James A. Rhodes State College

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QUICK & EASY INTERVIEWING

In spite of the upturned job market, employers are still looking for ways to select applicants OUT!! Here are a few quick tips for better interviewing.

RESEARCH

Know the company, what they do/manufacture/sell. Look up the company web page, look them up in Standards & Poor, talk to anyone who might work there now or worked there in the past…find out all you can about the company and maybe even the job for which you are interviewing.

SAR – Situation – Action – Result

Here is the true key to interviewing. When interviewers ask you to “tell them about a time you…” (eg: demonstrated leadership or planned and implemented a new idea, etc.) think S-A-R. What was the situation…what action did you take, what was the result. And have plenty examples of SAR for each interview. You know they’re going to come up, so go prepared. Also this might help in the dreaded “tell me about yourself” question.

GO PREPARED

• Dress professionally – no matter what the job or ultimate work environment.
• Since you’ve researched the company, you should know how you “fit” with the company and the position – tell them!
• Have extra copies of your resume and the names, addresses, phones of your references at your fingertips.
• Carry a portfolio and have a good pen AND pencil.
• If you do not know for sure where you’re going, drive the route in advance so you know how much time you’ll need to get there.
• You ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ARRIVE LATE!

BAD STUFF

If there are things in your background that you think might be a negative, think through those answers before every interview. Don’t be taken by surprise. Test your responses with others, your placement director, a friend in the business – whatever…Talk about the situation, what action you took to correct and the current result!

GRAMMAR

Another quick way to lose an employment opportunity – bad grammar. If you have it – get rid of it. If you have bad habits about grammar – stop doing them. Think about this – an employer’s hiring an accountant who will be interacting with customers in person and over the phone…does he/she really want his clients to hear “I brung that file to the meeting” or “He don’t understand” or “We was late wit the return”???? NO! So if you need help – Get it. Ask/beg your friends and faculty correct you.  Put a positive spin on a negative situation.  Tell the interviewer what you have learned from the experience.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Clean. Clean hair. Clean and pressed suit. Shined shoes. Light make-up. Neutral (or no) nail polish. Go easy on the cologne or perfume. If you smoke-clean your suit and don’t smoke in it or in the car. Earrings – keep them simple. Earrings in unusual visual places – take them out till you get hired and then see what the environment of the office is. Tattoos can raise some questions in some employers’ minds about your ability to make decisions…might want to cover up any visible tattoos until you get the job or a better understanding of the employer. Do you need a haircut? Ladies, is it time to get a professional look? Men – is it time to cut the ponytail? Men: facial hair? You see a lot of trimmed and groomed moustaches but you rarely see beards in business. If you have one, cut it, trim it and make sure it appears groomed. It’s a risk to keep it – but it’s your call.

FOLLOW-UP

Many, many interviewees have gotten the position because they were the only ones to send a thank you letter to the interviewer(s). This professional courtesy cannot be stressed enough. This is YOUR chance to get the LAST WORD…to say how you would be the best candidate…to say “I want this job”. Don’t miss the opportunity. The letter must be written and mailed within 24 hours – or forget it.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER CHEW GUM IN AN INTERVIEW OR DURING A PHONE CALL REGARDING AN INTERVIEW.

Book Buy!

If you want to read a great book on interviewing – do it from the point of an employer – pick up 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before Your Hire by Paul Falcone (American Management Association). What better way to know HOW to answer interview questions than to know why and how they are asked. A must buy for interviewee job seeker!