The most crucial step in the job search is the interview. Solid interviewing skills are without a doubt a necessity in order to land a good job. Many people work very hard on their resume and cover letter, but often forget to prepare for the interview. This is a step that you shouldn't forget to prepare for. The opportunity to get the perfect job may be lost if you do not know how to handle yourself at an interview. Here are some tips:
First, prepare a couple of items to take with you. Include
(1) copies of your resume, (2) a pad of paper and a pen, (3) the company contact name and telephone number, (4) references, (5) a list of targeted job-related questions, (6) directions to the interview, and (7) mints.
Generally, the interview begins with greetings and then an exchange of information regarding the company and the position that you are applying for. The interviewer will then ask some straight-forward questions regarding your background. Following this, you may be asked questions that will help the interviewer learn more about your work style and personal strengths and weaknesses.
One such question might be:
"Give me an example of a time when you needed to adjust quickly. What did you do and how did it turn out?"
Before answering these questions, keep in mind that the interviewer doesn't want to hear your opinion. Avoid answering these questions with
"I think", "I believe", "I am" or "I will".
Respond by giving
(1) a brief description of the problem or situation, (2) your actions, and (3) results of your actions.
Your answers should give them a good idea of your strengths and weakness and problem solving skills. Here are some more examples to help prepare you:
- Tell me an example of the time you used good judgment and logic in dealing with a particular problem.
- Tell me an example of an important goal that you had set and how you tried to attain it.
- Tell me of an example when you were able to successfully communicate with someone whom you personally disliked or disagreed with.
- Tell me an example of a time when you had to come to a quick decision.
You will often feel like you need to answer these questions right away. But these questions are thought-provoking and should be given time to answer. Interviewers know this and you should not feel pressured to respond immediately. Relax and tell the interviewer you need a minute - and take that time to pick the best possible example. Don't worry about a minute or two of silence. Pausing to think is much better than giving a poor example. It may be in your best interest to take time before the interview to come up with some examples of situations that you want to include if asked such questions. Even if you are not asked behavioral questions, working these examples into the conversation will help to impress the interviewer.
In general, you should be relieved when you are asked these sorts of questions during the interview because you know that the interviewer will get a better understanding about you.
Just as importantly, you need to ask questions about the job position and also get to know the interviewer and his or her management style. When you ask questions, the types of questions you ask also reflects your level of intelligence, maturity and experience.
There are three types of questions that you can direct to the interviewer: the job duties, the work environment and the history of the position. It is probably most logical to start with questions regarding the specifics of the job itself.
For example, a question such as, "What do you expect the employee you hire to accomplish?" is a great way to get information about the actual duties involved in the position. Listen carefully to this answer, and ask additional questions if needed.
With the job duties clear in your mind, your next few questions should be about the work environment. Interpersonal factors surrounding a position are rarely included in job descriptions or mentioned in the interview, but can greatly affect your job satisfaction.
The following questions can help you in this area: "What is your company's management style?", "How does this department interact with other departments?", and "What kind of support does the person in this position receive from other employees?" Again, listen carefully and ask follow-up questions.
Now that you understand more about the position and environment, you should ask about the history of the position. Learning about the people who have previously held this position can give you a better idea of the challenges you might encounter. One way to begin this conversation is to ask the interviewer why the position is available.
You might also consider questions such as: "Why did the previous person in this position leave?" or "What would you like done differently by the next person who takes this position?"
These are all really important questions to ask, so don't forget!
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