Interview Tips

Interviews - Ideas for Improving Candidate Success With Our Clients

Our Company is involved in supporting candidates in having great interviews. Many interviews fail because of doing so poorly. Our candidates must realize just how very important it is in preparing for their interview to differentiate themselves from the competition. It is up to you to change or improve your habits and techniques.
Based upon an article quoting the feedback of hiring managers, here are ideas to help you get started:

Be prepared
Many candidates are unprepared for some of the most typical interview questions. Take the time to prepare for simple questions prior to the interview. Some common questions: Tell me about yourself; Why are you considering a job change; and what are your short and long-term goals?

Pay attention and listen carefully
Make sure to answer a question completely. Many hiring managers are not only looking for the answer to a question asked, but are also using this to assess the listening skills of candidates. We advise that you pay careful attention to what the interviewer says and what is being asked.

Talking
Let the manager do most of the talking. By listening carefully you will have a better understanding what you need to say. Try not to talk too much - you may say something that may cause you to not be offered the job.

Good questions can land you the job
Candidates are hired because of thoughtful questions asked. A good question to ask is, what could I show or tell you that would convince you that I am the one for the job? We encourage you to create a list of 10 provocative questions they would like answered during the interview.

Questions not to ask
It is importance that our candidates not ask WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME QUESTIONS in an interview. These include questions regarding salary, benefits, bonuses, and vacation time. We are the employer and all of these negotiations and details are to be handled with our staff and would be discussed long before the interview.

It’s what you know that counts
Some candidates know little or nothing about the company they are interviewing with. You need to learn as much as possible about the company where you are interviewing. This includes knowing the details about the job or assignment, the organizational structure, and the products or services delivered by the company. A company’s web site will provide a lot of information.

Being dressed for the interview
Our preference is that candidates be dressed in business attire for interviews, regardless of the level of the position. For men, this includes a pressed shirt and tie or, even better, a suit. For women, the recommended attire includes a business suit or dress in a conservative color.

Promptness
Being on time is no longer the standard. Managers are taking special note when candidates arrive early for the interview. Arriving ten to fifteen minutes early sends a message of strong interest and professionalism.

Negative remarks
Negative comments leave a negative impression, even when those comments are accurate. We advise our candidates always to avoid making any negative comments about current or previous employers, managers, or co-workers. If you can’t say anything nice, it’s better to say nothing.

Always Keep a Smile
Smile - If you don’t radiate enthusiasm and energy, then the interviewer is not likely to take much interest in you. If you forget to smile, or if you speak in a monotone voice, sound tired, or walk slowly or with slouched posture, you’ll turn off the interviewer immediately, no matter how well you’ve prepared for the interview, and no matter how effectively you communicate.

Express an interest
At the end of an interview, it is always good to express an interest in the position and to ask what the next step would be.