Job interviews

Overview

It should be clear to you now, having read through our sections on self-assessment, work search strategies and work search tools, that job interviews are the culmination of all your work search efforts. The job interview is your opportunity to sell yourself—in person—to a prospective employer and to get a job offer.

During a job interview, you will attempt to secure a job offer by:

• Projecting confidence in yourself and in your ability to perform in a competent fashion—this requires effective mental preparation
• Expressing interest in the vacant position as well as in the employer/organization—this requires research and preparation
• Clearly demonstrating how your skills, education and experience fulfill each of the selection criteria/requirements of the job

While the job interview is your opportunity to sell yourself, don't forget that it is also an opportunity for you to gather more information about the employer in order to determine whether what the employer is offering is a good match for your needs and wants.

Until now, we've looked at the job interview from your—the jobseeker's—perspective. Let's shift the focus now to the employer's point of view. From an employer's standpoint, the purpose of the interview is to determine how you, relative to other candidates, meet the needs of the company or organization. An employer assesses your suitability by:

• Asking you questions and evaluating how you respond both verbally and non-verbally
• Asking questions to discover your values, beliefs, skills
and qualifications as they relate to the position for which you're being interviewed
• Gathering information that will help him/her arrive at an informed decision
• Verifying information you have supplied in your application, cover letter, and résumé

Ideally, the interviewer will assume the role of a host and will show you hospitality and put you at ease, creating a friendly environment in which he/she will conduct the interview. He/she will have planned the interview structure and the questions he/she plans to ask you. A good interviewer will feel confident in his/her ability to make an informed decision.

This represents the ideal situation. Many interviewers, however, don't:

• Know what they're looking for or what they need
• Know how to interview effectively
• Understand that the person being interviewed ought to do most of the talking
• Know how to assess a candidate's suitability

Given this, you will have the opportunity to influence the outcome of your interview. Be prepared for all eventualities—anything can happen during the course of an interview. Take initiative: it's up to you to ensure the interviewer is getting all the key/important information about you.

To summarize, job interviews are all about matching employees and employers. The purpose of job interviews is to allow a potential employer to meet with candidates in order to evaluate their skills and levels of experience. In addition, the information you receive from an employer during an interview will help you determine whether the job is a good fit for your skills, temperament and goals.

You, as the interviewee, will be asked a series of questions. Remeber that while there are no standard answers, your responses should be clear, consise, and relevant. If you need a moment to gather your thoughts, that's fine. This is not only helpful, but also wise.

To help you answer questions appropriately, remember the following:

• Listen carefully. If you don't understand the question, you may ask politely for clarification.
• Before answering, pause a moment to consider facts and examples that will support your answer.
• Avoid negativity. Answer positively at all times.
• Get right to the point. Before going into detail, ask the interviewer if he or she would like you to do so.
• Focus only on the facts needed to appropriately answer the question.
• Avoid opening yourself to lines of questioning that may be uncomfortable.
• Be honest, but don't volunteer information unless it is asked of you.
• Focus on your successes and accomplishments. Your goal is not so much to give "right" answers as it is to convince the employer you are the type of positive employee that will benefit his or her organization. You are selling yourself and trying to convince the interviewer you are the right person for the job.

Try to anticipate questions and prepare answers. While questions may vary depending on the type of interview, you should still plan and be prepared for common interview questions. Avoid memorizing your answers. Instead, script answers to help you better remember details and supporting examples when asked during an interview. You should also have a series of questions to ask the interviewer during the interviewer. If an interviewer answers one of your questions during the interview, be sure to cross it off your list. If you forget and ask it later, it may seem as though you weren't listening.

It's amazing how many candidates forget to follow up with the interviewer after an interview. Within 24 hours after your interview, be sure to write a thank you note to each person who interviewed you. Not only is this a part of professional etiquette, it also provides you with an opportunity to reinforce a skill you have and to provide a concise supporting statement or example.

Job interview tips

Overall presentation

Over 55% of the impact you have during a personal meeting can be attributed to your non-verbal presentation—how you look overall. Your appearance includes your dress, grooming, body language and facial expression.

It's not recommended to wear a new outfit for the first time to an interview. It's best to give it a test run first or to wear something professional, but in which you are comfortable and in which you can be yourself. Dress as you would if you were working in the position for which you're being interviewed. When researching an employer, observe the company dress code. It's better to err on the side of conservatism than to overdo makeup, perfume, accessories. Dress isn't limited to just the outfit you're wearing—dress also refers to the care of your shoes, hair, nails, skin, teeth and everything in between. Be sure you are well groomed. This includes clean hands and nails, clean hair that is neatly styled, clothes that are clean and pressed, a clean face with no traces of sleep in your eyes (this is sometimes overlooked by some job seekers, believe it or not), polished shoes, clean teeth, and fresh breath. Refer to the more detailed information and tips on dressing for success, also in this section.

Voice and speech

Over half the impression you make is based on your physical presentation. You make an impression before you even open your mouth to speak. Having said that, the next most important factor to consider is your voice. Your voice—that is, the tone, rate, pitch, and inflection of your voice—account for over 35 percent of the impact you make on interviewers. Don't be afraid to practice and to role play with a friend or someone whose feedback and opinions you trust. If you have access to a tape recorder or a video camera, you can use these to evaluate your presenation.

A tape recorder will allow you to determine where you may need to add inflection to your speaking, where you may need to speed up or slow down, whether your voice is too loud or too soft, hesitant or confident, flat and monotone or pleasant and cheerful. An audio tape will also help you determine whether you have any bad speech habits such as slang or overuse of filler words such as "uh," "like," "you know,"or "um." You may want to observe others around you: listen to how they speak and pick out mannerisms that are most appealing to you. Try to emulate these and to incorporate them into your own speech. Practice developing the dynamics, tone, speed, and pitch that communicate what you want others to hear in you.

If you have a voice or speech impediment, you should acknowledge this during the interview, describing or demonstrating how you communicate in order to be understood. Interviewers will appreciate your proactive approach in identifying how you function in a work situation. You will have answered the question on their minds: "Can this person work effectively and perform what's required of the job?"

A videotape will allow you to assess your body language and pick out annoying nervous habits you need to curb (i.e. crossing arms, drumming fingers, nailbiting).

When to arrive

Take a practice run to the interview location, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area of town in which the office is located. This will ensure you know the best route to take and approximately how long it will take you to get there.

Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early for your interview. Arriving early allows you to get your bearings, learn more about the organization, make one last trip to the restroom to freshen up, collect your thoughts (mentally prepare), and finally, focus on the interview. Arriving late for a job interview is inexcusable. If you are running late, be sure you phone the company.

Always greet the receptionist with couresy and respect. A fact often overlooked by job seekers is that employers may often ask the receptionist or assistant for their impression of you. Make sure you make a favorable first impression!

Posture and body language

Walk and stand straight.

Shake the interviewer's hand firmly. Avoid a limp handshake. An effective handshake communicates confidence and friendliness. In fact, you should should shake hands whenever you greet someone—be sure to listen for their name, and state yours clearly. Remember that handshakes allow us to make better eye contact and to better connect with others. They reinforce our professional image. If you feel the need, practice your handshake with several people before your interview and ask for feedback. You want a handshake that is neither too limp nor too tight.

Do not sit until instructed to do so. Remember that body language and posture say a lot about your attitude. Sit up straight, with both feet flat on the floor or crossed at the ankles, whichever is more comfortable.

Look alert, make eye contact at all times and with all interviewers.

Don't fidget, squirm, rock or slouch. You may place your hands in your lap or on the arms of your chair but never on the interviewer's desk; respect his or her space.

Avoid playing with objects, including keys, pens, your hair, your nails, or your clothing.

Smile during your interview, but avoid making jokes.

How to behave

Address the interviewer by the appropriate title (i.e., Ms, Dr. or Mr.) and last name, if you are sure of the pronunciation. If not, be sure to ask the receptionist before you step into the interview.

If presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely. (See application forms, also in this section.)

Be sure to bring additional copies of your résumé to the interview. If you have a job skills portfolio, you may bring this as well.

Don't assume your résumé will speak for you. Regardless of how qualified you believe you are for a position, you need to sell yourself to the employer.

Don't eat, smoke or chew gum during an interview. You may drink water or coffee if you need to wet your lips, but only if offered by the receptionist, assistant, or interviewer.

As more and more interviews are taking place in in informal settings such as restaurants or coffee shops, it may not be uncommon for the interviewer to offer you a cigarette or a cocktail. Politely decline. You do not want your breath to smell of cigarettes or alcohol!

Avoid controversial topics, personal issues or family problems.

Avoid saying anything negative about past colleagues, supervisors, or employers.

Be honest. Never lie or exaggerate your accomplishments, skills, or abilities. Emphasize your successes and don't offer negative information about yourself.

If you need time to collect your thoughts and facts before answering a question, it's better to pause a moment than to say something like "Boy, that's a good question!" It's perfectly alright if you need to repeat the question aloud or ask that it be repeated to have a little time to prepare your answer.

Turn off cell phones and/or pagers before going into an interview. Never answer a cell phone call during an interview.

Avoid discussing salary, benefits, and bonuses until after you've received an offer. Be prepared to answer questions about salary, but do try to delay mention of salary until after you have a firm job offer.

Ask intelligent questions about the job, the company and the industry. The interviewer will likely present you with an opportunity to ask any questions at the close of the interview. Failure to ask questions indicates a lack of interest.

Close the interview by telling the interview you want the job. Ask about the next steps in the process.