Interviewing

The interview is the BIG SHOW. It is the most important aspect of appying for a job. Interviews are the time the employer gets a real look at you and usually makes a final judgement. Some companies use more than one interview in their process, with a prescreening followed by a panel or senior manager interview. It has been my experience that most of the decision is made at the first interview - so you must get this right.

A good interview can compensate for a week resume/experience, but no resume/experience will NEVER overcome a bad interview.

Tips to a Highly Successful Interview:

1. Prepare your answers - Write out all of the relevant skills and capabilities you know the employer is looking for with concise but compelling examples of when you have demonstated them with great results. These may match what's on your resume but you should have some that do not so that the interviewer receives new information. Always prepare for standard interview questions as well such as
   • Why do you want this job?
   • Tell me about your greatest strength and greatest weakness.
   • What makes you the very best candidate for this job?
   • What are your salary requirements? (never answer with a specific number, you may close the door on a job you would have loved with great advancement.  You can negotiate or decline later if the salary is below expectations).

2. Practice - Practice interviewing with a friend. Have them mix up the questions, ask follow-ups and throw in a few you haven't prepared for. This will inevitably happen on interview day and it's far better to get flustered ahead of time and get it out of your system.
3. Prepare your questions - Asking good questions is as important as having good answers.  Interviewers look for applicants who have researched the company and are discerning the work they will be taking on. Here are some great areas to ask about:
   • The corporate direction of the company, how recent acquisitions are performing, etc.
   • Specifics of the job that are not explicit in the application: number of direct reports, scope of the work, progress of the business team this year, organizational structure, etc.
   • Off limits subjects are:  Salary, vacation days, disciplinary policy, scandals.
4. Be enthusiastic but sincere - Many recruiters see hundreds of applicants a day. A bright smile and an energetic disposition can go a long way to having them remember you.
5. Be proud of your accomplishments - Sell yourself! Now is not the time for shyness or humility.  Talk about what YOU have personally accomplished. Avoid talking about the accomplishments of your former coworkers or teams. They are not being considered for this job, you are! 
6. Dress for success and be well groomed - Get a book on this if you have any doubt. It is always safe for men to wear a suit and women a pant suit or conservative skirt/blouse. Avoid body piercings (besides ears on women) or any visible tatoos. If you need a haircut - get one!
7. If you have a family, find a way to weave information about them into the interview.  Although all great companies practice equal opportunity hiring, research indicates that in general, most managers with a stable family are dependable and productive at work. Although a recruiter cannot ask about your personal life, he or she will be looking for clues to it. If you already have a healthy home life, weave it into your interview answers. If not, get to work on it. Peace in the home can be a great enabler for success at work. A great resource for parents is: www.parentingskills21stcentury.com
8. Be early - If you are not at least 5 minutes early, you're late. Do NOT make the interviewer come looking for you. Show them that you know their time is valuable. 
9. Follow-up with a thank you note or email - I have hired people because they were the one who sent a thank you note. Thanking an interviewer before you know the decision or after a rejection shows a level of maturity that most companies value. It also shows that you are good with follow-through.  An applicant who sends a thank you note is an employee who doesn't leave work unfinished.

Common Mistakes