Interview Tips

What Employers Want to See:

Employers evaluate many things during an interview. The following characteristics influence an employer's final decision on who to hire:

Appearance
Does your appearance convey pride in yourself and an ability to do the job?

• Dress - Is your attire at least one step above what one would wear on the job?
• Grooming & Hygiene - Do you project a clean, neat image from head to toe?
• Manner - Is your behavior and attitude polite, friendly, confident?
• Paperwork - Is your application and resume neat and complete?

Dependability
Can you be counted on to do the job?

• Attendance - Will you be at work regularly?
• Punctuality - Will you report to work on time and return from lunch and breaks on time? Will you complete duties in a timely fashion?
• Reliability - Will you accept responsibility, follow rules, and learn as much as possible about the job?

Skills

• Do you possess the skills or the potential abilities to learn and perform the job
• Are you willing to learn new skills?
• Do you have experience or related experience?

Interview Killers:

People will tell you what you should do in an interview, but they forget to point out what you shouldn't do. Make sure you avoid the following mistakes.

A job interview is your chance to leave a positive first impression that is critical in getting a job offer. Many candidates walk in and out of interview rooms leaving memorable negative impressions no matter how good their resume looked.

Any of the following can kill your interview:

• Come late to the interview.
• Be intolerant and show strong prejudices against others.
• Don't articulate yourself clearly, have a weak voice and use poor grammar.
• Be unwilling to start at the bottom; expect too much.
• Refuse to work in a team.
• Don't show appreciation for interviewer's time.
• Don't tolerate any criticism.
• Don't give enough details about experience and past employment.
• Immediately ask how many vacation days or holidays you'll have.
• Show ignorance of the company history and achievements.
• Condemn past employers and mention how your boss was mean to you.

Are You Ready?

The Day Before the Interview

• Make your travel plans for getting to the interview; know exactly where you are going and to whom you will be speaking.
• Buy your ticket or fare for transportation, fill your car with gas, or re-confirm other transportation plans.
• Make sure that you have several clean copies of your resume to take with you.
• Decide what you will wear and check that it is clean, pressed, no missing buttons, etc.
• Confirm childcare plans and any other plans which leave you depending on someone else. Have a back up in mind in case you need it.
• Try to learn two or three facts about the company and its products so you will sound well-informed at the interview.

The Night Before the Interview

• Check the weather forecast. Will you need an umbrella? Should you wear a coat?
• Do as much of your morning preparation for both yourself and your family as you can.
• Do something to relax: take a warm bath, exercise, etc.
• Have a light dinner (no alcohol) and get to bed early.

The Day of the Interview

• Avoid too much coffee or sugar at breakfast.
• Brush your teeth and put on deodorant.
• Remember to take directions to the interview, the name of the person you are meeting, your resume, and other relevant items with you.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get there, get comfortable, and find the restroom.
• If you feel nervous, try breathing in to the count of ten and then exhale on the count of ten. Try to increase the count.
• Observe your surroundings; get a feel for the work place.

Pre-interview checklist

• Confirm your attendance either by telephone or in writing
• Name and title of the interviewer
• Telephone number of the company
• Pen and paper
• Appearance OK? Fresh? Pressed? Shoes in good shape? Not over-done?
• Know why you want the job?
• Reasons why the company should consider you?
• Mental frame of mind? Relax.
• Ready with a smile?
• Rehearsed answers to possible questions?
• Directions to interview?
• Do you know where to park?
• Extra money and a watch?
• Copies of your resume?
• Reference list/letters, portfolios, transcripts, etc?