10 Interviewing Rules

1. Do Your Research
Researching the company before the interview and learning as much as
possible about its services, products, customers and competition will give you
an edge in understanding and addressing the company's needs. The more
you know about the company and what it stands for, the better chance you
have of selling yourself in the interview. You also should find out about the
company's culture to gain insight into your potential happiness on the job.
2. Look Sharp
Select what to wear to the interview. Depending on the industry and position,
get out your best interview clothes and check them over for spots and
wrinkles. Even if the company has a casual environment, you don't want to
look like you slept in your outfit. Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel
good, others will respond to you accordingly.
3. Be Prepared
Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your
references and paper to take notes. You should also have questions prepared
to ask at the end of the interview. For extra assurance, print a copy of
Monster's handy interview take-along checklist.
4. Be on Time
Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity,
allowing for factors like getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before
the interview.
5. Show Enthusiasm
A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrate confidence. Speak
distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel shaky
6. Listen
One of the most neglected interview skills is listening. Make sure you are not
only listening, but also reading between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is
just as important as what is said.
7. Answer the Question Asked
Candidates often don't think about whether they are actually answering the
questions their interviewers ask. Make sure you understand what is being asked,
and get further clarification if you are unsure.
8. Give Specific Examples
One specific example of your background is worth 50 vague stories. Prepare your
stories before the interview. Give examples that highlight your successes and
uniqueness. Your past behavior can indicate your future performance.
9. Ask Questions
Many interviewees don't ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out
valuable information. The questions you ask indicate your interest in the
company or job.
10.
Follow Up

Whether it's through email or regular mail, the interview follow-up is one more
chance to remind the interviewer of all the valuable traits you bring to the job
and company. Don't miss this last chance to market yourself.
What is Interview?
*An interview is a conversation between two or more people where questions are
asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or statements from the interviewee.

The Do(s) and Don't(s) of Interviews

Do(s):

Dress for success (coat & tie, appropriate) it is better to overdress and take off the
tie than be dressed inappropriately

Visit the restroom before the interview or in between interviews if it is an all-day

process

Make good eye contact at all times

Be prepared for common interview questions, but do not have canned answers or
replies

Look for something in common with interviewer by viewing items in their office or
from their background (ask your consultant)

Take this opportunity to sell yourselfkeep focused and do not let any information
you hear during the interview affect your intensity or "game face"

Use common sense be aware of the audience and surroundings from the moment
you walk in the door until you leave

Listen to each question carefully and ask them to repeat the question if you need
clarification

Demonstrate good body languageintensity, positive, enthusiasticthis

communicates a lot about you and is always being evaluated

Get business cards or contact information from everyone you meet

Write a handwritten thank you note ASAP. Bring the stationary with you write the
notes from the hotel or airport and drop them in the mail there before you leave to return
home.

Make sure you tell people "I like what I heard and am interested in the next step"

When answering questions, be concise and do not ramble on - avoid answering with
yes or no

Take extra copies of your resume and references with youalways be prepared

Take good notes to use for follow-up

Be early and take a few minutes to get a feel for the culture and surroundings

Don't(s):

Checkout during the interview (the goal is to get to the next step)

Have any physical distractions (dress, jewelry, perfumes etc.) that would affect the
interviewer

Oversell yourself to the point it becomes a negative

Appear overconfident (sell yourself but also be humble when appropriate)

Make up an answer or exaggerate your accomplishments or technical skills (it will

cause you problems)

Have a cell phone or beeper on during the interview it is best not to bring them into
the interview

Talk too much. The interview needs to be a two way dialogue and more of a
conversation

Chew gum or use any body language that could be a possible distraction

Ask about money or benefits unless the interviewer specifically brings it up

Drink alcohol if going out to a lunch or dinner with the interviewer (use your good
judgment)

Talk negative about your current or former job to include bosses, peers, company
culture, etc.

Types of Topics in Questions

Patton notes six kinds of questions. One can ask questions about:

1. Behaviors - about what a person has done or is doing

2. Opinions/values - about what a person thinks about a topic

3. Feelings - note that respondents sometimes respond with "I think ..." so be careful
to note that you're looking for feelings
4. Knowledge - to get facts about a topic
5. Sensory - about what people have seen, touched, heard, tasted or smelled
6. Background/demographics - standard background questions, such as age,
education, etc.
Note that the above questions can be asked in terms of past, present or future.

First thing to do when you walk in the Interview

Smile be relaxed and give yourself a break by asking the interviewer hi and
how are you

Ten Tough Interview Questions and Ten Great Answers:

1. Tell me about yourself.
It seems like an easy interview question. It's open ended. I can talk about whatever I
want from the birth canal forward. Right?
Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute
snapshot of who you are and why you're the best candidate for this position.
So as you answer this question, talk about what you've done to prepare yourself to
be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up.
Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after
example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example
when you have the opportunity.
"Tell me about yourself" does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes
you the best.
2. Why should I hire you?
The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And don't be afraid to
say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.
For example: "You should hire me because I'm the best person for the job. I realize
that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I
bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the jobmy passion
for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results.
For example"
Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples.
3. What is your long-range objective?
The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach
those objectives.
For example: "Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant
your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others
rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater
responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is
what I'm presently doing to prepare myself"
Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and
objectives.

4. How has your education prepared you for your career?

This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your
educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for
the career.
An example: "My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals,
but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes.
For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed
best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results"
Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then
ask if they would like to hear more examples.
5. Are you a team player?
Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You
need to provide behavioral examples to back up your answer.
A sample answer: "Yes, I'm very much a team player. In fact, I've had opportunities
in my work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example,
on a recent project"
Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and focus on your openness to diversity
of backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note
that this question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle
conflict within a team, so be prepared.
6. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it
resolved?
Note that if you say no, most interviewers will keep drilling deeper to find a conflict.
The key is how you behaviorally reacted to conflict and what you did to resolve it.
For example: "Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but there have
been disagreements that needed to be resolved. I've found that when conflict
occurs, it helps to fully understand the other persons perspective, so I take time to
listen to their point of view, then I seek to work out a collaborative solution. For
example"
Focus your answer on the behavioral process for resolving the conflict and working
collaboratively.
7. What is your greatest weakness?

Most career books tell you to select a strength and present it as a weakness. Such
as: "I work too much. I just work and work and work." Wrong. First of all, using a
strength and presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of
the question.

You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For
example: "I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However,
I'm now taking steps to correct this. I just started using a pocket planner" then
show them your planner and how you are using it.
Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it.
8. If I were to ask your professors (or your boss) to describe you, what
would they say?
This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know
the answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if they're willing to
provide a positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation.
Then you can answer the question like this:
"I believe she would say I'm a very energetic person, that I'm results oriented and
one of the best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I know she would say
that, because those are her very words. May I show you her letter of
recommendation?"
So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation.
9. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
Focus on two words: leadership and vision. Then tell of how that leadership and
vision translated into your personal delivered results.
Here is a sample of how to respond: "The key quality in a successful manager
should be leadershipthe ability to be the visionary for the people who are working
under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates,
keeping them focused on what is most important for delivering the highest priority
results. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of
their abilities. I'd like to tell you about a person whom I consider to be a true
leader"
Then give an example of someone who has touched your life and how their impact
has helped in your personal development.
10. If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you
change?

Focus on a key turning point in your life or missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward
to what you are doing to still seek to make that change.
For example: "Although I'm overall very happy with where I'm at in my life, the one
aspect I likely would have changed would be focusing earlier on my chosen career. I
had a great internship this past year and look forward to more experience in the
field. I simply wish I would have focused here earlier. For example, I learned on my
recent internship" then provide examples.
Stay focused on positive direction in your life and back it up with examples.