Help For Corporate Road Kill
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Interviewing
When the resume is done and you’ve jumped into the fray and you get a call for an interview, now what? If you’ve had a job, you’ve probably been through an interview. So you know what an interview is, questions. The purpose of an interview is to check you out. The employer is looking for who they think is the best candidate for the job. But, remember the interview is a two way street. You are also interviewing the interviewer. Just because you applied doesn’t mean you necessarily want that job. During the interview you are gathering information. What is the company culture? Is there an opportunity to advance? Do I want this person as my boss? The most important question you need to have answered is, “Do I want to work here?”
Many of the sites where you can search jobs and post resumes will also have information about interviewing. Use the web, visit the library and talk to your network.
Three Parts to the Interview: Before, During and After
Preparing for Your Interview
- Check out the company’s website. Read everything. Who are the company officers? Who are the company’s customers? Who are their competitors? What products or services do they offer? What is the company’s financial standing? Don’t be surprised. A favorite question of some interviewers is, “what can you tell me about our company?” Pay attention to the “company speak”. Consider the words and phrases used in the company website. Some companies post recent speeches by company officers and press releases and articles. When you are researching a company one link is going to lead to another. Do your homework and be prepared. Use Yahoo or Google, take the information you have learned and start surfing. You can research the company. You can even research people at the company and maybe even your interviewer. Check what salaries are being paid for this type of position. Be an investigator. See Company Low-Down to get started on your research.
Check with your network. Talk your network. What do they know about the company? Your network may even know the person who is conducting your interview. If someone in your network is familiar with the company ask him or her the questions you’d ask at an interview.
The Interview
- Read your personal marketing plan. What did you write in your personal vision statement? Reflect on what you want from a job. Remember job/life balance.
- Read over your resume and look at your accomplishments. Practice answering interview questions. Now match those accomplishments to the questions. Read the job posting, again. Pay close attention to what the company is looking for, what the job duties are and what experience is required. Now, practice those questions again and match your answers to your accomplishments.
- Plan what you are going to wear. Dress one step up from what you have learned about the company. Even if you know the organization is business casual or even jeans are okay, always dress on the conservative side.
- Leave lots of time for your interview. Do not schedule something immediately afterwards. You never know what might happen at the interview.
- Plan your route. Leave plenty of time, no matter whatever website gives you directions and an estimated time. A wrong turn and you’ve lost 5 minutes. Where am I going to park?
- Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Look around the building. Nice place? Employee parking? Are there places in the neighborhood to eat? How was the commute? Do the people working here look happy? Sitting in the lobby for 10 minutes can tell you a lot about the place. If there are materials about the company, pick ‘em up, read them, be prepared.
- Be prepared to fill out an application. They may not tell you this when your interview is set. Did you bring a pen? Better to bring a couple. Do you have something to write on? You will want to take notes during the interview. Look prepared.
- Bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter. You never know when, more than one person might interview you. What if they offer you a second interview with another person on the spot? As the Boy Scouts say, “Be Prepared!”
- Introduce yourself with a smile, a firm handshake, in a courteous manner and be relaxed.
- Make eye contact
- Listen to the questions. Really hear what is being said, listen to understand. Nod, acknowledge that you are listening and understand.
- Body language speaks volumes. Think about how you are sitting. Are you smiling? Are you giving positive nonverbal feedback? People pay attention to the way you sit, hold your hands, your sitting position. Sit after being asked, smile, and make eye contact. First impressions are made in 10-15 seconds. And, as the tired old clique goes, “First impressions are lasting impressions.” Your audible “picture” is 7% words, 38% voice tone and 55% non-verbal.
- Smile, be friendly, be the person you would want to hire.
- Let the interviewer set the pace. Think before you speak. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question. Use the “company speak”, think about the job posting responsibilities and keywords, in your answers. Tie your qualifications to the company’s needs. Don’t talk too much. Think about what you are saying. Remember when you practiced these questions? You’re prepared!
- At some point a good interviewer is going to ask you if you have any questions. Be prepared with a concise list of questions. Ask about the job, responsibilities, company culture, are there opportunities for training and development, what are the challenges and priorities, why the job is open and whom you will report. Do not ask questions about salary, benefits or perks. These are negotiable items, wait for the job offer. Once an offer has been made they want you, you have power. Think of your questions and write them down. The interview is one of the best places to learn about the company. If you have done your research you can frame questions around what you have learned. Remember the interviewer is deciding if you have the skills they are seeking and if they want to work with you.
- Remember honesty is the best policy.
- Offer to provide any additional information. But wait for them to request your references. Bring several copies of your reference list; again be prepared. You’re being watched, you’re being monitored, you’re being measured.
- But before you walk out the door find out what the next steps for filling the position are going to be. Express you enthusiasm and interest in the job. Ask where the interviewer is in the process? Where are you in the interview line? What is the next step in the process? Will there be second interviews? How long do they expect the process to take?
- Of course, thank the interviewer, shake hands and smile.
After the Interview
- It may sound old fashion, but sending a thank you letter is still the thing to do. Get that thank you out within 48 hours. See the Resume, Cover Letters, References & Thank You.
- Review the interview. Read over your notes. What went well, what could you improve on, what are your thoughts on the job and write it down. Keep a log of whom you met with, when, your review of the interview and follow up on anything from the interview that needs it.
Interviewing & Sample Questions
Practice, practice, practice... Practice with another person. Review the questions in your mind and try out different answers. Imagine the interview from introduction to "thank you".
Job-Interview.net -
Interview Downloads -
Resumes and Interviewing -
Interviewing: Questions and Expert Advice -
How to Answer the Toughest Interview Questions -
Interview Tips -
Traditional Interview Questions -
109 Typical Interview Question -
General Tips to Follow When Interviewing -
Typical Interview Questions -
Stupid Interview Questions -
Don't Let Tough Questions Sabotage Your Interview -
Many of the sites where you can search jobs and post resumes will also have information about interviewing. Use the web, visit the library and talk to your network.
Three Parts to the Interview: Before, During and After
Preparing for Your Interview
- Check out the company’s website. Read everything. Who are the company officers? Who are the company’s customers? Who are their competitors? What products or services do they offer? What is the company’s financial standing? Don’t be surprised. A favorite question of some interviewers is, “what can you tell me about our company?” Pay attention to the “company speak”. Consider the words and phrases used in the company website. Some companies post recent speeches by company officers and press releases and articles. When you are researching a company one link is going to lead to another. Do your homework and be prepared. Use Yahoo or Google, take the information you have learned and start surfing. You can research the company. You can even research people at the company and maybe even your interviewer. Check what salaries are being paid for this type of position. Be an investigator. See Company Low-Down to get started on your research.
Check with your network. Talk your network. What do they know about the company? Your network may even know the person who is conducting your interview. If someone in your network is familiar with the company ask him or her the questions you’d ask at an interview.
The Interview
- Read your personal marketing plan. What did you write in your personal vision statement? Reflect on what you want from a job. Remember job/life balance.
- Read over your resume and look at your accomplishments. Practice answering interview questions. Now match those accomplishments to the questions. Read the job posting, again. Pay close attention to what the company is looking for, what the job duties are and what experience is required. Now, practice those questions again and match your answers to your accomplishments.
- Plan what you are going to wear. Dress one step up from what you have learned about the company. Even if you know the organization is business casual or even jeans are okay, always dress on the conservative side.
- Leave lots of time for your interview. Do not schedule something immediately afterwards. You never know what might happen at the interview.
- Plan your route. Leave plenty of time, no matter whatever website gives you directions and an estimated time. A wrong turn and you’ve lost 5 minutes. Where am I going to park?
- Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Look around the building. Nice place? Employee parking? Are there places in the neighborhood to eat? How was the commute? Do the people working here look happy? Sitting in the lobby for 10 minutes can tell you a lot about the place. If there are materials about the company, pick ‘em up, read them, be prepared.
- Be prepared to fill out an application. They may not tell you this when your interview is set. Did you bring a pen? Better to bring a couple. Do you have something to write on? You will want to take notes during the interview. Look prepared.
- Bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter. You never know when, more than one person might interview you. What if they offer you a second interview with another person on the spot? As the Boy Scouts say, “Be Prepared!”
- Introduce yourself with a smile, a firm handshake, in a courteous manner and be relaxed.
- Make eye contact
- Listen to the questions. Really hear what is being said, listen to understand. Nod, acknowledge that you are listening and understand.
- Body language speaks volumes. Think about how you are sitting. Are you smiling? Are you giving positive nonverbal feedback? People pay attention to the way you sit, hold your hands, your sitting position. Sit after being asked, smile, and make eye contact. First impressions are made in 10-15 seconds. And, as the tired old clique goes, “First impressions are lasting impressions.” Your audible “picture” is 7% words, 38% voice tone and 55% non-verbal.
- Smile, be friendly, be the person you would want to hire.
- Let the interviewer set the pace. Think before you speak. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question. Use the “company speak”, think about the job posting responsibilities and keywords, in your answers. Tie your qualifications to the company’s needs. Don’t talk too much. Think about what you are saying. Remember when you practiced these questions? You’re prepared!
- At some point a good interviewer is going to ask you if you have any questions. Be prepared with a concise list of questions. Ask about the job, responsibilities, company culture, are there opportunities for training and development, what are the challenges and priorities, why the job is open and whom you will report. Do not ask questions about salary, benefits or perks. These are negotiable items, wait for the job offer. Once an offer has been made they want you, you have power. Think of your questions and write them down. The interview is one of the best places to learn about the company. If you have done your research you can frame questions around what you have learned. Remember the interviewer is deciding if you have the skills they are seeking and if they want to work with you.
- Remember honesty is the best policy.
- Offer to provide any additional information. But wait for them to request your references. Bring several copies of your reference list; again be prepared. You’re being watched, you’re being monitored, you’re being measured.
- But before you walk out the door find out what the next steps for filling the position are going to be. Express you enthusiasm and interest in the job. Ask where the interviewer is in the process? Where are you in the interview line? What is the next step in the process? Will there be second interviews? How long do they expect the process to take?
- Of course, thank the interviewer, shake hands and smile.
After the Interview
- It may sound old fashion, but sending a thank you letter is still the thing to do. Get that thank you out within 48 hours. See the Resume, Cover Letters, References & Thank You.
- Review the interview. Read over your notes. What went well, what could you improve on, what are your thoughts on the job and write it down. Keep a log of whom you met with, when, your review of the interview and follow up on anything from the interview that needs it.
Interviewing & Sample Questions
Practice, practice, practice... Practice with another person. Review the questions in your mind and try out different answers. Imagine the interview from introduction to "thank you".
Job-Interview.net -
Interview Downloads -
Resumes and Interviewing -
Interviewing: Questions and Expert Advice -
How to Answer the Toughest Interview Questions -
Interview Tips -
Traditional Interview Questions -
109 Typical Interview Question -
General Tips to Follow When Interviewing -
Typical Interview Questions -
Stupid Interview Questions -
Don't Let Tough Questions Sabotage Your Interview -
