Interviewing

An interview is a conversation with a specific purpose

For the employer, the purpose is to gather enough of the right kind of information about you to make a reliable prediction of how well you can do the job and fit into the organization.
For the interviewee, the purpose is to make the most favorable impression possible while gathering enough information to decide whether or not you are interested in that employer.

The interview consists of several stages

The initial interview - the "screening" interview narrows the field to several promising candidates and lasts about thirty minutes.
Subsequent interviews - from a second interview to as many as six or seven contacts, may last as long as a day, may involve many members of the organization's staff in groups or consecutively, may necessitate travel to the home office, staying overnight, eating with interviewers, and taking achievement and personality tests.
Negotiation of terms - the final step if the employer decides to make a job offer. Salary, benefits, starting dates, location, training, is determined at this time.

Preparation for an interview

Analyze your strengths and weaknesses - start by doing some solid, honest, self-assessment and formulate what you would like to do and what you feel you are best prepared to do.
Read employer literature - study prospective employers, have some knowledge about their policies, philosophies, goals, products, services, locations, training programs, and similar information.
Plan your attire - let basic good taste be your guide. Research how people in your field dress and assemble an appropriate interview suit or outfit.

Make the most favorable impression possible

Be prepared to present well-organized, concise ideas and information in the following areas:

• Training, education, and experience that substantiate your value to the employer.
  
• Personal traits, values, interests, and skills that support your ability to make a contribution.
  
• Accomplishments, awards, acknowledgments of personal excellence and superiority.
  
• Concisely defined career goals and evidence of an intentional route toward those goals.
  
• Entry-level knowledge of your chosen field, demonstrated through intelligent questions and statements, which show a working knowledge of the theory and practice of the field.

What employers look for in applicants

Appearance - cleanliness and appropriate dress are musts. For men, charcoal gray or dark blue suits with tasteful shirt and conservative tie look good. For women, a good quality suit with flattering but conservative blouse, tasteful jewelry, make-up, and professional hair style are expected. With some employers, appearance could be the deciding factor.
Personality and Style - be courteous, act with an appropriate mix of self-confidence and respect. Speak confidently and enthusiastically about past experiences and their relevance.
Articulate - you must be able to express yourself in fluent, grammatically correct language, use appropriate professional terminology, avoid slang and profanity, be concise and specific.
Energy/Drive/Ambition - energetic posture and movements, fresh appearance, a tone of physical and emotional health, enthusiasm and sense of purpose.
Positive Attitude - prudent optimism, a hopeful, confident view without going overboard. Don't complain about past employers, your school, or the weather. Don't whine. Don't criticize. Present positive information in a positive way. Don't offer negative information.
Thoughtful - Weigh a question a second or two before responding. Answering without hesitation can suggest that you have memorized answers or have a great deal of interview experience. Being thoughtful is not the same as being uncertain and insecure.
Composure - nail-biting, hair-twirling, foot-tapping, twitching, and avoiding eye contact are almost certain to destroy your image.
Leadership - a self-confident manner, carriage, good eye contact, and a smile. You must be sure of yourself to lead others. Implicit in this is that you inspire trust and are likeable.

Interviewing Guidelines

• Keep your answers brief and concise - two to three minutes per question, unless asked to provide more details.
  
• Include concrete, quantifiable data - provide measurable information and details about specific accomplishments.
  
• Repeat your key strengths three times - explain how your strengths relate to the organization's goals and how they might benefit the employer, repeating strengths will help them be remembered.
  
• Prepare five or more success stories - make a list of your skills and key assets and be able to give examples of when you used those skills successfully in the past.
  
• Align yourself with the employer - use their name in the interview, show how you think like a team member, demonstrate that you have done your homework on them.
  
• Image is as important as content - what you look like and how you say something are just as important as what you say. 65% of your conveyed message is non-verbal; posture, physical appearance and attire are highly influential during the interview.
  
• Body language - firm handshake, good eye contact, lean forward while sitting, and use your hands naturally to emphasize a point.
  
• Be yourself - your attitude is going to have a huge influence. Don't try to be something you aren't. Remember that the recruiter is looking for inherent personal energy and enthusiasm.
  
• Dwell on the positive - while past failures and short-comings need not be volunteered, don't try to cover them up or side-step them. If asked, try to explain the circumstances rather than give excuses or blame others. You will create a better impression by being honest and candid.
  
• Research the organization - do your homework, the interviewer will notice that you are a serious candidate by your genuine interest in them.
  
• Ask Questions - prepare a list of good questions in advance; the types of questions you ask can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer.
  
• Follow-up after the interview - ask what the next step in the hiring process will be and plan to follow-up with a thank you note.

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