| Whether it's a face-to-face job interview or a | | | | who can identify with that particular sales group, who |
| telephone interview, how you prepare for a job | | | | can relate to their slang, their customs, dress, |
| interview is the most influential aspect of whether you | | | | technology, etc... Whether the sales person is seen as |
| actually do well in the job interview, or just do 'okay.' | | | | a youthful peer or honored mentor doesn't matter to |
| Control the outcome. Don't leave any of it to chance. | | | | the employer, both entities can generate sales. The |
| Study. Prepare. Anticipate. Your confidence will rise | | | | key factor is that employers typically seek specific |
| and your nervousness will lessen if you are fully | | | | attributes in new employees that are often not |
| prepared by having pre-fabricated answers for critical | | | | mentioned in job ads. Knowing those attributes makes |
| questions that you know will be asked during the job | | | | the difference between having a good job interview |
| interview. Be ready for your next job interview, and | | | | and having a "GREAT" job interview. |
| the outcome might surprise you. | | | | Where do you get that detailed job attribute |
| First of all, research the company. If the next job you | | | | information? Research it. Call into the company. Ask to |
| seek is meant to be a career position, then you need | | | | speak to the hiring agent directly. Ask them what sort |
| to know all you can about the employer, and about the | | | | of specific, unadvertised attributes they seek in a job |
| specific job that you are pursuing. Those notes will tell | | | | candidate, what sort of topics they cover in the job |
| you and help lead you to understand the sort of skills | | | | interview that may not be mentioned in the job ad. If |
| and know-how the employer will be seeking. | | | | you can't reach that hiring authority, ask their assistant, |
| Too often, job seekers go into a job interview with an | | | | or ask another individual who works in that same |
| idea that sounds something like this: "Just get me in | | | | general area of their business. Typically, folks |
| front of the person who does the hiring and I'll impress | | | | employed in the same area of a company will know |
| them;" huge mistake. More often than not, what you | | | | what sort of specific attributes are preferred. Don't be |
| believe to be important about your skills and | | | | afraid to ask what sort of specific questions will be |
| experience is not exactly matched to what the | | | | asked in the job interview. I've had job candidates who, |
| employer needs to solve their immediate problems - in | | | | when interviewing for regional level job titles, called |
| other words, your idea of what is impressive or | | | | managers in the same company with that same title in |
| important doesn't fit the employer's. Thusly, you are | | | | other regions just to ask them what sort of topics |
| seen as a weak or secondary candidate for that job. | | | | were addressed in their job interview when they were |
| The best way to approach any sort of job interview is | | | | hired with the company; further, to ask advice on how |
| to know in advance, through research, what problems | | | | to prepare to do well in the upcoming job interview. |
| the employer is trying to solve in their business by hiring | | | | Sound crazy to be that thorough? Sound like you may |
| for the position you seek. Once you answer the | | | | be overstepping the bounds of good career manners? |
| "employer's problems" question, the primary skills and | | | | Not if you want to get a specific career level job title. |
| experiences the interviewer will discuss with you will | | | | Prepare well and you will do "GREAT" in your next job |
| become evident, and you can prepare to answer | | | | interview. Don't be rude or insistent, as you gather your |
| them thoroughly. Your thorough answers will cause | | | | information, and employers will see your efforts in |
| you to be seen as the leading job candidate. Truth be | | | | these areas as proactive and inventive, not demanding. |
| told, much of that information regarding "employer | | | | The hundreds of times we've had our own job |
| problem's" should have been gathered when you | | | | candidates perform such pre-interview activities, we've |
| customized your resume for that same employer. | | | | never had an employer complain. Mostly, if comments |
| Each resume you present should be customized to | | | | are made, it's surprise at the thoroughness, and they |
| each individual employer and organized to match their | | | | make the observation that they'd never previously had |
| individual needs. A generic resume seldom garners | | | | anyone do that much prep-work for an interview. |
| great results, as such a resume does not address | | | | Follow these few simple steps to anticipate and |
| employers' individual needs. Same holds true for | | | | prepare for your next job interview. The steps go to |
| generic job interview answers. | | | | the heart of determining what problems an employer is |
| For example, a carpet retailer may advertise for an | | | | trying to solve by hiring a new employee. Once you |
| "In-Store Salesperson." And on the surface, it looks like | | | | identify those needs, you will know how to best |
| any retail carpet sales person with some experience | | | | present your credentials and experiences so they fulfill |
| might have a good chance of getting that job. But | | | | those requirements. Do that, and you will stand heads |
| what the job ad won't likely detail is that the employer | | | | and tails above all other job applicants, as you will likely |
| is seeking a sales person who can talk the language | | | | be the only one who has not rambled on about |
| of their younger demographic customer prospects - | | | | miscellaneous aspects of your background and |
| someone who can focus on twenty-something sales | | | | experiences that do not relate directly to the job at |
| prospects. And before you scream "Age | | | | hand. |
| Discrimination," it doesn't mean the employer won't hire | | | | GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOB SEARCH! |
| a mature individual, it just means they want someone | | | | |