Prepare for a Job Interview

Prepare for a Job Interview

This section helps you become more knowledgeable about all aspects of job interviews. You will learn from the importance of understanding to nonverbal cues, to types of interviews, and interview questions and directions to answer them the best.

Important Notes:
If there were no chemistry between you and the interviewer, there would be a good chance you won't get the job. Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do to improve chemistry. Brian Krueger explains that the chemistry can be improved by personality matching techniques in his book, College Grad Job Hunter.

Prepare for an Interview BEFORE You Meet the Employer
  • Find as much as possible about the employer's needs
  • Find out about the company and the hiring manager's concerns
  • Prepare and rehearse answers to frequently asked interview questions.
    See Frequently Asked Interview Questions.
  • Practice interview, and if possible videotape it
  • Be sure to emphasize all your skills that are not evident from your resume.
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Critical Success Factors that Could Be Incorporated into an Interview

  • Being positive
  • Being Flexible
  • Being Self-motivated
  • Being compassionate
  • Being proficient in your field
  • Have good communication skills (written & oral)
  • Have interpersonal skills
  • Have confidence
  • Have critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Being enthusiastic and sincere
  • Have leadership
  • Be a team player
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Learn About the Company

It is important to research on and know about the company, industry, and individuals from that company. Your knowledge about the company shows your enthusiasm and interest in the job. In addition the research will give you an insight of whether you would like to invest your time and talent within that company. You may learn more about a company through:

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Do not Be Late to the Interview

According to surveys, the tardiness will increase the chances of being eliminated. You may ensure to be on time by:

  • Asking for directions, getting maps or finding map via Internet, if you are not familiar with the area or lost. You may try to find the company's location prior to the day of interview.
  • Leave home early to allow time to get lost, get tied up in traffic, find a parking place

Note: don't arrive too early. The earliest time you can get in is 15 minutes prior to the actual interview time.

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Dress for Success

1. General rules
a. Attention to detail is important:
  1. Shoes should be polished
2. Nails should be neat and clean, women: if you choose to wear polish, make sure it is not to bright or distracting
3. Hair should be combed and under control, no distracting styles or colors
4. Don't allow body piercing/tattoos show
5. Men: ties should be tied snugly and straight
6. Don't allow slip/bra straps, or runs in nylons/holes in socks to show
7. Avoid dressy fabrics, try to stick with simple, breathable materials so that you look professional and feel comfortable
8. Double-breasted jackets stay buttoned
9. If you carry a handbag, it stays on the floor, do not put it on the table
b. "Less is more:"
  1. Don't overdo anything: keep cologne and perfume to a minimum if you must wear it at all
2. Do not wear distracting or large jewelry, keep the amount of jewelry you wear to a minimum, try to pick you favorite 1-3 accessories
3. Women: Avoid too much make-up

2. Clothing
  1. All clothes should be in their best condition, clean, without holes.
2. Shoes should be polished and clean, women: a medium-low closed toe heel is best. Do not wear white shoes. Brown and black or muted neutral colors are best.
3. A suit is usually the best choice as is the best way to make a professional impression with your clothing.
4. Suits, dresses, skirts, and blouses/shirts cut along soft lines look best.
5. Women: Avoid wearing a skirt that is too short, knee length is usually appropriate. If you think it is too short, it probably is.
6. Avoid clingy or super-tight clothing

3. Jewelry
  a. Should be noiseless and nothing irritating or distracting
b. No long, dangling earrings, men: it is usually best if you avoid wearing earrings all together
c. Pearl jewelry is always appropriate
d. Do not wear too many rings-too distracting

4. Hair
  a. Keep hair neatly combed, brushed
b. Don't use too much hairspray (avoid the plastered look)
c. Try not to touch your hair while in the interview, this makes you seem nervous

You may find the following WEB pages helpful:

Quintessential Careers Guide to Dressing for Success,
http://www.dressforsuccess.com
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m3197/8_45/64996784/p1

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Psych Yourself
A positive attitude, self esteem, and confident are important factors for an interview. You may remind yourself of your qualities and why you are the best candidate for the job several times. Think of your self in a partnership with the interviewer. Think of the interview as you are interviewing potential employers as much as they are interviewing you. The following WEB sites (by Brian Krueger) provides you with some techniques to psych yourself for the interview:

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Postures/Greeting
It is very important to show the interviewer(s) that you are enthusiastic and sincere. To do so, you may:

  • Shake hand while you are standing up
  • Medium-to-firm handshake
  • Have a warm smile
  • Greet with "Good morning, I'm happy to meet you" and/or "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
  • Try to find common interests (chemistry) by looking around for clues
  • Look at the Interviewer while answering the questions
  • It is extremely important to maintain an eye contact
  • Sit up straight; it seems you are too eager by sitting on edge of the seat
  • Have a big, warm and consistent smile to show your enthusiasm
  • Have a strong, forceful voice to show your confidence
  • Express yourself clearly

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Avoid Inappropriate Body Language
The following is a list that cause a negative impression:

  • Sounds such as "Um"
  • Soft spoken
  • Being casual and speaking slang
  • Fading out at end of each sentence or answer
  • Stretching
  • Sweating
  • Smoking
  • Chewing gum
  • Twiddling thumbs and/or tapping
  • Humming/Whistling
  • Cleaning fingernails/nose picking
  • Calling the interviewer by his or her first name (unless asked)
  • Playing with things on the interviewer's desk
  • Twirling in your chair
Your gestures and non-verbal behavior must be subdued, not distracting. You may conduct a mock interview with a friend and have the friend critique ONLY your nonverbal behavior.

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Frequently Asked Interview Questions (FAIQ)

1. FAIQ About you and your background

A. Tell me about yourself

  • Don't give your life story
  • Briefly give an overview of your education, previous job experiences, and how your experience and/or education will be useful in the position for which you're applying.

B. What are your strengths?
Talk about strengths that are related to the job you are interviewing for.

C. What are your weaknesses?

1. Respond in positive way:
  a. When I am impatient, I work harder
b. Sometimes I get so involved with the work that I forget to take lunch or break.
c. I'm such a perfectionist, that it is hard to delegate the job to someone else.
2. Give a negative that is really unimportant
  a. I am not a good speller, I use spell check all the time
3. Simply reassure the interviewer that you are aware of your own weaknesses and
  that would not have a negative impact on your job performance
4. Give an example of a weakness that you overcame it and explain how you learned from it.

D. Where do you want to be in 5 (or 10 or 15) years? / What do you want to do with your life?
When you answer this question, be honest, but ambitious; it would be all right to include your family, but focus on career/professional goals.

E. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor?
This question reveals your ability of handling conflict, and whether or not you are able to maintain professionalism, respect and dignity in resolving the conflict. If you truly have NOT had a conflict, explain how you would handle it if you had one.

F. Why should we hire you?
The answer to this question will reveal your opinion about your own abilities, and why you are the best candidate. You may explain what makes you unique and above other candidates.

G. How would you describe your ideal job? What are your professional goals? What will your professional growth look like?
Your description of your ideal job/professional growth should sound like job you're interviewing for, and excel your skills and knowledge within the industry.

H. Would your rather work with information or with people? /Do you prefer to work within group or alone?
You may respond by providing your strengths in both areas. Don't bring up the weaknesses.

I. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?/How your friends or co-workers think about you?
The interviewer wants to know how you will get along with other people, and how you see yourself as a manager.

J. How much training do you think you'll need?
The interviewer wants to know your productivity level and the time frame you will have hands on the job.

K. Why is your GPA not higher?
You must answer positively to enhance your value: I was involved with extra curricular programs such as school newspaper, sports team, you had a job on-campus, or you take responsibilities buy admitting you made a mistake but you learned from it. It is important not to make excuses.

2. FAIQ Knowledge about Company
  • What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
  • Do you enjoy doing independent research?
  • Do you enjoy work alone or with people?
  • Do you have any plans for further education?
  • Why do you want to work within this industry?
  • What do you know about our company?
  • Why are you interested in our company?
  • How will your skills and knowledge improve our company, Agency, institution, etc.?
  • You will have no problem answering these questions if you become familiar with the company's background. See the section Learn About the Company.
3. FAIQ Critical Thinking and decision-making

You must have thoughtful responses to these questions that are not self-serving. The answers should be specific to the job, your decision-making skills, and the goals you have in your career?

  • What motivates you?
  • What are the awards have you earned?
  • What changes would you like to make at your job?
  • What did you like about your last position and what didn't you like?
  • What were your favorite classes? Why?
  • What is the last book you read, or movie you saw? Did you like it? If so, why?
  • Who were your favorite professors? Why?
  • How will you deal with an irate client/customer?
  • Why did you choose this career?
  • Why did you leave your last job
  • How do you plan to achieve your goals?
  • Be sure your responses demonstrate sound decision-making processes
  • Be prepare to answer case-scenario questions
4. FAIQ Monetary

Keep in mind that the interviewer is not interested in your need for money. They pay you for what you worth! Your responses should be in a balance: money is important as well as job satisfaction. The following are sample questions:

  • What is important to you in a job? (Flexibility, salary, people, location, etc.)
  • How much money do you need to make to be happy?
  • What kind of salary are you looking for?
5. FAIQ Skills and Work Experience

Discuss the key skills you have gained from your work experiences -- and how these skills will help the employer. This question also gives a good opportunity to talk about your experiences within other jobs, in classrooms, college and university, and or in your life that may converted into the skills you need for the job you are applying. See transferable skills if you have minimal experience.

If you have no experience or lack of skills for the job, you may inject a response such as: "With my experience and background, I feel certain I'll have no problems getting up to speed."

  • Describe your computer/communication/team building skills?
  • Be prepare to explain lapses in work
  • Be prepared to discuss anything on your resume
  • If your degree does not match the job title, explain how your skills/experience do match the job

More Questions:
http://www.sla.org/chapter/ctor/toolbox/career/success.htm
http://www.nextsteps.org/net/jsearch/81yecpae.htm
http://www.indiana.edu/~libpers/interview.html
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers/common.htm

6. FAIQ Unrelated
 

These questions reveal how you react and whether you will get flustered. You must remain clam and keep your sense of humor. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer to these questions. Example:

  • If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?

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Illegal Questions
It's illegal to ask about age, marital status, children, childcare arrangements, etc. If you are asked an illegal question, you can point out that the question is illegal, but you run the risk of alienating the interviewer.

Better to try to determine what the interviewer's real concern is and assure him/her that your personal situation will not get in the way of the job.

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Ask Questions
It is important to at least ask one question to show your interest. The quality of the question and how you ask them will determine the level of your success in obtaining the job. The following is a list of questions you may ask:

  • What would be your projection for this company/department for the next 5 years?
  • Is there any opportunities and/or threats to this company in the near futute?
  • What can you tell me about daily activity of this position?
  • What do you expect to be top priority of this position? / What are the responsibilities of this job?
  • How will my performance be evaluated? If so, by whom and how often?
  • What kind of management style the company has?
  • What are the company's values and culture?
  • Can you briefly describe the company's philosophy?
  • What is the organization's policy on transfers to other divisions or other offices?
  • Re there any training and career development available?
  • What was your motivation to come to this company, and what kept you here?
  • What would you define successful employee within this company?

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Types of Interviews

  • Behavior-based interviews: The behavioral job interview is based on the theory that past performance is the best indicator of future behavior, and uses questions that probe specific past behaviors.
  • Case interviews.
  • Longer interviews.
  • Group (panel) Interviews.
  • Intimidation (stress) Interviews.
    More Information are at http://www.quintcareers.com/job_interviews.html

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Interview Quiz
The Job Interviewing Quiz WEB page helps you to test your knowledge of job interviews.

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Other useful WEB Sites

http://www.quintcareers.com
http://www.uky.edu/CareerCenter/interviewhowto
http://www.job-interview.net
http://www.collegegrad.com/intv
http://www.asktheinterviewcoach.com
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_questions.html (Reference for this Assignment)

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