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Career Guide |
THE
JOB INTERVIEW Key
Points to Remember
- Research
the organization - have a little background on
the company's products, services, branches, last
financial statement.
-
Make a good first impression - dress appropriately
and speak clearly.
-
Wear what you would wear if you got the job and
were going to work. Be conservative in your attire,
no distractive colors, styles or hemlines.
-
Have your shoes shining, hair clean and finger
nails manicured. Please, gentlemen, no earrings;
ladies, minimum make-up. Dress up (not down),
even if the position is a technical one.
-
Be early, give yourself ample time to reach your
destination, relax in the reception area and collect
your thoughts.
-
Think about your body language - make eye contact
with the interviewer when speaking to him/her.
-
Be natural and be yourself.
-
Let your sense of humor show.
-
Do not smoke or chew gum.
-
Identify yourself and the person with whom you
have an appointment, as soon as you arrive.
-
Smile when you meet your interviewer and offer
a handshake.
Wait until you are asked before you sit.
-
Sit upright, do not slump!
-
Listen well to the questions that are being asked,
don't rush into a reply, but answer coherently.
If you are not sure, please ask the interviewer
to repeat the question or explain.
-
Walk with a copy of your resume for the interviewer.
-
Depending in the position, bring samples of your
work (artwork, writing etc.)
-
Do not use slang or bad language, no matter how
mild.
-
Never ill speak anyone, especially a previous
employer.
-
Do not ask about salary or benefits at this stage:
this can be discussed after you have been offered
the job. Then you can negotiate.
-
Be honest. If you don't know something, acknowledge
it.
-
Allow yourself to participate fully in the interview.
-
Be an active listener.
-
Have questions ready about the job, company, industry,
opportunities, etc.
-
Don't go off on tangents or ramble.
-
Don't volunteer potentially negative information.
-
Be prepared to provide references that are positive.
The interviewer who wants them will ask.
-
Don't appear desperate for the job.
-
Don't make claims you can't backup.
-
When the interview has ended, thank the interviewer,
shake his/her hand and leave immediately.
It
is a good idea to have a few practice runs before
going out on an actual interview. Ask a friend or
relative to role play.
An
Interview Is A Two-way Street
There
may come a time during an interview when the employer
asks if you have any questions. This is your chance
to show your interest and enthusiasm about the job.
Here are some questions you could ask:
- What
is the first problem that needs the attention
of the person you hire?
-
What other problems need attention right now?
-
Why is this position vacant?
-
What are the main responsibilities of the job?
-
What authority would I have? What budget? How
many staff?
-
What can you tell me about the people who would
be working with me? Under me?
-
What can you tell me about other key people I
would have contact with?
-
What are you looking for in the person who will
fill this position?
-
What challenges do you see facing this industry
and this company in the next five years?
-
Might this company be sold or acquired?
Perhaps
you don't have any questions, because you've received
all the answers doing the interview. If this is the
case, use the extra time to summarize your skills.
After
The Interview
- After
the interview, write down details of your meeting
including information you learned, questions you
neglected to ask, and any request that were made.
-
Send a thank-you note, saying you're still interested
and hope to receive a response soon.
-
Nothing is wrong in calling a week later to inquire
about the progress of the interview and whether
any final decisions had been made. It is unlikely
that as a result of making such a call you will
not be considered, quite the contrary. If the
job is still open, let the interviewer know you're
interested. If not, ask in a non-confrontational
way why you didn't get the job.
Always
learn from your interview. The more you attend, the
better you will become. Even the most seasoned person
can make mistakes and can improve his or her interview
techniques. Update your resume periodically.
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