Interviewing Tips

90% of hires are based solely upon the interview according to a Harvard Business Review study. In fact, 63% of hiring decisions are made within the first 4.3 minutes of an interview (SHRM Study.) So the interview is probably the most important part of the hiring process. And that's why you need to spend time with your personal recruiter to better understand whom you are interviewing with and the issues that you will be talking about during the interview.

You always need to "take temperatures" because people have minds and they're changing them constantly. You need to listen to what they DON’T say. Being prepared for an interview is vital. The following preparation is very unique and effective in conducting a positive interview.

Things to remember:

  1. People have to buy you before they buy from you.
  2. People hire and accept emotionally first and justify logically later.
  3. People are most sold by your conviction rather than by your persuasion.
  4. Know your technology, but think PEOPLE.
  5. The decision to hire is made in the first 5 to 10 minutes of the interview, with the remaining time spent justifying that decision.

The Candidate Preparation:

Please take these notes to the interview and practice the anticipated questions that may be asked and your answers to those questions. Be sure to practice these steps out loud to yourself before the interview.

  1. What are the duties and responsibilities of the position I'm applying for? This is an excellent icebreaker question for the hiring authority and a great start to a successful interview. What % of my job is dedicated to creative work (e.g. planning, budgeting, forecasting) administration, supervisory, and technical? (should = 100%)
  2. What is my number one priority that has to be done before I leave each day? Why?
  3. What are the production / sales / or other goals? What obstacles would prevent me from reaching my goals?
  4. What are the short and long term goals set for the person in this position?
  5. Have questions for the hiring authority (see below). Questions should be written out before the interview but do not read from them during the interview. Avoid the topic of compensation and benefits in the first interview.
  6. Salary - this is a trap question. If the question is brought up a very good response is "I am currently making $_____. Although I would like an increase, I don't know enough about the opportunity to answer that fairly." Be very careful that you don't short yourself. Be sure to keep in mind your base salary, bonus program, stock options, profit sharing programs, benefits, etc.
  7. Ask for the job! "I haven't interviewed in a while, what is the next step? Can we conclude our business today if all goes well?" OR summarize what you've done that ties in with the new position and ask, "Do I have the qualifications you're looking for?" Then remain silent for an answer. If the hiring authority says, "I'm looking at other people," you say, "How do my qualifications match the people you're considering."
    (Your #1 priority is to receive an offer, if this is a position that you desire, your #2 priority is to know the next step.)
    ALWAYS SEND A FOLLOW-UP “Thank You” LETTER.  Email is OK.
  8. After you leave the interview, it is very important that you call us immediately

Interviewing

Before you interview for a position, learn as much about it and the employer as possible. If you found the position through a recruiter, he or she should be able to provide that information for you. If not, conduct research on the Web, visit the library, and tap into industry contacts.

Questions To Ask

After you have studied the company, make a list of questions to ask the employer:

  • Why is this position available?
  • What training programs are available to the person in this position?
  • What are your goals for this position?
  • What obstacles must be overcome for the person in this position to succeed?
  • How will my performance be evaluated?
  • What opportunities are there for growth in the next 12 months? Two years? Five years?
  • What growth do you anticipate for your organization in the next 12 months?

Questions You May Be Asked

Your recruiter should be able to give you a good idea of the hiring manager's personality, his or her typical interview demeanor, and a few important questions that the employer is likely to ask, such as:

  • Tell me about yourself.
    Keep your answer in the professional realm only. Review your past positions, education and other strengths.
  • Why are you interested in this position?
    Relate how you feel your qualifications match the job requirements. Also, express your desire to work for the employer.
  • What are the most significant accomplishments in your career?
    Identify recent accomplishments that relate to the position and its requirements.
  • Describe a situation in which your work was criticized.
    Focus on how you resolved the situation and became a better person because of the experience.
  • What do you know about our organization?
  • How would you describe your personality?
  • How do you perform under pressure?
  • What have you done to improve yourself over the past year?
  • What did you like least about your last position?
  • Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) company?
  • What is your ideal working environment?
  • How would your co-workers describe you?
  • What do you think of your boss?
  • Have you ever fired anyone?
  • What was the situation and how did you handle it?
  • Are you creative?
  • What are your goals in your career?
  • Where do you see yourself in two years?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What kind of salary are you looking for?
  • What other types of jobs/companies are you considering?

Also learn about Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts.