Key Step for a Job Interview
1. Self-Assessment:
- Helps you identify your strengths to be emphasized
- Gives you practice in articulating your achievements, aspirations,
and goals
- Gives you confidence and helps you refine goal
- Define for yourself your greatest strengths? Your weaknesses?
2. Company Research: Why?
- Need to know who you are dealing with
- Companies expect you to know about them
- Helps to reaffirm your decision to seek a position
Methods:
1. Internet
2. Company Literature
3. People familiar with the company or organization
3. Before the Interview:
- Review your skills. Be positive and honor your
achievements. Do not underestimate your skills. Write your top
accomplishments down on paper
- Know your resume well. Look at ways that your qualifications
meet the job description
- Are there things NOT on your resume that are relevant to the
job?
Recognize areas for improvement and develop a plan for downplaying
these weaknesses in the interview
4. During the Interview:
- Start strong with your main strength.
- Communicate carefully. Take your time.
- Be aware of your nonverbal communication! Hands, eyes, arms,
legs, etc.
- Appear enthusiastic. Your energy says a lot about your attitude.
- Ask questions. These should reflect your research.
4. Following the Interview:
Following Up:
- Write Thank You letters/notes
- Send your notes within three or four days after the interview
- Keep your writing crisp, businesslike and focused.
- Remove anything that sounds like gush.
Phone calls:
- General rule of thumb: call once a day, until you get some sort
of answer
- Phone calls and follow-up letters are extensions of an interview
5. Don't Forget to...!!!
- Dress neatly and nice
- Show up on time
- Check exact directions and office numbers before. Bring their
phone with you
- Bring itinerary
- Bring resume (several copies)
- Eat before
- And remember....interviewing does not come easy to most people!!
The more you practice the easier it will become!!
What to Wear
What you wear MATTERS!
The picture you create will greatly influence your chances of being
hired. Employers consistently ask the question, “Does the
individual look right for the job?”
The clothes you wear affect all your attitude and confidence levels.
When people take the time to dress for success, they tend to feel
good about them-selves.
A conservative suit would be the recommended style
for professional and managerial positions.
Common sense and good taste are the best guides in selecting clothing
for the interview. Avoid faddish styles and loud colors.
A basic rule is to dress one step above what you would
wear on the job. You want the employer to focus on your skills,
not your clothes.
Grooming Tips for Interviewing
Body Language:
what is means
Crossed arms – Closed off or defensive
Fidgeting, playing with hair or jewelry, or tapping feet –
Nervous or bored
Lack of eye contact or too much eye contact – Untrustworthy
Leaning back – Uncomfortable
Clasping hands behind the head, leaning back – Looking to
gain power
Leaning forward – Interested in the conversation
Smiling or attempting to be humorous – Friendly
Eye contact with occasional, natural breaks – Focused and
curious
Nodding while listening – Attentive and alert
Open palms – Approachable and trusting
Gesturing with hands while talking – Genuinely involved
in the conversation
Interviewing Links:
Interview
Guide
Interviewers'
Favorite Questions...and Answers
Interview
quick tips |
©
Chrysalis 2006