0 Job Interview Follow Up

A job interview follow up is an excellent way to make yourself stand out among the crowd.  Keep in mind, there may have been a large number of candidates interviewing for the same position you are.  An interviewer may talk with twenty or more candidates, and although he or she may have taken good notes, unless you differentiate yourself from the others you will be grouped together with them.  Going the extra mile by following up your interview will ensure you have a fighting chance.

During the interview, be sure to ask about a hiring timeline, and give the interviewer a call back to inquire about the position based on that.  This shows you are interested in the position, and if you happen to be interviewing for a sales job, it shows persistence and timely followup.

After the interview, think back over how things went, and how you could have improved on your performance.  Think of a job interview as a sales presentation, where you are trying to sell yourself to the interviewer.  Think about the questions you were asked, and look to improve on your answers.  This improves your interviewing skills with each interview.

A good job interview follow up technique is to hand write a thank you note to the interviewer expressing thanks for the opportunity to meet and discuss the job with them.  This works much better than an email, and you will probably one of a very few that will do this.  You will want to mail it the day after the interview, in order to have the least amount of time between contacts. This is a good job interview follow up technique that will make you stand out.

If for some reason you do not happen to be chosen for the position, give the interviewer a call, thank them for their time, and ask them to keep your resume on file for future consideration.  There is an axiom in sales that says that if you can’t be the one chosen, make sure you are in second place.  There is always turnover at all companies, and if you can keep your name in front of them, you may have a good shot at getting hired later.

When interviewing for a job, you show take all necessary steps to make sure you appear in the best light.  A good job interview follow up could make the difference between getting that paycheck or simply looking forward to that next try.

0 Interviewing Techniques

A face to face job interview can be a stressful and nerve racking time, but here are some proven interview techniques and tips that you can use to help.

First, always arrive for your interview on time, preferably fifteen minutes early.  Take the time to drive to the interview site the day before so you know where you are going.  Make sure you know where to park, and look for unexpected delays, such as driving through a school zone at 3:00PM.  There is nothing worse than going to a job interview and arriving late.

Next, remember that most interviewers are watching your body language for clues about what type of candidate you are.  When you first meet the interviewer, smile, make eye contact, introduce yourself, and extend your hand for a firm handshake. A weak handshake is a definite turnoff for most people.  Sit up straight but relaxed, and give off an air of relaxed confidence.

Many people tend to talk (or over talk) when they get nervous, so don’t talk too much. When asked a question, answer it entirely but succinctly.  Practice good conversational manners, and always allow the interviewer to finish speaking before you begin.  Don’t volunteer unnecessary information, and keep to the discussion topic.

Never go into an interview with your mobile phone turned on.  There is nothing more distracting to an interviewer than hearing a mobile phone play the latest pop song during your interview.  Put it on silent before you go in, or better yet, leave it in your car before you go inside.  Anyone who wants to call you during that time can leave a voicemail. This is an important time for you, and you want no distractions.

Never talk bad about a former employer.  This is a major turnoff for most interviewers.  Most companies are very cognizant about their public images, and if you talk despairingly about someone you formally worked for, they will feel as though if you leave their employ, you will do the same about them.

Go into an interview with a positive frame of mind.  Think to yourself, “I will be at my best in this interview.  This person will have no choice but to hire me.  I am going to nail this solid!”  This will give you confidence that will show.

Write out a list of questions to ask the interviewer, especially some regarding the goals of the company and how the position you are interviewing for will contribute.  Other good questions would be about how you can expect to be trained and evaluated.

Use these interview techniques and tips to get that job you deserve, and good luck!

0 Interview Dress

Although there is no specific interview dress code for prospective employees, one’s appearance is an important part of the job hunting process.  The expression “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression” really comes into play here.

As a general rule of thumb, your interview dress should reflect what the people at the workplace wear.  A good way to check this is to go to the place of business a day or two before your face to face interview to see how others are dressed.  If you are going to work in a bank branch, for example, walk into the lobby and see what the people who are doing the job you are applying for are wearing.  Companies have dress codes, and in considering proper interview dress, you want to look  like the people who are already working there.

Interview dress for men would include wearing a coat and tie.  A good rule of thumb concerning colors is to stay with the basic gray, blue, or black with a matching tie.  Go easy on the cologne, and stay away from any jewelry that would be too flashy.  You should wear a conservative hair style, freshly cut.

For women, your interview dress should include an outfit that is understated and conservative.  Solid colors are best, with an appropriate amount of jewelry. Avoid wearing too much makeup or perfume, and have your nails done before an interview.  Shoes should also be conservative to match your outfit, and be clean and polished.

Keep in mind that when deciding upon your interview attire, it doesn’t matter if you are there while the office is observing “casual Friday.” You don’t work there yet and it is important to set the proper tone for your meeting.

Remember that observing a proper interview dress code is an important step to landing that big job.  Don’t make the mistake of putting in all the hard work in preparing for an interview only to have your appearance work against you.

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0 Preparation For A Job Interview

Once you’ve passed the screening tests and telephone interview, the preparation for a job interview is now the next step.  Don’t make the same mistake most people will do and skip this part. Proper research and rehearsal will help to make you stand out among the many candidates that will apply for that one coveted position.

The first thing you need to do to get ready for a job interview is research information about the company with which you will be interviewing, as well as the industry it is associated with. Visit their website, look at their annual reports and current financial information, and be familiar with them.

Look at the “About Us” page for clues as to the culture of the organization. For example, if they stress teamwork, think about situations you have been in that will demonstrate how you have worked in similar environments.

Once that part of the preparation for a job interview is out of the way, you need to start working on a short personal statement. This is a brief description of why you feel like you are qualified for the position. Talk about why you want the job, how you can provide value to the company, why you think you would fit well in the company.  Describe your qualifications and how they enable you to benefit the company.  Take a look at what product or service they sell, and add that to the personal statement.

An important part of preparation for a job interview is to write out a list of questions that most employers will ask interviewees along with some good answers.  You can’t anticipate all of them, but there are several that most employers ask, such as:

Tell me a little about yourself.
What are your greatest strengths?
What are some of your weaknesses?

Having good answers to these questions will enable you to feel more comfortable and at ease during the job interview, as well as impress the interviewer with your answers.

Lastly, once you have prepared your personal statement and answers to likely questions, invite a friend or spouse to role play your job interview with you.  All professionals in most lines of work practice before the real event, and you should also.  Go through a mock job interview two or three times, and as you do, you will feel more confident with your answers.

Preparation for a job interview is an important part of increasing your chances of landing a job.  It shows professionalism and a commitment to excellence.

Take the time to put in the work up front, and you will increase your chances on getting that new position.

0 Telephone Interview Questions

Job searching candidates can expect a company to initially ask telephone interview questions as part of the interviewing process.  The telephonic interview is done over the phone for several reasons; it saves them time, it saves money, and it is more efficient for initially screening candidates.  Use these telephone interview questions and tips to help you pull this part off effectively.

A job interview conducted over the phone will usually be scheduled with you after you apply for a position and pass an initial online screening test.  You will receive an email asking for a convenient time in which an interviewer can call you.  Although most interviewers will tell you approximately how much time it takes, schedule at least one full hour to ensure you have no interruptions.

It’s easy to get distracted and lose concentration if there is background noise, especially if you have kids or dogs. During the telephonic interview, make arrangements for child care and keep the television and radio off. Plan on using the quietest room in the house, and have a notepad handy.

An important phone interview tip: use a landline phone if possible for the telephonic interview.  This will eliminate bad connections and static, but if you’re using a cell phone make sure it’s fully charged and you’re in the part of the house with the best reception.

Another good telephonic interview tip to keep in mind is when the interviewer introduces themselves to you, write their name down.  People like to hear their name called, and as you are speaking, be sure to use their name when appropriate.  It would be embarrassing to forget and call the interviewer by someone else’s name.

It’s natural to be nervous during an interview, but when some people get nervous they tend to speak fast, sound too excited, or ramble. Be mindful of speaking slowly and clearly, and only answer the question being asked. Listen carefully to the telephone interview questions to avoid misunderstanding what the other person is asking. Remember, you are trying to convince the company that you are a good candidate for the face-to-face part of the job interview.

One of the more important telephonic interview tips is addressed with this telephone interview questions: “How can I connect with the person?” The person on the other line cannot see you, but they can tell by the tone of your voice that you are someone they can like.

At the end of the telephonic interview, most questioners will ask if you have any questions.  Prepare two or three questions to ask about the company, the position, or the training.  This shows the interviewer that you are serious about working for the company.

Keep in mind that telephone interview questions are an initial step in the process, and is not the time to discuss salary or benefits.  You want to sell yourself at this point, and the most important goal is to be considered for the face-to-face job interview.