I just saw a tweet from Jacqui Poindexter linking to a terrific post from Jeff Lipschultz, a partner in a Dallas recruiting shop.
If anyone knows the ins-and-outs of success in a job search interview, it would be a recruiter, right?
Jeff’s post, Successful Interviewing: Part 4 – How to “Shine” During the Interview, is an amazing post for anyone preparing for the interview… here are some DOs:
Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, and find a rest room to freshen up. Don’t forget about bad traffic. Even if it is your reason for being late, it sounds like a lame excuse.
Treat other people you encounter at the company (i.e., receptionist, nurse) with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.
Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.Remember, being concise ensures your intended message is not lost and allows you to bridge to related, important experiences as discussed in an earlier section.
After the interview, make notes right away so you don’t forget critical details. You can jot a few notes during the interview, too, especially when getting answers to your questions. It sends a signal that you are listening and very interested in what they have to say. Just be careful about losing too much eye contact when putting too much detail in your notes. The details can be added later—just write down enough for recalling the conversation.
And here are some Don’t’s:
Don’t make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others).No exceptions. It sends the message that you might have an issue eventually with the interviewing company if they hire you.
Don’t take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiancé, friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you’re insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.) [from Jason – Helicopter parents: STAY HOME :)]
Don’t allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don’t take a cell phone call.
You can read the orginal post here, there are a bunch of other terrific tips from Jeff!
Thanks so much for the positive feedback and sharing my post with your network. This is just Part 4 in the series. There’s a whole lot more. Clicking Interviewing 101 in the Category Cloud will get job seekers to some more helpful info.
Cheers!
Jeff
The key to success is to take control of the interview. If you simply sit and respond most often the parting comment is “Thanks for coming in we will be in touch”. You will then sit at home waiting for the letter or call that never comes.
When dealing with HR (the screening interview) your objective is to not be disqualified.
Your mission when interviewing with the decision maker is to engage him or her in a discovery process where you discover together the most important qualifications, experiences and skill sets to meet the most important challenges and deliver the results required. You position yourself as the solution and highest value asset to meet those challenges.
You have three objectives… show with solid evidence that you are the best qualified; that you will fit in and work well within the organization; and that you are the least risky candidate. If you accomplish all three you will build the value necessary to eliminate all competition and get the best compensation package. You will also remove the key reason that other candidates, external or internal may win by making you the least risky candidate.
Bill Shambrook
http://www.careersuccessnet.com