8 Steps to a Successful Job Interview
Follow These Steps to Be Successful in Your Job Interviews
Study information about the company through its website and other forms of information that you can find out about them, such as professional networking website profiles. Learn everything that you can about the company and don't forget to take notes to study in advance of the interview (if you have reasonable time before the interview). The more you learn the better chance you'll have to advance through to the next step in the hiring process.
Always be on time for your interview. Arrive 10-15 minutes early. You may need to fill out forms related to the job, and it will help that you are finished before the actual interview is scheduled. Make sure you have a contact phone number available in case of an emergency during your travel time to the interview. When you arrive, ask the receptionist for the name of the interviewer, and write it down! The receptionist is your first point of contact. Be genuine as you communicate, as they will have an impact with any comments they may make to the interviewer.
Always dress for professionally. If you look professional, you'll likely be treated with professional respect. Wear clean and comfortable attire. Avoid casual clothing such as blue jeans and T-Shirts (even if you would wear this type of clothing during actual work hours).
There is a difference between being cocky and confident. Confidence comes from being prepared. Cockiness comes from living the life of an idiot. Don't be so foolish to think that you are better than anyone else interviewing for the position. Just be as prepared as you can possibly be. If you're prepared, you'll come across as confident. If not...well!
Your resume is an extremely important tool. Have extra copies available to the interviewer. Make sure (in advance) that your resume is very well prepared. It should "fit" the job description and meet the minimum requirements in the description. Make sure you have indicated on your resume what each company you have worked for did, what did they produce or manufacture. This will give additional insight to the interviewer about your work history.
Don't overload your resume with clutter like references, extensive objectives or long drawn out summaries and accomplishments. Be short and concise when providing this type of information related to the job description. Provide a separate page of references or of your bio. Be certain that you are providing the interviewer with the same resume that you originally applied to the job with, unless you have added additional information. Indicate such changes, so the interviewer is aware of the difference and not caught off guard.
Be polite and considerate of the person interviewing you. Their time is valuable and you must respect this. Be prepared to ask short questions that will get their attention and more than a yes or no answer. Show them that you have come prepared! Show them that you are genuinely interested in getting an offer.
Do you ask for the position? YES! Just remember to use caution in how you ask. I can't begin to tell you how to ask. Only you will know based on how the interview has gone. If the interview went well, just be polite, avoid over confidence and ask this way...I believe that I've shown you I'm qualified for the position, I'd like to ask for the job!
You've always heard that it is a great idea to send a thank you note or email to the interviewer. This is still great advice, and one point that should never be missed! How long you should wait is a matter of how your interview went. Be realistic about the success of the interview. If it did not go well, send one anyway, indicating your understanding of the end result and the fact that you value their time spent (this is a great method of bridge building for future interviews). If it went well, send one indicating the same things and include a reminder of something you both had in common related to the company.
In summary; successful interviewing comes from being polite, being prepared, being professional and being considerate!
Source: Steven Coyne, The Job Hunter Group Blog
Published by Steven Coyne
Steven is a freelance writer providing content on a variety of subjects. He has over 45 years of gardening experience and 15 years working with the Department of Agriculture in San Diego, California. He love... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentGood points. Something to add. If you interview with a large company, the interview will be "behavioral." You better be ready for it. Usually two people will interview you, one asking questions, the other watching your body language.
"Tell me about a time when you you had a to deal with a difficult client. What action did you take, and what was the outcome?" That is typical of the style. They try to trip you up. Asking for the job is probably a futile endeavor. They are probably interviewing many candidates and will need to discuss and evaluate everyone. But, I suppose it does not hurt to ask.
Good article - I wish some of the applicants I've seen had read it!
To this I would add - BE ENTHUSIASTIC. I've seen countless applicants come to interviews and either talk to their shoes or appear to struggle to stay awake.
Interviewers are desperately hoping that you are the answer to their problem and that you will help them. They're a person light and every interview they do is a couple of hours out of their normal day - they're desperate to find someone who is going to take all that pain away for them.
So show an employer how you can help them - not just what you have done in the past but how that experience is going to benefit the employer in the future. That ties into research- find out what they do and show how you can help them do that. Underline everything with examples if you can. Anyone can say they'll be wonderful but if you can point to instances in the past where you've delivered then that shows that you're speaking from a position of knowledge.
Steven,
This article really drives home the point that I feel is most important to making an interview a success: prepare, prepare, prepare. Know your plan of attack well before the day of the interview. Figure out what time you need to leave to be absolutely certain you arrive there early. Read up about the company and the people interviewing you. Have a list of questions that you want to ask ready. Anticipate what they might ask you. By preparing for the interview, you'll put yourself in a great position to move forward in the hiring process.
Probably important to mention to people to maximise the time you have with the interviewer and have some of your questions answered. If you and the other party come away feeling like a need to move forward or halt the process, thats a good position to be in. There's nothing worse than comign out of an hour interview feeling like you have sat there answering questions and justifying your last 20 years of existence on this planet, and still not be sure about the company, the culture, expectations of them with regards to the role, the next steps etc etc. Satisfy yourself that it's something you want to pursue further, or not. Otherwise, good comments.
Important points to remember for a job interview. :-)
Cheryl: Thank you for reading my article. I hope your son is able to use it to his advantage!
Cathy: Thanks for the kind words. I look forward to writing a variety of articles in the future.
Excellent advice and well-written, too! Welcome to AC! :)
Steven, I printed this out for my 32-year-old son. Excellent tips. Thanks.