Tips for Successful Interviewing

When you go on an interview arranged by one of our consultants, you should be confident that you are qualified for the position, because your recruiter has carefully evaluated your suitability for the job and the company/firm. However, a poor interview could result in no offer being made, no matter how ideal your skills are. You must do a good job of selling yourself to the company in the interviewing process. Since most good employees have been through very few interviews, review the following materials as an aid to making the best presentation.

The Objective

As you prepare for and participate in the interview, stay focused on the objective: The objective of the job interview is very simple……IT IS TO GET THE JOB OFFER. In many situations, the most difficult part of the job itself is “Getting The Offer.” Note that interviewing is at best a very part-time job. One must prepare to do it well. You have no DECISION to make if you don’t get the offer. With offer in hand, you now are in CONTROL. Even if you decide five minutes into the interview that you are not interested in the position it is critical that you do not give that impression through body language or half-hearted dialogue. Sometimes the first interviewer you meet does a poor job of selling the position and you may determine the position is right for you after meeting all the principals.

Generally speaking, the company/firm will have an opportunity to interview more than one candidate who passes the resume qualifications test. The final hiring decision is almost always based on other factors, including the following:

An upbeat attitude. Do not dwell on the problems of past employers. This usually gets you pegged as a malcontent. Concentrate on topics that you can discuss enthusiastically.

Indication of longevity of service. They may not ask direct questions about longevity. Instead, they might ask: “Why are you interested in another position?” or, “What are you looking for in a new position?” These questions, or variations on them, are probing for indicators of your commitment to the long term. Here is a simple and effective way to answer them:

• Make a positive statement about your former employer.
• Make a short, positive, general statement about what you want in a new position:
  “I’ve enjoyed my years with ABC Company. There are a lot of good people there, but this looks like a more challenging opportunity. I want to be part of a team where I can make a real contribution to the work performed.”
• If you have been in more than 2-3 jobs or had shorter tenures, do make it a point of addressing the employer’s probable concerns in this area, even if he does not broach the subject, especially if you and the recruiter have agreed on an approach to fielding these questions.

There are several things that you should do in preparing for the interview that can make the difference between receiving and not receiving the job offer:

1. Find out as much as you can about the company. This not only makes you feel more comfortable during the interview, it also demonstrates genuine interest in the company. Your recruiter will provide pertinent information, but you can also check out the employer’s website and financial information on a variety of other websites.
2. Dress appropriately. Even if the employer is business casual, dress at the high end thereof.
3. Allow sufficient time to get to the interview, 5–10 minutes early compensating for traffic and parking and for the interview to run over as much as 30–45 minutes if the employer is running late. The in-house recruiter may want to meet you, so 15 minutes early is best.
4. Prepare a list of questions. Be prepared to ask the interviewer questions; practice them with a friend or in front of a mirror until they are fluid and succinct. He will know you have taken the time to think seriously about working for them. Your recruiter should have informed you about company polices, the number of employees, hours, travel, benefits, the review process, and more, but you can still ask questions about any of these matters, except for compensation and benefits on the first interview. Decide ahead of time what questions you would like answered and pose them politely when an opportunity arises. Your questions should cover the following topics:

Anatomy Of A Job Interview

There are many different interview scenarios and techniques. Discuss the best approaches for the specific employer or hiring managers with your consultant. You should be prepared with all of your questions and all the responses to the logical questions in advance. Do take notes as to names and specifics discussed with each interviewer so as to refer to them later (Use a small notepad).

After the interview. When you have left the interview, take time to assess your feelings, impressions, and reactions. Do you want to work for the firm? Were there issues that bothered you? Note any questions you want answered before a second interview is arranged or an offer is made. And by all means, discuss the interview with your recruiter if possible within 2–3 hours of the last meeting. Finally, review your performance before your next interview and work on a stronger presentation.

Common Interviewing Mistakes

Four mistakes stand out as the ones most commonly made by candidates interviewing for a position. In order of importance they are:

1. Losing sight of the interview objective. The objective is to get a job offer. Don’t let preliminary impressions of the company affect your interviewing technique and strategy.
2. Being too modest. Candidates, especially for key technical positions, tend to understate their capabilities. This doesn’t mean you should exaggerate your qualifications; it does mean that you should make the most of what you have. Don’t forget that knowledge of how to solve a particular problem can be a strong qualification, even though your knowledge may not have been applied directly in your job experience. A little modesty is a good thing, but don’t overdo it.
3. Asking too many “me” questions. Don’t ask questions about what the company can do for you. Emphasize your ability to contribute to the company’s goals. There will be a time to ask “me” questions throughout the interview process.
4. Failure to “sell” your abilities. There is no such thing as a token interview. It may be true that some people you interview with have no power to hire you, but they certainly have the power to keep you from getting the offer. You should treat every interviewer as the person who will hire you. Never depend on someone else to sell your abilities to others. Make the strong and positive presentation yourself. As is often said, “If you don’t sell yourself, nobody else will.”

Typical “Tough Questions”

Before the interview, prepare answers to difficult questions that are almost sure to be asked. You should know what the interviewer is really asking and respond in an honest; sincere and convincing manner. Some typical tough questions are:

1. “Why don’t you begin by telling me about yourself?”
   This is not an invitation for a long, biographical discourse. It’s the interviewer’s way of starting the interview. Confine your answer to three or four well-chosen sentences outlining your career highlights. It might be an ideal time to begin the typical interview by asking what will be expected of the person who gets the position.
2. “Do you have any questions?”
   The temptation here is to ask “me” questions. Don’t. Ask only questions that are job-related prior to the actual offer.
3. “Are you willing to travel?”
   Your response should indicate flexibility. If you do like to travel, you should say so, but indicate that extensive travel is not a primary consideration. If you do not like to travel, be clear, perhaps indicating that occasional travel would not preclude your acceptance of an offer. If you really are inflexible about travel, though, be honest about it.
4. “Do you object to overtime work or long hours?”
   The interviewer is not necessarily asking if you will work late every day; he may just want to know if you are the type who drops everything at quitting time. A good answer might be: “I have always been flexible when it comes to working beyond office hours. The fact is that I am project-oriented, not clock-oriented. I do whatever is necessary to finish the job.” He may be asking how many hours you are comfortable working because long hours are routinely a part of the job. In this case, the answer is still, I complete all my work as a rule ahead of time, but I am always willing to do whatever it takes to make a strong contribution to the bottom line.
5. “Will you relocate?”
   If the job requires immediate relocation, your recruiter will have made it clear. If you are unwilling to relocate in the future, say so. If you would consider it, make that clear. Don’t let the possibility of relocation dampen your enthusiasm. A good answer to this question is: “I haven’t really considered moving out of town, but for the right opportunity I would seriously consider the possibility.”
6. “Why do you want to work for our company/firm?
   This is a wide open question that gives you an opportunity to pay the company a few compliments: perhaps you like what the company does, perhaps you like its location, people, products, etc.
7. “Why are you considering leaving your current position?”
   Have a simple answer ready; don’t get into politics or negative situations at your current employer. Whatever has attracted you to this potential new employer should be emphasized at this time. This question also seeks an indication of your commitment to staying with an employer. If your resume shows that you’ve moved around quite a bit, you can turn a negative into a positive by stating that longevity is one of your goals. Indicate that you are looking for a place to make a real contribution: “If I’ve learned anything during my past employment, it is the importance of finding a long-term, permanent position. I enjoy my work with XYZ Company, but I am interested in this position because it will allow me to make contributions over the long term.”

Salary Questions

Your recruiter should have discussed the salary and benefits of the position before the interview. Still, you should be prepared for this kind of question: “What are you looking for in the way of salary?” It is best to avoid being pinned down on salary before an offer is made so you might answer this way: “Salary is important, but I’m more interested in a company that wants to utilize my skills and that I can really grow with over the long run.” If the employer is insistent, say something like; “Mr. Employer, I would like to receive the best possible offer I could and still fit within the framework of the company/firm.
General Tips On Interviewing

The Following are some “do’s and don’ts” that apply in any job interview:

1. Don’t tell jokes. Never tell jokes, regardless of how comfortable you perceive the setting.
2. Don’t discuss personal problems. Keep the interview focused by discussing job-related topics. Don’t waste time with excessive small talk, though if they bring up personal interests, it is OK to discuss yours and theirs, briefly.
3. Do be positive. It’s your responsibility to convince the interviewer that you are the person for the position by relating your accomplishments and achievements in a strong, positive manner. Confidence always contributes to interview success.
4. Do research. Before interviewing, become familiar with industry trends, the company, and its competition. Visit relevant websites, review help-wanted ads and search on-line research or clipping services for information. Industry associations, trade journals, and business periodicals are other good sources.
5. Do turn negatives into positives. If your job history shows frequent job changes, for example, indicate that you realize the value of a stable position, which is why you are interested in the position. You can neutralize negatives by bringing them up yourself, with logical and positive statements.
6. Do respect the role of personnel departments. Although law firm and in-house recruiters do not make decisions, many have strong input and are responsible for screening candidates. In some cases, they can be a formidable obstacle, if they feel like you have not afforded them the proper amount of respect or have not shown your better personality traits. The same goes for associates and staff you might meet in the course of an interview.
7. Do follow-up with a thank you note. Enhance your impact by sending a follow-up letter thanking the interviewer for his time. Use the letter to pinpoint 2–3 reasons why you are a very strong candidate for the job, in terms of skills and abilities you possess. Express your enthusiasm about the position, the company, and the reasons for your interest. Limit the letter to a page and be sure it is error-free. It is in fact appropriate to send a rough draft to your consultant for review and comment. Always CC your consultant on the actual version sent. E-Mail is acceptable if the distances are long; a note on personal, not company stationery has solid impact if time permits. It is important to get the thank you on the desk of the primary interviewers inside of 3 working days, and to make sure you send each interviewer a thank you with some personal or specific note that shows you remember them and the discussion you had.

If you have any questions about how you can make the most of your interviews, feel free to consult your Windsor Consultant.