Thoroughly Research the Company and Position

The more you know about the company and the job you are applying for, the better you will appear in the interview. An interviewer will be impressed by your interest and motivation, and you will be able to explain what you can do for the company.

Find out as much key information as you can about the company, its product and its customers. If possible, talk to people who work at the company. There may be other sources of information on the Web, especially if the company is publicly traded.

Search for the following

1.     Office location

2.     Products and services

3.     Customers

4.     Competitors

5.     Philosophy or corporate culture/environment

6.     History

7.     Recent news

8.     Financial info, including salary and stock

For the Actual Interview

1.     Practice your answer to common question

2.     Rehearse your interview with a friend

3.     Prepare your interview materials before you leave

4.     Dress professionally and comfortably

5.     Bring pen and notepad to jot down any information you may need to remember.

Telephone Interview

Telephone interviews are merely screening interviews meant to eliminate poorly qualified candidates so that only a few are left for a personal interview. You might be called out of the blue, or a call to check on your resume might turn into an interview. Be prepared. Your mission is to be invited for a personal face-to-face interview.

Some tips for telephone interview

1.     Anticipate the dialogue

Write a general script with answers to questions you might be asked. Focus on skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Practice until you are comfortable. Then replace the script with cue cards that you keep by the telephone.

2.     Keep your notes handy

Have any key information, including your resume, notes about the company, and any cue cards you have prepared, next to the phone. You will sound prepare if you don’t have to search for information. Make sure you also have a notepad and pen so you can jot down notes and any questions you would like to ask at the end of the interview.

3.     Be prepared to think on your test

If you are asked to participate in a role-playing situation, give short but concise answers. Accept any criticism with fact and grace

4.     Avoid Salary issues

If you are asked how much money you would expect, try to avoid the issue by using a delaying statement or give a broad range with a $15,000 spread. At this point, you do no know how much the job is worth.

5.     Push for a face-to-face meeting

Sell yourself be closing with something like: “I am very interested in exploring the possibility of working in your company. I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you in person so we can both better evaluate each other. I am fee either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. Which would be better for you?”

6.     Try to reschedule surprise interviews

You will not be your best with a surprise interview. If you were called unexpectedly, try to set an appointment to call back by saying something like: “I have a scheduling conflict at this time. May I call you back tomorrow after work, say 6 pm?”

Making a good Impression in the interview

Here’s what you should keep in mind the day of the interview and immediately afterward.

Before the interview

-      Be on time

-      Be positive and try to make others feel comfortable

-      Relax

During the interview-Sell yourself

-      Show self-confidence

-      Remember to listen

-      Reflect before answering a difficult question

-      When it is your turn, ask the question you have prepared in advance

-      Do not ask question that raise red flags

-      Show you want the job

-      Avoid negative body language

After interview

-      End the interview with a handshake and thank the interview for his or her time

-      Send a “Thanks for your Interview” note

-      Follow up with a phone call

Common job interview questions and answers

By rehearsing interview questions, you will become more familiar with you own qualifications and will be well prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an employer. Some examples:

Q: Tell me about your self

A: Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional achievements and professional goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to the organization.

Q: Why do you want to work here? Or What about our company interests you?

A: Few questions are more important than these, so it is important to answer them clearly and with enthusiasm. Show the interviewer your interest in the company. Share what you learned about the job, the company and the industry through your own research. Talk about how your professional skills will benefit the company. Unless you work in sales, your answer should never be simply: “money”. The interviewer will wonder if you really care about the job.

Q: Why did you leave your last job?

A: The interviewer may want to know if you had any problems on your last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason, such as: relocated away from job; company went out business; laid off temporary job; no possibility of advancement; wanted a job better suited to you skills.

(If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistake. You should explain your problems you had( or still have) with an employer, but don’t describe that employer in negative terms. Demonstrate that it was a learning experience that will not affect your future work.)

Q: What are your best skills?

A: If you have sufficiently researched the organization, you should be able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, than give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.

Q: What is you major weakness?

A: Be positive; turn a weakness into strengths. For example, you might say, “I often worry to much over my work. Sometimes I work late to make sure the job is done well.”

Q: Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?

A: The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give examples describing how you have worked in both situations.

Q: What are your career goals? Or what are your future plans?

A: The interviewer wants to know if your plans and the company’s goal are compatible. Let him know that you are ambitious enough to plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance, and be specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself.

Q: What are you hobbies? And do you play any sports?

A: The interviewer may be looking for evidence of your skills outside of your professional experience. For example, hobbies such as chess or bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Reading, music and painting are creative hobbies. Individual sports show determination and stamina, while group sport activities may indicate you are comfortable as part of a team. Also, the interviewer might simply be curious as to whether you have a life outside of work. Employees who have creative or athletic outlets for their stress are often healthier, happier and more productive.

Q: What salary are you expecting?

A: You probably don’t want to answer this one directly. Instead, deflect the question back to the interviewer by saying something like: “I don’t know. What are you planning on paying the best candidate? Let the employer make the first offer. (However, it is still important to know what the current salary range is for the profession. Find salary surveys at the library or on the internet, and check the classified to see what comparable jobs in your area are paying. This information can help you negotiate compensation once the employer makes an offer.)

Q: What have I forgotten to ask?

A: Use this as a chance to summarize your good characteristics and attributes and how they may be used to benefit the organization. Convince the interviewer that you understand the job requirements and that you can succeed.

Common job interview questions

Here are some other common job interview questions you might want to Rehearse.

Your Qualifications

-      What can you do for us that someone else can’t do?

-      What qualifications do you have that relate to the position?

-      What new skills or capabilities have you developed recently?

-      Give me an example from a previous job where you’ve shown initiative.

-      What have you been your greatest accomplishments recently?

-      What is important to you in a job?

-      What motivates you in your work?

-      What have you been doing since your last job?

-      What qualities do you find important in a coworker?

Your career Goals

-      What would you like to be doing five years from now?

-      How will you judge yourself successful? How will you achieve success?

-      What type of position are you interested in?

-      How will this job fit in your career plans?

-      What do you expect from this job?

-      Do you have a location preference?

-      Can you travel?

-      What hours can you work?

-      When could you start?

Your work experience

-      What have you learned from your past job?

-      What were your biggest responsibilities?

-      What specific skills acquired or used in previous jobs relate to this position?

-      How does your previous experience relate to this position?

-      What did you like most/least about your last job?

-      Whom may we contract for references?

Your Education

-      How do you think your education has prepared you for this position?

-      What were your favorite classes / activities at school?

-      Why did you choose your major?

-      Do you plan to continue your education?

Excellent Questions to ask during the interview

This is an important opportunity for you to learn more about the employer, and for the interviewer to further evaluate you as a job candidate. It requires some advance preparation on your part.

Question Tip

-      Prepare five food questions

-      Don’t ask questions that raise warning flags.

-      Don’t ask questions only on one topic

-      Clarity

Questions you should ask in an interview

1.     Can you please tell me how your career has developed at XYZ Corp. Would someone entering the firm today have similar opportunities?

2.     If I work and prove my value to the firm, where might I be in five years?

3.     I read in your literature that your training program is comprised of three sis-month rotations. Does the employee have and input into where he will go at the end of each rotation? How do you evaluate the employee’s performance during the training period?

4.     I read in Business Week that a major competitor of yours is increasing its market share in your main market. What plans does your firm have to regain its lost market share?

5.     Can you describe for me what a work week is really like as a salesperson for XYZ Corp?

6.     How many individuals complete your training program each year?

7.     When does the training program begin?

8.     What is the length and structure of the training program?

9.     Do most trainees advance fairly rapidly through the program?

10.  What career paths have others generally followed after completing the program?

11.  How do the position and the department contribute to the overall company mission and philosophy?

12.  What is a typical day (assignment) for a [position applying for] in your company?

13.  What characteristics best describes individuals who are successful in this position?

14.  Does the position offer exposure to other facets of your organization?

15.  What other positions and/or departments will I interact with most?

16.  To whom does this position report?

17.  How much decision-making authority and autonomy are given to new employees?

18.  How will performance be evaluated?

19.  How often are performance reviews given? By whom?

20.  What are the opportunities for advancement?

21.  Does your organization encourage its employees to pursue additional education?

22.  How would you describe the organization’s culture / environment?

23.  What makes your organization different from its competitors?

24.  What industry-wide trends are likely to affect your organization’s strengths and weaknesses?

25.  How would you describe organization’s personality and management style?

26.  How is the work environment affected by the organization’s management style?

Questions you should NOT ask during a job interview.

1.     What does you company do?

2.     What are your psychiatric benefits?

3.     Are you (the interviewer) married?

4.     Can you guarantee me that I will still have a job a year from now?

5.     The job description mentions weekend work. Would I really have to do that?

6.     How can you determine my qualifications in a short interview?

7.     Do I get to keep the frequent flyer miles from my trips?

8.     Would anyone notice if I came in late and left early?

9.     How am I as a candidate?

10.  What is the zidiac sign of your company’s president?

11.  How many (particular ethnic group) do you have working here?

12.  Do you offer free parking

13.  What does this company consider a good absenteeism record?

14.  What do you mean by “relocate”?

15.  Do you reimburse the cost of getting an MBA?

16.  Can you tell me about your retirement plan?

Common interview mistakes

1.     Arrive late for the interview

2.     Indicate you are late because the directions you were given were not good.

3.     Look disheveled and inappropriately dressed.

4.     Slouch in your seat

5.     Don’t maintain good eye-contact with the interviewer.

6.     Do your company research at the interview by asking, “what do you guys do here?”

7.     Don’t make a connection between your skills and the needs of the employer.

8.     Brag about how great you are, but neglect to cite evidence of you accomplishments.

9.     Respond in an unfocused, disorganized, and rambling manner.

10.  Remain low-key and display no enthusiasm for the job.

11.  Answer most questions with simple “yes” and “no: answers.

12.  Appear desperate for a job / any job

13.  Call the interviewer by his or her first name, or use the wrong name

14.  Give memorized responses, forgetting parts in the process

15.  Badmouth your current of former employer

16.  Ask “how am I doing? Are you going to hire me?”

17.  Blurt out, “I need to make at least $35,000. I hope this job pays at least that much,” near the beginning of the interview.

18.  When asked “do you have any questions?” , reply “No.”