Interviewing Overview

Reasons why potential employees are rejected

• Inappropriate background
• Poor personal appearance
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm
• Failure to keep eye contact
• Late to the interview
• Asks no questions about the job
• Too overbearing
• Inability to express self clearly
• Poor communication skills
• Lack of pose or self-confidence
• Unrealistic salary demands
• Lack of maturity - no leadership potential
• Lack of extra-curricular activities
• Know nothing about the company
• Unwilling to relocate
• Excessive interest in security and benefits

Interview preparation

• Research the company
• Confirm time, place and name (SPELLING!!!)
• Dress appropriately and have several copies of your resume and cover letter
• Practice responding to sample questions.
• Maintain a positive attitude (Very important. Don't get discouraged)

Possible interview question (listed by category)

Personal and Family Data

• What are/were your parent's occupations?
• How far do you live from this company?
• Is your spouse employed? Will there be a conflict?

Educational Background

• Why did you attend a particular college/university?
• What was your major?
• Do you feel you made the right choice?

Character, Initiative, and Creativity

• What is your idea of success?
• How do you cope with stress and pressure?
• What did you do in your last job to make it more effective and more challenging?
• How do you go about making important decisions?

Management Ability

• How do you go about establishing rapport with staff?
• Have you ever been in a position to delegate responsibility?
• How well do you manage people?

Career Objective and Suitability for Target Job

• What do you picture yourself doing five to ten years from now?
• Would you be in a position to work overtime if required?
• Why are you interested in this job?

Salary History and Requirements

• What salary are you worth?
• What is your salary history?

Experience and Training

• What do you see as the biggest rewards in your career?
• In what areas of your present job are you strongest?
• What specific strengths/skills do you think you can bring to this position?

Outside Interests

• What are you leisure time activities?
• What sections of the newspaper do you read first?
• What do you plan to do to improve yourself?

Questions to ask the interviewer

• What are the most important skills for this job?
• What are the job responsibilities?
• How would my performance be evaluated?
• How would I be supervised?
• What advancement opportunities are there?
• How much travel is required?
• What is the last person who had this job doing? Where is she/he now?
• What are the company's goals?
• How does your division fit into the organization?
• What is the management style of the company?
• Why did you decide to go with this company?
• Who was, in your opinion, the best person who ever held this position? What did he/she do that made you remember him/her so favorably?
• Tell me about your opportunities for additional training?
• Are new services or programs planned?
• What is a typical day for this job?
• With promotion, are transfer (overseas) opportunities available?
• How long will it take to make a hiring decision?
• What does the company consider the five most important duties of the position?

Following the interview

• IMMEDIATELY review the interview
  • Who did you meet (names and titles)?
  • What does the job entail?
  • What are the first projects you want to tackle?
  • Why can you do the job?
  • What went poorly? Why?
  • What is the next step in the selection process?
• Write a follow-up letter.
  • Express appreciation of the interviewer's time and comments.
  • Make it clear that you are excited about the job, can do it, and want it.
  • Keep it short, type it and proof it carefully.
• If you don't hear anything after a reasonable time period (one to two weeks) make a call to the lead interviewer and restate points made in the cover letter.