Critical Interviewing Tips: Key Job Interview Advice -- #3

Q-Tips: Critical Interviewing Tips
Key Job Interview Advice -- #3

These job interviewing related tips -- preparing for job interviews, tips for handling tricky interview questions, and more -- have been gathered from numerous sources throughout Quintessential Careers and organized here for your convenience.

In a job market flooded with qualified candidates you must take every opportunity to make yourself memorable and increase your perceived value in an interview, declares Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. Find out what matters most to the hiring manager. When invited to ask questions, ASK THEM! But make those questions count. Show your interest in the company and establish yourself as a proactive thinker ready to find out what the tough challenges are and to tackle them. Just as important as giving the right answers in an interview is ... asking the right questions.

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A critical mistake many job-seekers make is not bothering to research potential employers, which is bad for several reasons, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. First, you should always research companies to help you decide if you even want to work at any of them; fit is such an important aspect of job enjoyment. Second, having information about the company can help you better prepare for the interview; the more you know about a company, the better you'll understand all aspects of its operations. Third, you need to conduct some research on each company because you should expect the inevitable question from the interviewer: "What can you tell me about our company?" Sometimes it might be phrased as: "Why do you want to work for us?" For more on researching companies, see our article, Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Companies and visit our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries.

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With competition for good jobs at an all-time high, candidates who conduct their job search as a sales campaign consistently win out over those who don't, writes Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. When job-seekers practice the skills of sales experts, they learn to apply the strategies of a sales presentation to their job interviews.

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Overconfidence in interviews is one of the biggest flaws a job-seeker can exhibit, said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with QuintCareers. Many jobseekers are overconfident in their interviews. Many clients say, "If I can just get into the interview, I know I will ace it." When the interview is over they say, "I blew the interview." It is not wise to assume that you can convince a hiring manager to hire you, there is strong competition in the marketplace. You have to be yourself and answer questions naturally.

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Seth was just finishing an excellent interview, relates Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. He had aced every question the panel threw at him. Questions ranged from how he had dealt with difficult customers to his management style; he even gave specific examples of how he had handled issues in the past. The last question came up. It seemed to Seth more like a formality in contrast to the difficult questions he had already answered; yet this question could have been one of his most powerful allies in landing this position. That question was, "Do you have any questions for me?" Unfortunately for Seth, his best answer was "No, you've pretty much covered all I need to know." He missed a great opportunity to make himself stand out from the rest.

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All job-seekers need to conduct research and develop critical information about each company before interviewing -- its products and services; key executives; new products, plants, or divisions; company culture; organizational structure; diversity and values; benefits; career paths; etc., says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. For more on researching companies, see our article, Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Companies and visit our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries.

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Every great sales presentation starts with pre-sales preparation, which includes client research, and product analysis, notes Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. Job-seekers prepare for interviews similarly: research on the prospective employer and a thorough catalog of their own accomplishments to illustrate their potential contribution and worth to the employer.

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Overconfidence on the part of a job-seeker can make an interviewer feel intimidated or unsure of your motives for wanting the position, said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with QuintCareers. Overconfidence also is displayed in how you treat other people involved in the interview process -- the secretary or team members you may meet during the day. Everyone that you come in contact with on the interview day will be asked about you...how do they like you? How did you treat them? Overconfidence allows you to think you don't need to practice for an interview or conduct industry/company research. Overconfidence may cause you to embellish your experience or credentials, "Yea, I have done that," or "Yea, I can do that," when you have never actually applied the skill on the job.

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In a job market where you may be among five other stellar candidates, it is essential to use every opportunity to make a lasting impression, explains Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. The final, standard question, "Do you have any questions for me?", is often asked of applicants by both HR and hiring managers. Most of the time, managers expect to be asked about salary, benefits, or other perks. Although these are important issues, the candidate should never bring them up by in a first interview. Instead, impress the interviewer with some questions.

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What's the best source of company information when you're preparing for an interview? The company's Website, of course, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. It's absolutely amazing what you can find published on company Websites. You can either try directly entering the company name in your favorite browser. For example, if you were researching Aetna, you could simply try typing in www.aetna.com. Or, go to your favorite search engine (mine is Google.com) and type in the company name in the search box. You can also go to the Quintessential Directory of Company Career Centers. But not all companies have been quite so forthcoming on their Websites, so where else can you get company information? There are many, many sources -- both online and in print -- for both private and public companies. You may also want to conduct some research on the main or key industries that the company operates within. To do so, simply use one or more of several industry sources available online and in print. Want to learn more? Go to our article published on Quintessential Careers: Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Companies.

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Thanks to the Internet, company research is relatively easy, especially on publicly held firms. A coupleof good sources include Yahoo and Hoover's, as well as company Web sites, observes Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. Information on privately held companies is often readily available as well. One of the easiest ways to get such information is simply enter the company name into your favorite search engine and see what pops up. Minimally, you'll want to find out company size, products or services, major competitors, branch or headquarters and any recent news items. Time allowing, it's also very helpful to know some of the major players in their organization; a little history of the organization and future products, markets, or growth objectives. For more on researching companies, see our article, Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Companies and visit our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries.

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Overconfidence allows you to assume that you can name your salary, said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with QuintCareers. Overconfidence makes you think the employer will contact you within a week with an offer; consequently, you don't ask for follow-up information before you leave the interview. Moreover, overconfidence makes you think you do not have to send a thank-you note to help you lock in the position.

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In his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions, Clay Barrett cites the following reasons to ask questions in a job interview:

To discover specific needs of the hiring manager that you can address and meet.
To establish an impression of you as extremely interested in the position and truly curious about the company and the opportunities available.
To learn about the corporate culture and the company as a whole, including company values, ethics, and the way personnel are managed.
To uncover and discuss any concerns the hiring manager has about your candidacy.

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Once you've done the research prior to a job interview, prepare to communicate your value through your accomplishments, suggests Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. Examine your career for examples of how you have solved problems, saved money, increased revenue, or created revenue opportunities for your former employers. As much as possible, "dollar-ize" or quantify your contributions. Do not depend on your ability to "wing it" through your interviews. Ask any high-producing sales profession, and he or she will tell you that it is impossible to wing your way to success. It takes preparation and practice.

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If you really want to make an impression, either add your company research to your portfolio or put the research into a binder, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. Then, when the interviewer asks you about what you know about the company, you can pull out the binder and do a little show and tell. For more on researching companies, see our article, Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Companies and visit our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries.

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To succeed in an interview, you have to be a good "fit" or good "match," according to the interviewer, said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with QuintCareers. The interviewer is sizing up the candidate to determine if his or her personality is pleasant and whether he or she will work well with the office staff and other team members. Consequently, if you:

practice interviewing,
allow yourself to be yourself -- not putting on a different face or personality because you think it will make the interviewer like you more,
answer questions honestly,

you have a better chance against your competition.

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When thinking of questions to ask in a job interview, learn to look beyond the job title and what you think that role should entail, suggests Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. Find out what specific problems are plaguing the company and tell how you have handled similar problems in the past. For example you could ask:

"In six months, what would the successful candidate have accomplished?"

"What is the most important and pressing problem for the new hire to tackle?"

"What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this job?"

Each of these questions will reveal an issue or problem within the company that will affect your everyday work. If you can establish yourself as someone who has already seen and tackled similar problems, your perceived value will skyrocket.

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If you make it to the interview, you have passed the first test, but there's still a lot you need to do to show the employer you are the best candidate for the position, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. You have to go into the interview and sell your unique mix of skills, accomplishments, and education to the employer. You have to convince the employer you are better than all the other candidates. And you have to do all that with a positive and upbeat personality. Learn more in our Guide to Job Interviewing Resources.

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An interviewer's hot button is his/her unspoken concerns or wishes, and it's your job as the interviewee to uncover the interviewer's hot button, asserts Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. If you don't ask, he or she probably won't tell you. Two magic questions that will reveal the interviewer's hot buttons:

"What do you see as the greatest challenge for this position?"
"What qualities do you see as most important for this position?"

Once you've asked the all important questions, shut up and listen!
After the interviewer has revealed his or her hot buttons, use the information to frame your answers to his or her questions. You'll connect with the interviewer much faster once you sell yourself based on his or her motivations.

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Practicing interviewing skills and conducting thorough research about the intended company's products/services and competition enables job-seekers to speak intelligibly during jobs interviews, said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with QuintCareers.

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If you feel you are not doing well in job interviews, contact one of the people you recently interviewed with -- whom you felt you had good rapport -- and ask that person to critique your interview style so that you can learn and become better at interviewing, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. Most people, when asked, will give you an honest appraisal. And you need to know how to improve. Learn more in our Guide to Job Interviewing Resources.

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"Closing" is a sales term that means influencing one to agree to take certain action (such as signing a contract or writing a check), explains Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. A complex sale involves a number of small closes before the ultimate closing purchase. The interview process is a series of closes leading up to the final job offer.

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Companies are looking for energetic and enthusiastic employees who are excited about the company and the opportunities they present, writes Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. These candidates are viewed as more likely to stay with the company in the long run. In the current job market there may be many people with a skillset similar to yours. Your interest and enthusiasm about the company may be the deciding factor on an offer. Some questions to ask in an interview to express this interest could include:

"I noted on the company Web site that your firm's mission is _____________.
How do you see the successful candidate contributing to that mission?"
"What are the company's goals, both short and long term?"

"How does this department affect the company's profit?"

Listen to the responses. Research the company extensively before the interview so that you can intelligently discuss its products and services. Remember, not always does the most qualified candidate get the job. Sometimes it goes to the most enthusiastic.

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Most employers say the most important elements of a job interview are: a firm handshake, strong eye contact, a confident attitude, and a warm smile, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. You also need to be sure you dress properly -- and, of course, have strong answers to all the interview questions. You should also have a few questions to ask of the employer. Learn more in our Guide to Job Interviewing Resources.

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If you've purchased a car lately, you know that the sale starts with the test drive and moves forward through a series of carefully crafted questions, notes Deb Walker in her article for QuintCareers, The Job Interview as Sales Call: Three Essential Interview Skills. These questions might include "Do you prefer silver or black?" "Which of you will be the primary driver?" "Shall we park this in the sale-pending area?" "Do you wish to trade in your car, or shall we finance this 100 percent?" The effective salesperson knows what closing steps must take place; attempt to skip the steps and he or she may lose the sale altogether.

As a clever salesperson identifies the small closing steps needed to move the sale forward, so must the job-seeker understand the closes necessary to keep the interview process moving forward toward a job offer. Those steps look something like this:

The cover letter must entice the reader to read your resume.
The resume must motivate the reader to call you in for an interview.
The first interview should prompt the interviewer to invite you to a second interview, so ask for it:
- "When would you like to schedule our next meeting?"
- "Is there any reason you wouldn't consider inviting me back for second interview?"
- "Who will I meet in the second interview?"
In the second interview, ask to speak with the decision-maker:
- "Who, besides yourself, will make the final hiring decision?"
- "When is convenient for Mr./Ms. Decision-Maker to meet with me?"
- "Is there any other presentation materials I should bring when I visit with Mr./Ms. Decision-Maker?"
When speaking with the decision-maker, ask for the job offer:
- "Are there any objections that prevent you from extending an offer?"
- "When would you like me to start?"
- "What challenges would you have me tackle first?"

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No one can predict what type of interview he or she will encounter, i.e., one-to-one, panel, luncheon, set questions, technical interview, behavioral questions, etc., said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with Quint Careers. And even if you practice responding to hundreds of questions, you may still be asked one you did not think of. But good practice will help you respond calmly to questions posed and help you understand the dynamics of the interview. You do not want to manipulate responses to questions; rather, respond normally and honestly. Practicing interviewing through role-playing with a colleague, spouse, or career coach will provide some measure of confidence and provide opportunities to troubleshoot potential interview scenarios. Role-playing should include appropriate attire, a firm handshake, strong eye contact, and ability to answer questions without saying, "Um, well, I don't know how to answer that."

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One of the most important things to remember in any job interview is that you are interviewing the employer just as much as the employer is interviewing you, writes Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. Asking the right questions could keep you out of the next Enron. It could also reveal to you a company that truly values its human capital and genuinely wants to contribute to an employee's success. To discern corporate culture and company values you could ask:

"What is the company's code of ethics and how is it communicated to employees?"

"How would you describe the company culture and personality?"

"How are risk taking and creativity rewarded?"

"How does the company recognize outstanding employees?"

"What do you value about this company and why do you enjoy working here?"

Hiring managers who work for a company that values its employees will readily have answers to the above questions. If they aren't sure or if they become uncomfortable, there could be a problem. Probe deeper to determine the issues by conducting targeted research on the company or by speaking directly with employees, if possible.

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At the end of a successful interview -- where you feel you have sold the prospective employer on your talents and abilities -- don't just say thanks and walk out the door, says the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. Instead, consider one of two options: ask about the next steps in the process and the employer's timetable, or, for those a bit more aggressive, ask for the job. If you truly sense a fit between you and the organization, then, by all means, at the end of the interview, ask for the position. But, please, do so only if you really want the job -- and only if you plan to accept if the employer does indeed make the offer. So, how do you making a closing statement in a job interview? The safe route: "I really sense a strong fit between your needs and what I can deliver for you. I think there is a great fit between us and I am very interested in this position. Can you give me a rough idea of the next steps in this process, along with your timetable for filling the position?" The bolder move: "I really sense a strong fit between your needs and what I can deliver for you. I want this position, and I truly feel I am your best candidate. I want to start contributing as soon as possible, so when can I expect a job offer?" Learn more in our Guide to Job Interviewing Resources.

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At the end of a job interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time, express your interest and determine the next steps in the hiring process, suggests Clay Barrett in his article for QuintCareers, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions. This is an excellent time to address any concerns or hesitations your interviewer may have. Some questions that might be beneficial are:

"Do you have concerns or hesitations based on anything we have discussed regarding my candidacy that I could address for you before I go?"
"What is the next step in the process?"
"I am very excited about this position and feel that it would be a great fit. What would it take to close the deal on this position today?"

To best prepare to answer job-interview questions, research the company and its products/services, said Diane Burns in the Q&A interview she did with QuintCareers. Remember, the company wants to know why you want to work there. Your response should shed light on your knowledge of the organization's products/services, competition, and other company information you gleaned from reading press releases, newspaper articles, and quarterly and annual reports. Nevertheless, remember, ultimately in the interview, be yourself, share your experiences, and impart your knowledge of the company via the research you conducted.

Find even more job interviewing tips in Critical Interviewing Tips: Key Job Interview Advice -- #4.

Check out all of our Quick and Quintessential Job-Search Interviewing Tips.

Review all our Quick and Quintessential Tips to Guide Your Job Search and Work Life.

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Q-Tips: Critical Interviewing Tips Key Job Interview Advice -- #3

These job interviewing related tips -- preparing for job interviews, tips for handling tricky interview questions, and more -- have been gathered from numerous sources throughout Quintessential Careers and organized here for your convenience.

Check out all of our Quick and Quintessential Job-Search Interviewing Tips.

Review all our Quick and Quintessential Tips to Guide Your Job Search and Work Life.

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.

Q-Tips: Critical Interviewing Tips
Key Job Interview Advice -- #3