Ace Job Interviews!

You have an meeting set with a excellent company for a opportunity that you are quite interested in.  How can you prepare your self to deliver the interview performance that should help you stand out from other applicants and result in a job offer?

When getting ready for a job interview, prepare for a sales dialog between two people where the product being sold is you.  A lot of individuals don’t get offered the position simply because they don’t sell themselves.

Do your homework.  Prior to the meeting study the company’s web site, products or other sites where company’s public information is available.  If you are working with a Recruiter they will be a great source of additional data on the company.  If the company is publicly traded, most Stock Brokers will have a copy of their most recent 10K or 10Q.  Former or current employees of the company are great sources of data. Invest some time thinking about what you do and how you do it.  Be prepared to provide a brief summary of the different positions or situations you have worked in.
 
Arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the interview. Bring several resumes with you to the interview in case you need extras.

Listen carefully to the questions you are asked and respond to those questions completely.  Often interviews begin with some version of the question, “Tell me about yourself.”  Talk about your accomplishments, skills and abilities – NOT your childhood, family, hobbies or interests. Participate in the discussion.  Shake the interviewers hand firmly.  Look the interviewer in the eye.  Smile, add some and your personality to the interview where and when appropriate. Be ready to express what you can do for the organization.  Be aware that most organizations want to know how you will either make them money or save them money. 

Anticipate what the interviewer is looking for and be able to give examples of what you can deliver.  Listen and be prepared for trick questions like, “Tell me about your greatest weakness?”  You can turn the response to a trick question into a positive.  Say, “I’m a workaholic.  I feel the need to get every thing done before I go home every day.”  

Once you have answered the interviewers questions, work your questions into the interview mix.  Avoid questions about salary or benefits unless the interviewer brings the subject up, and then remain general.  It’s best to avoid getting locked into a definite salary.  The optimum time to engage in salary discussion is after the company has told you they plan to make you an offer.

When closing the interview with every person, ask him or her for a business card.  You will want this information for follow-up. When the discussion is coming to a end, express a closing statement.  “Mr. Smith, I want this job.  I can bring to your group… (Summarize your strengths).”  Then request the employment offer.

You should send a thank you note to everyone you interviewed with.  Include in the thank you note a closing statement indicating when you will be following up with a phone call.  Make sure your thank you note is well written and meticulously edited for spelling and typos.  Many a job has been lost because of a poorly written thank you note.

If you are working through a Recruiter, call the Recruiter directly after the interview to debrief.  Recruiters work with employers over lengthy durations of time and should have insight as to which follow-up steps should improve the probability of being given a great employment offer.