GateWay: Interview

Lesson 2:The Interview

Preparation | Arrival | During the Interview | Sample Questions | Questions to Ask | The Second Interview | Closing the Interview | Thank You Letters

Remember that interviewers want to hire you. Careful preparation and effective communication have a strong influence on whether they decide to hire you or not.

Preparation
The benefits of advance preparation for interviews are numerous. Naturally, if you know what you want to say ahead of time, you can usually articulate it more effectively. The first step in your preparation is to identify your skills, interests, and career goals before you arrive at the interview. A comfortable self-knowledge will help you answer the interviewer's questions about your goals and desired direction within that organization. The next step is to study your prospective employer. The purpose of research is to learn about the company's services, or products, the number of employees, the financial situation, competitors, problems, the management style and employee benefits. Impressions are formed during the first two to six minutes of the interview. Thus, what you wear can affect your chances. Dress should be appropriate for the organization with which you are interviewing. You should aim to convey an image of professionalism, authority, and competence. You may wish to carry a briefcase or a professional-looking notebook with your questions written in advance. It is often helpful to take a portfolio to a job interview too. This folder of materials adds to your credibility. Generally, a portfolio includes several additional resumes so that if you are being interviewed by more than one individual, you can give each of them their own copy.

Summary

Research the company. This enables you to ask questions showing your interest.
Always remain professional both in attitude and appearance.
Be well groomed and conservatively dressed (generally gentlemen should wear a tie), even if the office itself is casual.
Never smoke, or chew gum, even if your interviewer offers you the opportunity.

Arrival
Always allow ample travel time in order to be punctual. You should arrive10 to 15 minutes before the interview.After you have informed the receptionist of your arrival, selecta chair that will allow you to sit upright and alert. While you are waiting, read any organizational literature that is available. Smile and be pleasant to everyone, including the security guard, receptionist and secretary. Remember, you're in the spotlight.

During the Interview
It is normal to be nervous at the outset. Interviews most often begin with what's called an "open-ended icebreaker" - the interviewer's invitation to "tell me about yourself." If you anticipate a lead-in opener, you will have ready answers and will hopefully find yourself beginning to relax. First interviews normally take about 45 minutes to an hour, during which time your accomplishments are reviewed. Generally 30% of the time is spent on the applicant and 70% on the organization and the vacant position. Under the best circumstances, you should leave the interviewer with the impression that you can do the job. Often, however, you won't know whether you want the job until you've met with the company representative for the second interview. During a second interview, the time ratio changes to 50 per cent on the applicant and 50 per cent on the vacant position. This will be a more detailed session in which the candidate can ask pointed questions about the specifics of the job. To build a good rapport you should speak clearly, listen closely, and show by gestures and facial expressions that you are receptive to the interviewer's thoughts and questions (nodding for example). In answering questions, pause to give yourself time to compose an answer that is concise and thoughtful. If you feel you haven't communicated your reply clearly, try again until you are sure that your message has been received correctly. Listening to the interviewer is as essential as speaking to the interviewer. Listening to the interviewer's questions and statements will help you formulate your responses and obtain a better understanding of the organization's views and work environment. The interviewer may give you the first sign that the interview is coming to a close when he or she asks if you have any further questions. At this point, you should ask questions that will reflect both the insight you've gained from the interview and your professional values.

Think of what you can do for them and not what they can do for you. Match your skills to the job.
Listen carefully. Employers will hint as to what skills and personality they are looking for.
When answering questions, be clear and to the point.
Be articulate. Avoid "yes" or "no" responses.
Show enthusiasm by expressing key points and emphasizing the positive aspects of your experience.
Eye contact is crucial to show that you are interested and listening to the interviewer.
Sit facing the interviewer, not at an angle.
Always provide examples demonstrating your skills and/or experience.
DO NOT have a closed body posture i.e. with folded arms.
DO NOT talk about politics or religion.
DO NOT criticize present or previous employers.
DO NOT say that you have no weaknesses.
DO NOT say that you want to leave your current employer for a higher salary.
DO NOT ask about salary/rate.

Sample Interview Questions
Obviously, the interview is a crucial step in the employment process. In an effort to test how quickly and creatively you can think on your feet many employers ask detailed, multi-part and probing questions. This often catches people off guard. Here are some questions that you can expect in an interview:

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Why did you apply for this position?
Describe yourself, in terms of personality, work ethic and your ability to work with others.
Why do you want to leave your present employer?
What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Admit to weaknesses or past mistakes but endeavor to demonstrate how you have benefited in some way from being aware of them. Or answer in a job performance-related context).
Why should we hire you?
Give me an example of…. (How well you work under pressure, how you are able to prioritize workload, etc…)
Why do you think you would be successful in this position?
Describe your ideal work environment.
Explain a situation where you had to work with someone that you did not get along with.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Example Questions in the Second Interview

Questions to Ask

Why has this position become available?
What are the major objectives/goals of the company?
What potential is there for advancement and growth?
How is the company organized?
If I get this position, what will be the most important task that I will be doing for you?

The Second Interview
"The most accurate predictor of future performance is performance in a similar situation."This is usually the type of interview you can expect for your second interview, however companies are increasingly using this technique to weed out people who are inappropriate for their organization using this method.

Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.
What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision?
What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role?
Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).
What kind of supervisor do you work best with? Provide examples.
Describe a situation that required a number of things to be done at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?
Give me an example of an important goal that you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.
Describe a problem situation where you had to seek out relevant information, define key issues, and decide on which steps to take to get desired results.
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get the job done.
Describe the most significant or creative presentation which you had to complete.
Describe a time on any job that you held in which you were faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping skills.
Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.

Closing the Interview
If you are interested in the position, let the interviewer know. If you feel the position is attractive and you want it, be a good salesperson and say something like "I'm very impressed with what I've seen and heard today, your company, it's products and the people I've met. I am confident I could do an excellent job in the position you've described to me." The interviewer will be impressed with your enthusiasm. Don't be too discouraged if no immediate commitment is made. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with other people in the company or interview more candidates before making a decision. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem to discourage you as a way of testing your reaction. Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration. At this point you've done all you can.

Thank You Letters
Thank you letters should follow every interview as a professional courtesy. Use them to your advantage, keeping in mind the reasons you're writing them in the first place:

To express genuine appreciation for the employer's time and consideration.
To reaffirm your interest in the position and to cite additional qualifications you may not have discussed thoroughly in the interview.
To clarify information that may not have been positively conveyed.
To confirm your understanding of the next step in the application process.

In some instances, thank you letters serve another purpose. Some employers fail to respond expeditiously to candidates and need a nudge. A polite way to nudge the employer to act is to enclose an updated resume or to comment about any new developments since the initial interview. Even if you are not interested in the position, send a thank you letter as a professional courtesy.

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