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.
At a second interview, remember these three words: Fit, Fit, and Fit. A major reason
for the second interview is so the employer can see how well you fit
in with the company culture. Put yourself inside the employer's head
and realize that the interviewers at your second interview want to
learn how well you will get along with other team members with whom
you'll be interacting with every day. Deploy your very best
interpersonal communication skills. Keep in mind the idea of showing
your fit -- but remember that it's OK not to fit. If you aren't a
good fit with the employer, you probably wouldn't be happy working
there anyway. And remember, that this interview is also your
opportunity to determine whether the company is a good fit for
you. Think about whether you would accept if the employer
extended an offer. Read more about fit with company culture in our
article, Uncovering
a Company's Corporate Culture is a Critical Task for Job-Seekers. And learn more in our
article, Do's and
Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews.
Don't blow it! Sometimes, interviews tank. Perhaps the interviewer thinks you
are too good looking for the job, or that red ties should be worn only on Tuesdays.
There's very little you can do to salvage an interview under these conditions.
However, arriving late, having a huge run in your stockings, and calling the
employer by the wrong name are all recoverable errors. Stay calm, don't panic, declares
Maureen Crawford Hentz in her article for QuintCareers,
Job
Interview Damage Control.
Poor handshake: The three-second handshake that starts the
interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But
all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an
ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's
nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport. Here are
some examples:
The Limp Hand (or "dead fish"): Gives the impression of
disinterest or weakness
The Tips of the Fingers: Shows lack of ability to engage.
The Arm Pump: Sincerity is questionable, much like an overly
aggressive salesman.
Even if you're a seasoned professional, don't assume you have avoided
these pitfalls. Your handshake may be telling more about you than you
know. Ask for honest critiques from several friends who aren't afraid
to tell you the truth.
It's not unusual for a company to invite a potential employee back for a second interview, writes
Chandra Prasad in her article for
QuintCareers, Interview
Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times.
Managers often request second interviews to clarify information on a candidate or to introduce him
or her to other members of a department. Says a human resources manager at an information technology
company headquartered in California: "At my company, usually there is a team of people interviewing.
Some interviewers are [looking] for technical expertise, others for personality and fit. The second
interview might be someone following up on a particular question. Or it might be someone on the team
who wants to make a connection, to see if the candidate would fit in." Another reason for a second
interview might be that the company wants to ask more in-depth questions or to provide more insight into its needs.
When preparing for a second interview, take a practice run to the location where you are
having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.
Learn more in our article, Do's and
Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur leading up to a job interview,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: Can't remember the name of the person you are meeting.
Control: Crawl around on the company's Web site. Try
the staff directory and see if your memory is jogged by what you see.
Control: Call ahead and throw yourself upon the receptionist's
mercy. Explain who you are, that you are coming in for an interview for
the Director of Student Life position and that you were so excited about
the job that you forgot to write down the name of the person you are
meeting. Generally speaking, this will work, but be careful -- receptionists
and hiring managers do talk to each other!
Talking too much: In my recruiting days, I abhorred
over-talkative candidates. So did most of my client employers.
Over-talking takes a couple of forms:
Taking too long to answer direct questions. The impression: This
candidate just can't get to the point.
Nervous talkers. The impression: This candidate is covering up
something or is outright lying.
To avoid either of these forms of over-talking, practice answering
questions in a direct manner. Avoid nervous talking by preparing for
your interview with role-play.
Some candidates, in an effort to appear confident, actually overdo the role and appear egocentric instead, writes
Chandra Prasad in her article for QuintCareers, Interview
Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times.
Susan Cheng, a manager at a major media entertainment company, says that she has encountered this type of interviewee.
"There's a thin line between being confident and being prideful," she explains. "For example, there was one gentleman
who had all the right qualifications. There was a moment in the interview when we asked, 'If you were in this position,
what would be the first three things you would do?' The guy basically said, 'I would change everything.' He was trying
to be very confident in his approach, but that came across the wrong way." What could this candidate have done to prevent
himself from appearing arrogant? He should have worked on his delivery, using more diplomacy and tactfulness, Cheng says.
"Word choice is important," she stresses. On a callback interview, make sure not to overstep the boundary into arrogance.
It's one thing to be sure of your abilities, but quite another to question the abilities of those around you.
When preparing for a second interview, pat yourself on the back for being called for a second interview.
While some career experts say your chances are 1 in 4 to get the job at this point, others say you have as
much as a 50 percent chance. Even with the field narrowing, it's important to distinguish yourself and ensure
that you stand out above your competition. Learn more in our article,
Do's and Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur leading up to a job interview,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: Can't pronounce the interviewer's name
Control: Ask the secretary/receptionist.
Control: Take advantage of voicemail technology. Call the
company directory and see if the names are listed verbally. You can also
call the person directly (outside of business hours, of course) to check if she
speaks her first and last name in the voicemail greeting.
Control: Give it a shot and then ask, "Am I pronouncing
your name correctly?"
Talking negatively about current or past employers/managers:
The fastest way to talk yourself out of a new job is to say negative
things. Even if your last boss was Attila the Hun, never, never state
your ill feelings about him/her. No matter how reasonable your
complaints, you will come out the loser if you show that you
disrespect your boss because the interviewer will assume that you
would similarly trash him or her. When faced with the challenge of
talking about former employers, make sure you are prepared with a
positive spin on your experiences.
A candidate may be called in for multiple interviews because the various interviewers can't reach a consensus, notes
Chandra Prasad in her article for QuintCareers, Interview
Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times.
Susan Cheng, a manager at a major media entertainment company, says, "The person might come in and interview with six people.
Ideally, [the interviewers] could decide [the candidate's suitability] at that point. But if one out of six interviewers
says, 'No, it's not a good fit,' it's not a majority-win situation. So another interview might be required to get more
data points on the candidate." The HR manager at an information technology company underscores this point. "I've seen
people stumble because they might have had great interviews in the beginning, but they are
now overconfident and under-prepared," he says. "They might think they now have a rubberstamp of approval,
but that's never the case. One interviewer could definitely veto the process, because they're already on the team and they carry a lot of weight."
There isn't necessarily a simple cure for conflicting reports, since you may never know which of your interviewers --
if any -- is barring your entrance into the company. The best you can do is to treat each interviewer with civility
and consideration. Be yourself, be prepared, and if your best effort isn't enough to earn a job offer, take solace
in the fact you'll eventually find an employer that is a better fit.
When preparing for a second interview, remember these three words: More, More, More. Compared to the first interview,
a second interview will likely involve more preparation, more people, more questions, more intensity, and more pressure
-- in addition to more likelihood that you will land the job. Learn more in our article,
Do's and Don'ts for
Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur as a job interview is in progress,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: The interviewer is mispronouncing your name
Control: Correct, but gently. "My name is actually pronounced A-roar-ah"
Showing up late or too early: One of the first lessons in
job-search etiquette is to show up on time for interviews. Many
job-seekers don't realize, however, that showing up too early often
creates a poor first impression as well. Arriving more than 10
minutes early for an interview is a dead giveaway that the job seeker
has too much time on his or her hands, much like the last one picked
for the softball team. Don't diminish your candidate desirability by
appearing desperate. Act as if your time were as valuable as the
interviewer's. Always arrive on time, but never more than 10 minutes
early.
A candidate might be called back for multiple interviews if he or she
were second in line for the job, but the No. 1 person didn't come through, notes
Chandra Prasad in her article for QuintCareers, Interview
Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times.
A hiring manager for an accounting firm in New York City says, "In this situation,
we call people back in order to evaluate them as the preferred candidate rather than
as a possibility." As each interview represents a fresh beginning, it would be unwise
to coast on the success of a previous interview. If you were previously second in line,
you will have to prove that you are indeed the best of the remaining candidates, which
means you should research and prepare not just for the first interview, but also for each subsequent callback.
When preparing for a second interview, don't neglect to review your performance from your first interview.
Note any questions or situations that caused you difficulty and plan how you will handle those aspects better
in the second interview. Derive confidence from knowing that if you hadn't performed well in the first
interview, you wouldn't have landed the second. Think about what made you shine in the first interview,
and plan to do more of the same. Further, brainstorm new information you can bring into the second interview
-- new accomplishments, new examples, new evidence of how much you know about the employer. Learn more in our
article, Do's and Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur leading up to a job interview,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: Running late
Control: Call as soon as you know you will be late. If you are
going to be under seven minutes late, let the employer know when you will
be there. If it looks like more than 10 minutes late, ask if you should
reschedule or come in. Make sure you express respect for the interviewing
schedule and reiterate your commitment to the position.
If you are in a major newsworthy traffic snafu, blame the traffic. With any
other form of transportation problem, blame yourself. You can try something
like "I'm so sorry. I underestimated the morning (evening, afternoon, 10 a.m.)
traffic. I'm never late to anything and am really embarrassed."
Always apologize again once you arrive, and then let it go. Understand
that your interview may be truncated or rushed.
Treating the receptionist rudely: Since the first person you
meet on an interview is usually a receptionist, this encounter
represents the first impression you'll make. Don't mistake low rank
for low input. Often that receptionist's job is to usher you into
your interview. The receptionist has the power to pave your way
positively or negatively before you even set eyes on the
interviewer. The interviewer may also solicit the receptionist's
opinion of you after you leave.
A hiring manager for a market-research company says that he would call back a candidate
if he or another interviewer had concerns about one aspect of that candidate's qualifications, reports
Chandra Prasad in her article for QuintCareers, Interview
Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times.
"In one instance, we needed a person who had both extensive programming skills and market-research capabilities,"
he explains. "We called back several candidates, but each one seemed to have either strong programming skills or
strong market-research skills. When we finally found someone who possessed both, we were concerned that although
he had some programming skills, these weren't extensive enough. And in fact, after three or four interviews, we
decided against making an offer to this candidate." If you suspect that your interviewer has a concern about you,
it's best to follow the advice of David Wittenberg, a manager of technology planning, and to be upfront about the
situation. Ask your interviewer what concerns, if any, he or she has about you, Wittenberg suggests. That way, you
can address these issues directly during the interview process, rather than speculate about them after the fact.
When you've been invited for a second interview, prepare -- even more
than you did for the first interview. Presumably you researched the company before the first interview. Now
it's time to delve even deeper into that research using our
Guide to
Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries. Some experts
suggest that talking with company insiders is one of the most
productive ways to prepare for a second interview. Before your second
interview, consider conducting informational interviews with company
folks who aren't the ones who'll be interviewing you. Consult our
Informational
Interviewing Tutorial to learn
more. If you are a college student, particularly seek out alumni from
your school or sorority/fraternity who work for the employer. Also be
sure you're up to date on developments in your field or industry by
reviewing trade publications. Learn more in our
article, Do's and
Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur as a job interview is in progress,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: You have a run in your stocking or a spot on your tie
Control: First, try to stop and hide the run (carry clear nail
polish in your purse just for such an emergency) or get the spot out.
Control: Acknowledge it briefly to the interviewer if it will
make you feel better. Something like "Of all days to spill coffee on my tie
on the way over...." Everyone's been there, and acknowledging it is a
better strategy than leaving the interviewer with the impression that you
didn't know you were wearing spaghetti sauce.
Asking about benefits, vacation time or salary: What if a car
salesman asked to see your credit report before allowing you to test
drive the cars? That would be ridiculous, and you'd walk away in
disgust. The effect is about the same when a job-seeker asks about
benefits or other employee perks during the first interview. Wait
until you've won the employer over before beginning that discussion.
In her article for QuintCareers, Interview
Callbacks: Why an Employer May Invite You Back Multiple Times
Chandra Prasad quotes Susan Cheng, a manager at a major media entertainment company, on a possible
reason for calling a job-seeker back for additional interviewing: "... The candidate was applying for one position,
but we liked that person and his qualifications and thought he would fit another," Cheng says.
In other words, your interviewer might prefer to place you in a position other than the one you are interviewing for.
When preparing for a second interview, don't be surprised if the second interview is actually a series of
interviews -- in both individual and group/panel formats -- making
for a long day. You may interview with managers, senior executives,
department heads, and prospective team members. You may also get a
tour of the workplace and be taken out to eat. For college students,
this second-interview day may represent the first time the student
has been interviewed in the employer's workplace. Plan to bring ample
copies of your resume for all the people you may be meeting with.
Read our article, Mastering
the On-Site Interview: A Guide to Company Visits. Learn more in our
article, Do's and
Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews.
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur as a job interview is in progress,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: You realize the guy you honked at for cutting you off is your interviewer.
Control: Don't say a word. Pretend it never happened. No good can come from acknowledging this one.
When preparing for a second interview, try to find out in advance exactly what the agenda will be and
whom you can expect to interview with. If you aren't given this
information when the interview is set up, contact the assistant of
the main person with whom you'll be meeting to see what you can find
out. If you see that a workplace tour is not included on the agenda,
ask if someone can show you around as time permits. Learn more in our
article, Do's and
Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews.
Offering tips for fixing problems that occur as a job interview is in progress,
Maureen Crawford Hentz has this advice in her article for QuintCareers,
Job Interview Damage Control:
Damage: The interviewer seems to hate you (doesn't smile or nod).
Control: Stay calm. Many interviewers like to see how
people react under pressure. Is this the best way to test interviewees?
Probably not -- but it happens. Ask questions and answer them fully.
The most important thing to do is to smile and project confidence.
Many times, we unconsciously mirror the facial and nonverbal
expressions of the interviewer. It's important to counteract this
natural tendency.
Verbal ticks: An ill-at-ease candidate seldom makes a good
impression. The first signs of nervousness are verbal ticks. We all
have them from time to time -- "umm," "like," "you know." Ignore the
butterflies in your stomach and put up a front of calm confidence by
avoiding verbal ticks. You can also sometimes avoid verbal ticks by
pausing for a few seconds to gather your thoughts before each
response.
At a second interview, don't forget the cardinal rule of panel interviews: As you respond to
a question, maintain eye contact with everyone on the panel -- not
just the panelist who asked the question. Learn more in our
article, Do's and
Don'ts for Second (and Subsequent) Job Interviews.
At a second interview, remember these three words: Fit, Fit, and Fit. A major reason
for the second interview is so the employer can see how well you fit
in with the company culture. Put yourself inside the employer's head
and realize that the interviewers at your second interview want to
learn how well you will get along with other team members with whom
you'll be interacting with every day. Deploy your very best
interpersonal communication skills. Keep in mind the idea of showing
your fit -- but remember that it's OK not to fit. If you aren't a
good fit with the employer, you probably wouldn't be happy working
there anyway. And remember, that this interview is also your
opportunity to determine whether the company is a good fit for
you. Think about whether you would accept if the employer
extended an offer. Read more about fit with company culture in our
article, 