Interview Tips
Prior to the Interview
- Preparation will make or break your interview. This may sound obvious, but it's not. Learn everything you can about the industry, the position, the interviewer, the company and its needs. It is a huge plus if you ask intelligent questions about the position, the company and the industry.
- Read your resume again. Review your skills and the character traits you have that will help the company's bottom line. Mentally review your past achievements and be prepared to describe your work experience in detail. Almost every interviewer will ask you: "Tell me about yourself." When answering, put yourself in the employer's shoes. If you were hiring someone for the position, what would you want to know?
- Be able to answer the following questions:
- Why do you want this job?
- Why should we hire you?
- What do you know about our company?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- Visual Image - Dress appropriate for the position you're seeking. Your attire must fit well within the office and be immaculate. If you don't know what the typical attire at the company is, ask your Auxillus consultant. Your shoes should be polished; pants/skirts and shirts pressed. Clean hair and fingernails are essential. Avoid excessive cologne, jewelry or make-up.
- Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early, not earlier, definitely not late. Allow extra time for traffic, parking and slow elevators. If necessary, drive to the company the night before and time yourself. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.
First Impressions
- The first few minutes are critical, and will set the tone for the interview. To succeed, you must project enthusiasm about the position, show confidence and competence. Your goal is to convince the interviewer that you would be an asset to the company
- Stand to greet the interviewer. Offer a firm handshake. Make good eye contact, and smile. Take a deep breath and relax.
During to the Interview
- At the start, let the interviewer talk about their company. Find out their specific needs.
- Next, tailor your response to the company's needs. Emphasize your strengths. When confronted with a weakness, don't avoid it or apologize for it. Acknowledge it, and quickly move on.
- Match the interviewer's style. If he is informal, be informal. If he speaks fast, speak fast, etc. Try to match their body posture; relaxed, aggressive, etc. Above all, let the interviewer talk all they want.
- If interviewed by a group, look directly at every member, but direct most of your attention to the manager.
- Don't bring up salary during the first interview. This is better discussed at the second interview. If the interviewer brings it up first, this may mean they want to make an offer right away, so go ahead. Otherwise, tell them that your salary requirements depend on the specific work required, and of course the benefits.
- Answering questions:
- Be specific with your answers
- Listen to the questions before answering
- Talk "I" not "we"
- Think before speaking
- If you need clarification - ask for it
- Do's and donts:
- Always be honest
- Be prepared to ask questions about the company, the culture, the people, the job and career opportunity
- Think of relevant examples of past experiences that will support your answers to likely questions
- Don't talk about skills that the company doesn't need, even if you are strong in those areas
- Don't ask about rate/salary
- Don't ask about trivial things, e.g. parking, lunch hour, holidays - ask your recruitment consultant
- Don't leave without knowing if you want the job
- Don't ask for direct feedback on your interview performance
- Don't criticize your current/former employer/s
After the Interview
- Contact your Auxillus consultant immediately after the interview and let them know how it went.
- Always send a thank-you note to every person you met at the company (remember to ask for business cards). In your letter, thank them for taking the time to meet you, summarize your conversation and re-emphasize the skills you would bring to the position. Note some reasons why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Many people are likely interviewing for the same position that you did; you want to note something that will make you stand out and be remembered