Interviewing

Today's interviews are driven by what interviewing consultants call behavior-based questioning.  This style of interview places the responsibility on you to provide specific examples of your behavior in specific situations.  Employers extend offers of employment to people they feel can and will react appropriately to a situation or challenge in the work place.  Assuming that this interview was arranged through Search Masters, you can assume two things:  1) You are qualified for the position; 2) The position has the ability to compensate you in a fashion you expect.  These questions being resolved, it is now up to you to demonstrate your abilities in an honest and professional way.  Interviewing is a skill that when properly learned, practiced and executed will generate very successful results. 

Areas of Concern

Weaknesses

Often you will be asked to describe your weaknesses.  This is a question that is almost impossible to answer directly and positively at the same time.  Do not say, "I don't have any."  This makes you appear arrogant.  We all understand that we all have weaknesses.  Instead, address the question by citing a specific instance(s) that you feel you did not succeed in and how you feel you "fell short" of your own expectations and what you did to help yourself grow beyond that situation.  What would be ideal is to identify a similar situation that you succeeded in, later on in your career.  Do not attempt to make a strength appear as a weakness, such as  "I often have a problem dealing with people that are not as dedicated to their jobs as I am."  This also makes you appear to have a superior attitude and to not be a team player..

What compensation do you want?

This is a very common question that the employer will ask you.  They ask this question, not because they are attempting to pin you down or influence you to accept the position at a low salary, but because they need to find out if they can afford you or not.  However, you CANNOT quote a figure.  If you do that you are going to cost yourself money or possibly rule yourself out of the opportunity.  For example:  You say "I would like $70,000" thinking you can always settle for less.  Good organizations with legitimate compensation systems will not hire the person past the mid-point of the salary range in order to give them the opportunity to give you a good raise when you have earned one.  In this scenario the position paid $60,000-$70,000, and the mid-point was $65,000.  The employer will rule you out the second you say $70,000.  This will happen because $70,000 is past the mid point, even though you would have gladly accepted $65,000. On the other hand if you quote a figure too low, most employers will offer you that figure because you offered them the opportunity to do so!  They can grant your salary request, still have money remaining in the budget, and have plenty of room to give you aggressive raises.  So what is the answer?  Respond "I do not want to make compensation an issue at this point.  I am here because when Search Masters explained the position to me, the opportunity seemed to present a great deal of professional merit for me.  I have heard great things about the integrity of your firm, and I am very confident that you would make a fair offer if you select me."  This is the only way to handle this question.  At Search Masters we will handle all of the salary discussions for you relieving you of the burden of this hard to answer question. 

Why are you interviewing?

If you are unemployed your answer should be obvious.  If you are unemployed people will sometimes mistakenly make this statement: "I am unemployed, but I am going to be very selective as to the opportunity I am willing to accept."  They make this statement because they do not want to appear desperate for a job.  Being unemployed is not a positive for anyone.  You just need to accept that fact if you are unemployed.  The interviewer will respond much better to your expression of a strong personal desire to return to work immediately.  Remember, you always have the option to turn an offer down if you feel it is not what you wanted,  but you cannot turn down an offer you never receive.  The purpose of the interview is to get an offer.  You will not do that by expressing anything less than 100% commitment to your work.  If you are  presently employed, simply state that Search Masters had contacted you regarding this opportunity, and it greatly interests you.  Mention the fact that you had visited the company website and found it to be very informative.  Make positive statements about your present position but leave the door open for you to better yourself.  Never say that the reason for you wishing to leave is for a higher salary.  Again Search Masters will handle that issue.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER make disparaging comments about past employers.  I have seen many candidates ruled out of positions that they wanted and were qualified for because of this mistake.  I do not care if you worked for the worst company and boss in the world; the new employer always assumes that if you feel that way about past employers you will sooner or later feel that way about them if they hire you.  The person interviewing you knows in their own heart that they are not perfect and that their company is not perfect.  You obviously will quickly discern these flaws and grow to dislike the new employer, just as you did your past employer. 

General Interviewing Point

Interviews are usually pleasant and relaxed meetings.  Most interviewers are courteous and friendly and want to make a good impression on you.  Do not let this atmosphere permit you to let down on your professionalism.  The purpose of an interview is to get an offer of employment.  You can always turn down an offer that you don't like or want, but you cannot accept or reject an offer you never receive.  I have seen way too many people miss out on opportunities they were qualified for and wanted to pursue because of poor interviewing practices on their part.  People become relaxed in the interview and allow the interview to digress to a "let me put my cards on the table" mentality.  Here are some common mistakes that people make: 

1) People start to slouch in their chair, loosen their tie, take their suit coat off, begin to make relaxed hand gestures and display an overall relaxed body posture;

2) Candidates begin to employ relaxed language (even vulgarities);

3) They decide to tell all about the evils of their former employers.  In short they forget what they are there for - TO GET AN OFFER! 

No one owes you a job.  It's up to you to "win" a job by showing a potential employer you have the right attitude and skill.  People will often say to me, "Well, I'm going to be interviewing the employer as well."  I realize that, but you can stop the interviewing process anytime you want by simply saying, "No."  Obviously, you can do that once the offer is made.  That is your authority in the interviewing process.  Your goal is to interview for an offer until you decide that you are not interested in that opportunity.  While you are committed to the interviewing process stay 100% committed to getting that offer.  We will make sure that every question you have will be answered before you accept any offer.  The interview is not the time to ask about the firm's difficulties, flex time, extra vacations, working hours, etc.  These questions are better asked by Search Masters.  When you have such a question, write yourself a note during the interview (taking notes is an extremely important thing for you to be doing) and ask your counselor at Search Masters to get that information for you.  Your counselor will be able to do this for you and the asking of a sometimes difficult question is much better coming from  us.  Your focus should be explaining what you can do for them and not be on what they can do for you!