How To Prepare for an Interview

1. Don't take an interview lightly, even if it is an exploratory interview:

It can set the tone for future relationships even if you don't get the offer or decide it's not the right job for you. It's a small world and you never know what doors it can open up. The interviewer will be treating this seriously and doesn't need to waste their time. Treat the interview with the same respect as if you were the interviewer. In my professional opinion, it is often the BEST INTERVIEWER who gets the job, not necessarily the most technically qualified. No one gets hired without an interview, and it is the most successful interviewer who gets the offer. *Remember, you are one of many candidates for the same position, and it is in your best interest to make the best impression possible.

2. Your primary objective is to get the offer:

Then you will be in the decision making position. *It is very important to try to establish a rapport and chemistry with the client. People work with people, and hire people, that they like, and it also allows you the opportunity to see if this is someone that you would like to work for.

3. Set objectives or goals when you interview:

An interview is really selling yourself. You sell yourself by talking about the aspects of your experiences and abilities that are RELEVANT to the position. Talk about what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. The reasoning behind selling yourself to the company first, before you start asking questions about the job and what it can do for you, is that you will get information you need more readily if the company considers you a qualified candidate.

4. Be well prepared:

Try and get as much information about the company beforehand. Try and obtain information about a company by visiting their website. A candidate who is prepared as opposed to one who is not will have the advantage of a full interview discussing his background. The unprepared candidate will spend precious time being told about the company. It also demonstrates to the company that you took the time to learn about them, and that you have a serious interest in the position. No one wants to waste their time with someone who is "fishing."

5. Think before you speak:

Before you go on an interview, give thought to the aspects of your experience and accomplishments that they need to know to consider you a qualified candidate. Be able to articulate not only what you do, but also what SPECIFICALLY you have accomplished. How do you approach problems, why did you make certain decisions, and what was the outcome? Companies like to get a sense of you as a total business person. *Every company that I dealt with is interested in how you handled certain situations and what you specifically did to resolve the problem and the results that occurred. If you are asked a question about an area of skill that is weak or nonexistent, don't lie, but respond along these lines: "At this point in my career, I haven't had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in that area. However, I feel confident in my ability to learn very quickly and I am sure I could be successful in this job." Try to relate it to a similar skill that you have. TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE!

6. Be ready with explanations as to why you are leaving your current employer, as well as why you left former employers:

If you fumble your response, it will look suspicious. Tell them why you are interested in the position. Be able to discuss your short term and long range goals, and how this position would be mutually beneficial. Don't badmouth a former company or boss because it will only reflect negatively on you. *If you are asked why you are currently looking, an appropriate
response can be something like this: "I spoke with (recruiter) and he presented this excellent opportunity to me. I was not looking and I am happy at my current position, but agreed to look at this opportunity because it can improve my career."

7. Have a prepared open-ended question:

This will make the client tell you about the position and what type of things they are looking for in an ideal candidate. Some good sample questions could be: "What are the expectations in this role?" or " How will success be measured?" or "What are potential obstacles?" These questions will provide you with invaluable information that you can now use to sell yourself to maximize your strengths while minimizing client concerns.

8. Have a prepared list of questions to ask the company:

You will need to have information to make a business decision as to whether the job is right for you. For example:

• The job (now is the time to clarify specifics on the job)
• The people that you will be working with
• The career track for the position
• Why the job is open
• Where do they see the challenges in this position, the immediate need, and then the long term?
• The overall status of the company, the history, plans for growth, etc.
• The corporate culture

9. Be positive throughout the entire interview:

Keep your energy level up, particularly when interviewing a number of people in succession. *Remember; treat every person with the same amount of respect as the hiring authority. If the hiring authority did not value their opinion and wanted their input, then you would not be interviewing with them. Every person is just as important as the next.

10. Punctuality is important:

Arrive early, 10-15 minutes, but not more. You do not want to give the impression that you have nothing better to do. If the company is late, be gracious and tell the person you were able to use the time to read more about the company. *Also remember to bring an extra copy or two of your resume.

11. Remember peoples' names and repeat their name as you leave the office.

It is very important that you remember their name and repeat it when you are leaving, offering a firm handshake and making eye contact.

12. What do you do if a client asks you about your compensation goals?

You do not want to price yourself out of the position, nor do you want to offer a price that under values your ability. A good response could be: " Money is important, but it does not drive my decision. The (aspects of the job/growth opportunities/corporate environments/job duties), and the challenge and the opportunity are my paramount concerns" or "Money is important to me, and I am happy at my current job. However, this opportunity would allow me to go to a growing company where my skills can be fully utilized and I can learn more." If pressed, you can say: "My W-2 form stated this amount last year, and if you think my ability and background are a good fit, I am sure that a reasonable offer will follow."

13. Most importantly, don't forget to tell them you want the job:

Don't assume they know you are interested. Sometimes expressing your sincere interest and ability to do the job will set you apart from all the other candidates interviewing for the same position. Don't forget, there are generally five to ten people who interview for every one position. Anything that you can say that will set you apart from other candidates can only be in your benefit. A good way to sum up an interview is to 1. Express your interest, 2. Tell them it was a pleasure to meet with them, 3. What is the next step (this reiterates your interest and the willingness and desire to move forward with the process)