| So, you have finally moved beyond the prescreening | | | | my customers was unhappy with our XYZ widgets." |
| phase and have landed the job interview! Your resume | | | | 2) Add some detail to describe the specific task or |
| set the stage to get you in the door, and now here is | | | | role you were assigned to deal with the situation: "I |
| your chance to ice the cake. The interview, as you are | | | | was responsible for dealing directly with our |
| well aware, is what will either move you towards | | | | department's major clients and so, I was charged with |
| completion of your goal - or it will be the last step in a | | | | turning the situation around for this unhappy customer." |
| lengthy series of steps you have already undertaken. | | | | 3) Provide one or two key action steps you took to |
| Question: how can you succeed within the interview? | | | | handle the situation: "I contacted the customer directly |
| Assuming that you have appropriately prepared | | | | and requested feedback. I authorized a refund or |
| yourself for the interview, then the interview should be | | | | future discounts to this particular customer." |
| easy. However, despite all of the preparation, even the | | | | 4) As a RESULT of your action steps, what |
| best falter when sitting down face to face with a hiring | | | | happened? "As a result of the refund and discount, the |
| manager or human resources staff. It is one thing to | | | | customer increased their orders by 25%." |
| outline who you are on a piece of paper (the resume), | | | | The four steps may be interchangeable - - you |
| it is something else to actually explain who you are in | | | | describe step 4 (the results) prior to step 1 (the |
| person and face-to-face with another person. The one | | | | situation), however, the key is to be able to list specific |
| question most of us dread having to answer is: "Tell | | | | results that were gained. Most importantly, the results |
| me about yourself." Do they want to know where you | | | | have to be tied directly to your action steps. |
| previously worked..or where you were born? I mean, | | | | Interviewers are looking for RESULTS, not just |
| there are just so many ways to go with that | | | | generalities ("I think I would make a good employee for |
| unbelievably dreaded question. Here is a quick tip: the | | | | your company"; or worse yet, "I am good with clients |
| "tell me about yourself question" is simply asking you to | | | | because I enjoy relating to others."). They need hard |
| "tell me why you are sitting here, today, interviewing for | | | | facts, verifiable data. And you are the most qualified |
| this specific job?" That is it, nothing more. | | | | candidate who is prepared to give it to them. |
| So, what are the 4 steps to succeed within a job | | | | A bit of caution: please do not create a script to |
| interview? The best career advice, as it relates to job | | | | memorize these 4 steps. Ok, if it makes you feel |
| interviews, career development, etc., is one that | | | | comfortable, and better prepared, then you can write |
| encourages the candidate to creatively customize the | | | | specific responses to the typical interview questions |
| steps. So the following steps below apply regardless if | | | | and follow the 4 steps above. Review it, then throw |
| you are seeking a position as an educator or a | | | | the script away. What is important is that you |
| computer programmer, a manager or a salesclerk. The | | | | remember the 4 steps and can apply them to your |
| most important thing to remember is that every | | | | own career success stories. |
| interviewer has a particular goal in mind. If you use | | | | The best type of job interview is one that unfolds into |
| these 4 steps, then you are likely to cover all the | | | | a content-rich discussion of how your specific |
| bases. | | | | qualifications match the needs of the company. It is |
| The four steps specifically deal with how you manage | | | | important for the interviewer to be able to see how |
| your response to the interviewer's questions. Did you | | | | you fit within the company environment and culture. Of |
| catch the word "manage" as it was used in the | | | | course, one interview may not provide all of this detail - |
| previous sentence? Yes, I am talking about how you | | | | - but you want to give yourself a good head start. |
| manage the process - - take control of the interview - | | | | Succeeding within the interview requires extensive |
| -. So, when the interviewer asks you a question (i.e., tell | | | | preparation, an understanding of how to tailor your |
| me how you handle an angry customer) here are the | | | | capabilities within the scope of the company's needs, |
| four steps, as promised: | | | | and your ability to provide details related to how you |
| 1) Provide a brief description of the situation: "One of | | | | can provide desired results as a future employee. |