What to do before, during and after an interview!
Before the Interview
- Know the job description
- Do research on the company
- Have questions ready for the interviewer
- Bring at least five copies of your resume (in case you have to face a panel)
- Practice up to 20 of the most likely interview questions
- Be prepared to take assessment/skills tests
- Ask in advance if you will be given a test
- Define your top three selling points
Stage Setting Questions
- Can we leave some time at the end of the interview for me to ask you some questions and show you my work samples?
- Is it okay if I take notes in my notebook during the interview?
- Can you give me an overview of the duties of the job from your point of view?
- Remember, base your interview strategy on what hiring manager tells you vs. what was in the formal published job description
- What problems/pains and new initiatives are you dealing with right now?
- What do you expect the person filling this position to do during his/her first 90 days on the job?
Types of Interviews
- Pre-screening (usually over the telephone but can be a Skype video interview)
- One on one - face to face with HR and/or hiring manager
- Multi-level interview – screener, HR staff, immediate supervisor, department manager.
- Multi-person
interview
- Multiple people asking questions as a panel or group
- Manage your emotions and energy
Face to Face Interviews
- Be 10 minutes early
- Dress appropriately
- First impression (80% of the ultimate decision is based on the first 2 minutes of the interview!)
- Be positive when answering questions
- Express interest in the job!
- Show energy & enthusiasm
- Controlling
Interview Anxiety
- Relax – Calm your mind
- Relaxation Response, Dr. Herbert Benson
- Breath from your belly (not your chest)
- Inhale – take twice as long to exhale
- Be in the moment (not thinking about the past or the future)
During the Interview
Interview Communications
- 55% Body Language and Gesture - Facial liking
- 38% Tone of Voice - Vocal liking
- 7% Words - Verbal liking
- From the 1967 Albert Mehrabian study on communications styles
Types of Interview Questions
- Traditional
questions
- “Tell us a little about yourself?”
- “What are your strengths?”
- Behavioral
questions
- “Give me an example of a goal you reached and….?”
- “Tell me how you would handle a situation where…?”
- Situational/Scenario Questions
- Stress Questions (designed to see how you react)
Interview Question Sampler
- Tell us a little about yourself.
- What are your greatest strengths?
- Why did you leave your last job?
- Why do you want to work here?
- Why should I hire you?
- What are your salary requirements?
- Can get salary range from either an insider or http://www.payscale.com
Interview Strategies
Techniques for Effectively Answering Interview Questions
- Speak as if you’re talking to your best friend
- Smile & maintain eye contact
- Show enthusiasm in your voice
- Maintain good posture & no fidgeting
- Take 5 seconds to think of an answer before responding
- Keep answers short and concise to be effective (30-45 seconds)
- Try to address the question from the employer’s perspective
- Provide enough detail so interviewers don’t have to dig to get the information they want
- Practice answering questions with family/friends to get feedback on your performance or leave a voice mail for yourself with the answer to see how it sounds to you
CRITICAL:
- Use concrete work examples to support your answers since they are easier to understand and are more memorable
- Include quantifiable accomplishments, 2 line compelling testimonials or awards whenever possible to show proof of the value you produced for your previous employer
How to Close Out an Interview
Three closing interview questions:
- Based on my resume and this interview, is there any reason you can think of that I may NOT be considered as the leading candidate for this position?
- What is the hiring process from this point forward?
- How and with what frequency should I follow up with you?
After the Interview
- Within 24 hours send them a thank you note!
- Follow up again in 7-10 days with a telephone call, note, letter, or email – depending on when they expect to make an offer.
- Expect it to take longer than you wish for them to make a decision and an offer.
- Expect an average of 5 interviews with different companies before you get THE offer you take.
Human Resource Interview Goals (What the employer is looking for in an interview)
- Are you qualified?
- Will you fit? (company culture - team fit and critical skills)
- What are the risks of hiring you?
- Can they afford you?