1. Preparing for the Interview
An interview is a chance for both you and the organization to see how closely your needs match. The interviewer will use this opportunity to evaluate your academic background, past experiences, personal attributes and your desire to work in the specific position. You should use this time to determine basic company culture and job details to help you determine your interest level in working for the particular company.
Research the organization and the position
Take some time before the interview to research the company. Find out the company’s history, what products and services they provide and how well they are regarded in their industry. If they are a publicly held company, you can also get information from financial or investment websites (i.e. Hoover’s Online) to see their history and their forecast by industry analysts.
If you are a student, go to your college’s career center. Most have a career library which has an extensive collection of employer information, particularly related to those organizations which participate in an On-Campus Interview program or Career Fair. Also, make sure to go to the company’s information session, if they have one. These are always a good opportunity for you to find out information about the position and company you are interested in.
Consolidate Information about Yourself
Your research tells you about the company and hopefully the opening. You should use this information and see how to relate your skills, experiences, and training to the position. Prepare answers to common questions which will directly link your experiences to the company’s field. You should consider how the following information meets the company’s needs before the interview:
For Example: If asked, "Tell me about your experiences in a group." You should be able to relate specific details of several projects you worked on, what role you played in the group, and how successful it was.
Practice before the interview
Anticipate the questions they might ask you and create questions you can ask them. Practice your answers; you can do role-playing with a friend or even practice in front of the mirror. Take notes and outline important information, but be sure not just to read it off to the interviewer since it will sound too artificial. Having notes may make you more confident during the interview, but be familiar enough with the information so you don’t need to use them too much – after all, the information is about you. (See sample questions)
Preparation and practice will make you more comfortable, especially if you haven’t had many interviews. Remember, an interview is just an unrehearsed conversation between two strangers, a chance to ask and answer questions. Preparation will increase your confidence, your ability to answer questions articulately, and your ability to ask discerning and pertinent questions. Also try to put yourself in the employer’s shoes - what kind of person would you hire? This will help you develop answers to meet their needs.
Think about yourself specifically in that job and reflect on how all your experiences have prepared you for working in that setting. Be sure to include information from all aspects of your life if you don’t have much work experience to draw on. It is important to be able to articulate to the interviewer what he or she is interested in knowing about you – why you would be a good fit for the position. Be aware of your tone as well – ask a friend to be totally honest with you. You should try to sound confident, not arrogant; yet also avoid sounding overly self-deprecating.
Appearance--General
Appearance matters in the workplace. Unlike in the classroom, the corporate world requires a certain dedication to appearance. As an interviewee, you are what you wear. Wearing the appropriate clothes is an easy way to get respect. Think of it this way: a serious wardrobe for a serious occasion. Dress is not just about receiving respect, but conveying it. It shows you are sincerely interested in the company and position you are interviewing for.
Conformity is a necessary evil. Adjust your wardrobe to fit accepted norms. Before employers have the chance to decide if you’re an intelligent person, they decide if you’re serious based on the impression that you make. The very first contact is visual; so it is important to plan your attire ahead of time.
Having said that, in Silicon Valley, there are no absolute rules regarding dress. Your choice depends on your occupation, location, the company and personal preferences. Some occupations, such as sales and marketing tend to dress more formally whereas engineers can interview in jeans (but don’t wear your old company’s T-shirt with the logo on it!)
In general, dress professionally if you are seeking a professional position. Suits are still considered the safest choice for most interviews. But dressing to fit in with the environment and the style of the company is more important.
Smaller companies and start-ups have an environment that is usually more casual. A tie and shirt without the suit jacket will work for men. A blouse and skirt or dress slacks are appropriate for women. However, if you dress too conservatively, they may assume you need a structured environment, which does not exist in a dot-com company.
More established firms tend toward more conservative clothes, but not always. Some types of companies, such as financial or legal, will appreciate suits. However, knowing that a recent graduate may not have the money to buy a good suit, they will appreciate the best effort you can give. If you don’t own a suit, see if you have a friend your size that will loan you one, but be careful that it fits fairly well. Even a great suit – if the wrong size – won’t look good. If a shirt and tie is the best you can do, then make the most of it and don’t worry too much.
If you are still not sure what kind of clothes to wear, dress on the more conservative side. Most people are more dressed up for interviews than for daily office work. Another possibility is to find a chance to drive to the company and see what the people working there are wearing. This gives you a strong indication of what is “normal” at this company and you can adjust your wardrobe accordingly. In addition, this also allows you to map out your route so you won’t be late the day of your interview. If this is not feasible, try and get to the company early and decide whether or not to wear your jacket by observing the people coming and going.
Appearance--Specific Do’s and Don’ts
Do
Don’t
Scheduling the appointment
Make sure you write down the time, date and location of the interview, as well as the name of the person you will meet. Ask for concise directions and building numbers if applicable.
Bring with you
Traveling Locally
Leave early because you never know what might happen. You may become stuck in traffic, get lost, or there may be an accident on the freeway. It is always a good idea to give yourself extra time to get there so you don’t feel pressured.
Keep in Mind What the Employer is Seeking
First Impressions
There is a common saying that minds are made up within the first 5 minutes of an interview. So keep in mind these important first impression indicators. Walk in the door as if you already work there, carry yourself as though you feel perfectly comfortable with the situation. Arrive on time or a little early. In the waiting area, politely tell the receptionist who you are meeting and in a friendly way, ask where you should sit. Take slow, deep breaths to help you remain calm and focused. When introduced to the interviewer, have a firm, but not painful, handshake. Smile. Have good posture when sitting or standing. Introduce yourself in a relaxed, confident manner. Have a well-groomed, professional appearance. Project a feeling of confidence. Bring extra copies of your resume, some thing to write on and something to write with.
General
Etiquette counts when it comes to getting a job today. In an age when employers must decide between candidates with equally impressive credentials, the best way to distinguish yourself is through proper attitude and appearance. Good manners and business etiquette empower you to present yourself with confidence and authority to outshine the competition.
Avoid acting less than professional towards professionals: be punctual and polite. Employers look at you as potential employees, not students. The ability to display confidence through good manners can be as valuable as job skills. Do not over look social graces like handshakes and introductions. Stand until you are invited, by word or gesture, to sit down.
Employers with an eye on long-term employees – in other words all of them, are also aware of how you present yourself as a leader. Leaders are able to function well in formal settings, such as an interview. Because they want employees who are able to command respect among a variety of associates and situations, it is important to select individuals who adapt their attitude, demeanor and behavior to suit the situation.
Specific Do’s and Don’ts
Do
Phone Interview
On-Site Interview – Non-local and Local
The on-site interview is important because you get to see the workplace and meet the people you are considering working with. This is an excellent opportunity for you to determine if this is an organization you want to work for. It provides a better chance for both parties to make informed decisions.
The Travel Plan – Non-local
Many organizations will reimburse the expense for travel, lodging, and meals if you are out of the area, but be sure you are clear with this in advance. You should keep accurate records of your expenses, including the driving mileage, taxi fares, airline tickets, meal receipts, etc. You may have to plan your travel arrangements, lodging and car rental if the company will not coordinate it for you.
Mealtime
You are being observed throughout the on-site visit. Keep in mind that every minute you are there, you are being evaluated. Don’t relax too much during lunchtime. Your manner, poise, and conversation are all going to be factors in deciding if your personality fits the organization’s culture.
The Heart of the Interview
The on-site interview, usually involves multiple interviews with people from different departments. These people can be from top management, the personnel department, or your future team members. You will probably be asked the same thing over and over again. You should answer the same question gracefully, don’t be impatient because of the repetition of questions, after all, these people weren’t in on the prior interviews.
On-site interviews are different than screening interviews. They’ll ask more in depth questions. The interviewer may ask you very specific questions to see how you solve problems. So, be well prepared before you go to an on-site interview.
Make your interview a positive one by always focusing on positive elements in your experiences. Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, creativity, responsibility and initiative. This is where your preparation can make a big difference. You should be able to link your experiences from academics, athletics, community service and work directly to the position at hand. Especially if you don’t have much “professional” experience, by thinking about your other, related experiences in advance, you will have a clearer answer during the interview.
You may also find it helpful to take notes about the interview. They can be little questions that come to mind as the interviewer speaks, important details about the company’s hiring process or things which will help you keep this interview separate and distinct in your mind from all others. Since you may go on several interviews in a short amount of time, these notes can become critical to prepare you if you are invited back for second interview.
Follow up
Always write a thank you letter after an interview. It shows your appreciation for the opportunity to talk to the company and leaves a good impression. It also reminds the recruiter of your interest in the job.
Situational questions
Situational questions are becoming popular because of their validity in predicting job performance. A lot of companies believe that the best predictor for future job success is past performance in similar situations.
There are two types of situational questions. One is experienced based. The recruiter will ask you your actual experiences. The other one is future based. The recruiter will give you a hypothetical situation and ask what you are likely to do.
Tell the recruiter an experience relates to the question if it is a fairly close fit. Tell them what you did or would do, specifically. Be positive. Here are some sample questions:
Case Approach
The interviewer will poses a problem relevant to the position and ask the candidate to solve the problem with logical steps. Consulting firms or job involves a lot of problem solving duties may use this method to test the analytical skills and problem solving skills of you.
6. Sample questions from employers
Listed below are some typical interview questions that you can practice answering before the interview:7. Sample Questions to the Employer
What advancement opportunities are available for the person who is successful in this position and within what time frame?Sweaty Palms : The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed
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