| As a Hiring Manager, I'm often asked what is my best | | | | difficult to prepare for, but they do follow apattern. I'm |
| job interview tip and I always say: | | | | usually interested in a few general categories, such as |
| "Be Prepared." I'm now going to tell you how. | | | | how youhandled conflict, a difficult situation, a problem |
| Many times in my role as a Hiring Manager, I've had job | | | | employee, or one of your successstories. Prepare a |
| applicants come into aninterview like they just woke up | | | | good example for each of these areas and one will |
| that morning and said to themselves, "I think I'll go on | | | | very likelyfit. |
| ajob interview today." They then proceed to snooze | | | | Tip Number Four |
| through the interview and follow-up aweek later to find | | | | Do your homework and research the company. The |
| out why they didn't get the job. | | | | company web site is thebest starting place because it |
| Boy, could I give these applicants a good job interview | | | | will have all the positive things that the companywants |
| tip or two! | | | | you to know. Be sure to do a search on the web site |
| I can tell the applicants who come properly prepared | | | | for the name of the |
| within the first ten minutes of theinterview. They are | | | | Hiring Manager and any others you are scheduled to |
| the ones who can give me a well thought-out, 30 | | | | meet. You just may find outsome information about |
| second overview oftheir qualifications (this is usually | | | | them that will help establish rapport in the interview. |
| the first question I ask). If they are particularly | | | | Learning about the Hiring Manager is one of the best |
| good,they relate their qualifications to my specific job, | | | | job interview tips I can giveyou. |
| as well as speak knowledgably aboutmy company. | | | | Tip Number Five |
| Remember: even if you're just interviewing for an | | | | Read the common questions you may come across in |
| entry level or clerical job, you can stilldo your | | | | the interview and practicedeveloping answers that are |
| homework. | | | | framed with your accomplishments andqualifications. |
| Here are six job interview tips to prepare you. These | | | | It's one thing to say you can do something; it's another |
| will automatically put you ahead of | | | | to giveexamples of things you have done. Be sure to |
| 95% of the job applicants I've interviewed over the | | | | have some good examples of yourwork that is |
| years. | | | | applicable to that specific job. Your answers to |
| Tip Number One | | | | questions will bemuch stronger as a result. |
| Prepare a 30 second "marketing message" to use | | | | Tip Number Six |
| when I ask you to "tell meabout yourself." This should | | | | Have some questions prepared that you will ask the |
| be about your job qualifications, NOT about | | | | Hiring Manager. Thisshows you did your homework |
| yourpersonal life. At this point, I'm not interested in | | | | and have thought about the position. You shouldhave |
| where you were born, went toschool, how many kids | | | | at least four or five questions of your own, in case |
| you have, etc. It's all about the things that make you | | | | some of them will havealready been covered by the |
| agood candidate for my job opening. | | | | interviewer. You want to be sure to still have some |
| Tip Number Two | | | | toask. Here are some general questions that fit almost |
| Find out the name and title of every person you will | | | | any interview: |
| meet on the interview. | | | | * "If I were to ask one of your employees what the |
| Memorize the names. This is a job interview tip that | | | | best thing is about working here,what would they |
| most applicants, oddlyenough, tend to ignore. It's | | | | say?" |
| perfectly acceptable to ask the HR person who set | | | | * "Why is this position open?" |
| upyour interview to provide these details. | | | | * "Is there a job description I could see?" |
| Tip Number Three | | | | * "Can you tell me about the people I'd be working |
| Have anecdotes ready. This is another job interview | | | | with? How long have youworked with them?" |
| tip that is frequently missed. Manytimes, I'll ask | | | | * "How will you measure success in this job?" |
| questions that require you to provide examples of how | | | | * "What projects will I be working on?" |
| you handleda difficult challenge or other work situation. | | | | * "What do you look for most in a new employee?" |
| These questions often start with aphrase such as, "Tell | | | | * "What do you like best about your company? Why?" |
| me about a time when you faced...." Since these | | | | * "What do you see as the most important |
| questionscan be about any subject, they can be | | | | qualifications for this job? |