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General Interview Tips
Questions
Dress
Day of Interview
General Interview Tips
Learn as much as you can about the potential employer. Utilize the Internet; it is a great tool when researching a company. Having little or no knowledge of the firm is the number one reason job seekers lose out to the competition.
Determine your abilities that will be the most important to the employer for this position. Pick out your strongest points and reiterate them throughout the interview.
When an employer says, "Tell me about yourself," what he or she wants to know about you is how you’ve been effective and successful in previous positions, not your family history or the vacation you’ll be taking in a few weeks.
What you’re willing to do is sometimes just as important as what you’ve done before. Your “can do” attitude may be your biggest asset.
Focus on continuously improving and adding to your skills and abilities.
Develop values:
- Ask not, "What can my employer do for me?", but, "What can I do for my employer?"
- Work hard for your paycheck.
- Respect others.
- Remain pleasant and professional, even in unpleasant circumstances.
- Be honest in all you do.
- Do the best job you can do.
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Questions
Think about questions you may be asked during an interview. Consider answers to tough or strange questions ahead of time. Prepare concise responses that highlight your ability to succeed in the position. Whenever you can, use examples of past successes. Most employers want to hear about problem solving and adding to the company’s bottom line. Preparation allows you a great advantage over job hunters that do not prepare for questions ahead of time. Being ready for those tough interview questions will give you the self-confidence you need to convince the employer that you’re right for the job. See our list of questions to be ready for.
Give complete but concise answers – don’t bore the interviewer by babbling.
Give examples of how you’ve completed tasks before.
Using the right words to focus your answer will show the interviewer you can do the job.
Questions you should ask the interviewer.
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Dress
Dress conservatively. Men should wear a dark suit, a white shirt, and a tie. Women should stay away from clothing that is too short, too low cut, or too tight. Don’t wear strong perfume. Select your outfit the night before so you don't feel rushed the day of your interview. Make sure your suit is clean and neatly pressed.
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Day of Interview
Find the location of the company before the day of your interview. If that is not possible, map out directions to the office and an alternate route in case of traffic. Leave early to give yourself plenty of room to be on time.
Prepare for worst-case scenarios:
- You’re running late. Know ahead of time who to call if you’re going to be late. Not being prompt to an interview may make the interviewer question your ability to be responsible and dependable so you should take every precaution possible to prevent tardiness. There are, however, some things that are out of your control like power outages and car accidents. If you absolutely must be late, call the interviewer immediately and explain your situation. Give an estimated time of arrival and ask if that will still fit into the interviewer’s schedule or if he or she would rather reschedule.
- You’re sick. You must decide whether your interviewer would admire your dedication if you come into the interview sick or if your germs would simply repulse him or her. You must consider all angles. For example, what impression would you leave if you got sick on the interviewer’s desk? If you realize you’re too sick to attend the interview, call the interviewer immediately. If it’s impossible to reschedule, offer to do a telephone interview instead.
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