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It is said that Networking is the most essential skill needed in job searching today. It helps you connect with employers and recruiters and opens doors to potential jobs. However, getting in the door is only the first step. Your interviewing skills must be superb to get job offers at any level. You have nothing to lose but a job offer if you don't invest time in preparing for every interview, no matter how confident you are with your communication skills.
Things You Must Do in an Interview
Sample Questions To Ask During An Interview
Thank You Notes: Do They Really Make A Difference?
Things You Must Do in an Interview
By Aileen Pincus, BusinessWeek.com
When you are looking to make the Big Leap -- the one that puts you closer to the power centers of a business or organization -- the interview process will likely be different from what you've experienced before. The more senior the person or people you're interviewing with, the more definite their ideas are likely to be about what they're looking for. They know that their own continued success depends on hiring the best people.
So how do you prove your readiness for the big leagues? By thinking like a big-league player. This interview will be different from others, but it will be your best chance to impress the decision makers, so there are some key points you want to be certain you get across. Here are tips to help you succeed:
Show You Get the "Big Picture"
Any number of interview candidates may possess specific subject-knowledge valuable to a business. But the candidate who goes beyond mere information and displays an ability to use it well is more likely to get the job. Senior executives and managers generally want people who pay attention to and understand the broader view.
Tip: Demonstrate you recognize patterns and understand their importance; that you know how to use and synthesize information.
Find Out What Keeps the Boss Up at Night
Do your homework so you understand not only the job or promotion for which you are applying, but also the job of the senior executive above it. Do you know to whom this person reports, and what the top issues are for your boss's boss?
Tip: Make that knowledge part of your interview conversation. Show an interest not only in the specifics of the job, but in the product and markets for that company. Ask broad questions: "What do you think the potential growth in the Indian market is?"
Look for Answers
Senior managers are looking for candidates who are creative thinkers focused on finding solutions. It is less important that you show you know the details of the problems the organization faces than that you're able to demonstrate readiness to look for options and find solutions.
Tip: Think about problems in the past you've identified and managed to solve. Show readiness to tackle the tough issues.
Show Some Guts
Chances are whoever you're interviewing with got where he is by showing some moxie, and you should too. Top people need and want folks around them who are not afraid to speak up and will confidently assert their ideas. It is the only way to be part of the process.
Tip: Be ready with an example of a time when you weren't afraid to go out on a limb and your actions helped bring about real change.
Show Your Softer Side, Too
Yes, you should speak up and assert your ideas. But there will be times when the folks at the top will want-- will even need -- for you to go along once a decision has been made, even if you don't agree with it.
Tip: Think about past experiences you can discuss to demonstrate you're comfortable with the challenges of a dynamic environment.
Listen
Just as you want to make it plain in an interview that you are not too timid to speak up, you want to make it clear you are not over-confident or intent on dominating the process. Demonstrate you are able to listen without being too eager to cut off dialog.
Tip: Ask questions that reflect the concerns of the questioner in a constructive way. For instance, if you are asked what you would do in a certain situation, resist the temptation to answer before you've asked some questions of your own.
Keep It Positive
If there's one thing senior managers have a universal distaste for, it's whining. Remember, every hiring manager wants to hire a team player who will bring positive energy and real initiative to the job. Be ready with examples of positive suggestions about problems or issues that you took initiative on in order to demonstrate your people skills.
Tip: Steer clear of any criticism of prior managers, even if invited to offer it.
1. Know why you’re interested in the job/company.
2. Assess your strengths and weaknesses. Sell
yourself!
3. Assess your major accomplishments.
4. Be prepared to discuss your job responsibilities.
5. Evaluate your skills and experience as they relate
to the position requirements.
6. Prepare your questions about the position.
7. Research the company – know what you are
walking into. Know why you want to work there.
8. Make sure you are ready to make a professional
presentation – both in appearance and in
verbiage.
9. Write a good resume that accurately reflects your
education and work experience. It should be
neat and should not have typing or spelling
errors. Have a friend or mentor read it over.
10. Compose a thank-you letter that you can send
immediately after your interviews. Thank the
interviewer for the opportunity and ask for the
job.
1. Make sure you understand the questions (ask a
second time if you are unsure).
2. Respond concisely – don’t ramble – when people
are nervous, they tend to chit-chat.
3. Avoid “yes” or “no” answers.
4. Don’t bring up salary or benefits unless the
interviewer brings them up. Know what an
appropriate salary range should be.
5. If you want the job, ask for it!
6. As you answer questions, avoid use of negative
terms and avoid the temptation to be negative
about past employers.
7. Answer questions with specific examples – avoid
generalities.
8. Evaluate the position for which you are
interviewing. If the company is hiring for a lighter
level position, don’t market management level
intentions, otherwise the company will worry you
will be unhappy.
1. Lack of proper career planning, purposes and goals
are ill defined and need direction. Candidate has
no idea why they pursued this field.
2. Inability to express thoughts clearly and concisely –
rambles.
3. Inability to discuss achievements.
4. Not prepared for the interview – no research on the
position or the company.
5. Unable to explain interest in the position/company.
6. Little interest and enthusiasm – indifferent – bland
personality.
7. Overbearing, overaggressive, conceited, cocky,
aloof or assuming.
8. Interested only in a higher level or more money.
9. Asks few or poor questions about the job – little
depth and meaning to questions. Does not talk…
10. Makes excuses, evasiveness, hedges on
unfavorable factors in record.
11. No confidence and poise, fails to look interviewer in
the eyes, immature, weak handshake.
12. Poor personal appearance, sloppy dress, lacks
sophistication. Needs haircut or hair is not clean.
Too much jewelry or perfume/cologne.
Sample Questions To Ask During The Interview
1. What can I do to be of most benefit in this
position and to your company?
2. What responsibilities would you like this position
to take over?
3. What are some of the objectives you would like
accomplished in this job?
4. Is there any further education you would like me
to acquire? I am willing to do so.
5. What other departments does this position
interact with?
6. How much orientation and training will be
provided?
7. How do you determine work objectives and
deadlines?
8. Once I am trained, what additional responsibilities
would you like me to take on?
9. How long have you been with the company? What is your background? Why do
you enjoy working here?
Thank You Notes: Do They Really Make A Difference?
You have just left an interview feeling confident about the impression you have made on a future employer. What is your next step? The question that lies ahead is “should I send a thank you note, will it really make a difference, will it have an impact on whether I get the job or not?”
It is extremely important to send a thank you letter as a follow up to any interview. We are all busy, but it takes very little time to actually sit down and write a few words and it only costs the price of a stamp. The note should be thoughtful and contain some reference to the interview. Comment once again on what particularly makes you a good fit for the position, thank them for their time and express your excitement about the position. Ensure that the letter is professional and carries the right tone – you are thanking a future employer for their time not sending a note to a friend. This note can set you apart from other candidates who are just as qualified as you are for the job – it puts your name out there once again, especially above those who didn’t bother to send one.
Email – is it appropriate to send a thank you note via email? Sending a note via email actually depends on the situation and circumstances. In some cases it is fine to send an email. If things appear to be moving quickly and there may not be time to get a letter through the mail, email can be an appropriate alternative. Again make sure it is professional and has the right tone. Emails often tend to come off as more relaxed and informal.
Before you seal the envelope or hit the send button on your computer make sure that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. This is key because the letter is a direct reflection of you. You don’t want the last impression to be negative due to a silly error.
Does sending a thank you note ensure that you will get the job? Of course the answer is no, however even if you do not get the job you have met a new contact or possibly started a new relationship. The impression you leave may even make the difference in receiving a future contact from the company.
Winning the Interview Game:
Everything You Need to Know to Land the Job
Demystifying the dreaded interview process, Winning the Interview Game by Alan H. Nierenberg takes new and experienced job-seekers step-by-step from interview preparation to the first day on the job. Rich with real-life examples, this book shows readers how to:
- Thoroughly prepare for every interview
- Establish and maintain rapport with interviewers
- Prove they ideally suit the position requirements
- Take advantage of the pressure on recruiters and human resources departments to fill jobs
- Recognize and disarm negative body language exhibited by interviewers
- Deal with difficult questions and tense situations to salvage a less-than-perfect interview before it ends
201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview
by John Kador
To really shine on your job interview the questions you ask must be at least as memorable as the answers you give. Today it's the questions you ask that set you apart from the dozens of qualified candidates competing for your job. Make your questions demonstrate that you are a superstar, a world-class candidate who will add significant value to the job. 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview by John Kador arms you with the questions and techniques you need to nail this most crucial part of the interview process.
60 Seconds & You're Hired!
by Robin Ryan
Written for everyone in the job market, this book provides valuable strategies for success in interviewing. Proven and easy-to-use techniques teach you how to communicate that you are the best person for the job and how to avoid common pitfalls. Author Robin Ryan offers a selection of best responses to the interviewer's questions and what intelligent, informed questions to ask about the company and the position. Tips on "closing" and negotiating the best deal prepare the reader for success.
I Don't Know What I Want, but I Know It's Not This: A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work
by Julie Jansen
Studies show that more than 75% of people are dissatisfied with their work. Career coach Julie Jansen has found that there are six basic scenarios that lead to this professional unhappiness:
- WHERE’S THE MEANING
- BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, BUT STILL NEED TO EARN
- BRUISED AND GUN-SHY
- BORED AND PLATEAUED
- YEARNING TO BE ON YOUR OWN
- ONE TOE IN THE RETIREMENT POOL
Do any of these sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many people want to alter their current work situation, but don’t know how. Jansen addresses today’s work-dissatisfaction epidemic and uses career assessment quizzes and personality exercises to help readers assess their present job, discover the type of work for which they are best suited, and make change happen. Filled with real-life examples and a useful resource section, Jansen’s guide is an invaluable instrument for implementing positive career change.
Now, Discover Your Strengths
by Marcus Buckingham, Donald O. Clifton
Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead, guided by our parents, by our teachers, by our managers, and by psychology’s fascination with pathology, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, while our strengths lie dormant and neglected.
Marcus Buckingham, coauthor of the national bestseller First, Break All the Rules, and Donald O. Clifton, Chair of the Gallup International Research & Education Center, have created a revolutionary program to help readers identify their talents, build them into strengths, and enjoy consistent, near-perfect performance. At the heart of the book is the Internet-based StrengthsFinder® Profile, the product of a 25-year, multimillion-dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human strengths. The program introduces 34 dominant “themes” with thousands of possible combinations, and reveals how they can best be translated into personal and career success.
Gallup has conducted psychological profiles with more than two million individuals to help readers learn how to focus and perfect these themes.
Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life
by Carole Kanchier PhD.
BASED ON THE AUTHOR’S RESEARCH WITH 30,000 ADULTS
Dr. Kanchier’s message appeals to people with a wide range of interests, backgrounds, and occupations. She presents a proven self-help approach to career and life enrichment based on her research of over 30,000 individuals. Dare to Change is a must read if you are:
- Wondering what to do with your life
- Thinking about starting your own business
- Reentering the workforce or looking for a new job
- Thinking of leaving a dissatisfying job
- Considering going back to school
- Looking for strategies to guide others’ life decision
Dare to Change helps you understand how you and your career grow and change through life, and how you make important life decisions. It provides practical advice and tools such as questionnaires, exercises, and case studies to help you move beyond traditional thinking about careers. Real-life stories of “Questers” are also provided to demonstrate how the techniques were used and to motivate you to take action.
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