Interviews come down to 4 things:
Chemistry
Competency
Who interviews the best
Who wants the job the most
10 Interview Tips
1. Professional Dress (find out the dress code)
Normal business or professional attire if dress code is not known.
2. Be Prompt
Arrive a minimum of 15 minutes early. This shows interest in the opportunity.
3. Be Positive & Show Confidence
Make sure and give a firm handshake, have direct eye contact, and sit-up straight. Smile often, be positive, and radiate energy.
4. Research the Company
Utilize the Internet or personal resources to uncover as much information as possible about the company, hiring authorities, and job before the interview takes place.
5. Prepare Mini-Stories in Advance
Problem, Solution, Result
Describe Situation, Action Items, Result
Responsibilities, Accomplishments, Impact of those Accomplishments
6. Importance of Questions
DO NOT start out with self-serving questions about vacation and benefits.
Ask company questions regarding track record, growth expectations, products/services, and competition.
Ask job related questions regarding the main priorities for someone in the position and finding out what the short-term and long-term goals are.
7. Salary / Compensation
Volunteer to let them know where you are at now and what you are open to on compensation.
Tell them how interested you are in the position and let them know that you would seriously consider their best offer.
8. Reason for Job Change
Why did you leave your last job? This is not an opening to speak badly of your former employer.
There is almost always a way of wording the explanation so that you do not sound like a “problem employee” and your former employer does not sound like an undesirable company. As unfair as it may seem, there is almost no time when you should say something bad about your former employer. More likely than not, talking bad about your former employer will reflect badly on you. You can instead talk about the lack of potential for upward mobility, the fact that your job responsibilities changed to the point that it no longer fit into your career plan, your need to move to be closer to your aging parents, the need to reduce travel time, your need for a more challenging job, or anything else that does not get into personalities or other conflicts. If you were fired for cause, you may want to be up front about it. Explain the circumstances and accept responsibility for your actions. Practice your answers to this question with someone who has interview experience. However, don’t lie. If you can’t say anything positive about your former employer, don’t say anything.
9. Express interest
Don’t leave any doubt in their mind that you are interested and ready to move on to the next step.
10. Thank you note/email:
Write down names, titles, company address, and e-mail addresses of those you had contact with during the interview process and send a thank you/interest note ASAP. Emails are acceptable!