your
possibilities may seem to discourage you in order to test your reaction. |
| Express thanks for the interviewer's time and consideration of you. |
| Ask for the interviewer's business card so you can write a thank you
letter as soon as possible. |
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Telephone interviews help the employer to
determine who they should take their time to sit down with at length, but if
you're local to the job, you should attempt to schedule personal interviews
to give a better first impression than they can possibly get from talking to
you over the phone. Having a
Successful Telephone Interview
A telephone interview is similar to an open book test. Notes are
mandatory,
not optional. In order to do a good telephone interview, six things are
required:
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| A resume or a written data sheet on yourself |
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| Have your strengths written down |
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| Also have your weaknesses written down |
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| Your "brag points"; accomplishments and achievements |
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| Questions about the hiring authority and the company |
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| A written-down closing statement |
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| The resume or data sheet is important so you have the data of
employment and specific job duties written down in front of you -
Under pressure, people have even forgotten their own names! Luckily, it's
right on the resume! |
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| Write down your top five strengths - If the hiring authority only
asks for three, that's okay - but you are prepared if he asks for five. |
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| Write down your weaknesses - If asked, your weaknesses should be
stated |
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| such as, "I feel the areas that I would like to improve on are..." |
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| "Brag points" - These are past achievements which single you out,
such as: employee of the month, scholarship, high school/college honors, a
work project you completed, etc. Write them down! |
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| Questions to ask the hiring authority regarding the company -
Write down things that are important to you, i.e., the size of the
company, growth potential, future opportunity, how long your potential
boss has been with the company, where his or her next step is and why he
or she likes the company, etc.
Do not discuss salary. State to the hiring authority that you are
willing to entertain his best offer, as he knows what is a fair price for
the responsibilities and the position. |
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| Closing statements - this is very important. Have something
written down so if the hiring authority says anything else in closing and
catches you off guard you can answer something similar to one of these
suggestions: |
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| I am interested in your opportunity and I know I can do a good job for
you. What is the next step in the interviewing process? I can do a good
job for you. When can I come to your location and meet with you in person? |
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| I would like to pursue this opportunity. When can I visit your
facility? |
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| I would like to have this job. What can I do to get it? |
You can never be well enough prepared for any interview you have, and
even
if just one thing from this list helps you to achieve a better interview,
then
that is all we can hope for. Good luck!
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