Interview Tips

Preparation

• Research the company, its marketplace and key competitors.
• Prepare a list of relevant questions that will help you evaluate the company and opportunity.
• Review your qualifications for the position.
• Prepare answers to specific and broad questions about yourself.
• Review your resume; be prepared to substantiate everything.
• Practice interviewing with a friend or relative.
• Arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time of your interview.

Personal Appearance

• Be well groomed.
• Dress appropriately; wear a conservative business suit whenever possible.

The Interview

• Know the names of your interviewers and firmly shake hands as you meet.
• Approach the interview with energy and enthusiasm.
• Do not use slang and/or profanity.
• Build rapport with each interviewer.
• Ask probing questions about the position and the organization.
• Demonstrate your listening skills.
• Draw correlations between your background and requirements of the position.
• Use closing skills with each interviewer; attempt to move process forward to next step.
• Thank the interviewer and follow up with a carefully constructed and proofread letter.

1. First paragraph - Thank interviewer for his/her time
2. Second paragraph - Resell interviewer(s) on the assets you bring to position as well as why you feel this is a positive career opportunity.
3. Third paragraph - Address the issue of closure to move process to the next step.

Interviewing Questions

• We've outlined a number of questions that are likely to be presented to you in an interview.
• Why are you interviewing with us?
• What kind of work interests you most?
• Describe your ideal job.
• If you were hiring for this position, what would you be looking for?
• How do you determine your priorities?
• How do you plan your day/week?
• What do you consider to be your strengths?
• What have you done that shows initiative?
• What have your biggest challenges been?
• What happens when two or more priorities compete for your time?
• What's the toughest communication problem you have faced?Have you ever worked in a place where it seemed to be just one crisis after another? If so, how did you handle it? How did you feel?
• What do you consider to be areas for self-improvement?
• Define team building.
• What qualities should a successful manager possess?
• How are you best managed?
• Describe the best manager you've ever had. Describe the toughest manager you've ever had.
• For what have you been most frequently criticized?
• Cite one or more outstanding achievements.

Your responses enable the interviewer to determine if you possess the following core skills and qualities:

• Communication/presentation
• Analytical problem-solving skills
• Self-motivation
• Creativity/vision
• Organization/time management
• Cooperative team member
• Leadership capabilities