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Ten Tips on Preparing for a Job Interview
Your hard work sending out all those cover letters and resumes has finally paid off - you’ve been called in for a face-to-face job interview. Congratulations! But now is not the time to sit back and think about how you’re going to spend your new salary; you’ve got a lot of work to do. The better prepared you are beforehand, the better your chances are of walking out of the interview with a confident smile on your face that says, "I think I got the job!"
Keep in mind that in the competitive business world, there are sure to be dozens of other highly qualified candidates going after your job. It’s important to make yourself stand out as someone special. Now is the time to practice exactly how you will sell yourself to a prospective employer during that crucial first meeting.
Here are 10 important tips to help your next interview lead to your next job:
- Do your homework. Research the company beforehand so that you can showcase that knowledge during the interview. This will boost your credibility with the interviewer and will help you to formulate intelligent questions to ask him or her.
- Know where you’re going. Make sure to find out where the office is and how to get there. Do you know how long the trip will take? Do you have the name and phone number of the person you’ll be meeting with? Do you know how easy it is to park? Save yourself time and unnecessary stress by knowign these things before heading to the interview.
- Look the part. Your clothing should be neat, pressed, and professional looking. As it can be difficult to know the culture of the office environment beforehand, err on the side of conservative. Even if everyone’s wearing jeans when you arrive, you’re still probably better off having shown up in a suit. However, don’t be afraid to inject some personality into your look, and don’t neglect the details. Make sure to have a fresh haircut and clean, manicured nails.
- Rehearse beforehand. Prior to your interview, prepare answers to common questions the interviewer is likely to ask, such as What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why do you want to work here? Why should we hire you? and the ever popular Tell me about yourself. Conduct a mock interview with a trusted friend as practice.
- Secure your references. Find at least three key people — former supervisors, colleagues, or instructors — who are willing to serve as your professional references. Be sure to secure their permission beforehand, and be certain that they will speak highly of you if contacted by a potential employer.
- Arrive early. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview. Visit the restroom and check your appearance in the mirror. Announce yourself to the receptionist to let him or her know that you have arrived and that you have an appointment. Turn your cell phone off so it doesn’t ring during your meeting.
- Bring necessary documentation. Make a checklist of documents that you will need for the interview, and make sure that you have them in your briefcase before leaving home. These documents may include extra copies of your résumé, a passport, driver’s license, Social Security card, or portfolio of writing samples or other professional work. If you are a recent graduate, you should also bring along your college transcripts.
- Sell yourself. The interview is your chance to shine, so now is not the time to be humble. Develop a 25-second sales pitch that sings your praises. In business this is called an “elevator speech,” a compelling overview of why you? that can be recited in the time it takes to ride the elevator. It should include your strengths, your abilities, and what sets you uniquely apart from other applicants.
- Don’t neglect to ask questions. Based on your earlier research, ask how the responsibilities of the open position relate to the company’s goals and plans for the future. Interviewers are often favorably impressed by candidates who show that they are knowledgeable about the organization.
- Follow up. After the interview, don’t forget to send a handwritten note or friendly email thanking the interviewer for his or her time and consideration, as well as restating your interest and commitment to the position. If you don’t hear anything after one week, call to politely inquire when they will be making a final decision.
Remember to keep this in mind: Every interview is a valuable learning experience. Even if you don’t get this particular job, when the next interview rolls around, you’ll be much better prepared and more at ease with the whole process. All of which can go a long way to boosting your confidence and improving your chances of being offered the next job.
Good luck!
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Turning the Tables: Smart Questions to Ask During Your Next Interview
Whether you're a first-timer or an old pro, a job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience. Most of the time, you’re so focused on making a good impression and answering the questions that are put to you accurately and effectively that the idea of posing your own set of questions to the interviewer probably never even crosses your mind.
If you've ever said "No" at the end of an interview when the hiring manager asks whether you have any questions, it's time to rethink your strategy. Contrary to popular belief, asking your own questions in an interview won’t make you come off as nosy or presumptuous. Instead, it’s a great opportunity to show off several of the most important traits that hiring managers are looking for.
Asking the Right Kind of Question
Here’s the catch: what really counts in an interview is coming up with the right kind of question to ask. For example, asking the hiring manager what her favorite color is won’t exactly highlight your quick thinking and insightful analysis. But by taking the time to devise several pertinent, targeted questions to pose at the end of your interview, you’ll be able to show that not only are you unaffected by the stress of the interview process, but also that you have the kind of mind that can tap into the big picture -- even when you’re under duress.
So the next time you’re preparing for an interview, don’t stop at practicing your firm handshake and polishing your answers to perennial questions like, “Tell me about yourself.” Instead, take your time to craft a few smart questions of your own to bring along to the interview. Here are some basic tips and guidelines to help you get started.
It’s all about timing.
No matter how many brilliant questions you’ve prepared in advance, it’s important to read the situation to determine how open your interviewer is to a two-way dialogue. If the hiring manager seems to want to take the lead, back off a bit and save your questions for the tail-end of the interview. If, on the other hand, the hiring manager seems to welcome your questions, feel free to ask about anything that you want clarified. In most situations, it’s traditional for the final phase of the interview to be given over to candidate questions.
Show off your knowledge of the company.
In this day and age, there’s no reason to go into an interview without at least a basic understanding of the company to which you’re applying. Just a few quick Internet searches can tell you everything you need to know to ask intelligent, well-informed questions about the company, its strengths, its challenges, and its plans for growth. By asking questions that show you’ve done your homework, you’ll be able to wow your interviewer with your initiative.
Highlight both detail-oriented and big-picture thinking.
The day-to-day difficulties of running a hospitality industry operation can be overwhelming, and hiring managers are definitely looking for candidates who are up to the challenge. But when it comes to flagging candidates with leadership potential, hiring managers are also looking for an ability to rise above the fray and take a bird’s-eye view of the situation. When you’re posing questions to the hiring manager, try to show that you’re equally comfortable with both types of responsibilities. Alternate operations-oriented questions with queries about the company’s strategy and long-term goals.
Aim for a deeper understanding of the position.
You definitely want to come away from an interview with a crystal-clear understanding of the duties, expectations, and day-to-day responsibilities of the position you’re applying for. But try to go above and beyond that with questions that seek to understand the company’s vision for the role. What is their vision for the position? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held the job? What are the most important functions of the job?
End with the next step in mind.
Even if your interviewer is so chatty that you can barely fit a word in edgewise, don’t leave the room without asking about their timeline for making a hiring decision and moving toward the next step in the process. Volunteer the best way to contact you and reiterate your eagerness to participate in further discussions, as well.
Even though many of us have been conditioned to think of interviews as a chance for hiring managers to play a one-sided game of 20 Questions, the best interviews are two-way dialogues that are fueled by input and inquiries from both parties. By interjecting at least a few of your own smart, targeted questions into the process, you’ll be able to demonstrate your analytical skills and your ability to think on your feet. Who knows -- the next question you might be answering is, “Can you start next Monday?”
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