Guide to Interviewing

The interview provides you with an opportunity to impress and convince the employer you are the best candidate for the position. Interviews are simple, but not always easy. Here are some quick tips for success.

Many interviews follow the same pattern:

1. You are introduced to a human resources representative or to the hiring manager
   Quick tip: Remember to show your enthusiasm when introducing yourself to your prospective employer. Oftentimes, the candidate with the best personality and the most enthusiasm will get a job over someone who is more qualified from a technical standpoint.
   
   
2. The employer tells you about the company as well as the current job available
   Quick tip: Remember to listen carefully to what your prospective employer is telling you as they are most likely using key buzz words to describe their ideal candidate. You want to be able to quickly process this information and then “sell” it right back to them.
   
   
3. You tell the employer about your background and what sets you apart from other candidates
   Quick tip: Remember to address as many strengths as possible that coincide with the skills the prospective employer feels are important for a candidate to possess. The main questions the prospective employer is looking to answer are: 1) What can you contribute to the business? and 2) How can you add value?
   
   
4. You are asked a number of questions
   Quick tip: Remember anything is possible here. Be prepared to talk about your accomplishments as well as what you like and dislike about current (or past) employment situations. Frequently asked questions that candidates often have trouble answering include: 1) What are your weaknesses? 2) What are your compensation expectations? 3) What are your long-term career goals? 4) Why are you looking to leave your current company?
   
   
5. You ask a number of questions
   Quick tip: Remember these questions serve two purposes: 1) To show the prospective employer you have done some preparation work in asking quality questions; and 2) To help you determine whether or not you want to work for this organization. Most importantly, you should never leave an interview without asking at least three to five quality questions.
   
   
6. You thank the person for their time and express your interest in the position
   Quick tip: Remember it is crucial to keep your enthusiasm level high as you draw things to a close. Make sure to follow up every interview with a thank-you note. Doing so will help the prospective employer remember you; it may also be the very reason that you get the job over your competition.

Need more help? Our Guide to Interviewing will look at each step and expand upon it so that you can better prepare yourself to go in and get the job offer.