The Interview
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The document provides a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for a job interview from both the employer's and candidate's perspectives. It emphasizes the importance of research, professionalism, and communication during the interview process while suggesting strategies for answering questions and managing nervousness. Additionally, it highlights appropriate behavior and topics to avoid to ensure a positive impression on potential employers.
The Interview
- 1. THE INTERVIEW WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
- 2. WHAT THE MEETING IS ALL ABOUT... THERE IS NO PHASE OF THE PROCESS OF GETTING A JOB THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, AND MORE DAUNTING, THAN AN INTERVIEW.
- 3. THE EMPLOYER’S PERSPECTIVE “WHO IS THIS PERSON?” “ARE THEY A WACKO?” MOST TIMES, WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOOR THE EMPLOYER IS REALLY HOPING YOU’RE GOING TO BE AMAZING! THAT WOULD MEAN THEY’RE DONE. THEY’RE LOOKING FOR YOU TO MATCH THE PERSON ON THE RESUME. THEY’RE ALSO LOOKING FOR MORE...
- 4. EMPLOYER WORRY TRIGGERS... ARE YOU ON TIME? IS YOUR APPEARANCE PROFESSIONAL? IS YOUR DEMEANOR PROFESSIONAL? ARE YOU RELAXED? ARE YOU INFORMED? IS THERE ACTUALLY MORE TO YOU THAN THEY EXPERIENCED IN THE RESUME?
- 5. THE INTERVIEW FOR YOU HOLY COW. I’M SO NERVOUS I COULD PUKE ON MY SHOES. WHY IS THIS MAN SCOWLING AT ME? UH OH .... HE HAS A LITTLE PIECE OF LINT ON HIS EYELASH. I CAN’T STOP LOOKING AT IT! I THOUGHT I WAS MEETING WITH PERSON X AND NOW I’M MEETING WITH PERSON Y. DOES THAT MEAN THEY DON’T WANT ME? WOW. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I SAID. I HOPE THAT WENT WELL. I HOPE THEY CALL.
- 6. HOW TO PREPARE INTERVIEW PREPARATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN YOUR JOB HUNT. (AND IT’S ONE OF THE LEAST-OFTEN USED). TAKE SOME TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE COMPANY WELL. (HINT - THIS IS THE THING THE INTERNET IS GOOD FOR). NOTE ANY RECENT PRESS RELEASES, NEW PRODUCTS, ETC HAVE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTS. WHEN THEY ASK THE QUESTION, “WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE COMPANY.” BE ABLE TO SAY, “WELL, I KNOW THAT YOU’RE THE LEADING MANUFACTURER OF WIDGETS AND THAT YOU SIGNED A BIG CONTRACT TO PROVIDE A BUNCH TO BOEING AND THAT YOU JUST OPENED AN OFFICE IN CHICAGO. THAT’S ALL GOT TO BE PRETTY EXCITING!” TAKE GOOD NOTES SO YOU CAN REFER TO THEM ON THAT DAY. (BUT NOT IN THE MEETING).
- 7. HOW TO PREPARE, CONTINUED ASK THE PERSON WHO CALLS YOU TO SCHEDULE THE INTERVIEW WHO YOU’LL BE MEETING WITH AND APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO BE THERE. LOOK UP THE PEOPLE YOU’LL BE MEETING WITH ON THE COMPANY WEBSITE AND ON GOOGLE DON’T SAY, “HEY I HEARD YOU DUMPED YOUR GIRLFRIEND FROM FACEBOOK!” THE PERSONAL INFORMATION IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. ASK THE PERSON WHO CALLS IF YOU WILL NEED TO ARRIVE EARLY TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION. ASK THE PERSON WHO CALLS HOW THEY DRESS IN THE OFFICE. HINT: YOU NEED TO DRESS ONE STEP BETTER. BUSINESS CASUAL IS NOT THE SAME AS BLUE JEANS. CONFIRM THE TIME AND THE ADDRESS FOR THE LOCATION OF THE MEETING DON’T ASSUME THE ADDRESS IS ON THE WEBSITE.
- 8. ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW CALL TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT AND VERIFY THE ADDRESS. TELL THE PERSON ON THE PHONE YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THEM. THESE “GATEKEEPERS” CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET THE JOB, SO BE COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL WITH THEM. DRESS CAREFULLY. YOU WANT TO LOOK NICE. DON’T OVERDRESS AND DON’T UNDERDRESS. TAKE SEVERAL COPIES OF YOUR FRESHLY PRINTED RESUME (THE SAME AS THE ONE THEY HAVE) WITH YOU IN A FILE FOLDER. TAKE A BRIEFCASE OR PROFESSIONAL BAG WITH MINTS, A WATER BOTTLE, ADVIL (OR WHATEVER YOU PREFER) AND A BOOK. LEAVE EARLY. THERE’S ALWAYS A STARBUCKS NEARBY AND YOU’D RATHER BE BRUSHING UP ON YOUR NOTES THAN SWEATING IT OUT IN TRAFFIC. ARRIVE AT THE OFFICE BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MINUTES EARLY. GREET THE RECEPTIONIST COURTEOUSLY. TELL THEM WHO YOU’RE THERE TO SEE AND THAT YOU’RE EARLY. ACCEPT A RESTROOM IF YOU NEED ONE. DON’T ACCEPT COFFEE/WATER, ETC.
- 9. THE INTERVIEW ITSELF GREET THE VARIOUS INTERVIEWERS WITH A FIRM (BUT NOT IRON) HANDSHAKE. IF THEY OFFER A CARD, TAKE IT AND THEN STUDY IT CAREFULLY. MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THEIR NAME! LET THEM LEAD THE CONVERSATION WHEREVER THEY WANT TO TAKE IT. KEEP YOUR ANSWERS REASONABLY SHORT AND TO THE POINT. MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. NOT WHAT YOU THINK THE QUESTIONS ARE. IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND A QUESTION IT’S OK TO SAY THAT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, REMEMBER THAT THE INTERVIEW IS A DIALOG. THEY WILL LEARN AS MUCH ABOUT YOU FROM YOUR QUESTIONS AS FROM YOUR ANSWERS.
- 10. INTERVIEW RULES REMEMBER! WHAT’S NEXT IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SEEM DISAPPOINTED, ANGRY OR UPSET IN ANY WAY ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IN YOUR LAST JOB OR YOUR LAST COMPANY. “THOSE %^(@S RAN THE PLACE INTO THE GROUND.” NO. “MANAGEMENT WAS A BUNCH OF DUMB GUYS AND THEY MADE ALL THE WRONG DECISIONS AND WE WENT BANKRUPT AND WE ALL LOST OUR JOBS.” NO. “I WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY AND I GOT LAID OFF EVEN THOUGH I WAS DOING A GREAT JOB!” ______ WHAT DO YOU THINK? INSTEAD, SAY, “YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND WE DID A LOT OF GREAT STUFF THERE. IN THE END I GUESS THE ECONOMY JUST CAUGHT THE COMPANY IN A BAD PLACE.”
- 11. INTERVIEW RULES IF YOU WERE TERMINATED... (AS OPPOSED TO LAID OFF) SAY, ‘IN THE END IT WASN’T A GOOD FIT. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD DIFFERENT SKILLS THAN ME.’ IF YOU WERE TERMINATED DUE TO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES SAY, ‘ YOU KNOW, I WAS NEVER REALLY MOTIVATED THERE AND GO ON TO SAY WHY YOU ARE SURE THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT WITH THIS COMPANY.’ THEY’RE GOING TO FIND OUT AND YOU WANT TO BE UP FRONT. DON’T GO INTO ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR BOSS, HARASSMENT, ETC. ANY OF THESE THINGS ARE RED FLAGS TO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER. AND WHAT’S NEXT IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT!
- 12. THE INTERVIEW DIALOG DON’T ASK HOW THE POSITION BECAME AVAILABLE. IN THE END THAT’S REALLY NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. AND IT CAN TAKE THE INTERVIEWER TO AN UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE. IF THEY SEEM HAPPY OR EXCITED ABOUT A PARTICULAR PRODUCT OR INITIATIVE ASK THEM ABOUT IT. “TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT” IF THEY INTERRUPT DON’T TALK OVER THEM. AND MAKE A MENTAL NOTE THAT YOUR ANSWERS MAY BE TAKING TOO LONG! IT’S OK TO USE HUMOR, BUT BE VERY CAREFUL. YOU HAVE TO BE A FIRST CLASS COMMUNICATOR TO MAKE THIS WORK.
- 13. DUMB THINGS I’VE HEARD SAID “YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY YOU GUYS DID THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUMB.” “THIS BUILDING IS REALLY UGLY. YOU’RE NOT STAYING HERE ARE YOU?” “ARE YOU GUYS, LIKE, SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR WORKING HOURS?” “CAN I WEAR SHORTS TO WORK?” “WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ON VACATIONS. IN MY OLD COMPANY I HAD TWO WEEKS AND I REALLY CAN’T DEAL WITH LESS.” “YOU DON’T REALLY EXPECT ME TO WORK THESE HOURS DO YOU?” “YOUR LOGO IS UGLY.” “I LEFT MY LAST JOB BECAUSE I REALLY JUST DECIDED I DIDN’T LIKE WORKING THERE.” “OH, AND THE JOB BEFORE THAT TOO.” “THE BIG PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I REALLY DON’T LIKE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN’T AS SMART AS ME.” “I ALWAYS GET FIRED FOR THE SAME THING. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT ME. I JUST DON’T WANT TO GO TO WORK SOME DAYS.” “HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE? I MEAN. WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT ANYWAY? KINDA PERSONAL DON’T YOU THINK?” “THE ONLY PERSON I’VE EVER LIKED WORKING FOR IS MY DAD.” (HE LET ME DO WHAT I WANT.)
- 14. MONEY MATTERS WHEN THEY ASK ABOUT YOUR SALARY HISTORY GIVE THEM ACCURATE, BALLPARK FIGURES. WHEN THEY BRING UP MONEY ASK THEM WHAT THE POSITION PAYS. IF THEY DON’T BRING IT UP ASK THEM WHAT THE POSITION PAYS. WHEN THEY TELL YOU DON’T SAY, ‘OH, I CAN’T WORK FOR THAT LITTLE.’ (I’LL TELL YOU WHY IN A MINUTE). DON’T TAKE A PAY CUT UNLESS YOU’VE SERIOUSLY PLANNED FOR IT AND YOU KNOW THE JOB IS GOING TO BE A GOOD FIT. OR THAT FIRST PAYCHECK WILL BE VERY DEPRESSING - AND EVERY ONE AFTER TOO! IF YOU’RE CHANGING INDUSTRIES TO DO SOMETHING CLOSER TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THEN YOU WILL LIKELY HAVE TO TAKE A PAY CUT. TELL THE INTERVIEWER YOU’RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AND WHY. THEY’RE GOING TO FIND OUT AND YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO THINK THIS ISN’T DELIBERATE. DON’T PLAY 20 QUESTIONS ON BENEFITS. YOU CAN ASK ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY CALL WITH THE OFFER.
- 15. CONCLUSIONS REMEMBER, IN THE END IT’S ABOUT MAKING A CONNECTION AND LEARNING WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KNOW WHETHER THIS IS A JOB YOU WANT. AND IT’S ABOUT MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION NO MATTER WHAT. BECAUSE IF THIS JOB DOESN’T WORK OUT THERE ARE OTHERS AND YOU WANT YOUR RESUME TO BE THE **STARRED** ONE ON THE TOP OF THE PILE WITH A NOTE THAT SAYS, ‘HIRE!’ ON IT.
- 16. I’M OLD. SHE’S YOUNG. IT’S OVER. IF YOU ARE OLDER THAN THE PERSON WHO’S INTERVIEWING YOU THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY DON’T WANT YOU. BUT IT DOES MEAN YOU NEED TO PROVE YOU CAN DO YOUR JOB AND FIT IN ON THE TEAM. NEVER “SHAKE YOUR FINGER” AT THEM AND TELL THEM HOW THINGS “OUGHT TO BE.” NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE THE “OLD MAN IN THE SEA” IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR THAT YOU’RE UP TO DATE ON TECHNOLOGY AND THAT YOU DON’T MAKE VALUE JUDGEMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR LACK OF GRAY HAIR.
- 17. I’M YOUNG. HE’S OLD OLD DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN BAD. IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT THINGS ARE PRETTY AGELESS YOU’RE THERE TO DO A JOB, SO ARE THEY. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH YOU HAVE IN COMMON. TURN OFF YOU CELL PHONE. DON’T TWEET DURING THE INTERVIEW. “NOSE HAIR MAN SAYS HIS KIDS ARE OLDER THAN ME...#FAIL” AND KNOW HE PROBABLY REALLY WANTS THIS TO WORK OUT.
- 18. QUESTIONS.