|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Interviewing Tips |
|
So, you landed the first
interview. Now what?
First of all,
congratulations; you have an interview. This is your chance to shine and to show
the employer exactly why they should hire you instead of another candidate. Now
you quickly need to do some homework so you are prepared for your first meeting
with this potential employer. How well you prepare for the interview will
directly affect how well your interview goes. The following items will help you
prepare for success in your interview.
Preparation
The most important thing you can do prior to and during an interview is to be
prepared. This means knowing about the company you are interviewing with; what
products or services do they provide? How big is the company? What industries do
they serve? Who are their major competitors? Etc. The more you know about the
employer before you interview, the better your interview will go.
So where do you find this information?
- Visit the company's Web site. Most companies will have at least some
information about themselves on their Web site. But don’t stop there, you
may not find enough information on the Web site to fully prepare you.
- Go to the library and search back-issues of the local newspaper for
stories about the employer. This will take a little bit of effort, but may
give you some insight into how this particular employer is viewed by the
community.
- Talk to other employees. If it is possible, take some time to talk with
current employees of the company. Find out what they like about the employer
and what they don’t like. Ask them why they work for the company. This
information will help you converse about the company during your interview.
- Ask the interviewer for information. Before you interview with the
company, you can ask the interviewer to provide you with information about
the company such as sales literature, brochures, or annual reports.
Arrival
When interviewing, it is very important to be prompt and punctual. Our
recommendation is that you arrive five to ten minutes early for your interview.
This demonstrates to the employer that you are serious about the position and
responsible for how you spend your time. Never be late for an interview, but
don’t be too early either. Arriving more than 10 minutes early makes you look
impatient and puts pressure on the interviewer to meet with you early.
Dress and Hygiene
Your appearance at the interview is many times the first impression the employer
will have of you. Make it count by dressing appropriately and being neatly
groomed. What you wear to an interview will be dictated by the position you are
applying for. If you are interviewing for a retail position, dress slightly
better than you would dress when working in the store. When interviewing for a
professional position dress as the interviewer’s boss would dress. Regardless of
the position, you should dress to meet the expectation of the interviewer.
The introduction and handshake
How you greet your interviewer will greatly influence their first impression of
you. Be confident and speak clearly when introducing yourself. Look the
interviewer in the eye and introduce yourself by saying something like, “Ms.
Interview, I am John Doe. I appreciate you taking time to meet with me today".
When you shake the interviewers hand, do it firmly and maintain eye contact.
Avoid the limp fish handshake as it sends the message that you are nervous and
not confident.
Etiquette, speech, and manners
In recent years, the formal etiquette for an interview has waned as many
employers have a more relaxed business atmosphere. However, it is still a good
idea to practice proper etiquette. For instance, when interviewing, you should
wait for your interviewer to sit down first or to invite you to be seated. Your
speech and manners will tell your interviewer a great deal about you. In an
interview you should always speak slightly more formally than you do in everyday
conversations. For instance, avoid saying ya. Instead, say yes. Some other
things to remember include:
- Don’t chew gum during and interview.
- Sit up straight; don’t slouch in your chair.
- Don’t interrupt the interviewer.
- Answer questions with complete sentences.
Rehearsal
Every interview is different so it is difficult to rehearse for them. However,
there are some things you can practice like how you will introduce yourself or
how you will answer specific questions. There are typical questions that many
interviewers will ask such as; what do you see yourself doing five years from
now? Or, why did you leave your last position? By practicing your answers, you
will be more relaxed and ultimately have a better interview.
Spending time preparing for an interview could very well be the best investment
you could make in your career. The tips above can help you prepare for a
successful interview that will land you the new job you are seeking.
Article Provided By AkronWorks.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
