How to Get Selected in a Job Interview

 




CRACKING A JOB INTERVIEW

 

In job interviews, the employer wants to learn about the applicant’s abilities and experiences by asking the interviewee specific questions in order to assess his/her suitability for recruitment.


WHY PEOPLE AREN’T HIRED

 ♦ Poor personal appearance

 ♦ Inability to communicate clearly, poor voice, and grammar

♦ Lack of planning for a career...no purpose or goals

 ♦ Lack of enthusiasm and confidence in the interview

 ♦ Condemning past employers

 ♦ Failure to look the interviewer in the eye

♦ Limp handshake

♦ Late to the interview

♦ Does not thank the interviewer for his/her time

♦ Asks no questions

♦ Lack of knowledge about the business or the position



THE 5-PART INTERVIEW

 

The interview is the final hurdle most people have to cross in getting a job.

Being chosen for an interview means someone is interested in your skills, knowledge, and experience.

 You now must become a salesperson.

The interviewer is the buyer.

They want to see if your talents meet their needs for the job.

 Sell yourself!

The interview is when you want to tell the employer about your strengths, skills, education, and work experience.

 Knowing yourself - positively selling your strong points - is what is going to get you the job.


The easiest way to learn something is to break it down into parts. The interview process has five distinct parts.

1.       BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Do your homework!

 Learn as much as you can about the company before the interview.

 Do some research: ask people who work there, go to the library, look on the internet, and make an anonymous call to the secretary.

Find out what services/products the company provides, how long they have been in business, whether the company is growing or downsizing, the company’s reputation, etc.

An interviewer will be impressed that you have made an effort to learn about the company or college. Read any material they send you! 

Know where you are going. Drive by the site of the interview a day or two before the interview. Arrive 5 - 15 minutes early.

Be prepared when you go to the interview. Bring extra copies of your resume, your portfolio, a notepad with some questions prepared for the interview, and a pen.

Dress for Success! Hair should be clean and combed.

Fingernails must be clean with no gaudy polish. Keep perfume, cologne, and aftershave to a minimum. Brush your teeth and don’t forget deodorant.

Dress Code:

Women: dress, skirt (not too short), or dress pants with a nice blouse or blazer.

No excessive jewelry, make-up, or “big hair.”

Men: pants (not jeans!), collared shirt, tie, sport coat, and shoes. A suit is not always necessary. Do not wear loud clothes! Be conservative!

2. THE START OF THE INTERVIEW (BEGINNING)

Inform the secretary/receptionist that you have an interview, whom it is with, and the time of the interview.

When you meet the interviewer, look straight into his/her eyes, shake hands firmly, introduce yourself, smile, be confident and wait until you are offered a seat.

Be positive in your communication (Remember: You’re selling yourself!!), don’t slouch, try not to be too bold or too shy.

Let the interviewer lead the interview. Express that you are happy to have the opportunity to interview.

When all else fails: SMILE!!

DON’T: Smoke, chew gum, curse, slouch, put your hands on items on the interviewer’s desk, fidget with rings, pens, ties, change, or other things in your reach.

3. THE INTERVIEW (MIDDLE)

 Always face the interviewer with good posture and body language.

Stay positive with your attitude and your answers.

 Let the interviewer know about the skills, knowledge, and experience that make you a qualified candidate.

Know your resume and portfolio well and be prepared to answer questions about them.  

Don’t be a know-it-all! Express your willingness to learn!

Be honest with all answers. Experienced interviewers can see right through “little white lies.” 

Be thorough with your answers. Never answer with just a “yes” or “no.” Always provide explanations and examples.

If you don’t understand the question, ask the interviewer to explain. Pay close attention to what the interviewer is saying.

Organize your thoughts before speaking. Feel free to think for a moment about tough questions.

Silence is not a bad thing as long as you do not take an excessive amount of time.

Watch for illegal questions, such as information about your age, religion, race, ethnicity, or marital status.

 DON’T: Emphasize your weaknesses. Draw attention to negative attributes such as poor attendance, grades, being fired, etc.

 Criticize former employers, co-workers, or school personnel. Discuss personal issues, good or bad, which are irrelevant.

Discuss salary or benefits unless the interviewer brings it up first. Remember that you represent a risk to the employer.

A hiring mistake is expensive. Show you are highly motivated and energetic.

 4. THE INTERVIEW (END)

Ask the job-related questions you prepared for the interview.

You may be offered the job immediately. In that case, you should ask about specific salary, benefits, and work hours.

You do not have to give them an immediate answer.

Ask for a day to think about it.

If you are told you will be contacted, ask about how long it will be. Offer to call in a few days to find out the decision. This shows your continued interest.

 Make sure the interviewer knows how best to contact you and that you are available for any additional information that may be needed.

Thank the person for the interview and their interest in you as a potential employee or student. Shake hands firmly on the way out.

5. THE FOLLOW-UP

Send the interviewer a thank-you e-mail soon after the interview.

Call the company about a week after the interview to find out if they have made a decision.

 If they have not, find out when they expect to have a decision.


In a Nutshell

·         Use your voice effectively to express your genuineness.

·          Always greet the interviewer with enthusiasm.

·         Do not answer questions with one word. Try to give details of your area of expertise.

·         Do not use any words of your native language.

·         If you have not understood the question, ask the interviewer politely to repeat/elaborate.

·         Avoid repeating yourself.

·         Do not raise your voice during the interview.

·         Exhibit appropriate non-verbal cues while listening and speaking.

·         Do not interrupt the interviewer while he/she is talking.

·         When talking about your project, instead of trying to sell the product or your present company’s capabilities to him, explain how you went about doing it and sell your capabilities to him/her.

·         Even if the interviewer appears to be asking trivial or irrelevant questions, take all of them seriously. Maybe he/she is trying to check your communication skills.

·         Do not ask the interviewer any personal questions.

·         At the end of the interview, always thank the interviewer for his/her time.

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