| Maybe you have decided that you deserve more | | | | the job, not all of us are fortunate enough to be |
| money than you are currently being paid or maybe | | | | drinking a cup of Joe in a run down cafe next to a |
| you have decided that not having a job and not being | | | | successful movie producer like in the movie "Sullivan's |
| paid anything must come to an end. You may be | | | | Travels." If dad owns the company, you can promise |
| looking for a new position in the company you are in or | | | | to wash his car and mow the lawn, but chances are |
| you may be looking to jump companies and possibly | | | | good that someone in human resources or the hiring |
| even industries all together. Whatever you situation is, | | | | manager will give you their companies' process of |
| you must face the inevitable…The Job | | | | landing that dream job. |
| Interview. | | | | I believe in The Top Down Theory, where you go right |
| Why so many people have given this process a | | | | to the top of the company and they refer you to the |
| negative connotation, is because they do not know the | | | | person responsible for the hiring decision. How does a |
| proper steps to take to interview like a champion. | | | | referral from Bill Gates sound to you, that is if you can |
| Being a champion interviewer like any other skill takes | | | | get a hold of the person at the top. If not a simple |
| practice. When you were a kid and first learned how | | | | phone call, personal letter, fax or e-mail should do. |
| to ride a bike, chances are you fell off a few times | | | | When setting up the interview do not sell them on |
| before you were burning rubber on your first two | | | | hiring you on the phone, your main concern should be |
| wheeler. The same goes for interviewing like a | | | | booking the interview, who knows who or what is on |
| champion, your first interview ever may have a few | | | | the other end of the phone. The in person interview is |
| flaws, but after going on a couple of interviews and | | | | where the true champion thrives past the unprepared |
| reading the remainder of this article, you will be an | | | | person. |
| interviewing powerhouse. | | | | You have the interview booked, now what? What are |
| First you must establish what kind of job you want. In | | | | you strengths and weaknesses, define them, yes on |
| order to do this I like to say, what do you love to do? If | | | | paper, and ask others who know you to define them |
| money was not an object, what would you do for a | | | | for you as well. This will really give you an opportunity |
| living? Maybe you would help out in a hospital, teach | | | | see if you see yourself the way that others see you. |
| children, or maybe you enjoy the roller coaster ride of | | | | Get to know what kind of questions will be asked in |
| a salesperson, manager or work in human resources. | | | | the interview and role play with people, remember |
| What ever it is that you enjoy, you can increase your | | | | sloppy practice equals sloppy play and outstanding |
| chances of being happy on the job is you are working | | | | practice equals outstanding play. What questions would |
| in a job that you enjoy. In addition to the kind of job, | | | | you ask someone hiring for the positions. Know the |
| you must enjoy the atmosphere of your working | | | | questions, know and believe your answers because |
| environment and industry. | | | | you can see trepidation when someone does not |
| So you know what you like, now are you really able to | | | | believe in what they are saying. |
| perform this type of job? If you are five foot two and | | | | Interview day, this is where the champion shines. I will |
| weigh 250 pounds, you probably shouldn't expect a job | | | | not get into appearance in this article (if you would like |
| in the NBA. Finding what you love and what you are | | | | to know more about appearance, check out my article |
| qualified for really takes some soul searching and | | | | Dress For Success), but needless to say you should |
| should not be rushed. Take a look at what you do in | | | | look the part of a successful employee in the position |
| your free time, are you doing something you love? If | | | | you are interviewing for whatever the attire calls for |
| money wasn't an object what would you be doing? Is | | | | wear it, and groom yourself accordingly. Review you |
| it possible to take these two and find a job in this | | | | notes about the company, yourself and why you are |
| area? If you enjoy traveling, would a job in travel | | | | their best choice. Visualize the interview and imagine |
| interest you? If you enjoy building things, would a job in | | | | any questions that may be asked of you and have |
| construction interest you? | | | | answers for them. |
| Once you have figured out what you enjoy, it is time | | | | Unless you are applying for a job as a mafia hit man, I |
| decide what job you believe you qualify for that is in | | | | would suggest smiling at everyone. Nothing is more |
| your area of interest. It is best to choose at least three | | | | becoming than someone who brightens a room with a |
| different companies in this industry that suit your needs. | | | | beautiful smile. Not only is it contagious, but people will |
| You don't have to necessarily choose an industry if it is | | | | want to be around you because you must be smiling |
| just the position that you enjoy, but why not obtain a | | | | about something good about yourself. This may even |
| position in an industry that you really enjoy. Working in | | | | have the interviewer wondering what is so great |
| an industry that you enjoy as well as having the | | | | about you that you are smiling and you may even be |
| position that you enjoy will add to your day to day | | | | offered the job. In addition to your smile, please be |
| happiness on the job. If you believe you have found | | | | friendly to everyone, yes everyone. You never know |
| the company and are working in it already, you have | | | | who is who in the office. The CEO may have just |
| one foot in the door and are a step ahead of those | | | | decided to take a seat for a moment in the lobby, |
| coming in from the outside. Do not get to comfortable | | | | wouldn't that be great if you were smiling and acting |
| though, because the prize always goes to the person | | | | friendly. |
| who wants it the most…this is true for | | | | Here comes the interviewer. With a friendly warm |
| everything in life, not just interviewing. | | | | smile shake hands and let them lead you to where the |
| You have picked the industry and narrowed your | | | | interview will take place. Please shake hands like you |
| choices down to your top three companies in that | | | | want the job, the dead fish handshake really is a turn |
| industry. Hopefully you have done this by looking at | | | | off (for more on handshakes, check out my article |
| many things such as the size of the company, the | | | | (Who You Are Is Speaking So Loud That I Can't Hear |
| location of the company (how long is the commute | | | | What You Are Saying). The person giving the |
| from home), the companies reputation in the industry | | | | interview will probably take the lead and let you know |
| and many other things that you can imagine you would | | | | that the interview will probably look something like this |
| need to look at in working for this company. | | | | (This is how the most common interview is structured, |
| Next you must look at the position available in that | | | | for more on unique interviews check out my article |
| company. Is the position available (if it is not today, it | | | | Now That's An Interview). First they will ask you |
| does not mean that you can't earn that position, it just | | | | questions about yourself, they will tell you about the |
| may take some real champion interviewing), what are | | | | company and position, and then ask why you are a fit. |
| the requirements for that position, who would you be | | | | You will master that question because of all your |
| reporting to, what is the working environment like and | | | | outstanding practice. Finally they will ask if you have |
| of course how much can you make at this position. | | | | any questions. You should have at least one if not |
| These are just some of the many things you will want | | | | several. The one you should have is if you can have |
| to consider when deciding on a job. | | | | the job. This will show confidence and that you mean |
| You have narrowed down you choices and have your | | | | business, if you are this powerful in the interview, the |
| top 3 companies in mind that are aligned with your | | | | interviewer will think that you will be just as powerful in |
| values and are ready for the interview…or are | | | | the job. Confidence is the most important thing to have |
| you? Sure if you believe you are, but like the master | | | | on an interview, if you are not confident about yourself, |
| craftsman - measure twice…cut once. Why | | | | why should the person conducting the interview be |
| have you picked these three companies to work for? | | | | confident about you? (For more on confidence, check |
| List as many reasons as you can possibly list for each | | | | out my article Confidence…Fake It Till You |
| company on paper…yes on paper. This will | | | | Make It.) |
| allow you to go back to this list before your interview | | | | In regards to questions, you should also ask them to |
| to study so you can have an answer when asked the | | | | clear up anything that you did not understand when |
| question "Why do you want to work here?" | | | | they were giving you information about the company |
| Get ready because the follow up question to the | | | | and position. You should also ask anything else that |
| preceding question is "Why should we choose you for | | | | you want to know about anything. It is said that the |
| this position? What do you have to offer to us that | | | | quality of your performance is judged by the quality of |
| someone else doesn't?" Am I suggesting that you | | | | your questions. Outstanding questions get outstanding |
| have answers to these questions already scripted out | | | | answers…and people who ask outstanding |
| before the interview…yes! In fact, you should | | | | questions, must be outstanding…wouldn't you |
| know the answers to these questions even before | | | | agree? |
| you make your first contact to set up the interview. | | | | If you are not offered the job on the spot, kindly thank |
| Now it is time to set up the interview. Hopefully when | | | | the interviewer for their time and when you get home, |
| you were contacting the companies to ask questions | | | | send a thank you letter or e-mail for their time. This |
| about the positions available and about the company | | | | shows that you respect them and their time. What if |
| itself, you were friendly and built rapport with everyone | | | | they had to decide to hire you or someone else and |
| you talked to (for more on rapport, please read my | | | | you were both even for the job, but the other person |
| articles on building rapport). As you are setting up the | | | | didn't send a thank you card, who do you think they |
| interview it is a great idea to befriend some workers in | | | | would hire? |
| the company to get the "inside scoop" on the job, the | | | | You should be contacted in a week or two and if not, |
| company and the person(s) interviewing you. These | | | | follow up with a phone call inquiring about the job. If you |
| will be good contact to have to prep you for the | | | | got the job great (check out my article First Day On |
| interview, especially because today interviews are | | | | The Job), if not you should have two other employers |
| becoming more and more complex. | | | | getting back to you if not at least two more interviews |
| It is best to find out the appropriate way to apply for | | | | to go on. |