Here are some helpful Interview Tips :
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Arrive a little early. If you arrive about fifteen minutes before
the scheduled interview time, you will have time to collect your thoughts,
wipe the perspiration from your hands, and scan the lobby for current
company information. You will also show your interviewer that you value
his or her time.
•
Do your homework. Know the interviewer's name and how to pronounce it
(including proper title: Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.). Know the company's major
products or services, the organization of the company (divisions, parent
company, etc.), current business news about the company and the company's
major customers and competitors. You can learn most or all of this information
from the company's website, annual report or company literature.
•
Bring a Spare Copy of Your Resume in a Briefcase or Folder. This
demonstrates that you are prepared. It also gives the interviewer
something to take notes on.
•
Don't Be Embarrassed by Nervousness. Interviewers are human, and
they often become nervous, too. In fact, nervousness is a good sign -
it shows that you are taking the interview seriously. Avoid nervous
mannerisms such as tapping your fingers, feet, playing with pens, etc.
•
Body language is powerful! Good eye contact, a warm, natural smile
and a firm handshake can help you overcome nervousness, develop a
personal rapport and present a confident image.
•
Don't Play Comedian or Try to Entertain the Interviewer. It is
important to be personable, but do not overdo it.
•
Don't Exaggerate or Lie. You might be tempted to embellish your
achievements in the interview, but it will come back to haunt you
on the job!
•
Follow the Interviewer's Lead. Don't try to take over the interview.
Stick to the main subject at hand, but do not dwell too long on one
point. It is better to deal with many questions rather than just one
or two in-depth questions, unless that's where the interviewer leads
you.
•
Be Prepared For Personal Questions, Even Some Inappropriate Ones.
Anticipate how you will handle personal questions without blowing
your cool. Some interviewers may not be aware of what they can and
cannot legally ask you. Be sure you understand the question. It is
okay to ask for clarification.
•
Emphasize the Positive. Be frank and honest, but never apologize
for lack of experience or weaknesses. You can be self-confident
without being overconfident or flippant. If you are new to the job
market, your lack of experience has one very positive feature: you
do not have to "unlearn" bad habits or different practices learned
from previous employers. Many employers like the idea that you can
be taught their individual company procedures without needing to get
rid of other training first.
•
Wait for an Offer to Bring Up Salary. Let the interviewer bring
up this subject. Often salary and benefits are not discussed at all
on the first interview. Even though everyone knows that salary is
important, you do not want to give the impression that it is the
only consideration. If it is, you can be easily lured away be a
competitor offering a slightly higher salary. The interviewer
needs to see that you are interested in the other aspects of the
job like the potential for growth, learning or the challenge of
the position.
•
Don't be Afraid to Think Before You Speak. Use silence and
intentional pause to your advantage. Time is occasionally needed
to think and to reflect. The interviewer will respect you for
taking a questions seriously enough to give it a moment or two
of consideration before answering.
•
Emphasize What You Can Do For The Organization. This means
emphasizing your transferable skills. However, be careful not to
reveal trade secrets from a previous employer. Employers are
concerned most with what you can do for them. Focus on your
ability to tackle new situations, your communication skills,
interpersonal abilities, analytical thinking talents, and other
skills developed while in college or in previous positions.
•
Don't give "Prepared Answers". Most employers know a these
stock answers when they hear them. This is a good reason to use
interview question / answer guide as just that - guides. If
your answers are not personalized to your situation, they will
sound forced and unnatural. You might be surprised to learn how
often interviewers hear the phrase, "I really like working with
people." The phrase is used so often that it has lost it's meaning!
•
NEVER Speak Badly about a Former Employer. If there were
problems with previous experiences, try to put your answers in
the positive rather than the negative. If you slight a former
employer, the interviewer may assume that you will someday do
the same to him or her.
•
Watch Your Grammar and Your Manners. Employers are interested
in candidates who can express themselves properly. Even if you have
to slow down to correct yourself -- do it! Use slang expressions
very sparingly. If your knowledge of rules of etiquette are rusty,
take a "refresher course" from a knowledgeable friend.
•
Be Prepared to Ask Questions. Almost all interviewers will ask
if you have any questions. You should have some ready and should
have at least one that is related to the conversation you have
just completed. This demonstrates that you are both prepared and
interested. Your questions should be related to details about the
company and should be based on the information you learned from
the homework you have done (see Tip #2). You should not ask questions
like "How long to I have to wait before I can take a vacation?"
Save those what's-in-it-for-me questions for later.
•
Use Telephone Interviews. If you are applying for jobs in
places in other states, you can suggest a short telephone interview.
Even a preliminary telephone interview can help you assess whether
or not it would be worth your time and expense to travel for a
personal interview.
•
Don't Expect an Immediate Job Offer. Offers usually follow
the interview, a few weeks later. If you are offered the position
on the spot, it is appropriate for you to ask for one or two days
to think about the offer before responding.
•
Wear business professional attire to an interview and
make sure you practice good hygiene. Do not eat anything that
like garlic that is going to give you bad breath. Do not chew
gum. Do not wear too much cologne!
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