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DURING THE INTERVIEW 1. Your mother told you that you have only one chance to make a first impression - she was right. When you first meet the interviewer look them in the eyes, respond with a confident and friendly voice, introduce yourself and then thank the person for taking the time to meet with you. 2. Think of the interview as a professional conversation, not an interrogation. Remember that most employers really do not know how to interview. Keep that in mind. Make the process easier for the other person by joining in on the process. 3. Stay on the topic. Answer the questions he/she asks completely and directly. Before you begin a lengthy answer stop and ask the person how detailed they would like you to be, especially if the question is about a subject that you know a great deal. 4. Ask a few intelligent questions about the position and the organization. (See Preparing for the Interview to help determine what kind of questions you want to ask.) Do not ask questions about salary, benefits, vacations, etc. Your Search Masters representative will have informed you about all of these matters prior to the interview. The employer will have been informed of your salary history and your expectations. If there was a problem with compensation Search Masters would have explained the problem to you or the interview would not have been arranged. We explain your entire earnings history to the employer prior to the interview so that you and he/she will not need to discuss this subject. In most cases you do not know how long the interview will be. Discussing salary and benefits takes away from the time you can employ to sell yourself. People make offers of employment to people they like and who demonstrate a desire to join their team. Establishing the rules (salary and benefits) under which you will consider the position does neither. 5. Maintain professional yet friendly body language. Stay interested and friendly without becoming too intense. 6. Do not ever make a negative comment about a past employer. 7. A give and take honest relationship must be established during the interview. Candidates should exchange information while listening attentively, selling themselves, and demonstrating enthusiasm for the position and the organization. Candidates who "have all the answers," criticize their supervisors and second guess their employers are seldom pursued as candidates. Negative attitudes toward prior jobs are seen as predictions of future attitudes. 8. As you feel the interview coming to a close make sure you make a clear statement of interest in the position, even if you are a little unclear about your feelings about the position. Remember your goal is to secure an offer of employment. An example of a phrase to close out the interview would be, "Before I leave here today, let me leave you with the understanding that I am sincerely interested in pursuing this opportunity. I realize you have a process to go through. When do you suggest that I follow up with you?" Shake the employer's hand and leave on a friendly and professional basis. It is a good idea to make sure you leave with a business card from each person with whom you have met. 9. Follow Up It is common courtesy to follow up every interview with a note to each person you met. In today's technological world e-mail is becoming more acceptable. I still like real letters! (Maybe that is a reflection of my having been born in 1950.) The two things you do confirm as a result of this letter is: 1) You are an organized person that follows up (an important trait for most positions); 2) You are interested in the position. This letter reaffirms the statement that you made to the interviewer that you were interested in the position. A recent survey of 500 employers, in twenty-eight different industries with both large and small number of employees stated that in 69% of the interviews they conducted, they had not made their decision on whom to hire after all the interviews and follow up letters had a significant influence in at least half of those decisions to make an offer. Interviewers normally keep a folder on each candidate comprising of an application card, resume, follow up letters and interviewing notes. This is the information that they are looking at when they make their final decision to make you an offer. Let us make sure they have sufficient information to look at and that it is presented in a neat, organized and professional format. Please see our section on Resignations Click Here for a Printer Friendly Version of This Page
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