Interview Tips

By Caren Y. Leven

In order to increase your chances of landing a great job, you should take time to define your strategy and prepare your resources. Successful job offers are direct results of effective planning. A productive interview needs to be well-researched, planned and implemented.
Follow these tips and future interviews will deliver positive and powerful results.

1
Carefully research the company. Learn as much as you can about your prospective employer's business model. Visit the company's web site and read its mission statement/company philosophy. Identify main products, services and functions. Speak to employees, vendors or other contacts with inside knowledge. Acquire strategic information that will enable you to speak knowledgeably and offer valuable insight during your interview.

2
Thoroughly read and analyze the official job description. Visit the company's web site or ask the recruiter/hiring manager to provide you with this information. Identify key skills and determine whether or not you meet their requirements.

3
Be prepared to recognize and engage in various types of interviews. Interviews have different purposes and characteristics and the experienced job seeker should be familiar and comfortable with all varieties. Telephone and behavioral interviews have very different formats and objectives. Telephone interviews are pre-screening tools used to determine whether or not a candidate matches the position's requirements. Employers try to streamline their search by eliminating candidates who do not fit their basic requirements. Your goal is to pass the pre-screening test by proving you have the required skills. Your prize is an invitation to a face-to-face interview.

4
Behavioral interviews are based on the belief that "past performance is an indicator of future value." After identifying which skills and knowledge are necessary to fill the open position, employers will then develop and ask questions based on these competencies. The questions often ask the job seeker to tell about or describe a time in the past when they had to respond to a certain situation. Interviewers want to know how you handled these issues and what the outcomes were.

5
Every employer believes his company is special and unique; therefore, he wants to hire the best person for the job. Show your passion for the company and its products by preparing "big picture" questions that address the employer's needs. Sample questions to ask include:
- "What are the two most important tasks and issues related to this position?"
- "One year from now, what would you like to say about the person whom you hire for this position and what they were able to accomplish?"
- "How will this accomplishment impact the entire organization?"
Finish the interview by quickly summarizing how you can deliver solutions to the company's problems. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to speak with you. Sincerely express your interest in the position and ask what next step will be. Request the interviewer's business card and give him one of your own.
Remember, positive and lasting results are built on solid groundwork. Take the time to learn about the company, the position's requirements, and different interview techniques. Advance preparation will generate profitable results.

Caren Y. Leven is director of sales and marketing with Amazing RŽsumŽs and Coaching Services. She can be reached at 410-653-7679.