Interviewing Techniques

Before you walk into any interview, you should know as much about the company and the
position as you possibly can.
If you found the position through a placement agency, they should be able to provide that
information for you. If not, search the web or go to the library.
In todays world of mass communication, theres no excuse for lack of research. fter you have
studied the company, write out a list of questions to ask the employer.
!hy is this position available"
!ill there be opportunities for further training"
!hat are your goals for this position"
!hat obstacles will I need to overcome to succeed"
#ow will my performance be evaluated"
re there opportunities for promotion"
!hat growth do you anticipate for your firm"
$o one can predict the exact questions that an interviewer will ask, but you can rehearse your
resume and get a good idea of a few important questions that the employer is likely to ask. To
prepare, think about how you would answer the following questions%
Tell me about yourself" &professionally'
(eview your career, education and other strengths"
!hat do you know about our organi)ation"
!hy are you interested in this position"
!hat are your most significant career achievements"
*escribe a situation in which your work was critici)ed"
#ow would you describe your personality"
#ow do you perform under pressure"
#ow have you improved yourself over the past year"
!hat did you like least about your last position"
!hy are you leaving your present company"
!hat is your ideal working environment"
#ow would your coworkers describe you"
!hat do you think of your boss"
#ave you ever fired anyone"
!hat was the situation and how did you handle it"
re you creative"
!hat are your goals in your career"
!here do you see yourself in two years"
!hy should we hire you"
!hat kind of salary are you looking for"
!hat other types of +obs are you considering"
Interview Do's and Dont's
To Do's -- rrive ,- minutes early.
.ate attendance is never excusable.
/larify questions. Be sure you answered the questions the employer really asked.
0et the interviewer to describe the position and responsibilities early in the conversation so you
can relate your skills and background to the position throughout the interview.
0ive your qualifications. 1tress the accomplishments that are most pertinent to the +ob.
/onduct yourself professionally. Be aware of what your body language is saying. 1mile, make
eye contact, dont slouch and maintain composure.
nticipate tough questions. 2repare in advance so you can turn apparent weaknesses into
strengths.
*ress appropriately. 3ake your first impression a professional one.
sk questions throughout the interview. n interview should be a mutual exchange of information,
not a one4sided conversation.
.isten. This is probably the most important 5do5 of all. By concentrating not only on the
employers words, but also on the tone of voice and body language, you will be able to pick up on
the employers style. 6nce you understand how a hiring authority thinks, pattern your answers
accordingly and you will be able to better relate to him or her.
Not To Do's
*ont answer vague questions.
(ather than answering questions you think you hear, get the employer to be more specific and
then respond.
$ever interrupt the employer. If you dont have time to listen, neither does the employer.
*ont smoke, chew gum or place anything on the employers desk.
*ont be overly familiar, even if the employer is doing all of these things.
*ont wear heavy perfume or cologne.
*ont ramble. .ong answers often make the speaker sound apologetic or indecisive. 6n the other
hand, dont answer questions with a simple 5yes5 or 5no.5 7xplain whenever possible. *o not lie.
nswer questions as truthfully as possible. *o not make derogatory remarks about your present
or former employers or companies.
Too many people second4guess themselves after an interview. By closing strongly and asking the
right questions, you can eliminate the post4interview doubts that tend to plague most
interviewees. If you feel that the interview went well and you would like to take the next step,
express your interest to the hiring authority and turn the tables a bit. Try something like the
following%
5fter hearing more about your company, the position and the responsibilities at hand, I am
certain that I possess the qualities that you are looking for in the &title' position. Based on our
conversation and my qualifications, are there any issues or concerns that you have that would
lead you to believe otherwise"5
8ou have a right to be assertive. This is a great closing question because it opens the door for the
hiring authority to be honest with you about his or her feelings. If concerns do exist, this is a great
opportunity to overcome them. 8ou have one final chance to dispel the concerns, sell your
strengths and end the interview on positive note.
few things to remember during the closing process% *ont be discouraged if no definite offer is
made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with the
office first, or interview other applicants, before making a decision.
3ake sure you answer the following two questions% 5why are you interested in the company",5
and 5what can you offer"5
7xpress thanks for the interviewers time and consideration. sk for their business card so you
can write a thank you letter as soon as possible.
!hen you get out of the interview room, immediately write down key issues uncovered during the
interview. Think of the qualifications the employer is looking for and match your strengths to them.
This follow4up processes is very critical.
5thank you5 letter should be written no later than 9: hours after the interview.