Interview Preparation

Remember you are selling an overall package: "Yourself".

For you to be successful you need to put together a concise two minute summation of "Who You Are", "What Skill Sets you Bring to the Company", and "Why a Company Should Hire YOU."

BE PREPARED

Interview preparation is one of the most important aspects of a successful job search. Before each interview, Paul May & Associates (PMA) will provide you with coaching and detailed information on the company and the available position. However, you should also be prepared to:

• Conduct your own research on the company. Utilize the Internet, get the URL of the company and study them. Think over your accomplishments, skills and experience and how they will benefit the company. Write these down, make some notes, and know what you want to say.

• Be able to explain your past career moves and why you are interested in making another change. Make sure your career moves explanations show foresight and planning. Avoid making negative remarks about your previous job(s) or manager(s). This will only hurt your chances of getting hired. Don't be bitter. Be professional.

MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION

Our research shows that initial impressions are made within the first minute of an employment interview. You can make a positive first impression if you:

• Bring a fresh copy of your resume. Your resume should be outstanding.

• Bring a smart attache case or a professional binder and a fine quality pen.

• Start the interview with good eye contact and maintain it throughout the interview. Eye contact is key. You will benefit greatly from looking them in the eye.

• Wear professional business attire, preferably a dark blue, gray or black suit with understated accessories and jewelry. Make sure your clothing is meticulously clean and color coordinated. Shoes polished.

• Create a more polished appearance by being well groomed with neat hair and nails (go ahead and treat yourself to a haircut or a manicure before the interview).

• Make sure you have a firm handshake.

BE ENTHUSIASTIC AND CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITIES

Being enthusiastic about your work, the company and its projects shows the interviewer that you are a viable candidate. During the interview:

• Be confident about your abilities but not egotistical. The "I can do everything" approach will not score you any points.

• Don't be afraid to give detailed information about what you can do when responding to questions. Make sure you answer with more than just a yes or no. Respond to a question with information or possibly a follow up question.

• Whenever possible, anticipate questions and be forthcoming with answers. Some examples of this are: (Know that these are coming...)

* When you claim a skill, back it up with on-the-job examples and be persuasive.

EMPHASIZE YOUR STRENGTHS

Almost every interview follows a basic pattern with the person conducting the interview trying to determine your strengths and weaknesses.

You'll want to:

• Talk about your strengths in terms of teamwork and projects you are proud to have worked on.

• Project strength of character and strong work ethics (ie: goal oriented, flexible, committed, persistent, self-motivated, ambitious, hardworking, finish projects on time and on budget, good listener, dedicated, intelligent, multi-tasking, work-well under pressure).

• Address the interviewer's chief concerns (ie: if an HR Manager conducts the interview you might want to emphasize your interpersonal skills. On the other hand, if you are interviewed by a Technical Manager you might want to emphasize your technical skills).

TURN WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTHS

Employers look for people who know their own limitations and are interested in self-improvement. Mention a weakness and then stress its positive aspect, e.g., "I don't like to be over supervised, because I have a great deal of initiative, and I like to anticipate problems before they even arise."

ASK QUESTIONS

It is important for you to leave the interview with a good understanding of the position and company. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Make sure you can make a good career decision on whether you want to work for the company after you leave. Therefore, make a list of general questions to ask during the interview, such as:

• What are the responsibilities of this position, and what are the most important?

• What are the responsibilities of this position, and what are the most important?

• What results are expected of this position?

• What are the limits of my responsibility and authority?

• What problems and opportunities are associated with this position?

• What are the goals of this company and department?

• What support is available for me to meet these goals?

• Are there any projects currently in motion?

• What is their history and status?

• What type of training do you provide?

• Why is this position open? Replacement or expansion?

• What criteria are used for performance reviews?

DON'T DISCUSS SALARY

If you state a salary figure that is too low or too high, you may not be considered for the position at all. Let PMA negotiate the best possible compensation package for you, it is absolutely essential that you do not state salary requirements. Instead:

ASK FOR THE JOB

The close of the interview provides a chance to sum up your qualifications and ask for the job. You can use this opportunity to: Ask the interviewer how well your qualifications fit the company's needs. "How do my qualifications fit the position you are looking for." This makes the employer evaluate your background right there and now. You can then cover anything missed. Address anything that was missed to reinforce your candidacy. "I may not have that experience but I am sure I can learn it." Express interest in the position and a desire to proceed to the next step of the hiring process." I am very interest in this position because (try and mention some reasons) and I look forward to working with you in the future. Who else do I need to meet with to help with your decision."

WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE

This simple courtesy goes a long way towards making a favorable impression. Your personal, handwritten note should:

• Always thank the interviewer for their time.

• Reiterate your interest in the company.

• Should be brief and well written.

READ A BOOK

There are many good books to help you better understand the interview process and give an edge over the competition. We recommend:

• "How to Turn An Interview Into A Job" by Jeffrey G. Allen

• "What Color Is Your Parachute" by Richard Bolles

• "Dress for Success" by Molloy

Hopefully these tips help you do a better job on your interviews. We cannot stress enough how important it is to be prepared and we want to help you do your best. Please pass these on to a friend. We know it will help.