An interview is an integral part of recruitment process. There is no escape from that. If you have to land in a job, your CV and a satisfactory interview are the most important factors. Having said that, in this post I will be covering the 10 interview mistakes that everyone needs to avoid!
An interview is a process whereby the recruiter or employer meets a prospective employee who he wishes to recruit. You must understand that the interviewer or employer is not there to pass his free time.
You have prepared your CV well and you are at the interview. Here are the interview mistakes that you need to avoid. I am listing the interview mistakes in descending way:
10. Interview mistake: Lack of Company research
One of the fundamental mistakes that the candidates do is to not research enough on the organisation that has called them for interview. It is very important that you learn the basic details about the company. Yes.... mission, vision, number of employees form a part of this. But you could do better by studying the sector in which the company is doing business. Companies these days look for candidates who think out of the box. Be prepared to mention about how the industry as a whole is performing. Do not limit yourself to mission,
vision. Everyone does it. Be different.
9. Interview Mistake: I am a Perfectionist
Do not give an impression that you are a perfectionist. You always must give an impression that you yearn to be a perfectionist. No human is perfect. All of us have some weaknesses. So do not try and put on a mask and convey you are a perfectionist. Be truthful.
8. Interview Mistake: Focussing only on what you did
These days the companies are looking for people who do good in a team. Therefore bragging about your individual achievements will not yield the desired results. Tell them how you have exhibited your talents in a muti-cultural team i=of individuals and how you managed to succeed with the help of your team.
7. Interview Mistake: Not ending with a conversation
Often, the interviewees do not seek clarification or ask questions to the interviewer. An interview is a perfect platform for you to quiz about the organisation structure and other company related information to the interviewer. So come out of shell and let them know you probe well on matters that are related to the company.
6. Interview Mistake: Focussing only on the JOB
Most candidates give 100% attention to their previous jobs. An interviewer might also be interested in your hobbies and talents that you have other than the Jobs you did in the past. In your introductory address also mention what your hobbies and interests are other than your job.
5. Interview Mistake: Tense and Nervous
The last thing an interviewer wants is a Nervous employee. If you exhibit tension and nervous, you may end up eliminated. Do not twitch your palms. Be confident. Show your confidence by speaking firmly on points. Give examples of how you achieved that one thing that no one could achieve in your previous job. Sweating and nervousness should be the last thing that should occur while on interview.
4. Interview Mistakes: Rambling during the interview
Do not wander away from questions that the interviewer has asked. Do not provide unrelated answers. If you are not aware of the answers do not provide wrong answers.
3. Interview Mistake: Late follow up
After the interview do not forget to take the contact details of the interviewer. Once home, do not forget to send a follow up note mentioning how excited you are with regard to the job and how positive you feel. This is a good thing to do. Remember, interviewers like this attitude.
2. Interview Mistake: Going through recruitment Solo
You are aware of an opening. You decide to go alone without informing your friends who are also looking for a job. Let everyone who are interested among your friend circle know about the interview and if interested give them the details of the interview if they also wanted to attend. Going solo is the last thing you do. Do not be selfish.
1.Interview Mistake: Silently standing in the Line
You have gone for a job fair and you are standing in the corner in a line, waiting for you turn to arrive. Bad news is that, that chance might never arrive. Quiz, query, ask questions to every recruiter. Break that ice. Recruiters like that. They like a person who is outgoing and takes initiatives on his own without waiting for his turn to arrive. Not only at the job fair but also in other conditions, if you have spotted a vacancy on the company website or recruitment agency site, do not wait to send your CV. Pick up that phone and dial that number. Chances are that you may directly connect with the recruiter and when you send your CV they will be able to put a tone to the CV. Helps a lot.
Avoiding these interview mistakes has helped me a lot. Hope they do help you as well.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/
Thứ Năm, 3 tháng 1, 2013
Dress Yourself for an Interview
Men's interview dressing style has not changed for years. Actually it doesn't even matter if you apply for a top or a starter's position. The only thing is: those who are just going to enter a company don't have much to dress up. Clear enough, that a recent graduate, going through the 2nd and 3rd interview can change shirts, but gave the same jacket on all the times. On the other hand, the one striving for a senior position, will have different ones.
What are the rules of interview fashion? Learn how to present yourself in a perfect way.
Suits
Competing for a high position will require at least 2 smart suits. Dark gray and blue ones tend to do the best, they will speak of you as of a serious and determined person.
You'd better not choose double-breasted suits. A single-breasted two- or three-button one is a classic variant. Avoid summer fabrics for winter and vice versa. No need to say, all your clothes must be clean and well-cut.
Remember, although having a black and a tan suit are basic and great for any wardrobe, none of them will help you at an interview, unless you're applying for a stylist's or TV broadcaster's position.
Avoid too casual clothes. At the same time, blazers and clacks are nice for those who are not supposed to wear suits (e.g.: college teachers). Traditional interview dressing variant is: a navy blazer, gray dress pants, a shirt, maybe slightly striped, and a tie of some quiet color. Colors may vary, but the principle is the same.
Shirts
Although light blue shirt is okay, a white one is the best. Avoid French cuffs and wide English spreads. A 100 % shirt will give you the best feeling.
A greatly important part of your look is a tie. People do pay attention to ties at first glance. No freaking bright colors and bow ties, choose something traditional like dotted or slightly striped ones. And try not to go too far with jewelery.
As for shoes, black lace-up shoes wins hands down comparing to loafers or top-siders. And make sure that your socks are long enough, so that no one sees your ankles when you sit with your legs crossed.
The way you look definitely says a lot about you. Are you well shaven? Is your hair combed? Are your nails clean and neat? Every bit of your look adds much to the employer's impression on you.
No harm in asking
If it is not quite clear what exactly to wear, you can ask the HR while settling down the time for an interview. Inquire if there is any dress code and what is expected of you. Even if the response will be «business casual», you risk being dressed less formally than the interviewer. And this would automatically reduce your chances. In this case, classic style will definitely bring you security.
Article Source:EzineArticles.com
What are the rules of interview fashion? Learn how to present yourself in a perfect way.
Suits
Competing for a high position will require at least 2 smart suits. Dark gray and blue ones tend to do the best, they will speak of you as of a serious and determined person.
You'd better not choose double-breasted suits. A single-breasted two- or three-button one is a classic variant. Avoid summer fabrics for winter and vice versa. No need to say, all your clothes must be clean and well-cut.
Remember, although having a black and a tan suit are basic and great for any wardrobe, none of them will help you at an interview, unless you're applying for a stylist's or TV broadcaster's position.
Avoid too casual clothes. At the same time, blazers and clacks are nice for those who are not supposed to wear suits (e.g.: college teachers). Traditional interview dressing variant is: a navy blazer, gray dress pants, a shirt, maybe slightly striped, and a tie of some quiet color. Colors may vary, but the principle is the same.
Shirts
Although light blue shirt is okay, a white one is the best. Avoid French cuffs and wide English spreads. A 100 % shirt will give you the best feeling.
A greatly important part of your look is a tie. People do pay attention to ties at first glance. No freaking bright colors and bow ties, choose something traditional like dotted or slightly striped ones. And try not to go too far with jewelery.
As for shoes, black lace-up shoes wins hands down comparing to loafers or top-siders. And make sure that your socks are long enough, so that no one sees your ankles when you sit with your legs crossed.
The way you look definitely says a lot about you. Are you well shaven? Is your hair combed? Are your nails clean and neat? Every bit of your look adds much to the employer's impression on you.
No harm in asking
If it is not quite clear what exactly to wear, you can ask the HR while settling down the time for an interview. Inquire if there is any dress code and what is expected of you. Even if the response will be «business casual», you risk being dressed less formally than the interviewer. And this would automatically reduce your chances. In this case, classic style will definitely bring you security.
7 Ways to Impress an Interview Panel
Great news! They would like to see you and there will be three of them interviewing you.."
"Wonderful" you say "Really looking forward to it". Then you put the phone down and feel sick.
Being interviewed by more than one person can be problematic. The worst case scenario is that not all panel members are singing from the same hymn sheet. Internal politics may come into play with the appointment of a new team member, noses may be put out of joint and reporting lines fought over.
There is not much you can do about the politics of the situation but plenty you can do to give yourself an edge and influence the outcome in your favour. Get the names of all those who will be interviewing you along with their titles.
Go to the company website and look them up. If they don't appear by name there, does it say anything about the departments they work for? Has there been a new product launch? A new technological innovation? Google them to find out as much personal background information as you can. That way you will start to build up a picture of your interviewers, their triumphs and challenges before you face them. When you arrive for the interview have a friendly word with the Receptionist.
Smile. You then create the right impression from the start and that will help you relax. Enter the room and smile and extend your hand to each panel member. Give a firm handshake and look each person in the eye. You will be under constant scrutiny so take a deep breath and relax. Create an open and welcoming stance. If your hands tend to shake when you're nervous then cross them in your lap.
Answer questions by firstly looking at the person who has addressed the question to you but include all other panel members in eye contact. You then bring everyone into the conversation and avoid ignoring the person who is not asking as many questions as the others. Don't be put off or discouraged if one particular panel member seems abrupt or even downright rude.
You do not know what their agenda is or whether there is any personal animosity between panel members. Perhaps they are simply having a bad day. It's unprofessional but it happens. Do not get angry. Do not allow them to fluster you. A good response to a difficult or even downright rude question fired at you is "Let me take a moment to consider that point." Think carefully, look them in the eye and calmly, with a smile, answer them. Not only have you shown you cannot be intimidated, but you also think carefully before you commit yourself. In addition you will have gained the respect of the other panel members. When asking questions, try to ask a question of each of your interviewers.
Do your homework beforehand and make them relevant. Ask if any panel member has any concerns so you can address them immediately and put right any misunderstandings or any matter that is unclear. And always, always ask for the job at the end of the interview. They are unlikely to say yes on the spot, after all they will need to compare notes, but asking for the job shows you are serious and excited about joining their organisation.
Article source: ezinearticles.com
"Wonderful" you say "Really looking forward to it". Then you put the phone down and feel sick.
Being interviewed by more than one person can be problematic. The worst case scenario is that not all panel members are singing from the same hymn sheet. Internal politics may come into play with the appointment of a new team member, noses may be put out of joint and reporting lines fought over.
There is not much you can do about the politics of the situation but plenty you can do to give yourself an edge and influence the outcome in your favour. Get the names of all those who will be interviewing you along with their titles.
Go to the company website and look them up. If they don't appear by name there, does it say anything about the departments they work for? Has there been a new product launch? A new technological innovation? Google them to find out as much personal background information as you can. That way you will start to build up a picture of your interviewers, their triumphs and challenges before you face them. When you arrive for the interview have a friendly word with the Receptionist.
Smile. You then create the right impression from the start and that will help you relax. Enter the room and smile and extend your hand to each panel member. Give a firm handshake and look each person in the eye. You will be under constant scrutiny so take a deep breath and relax. Create an open and welcoming stance. If your hands tend to shake when you're nervous then cross them in your lap.
Answer questions by firstly looking at the person who has addressed the question to you but include all other panel members in eye contact. You then bring everyone into the conversation and avoid ignoring the person who is not asking as many questions as the others. Don't be put off or discouraged if one particular panel member seems abrupt or even downright rude.
You do not know what their agenda is or whether there is any personal animosity between panel members. Perhaps they are simply having a bad day. It's unprofessional but it happens. Do not get angry. Do not allow them to fluster you. A good response to a difficult or even downright rude question fired at you is "Let me take a moment to consider that point." Think carefully, look them in the eye and calmly, with a smile, answer them. Not only have you shown you cannot be intimidated, but you also think carefully before you commit yourself. In addition you will have gained the respect of the other panel members. When asking questions, try to ask a question of each of your interviewers.
Do your homework beforehand and make them relevant. Ask if any panel member has any concerns so you can address them immediately and put right any misunderstandings or any matter that is unclear. And always, always ask for the job at the end of the interview. They are unlikely to say yes on the spot, after all they will need to compare notes, but asking for the job shows you are serious and excited about joining their organisation.
Article source: ezinearticles.com
Job Interview Dos & Don'ts
Welcome reader! By opening this web page you are basically opening the doors of human resource and hiring manager offices across the USA. As a corporate recruiter consultant, for over twenty years I work closely with hiring managers, human resource professionals and of course job-candidates.
My job has me working anywhere from 3 months to 2 years at a single company then I'll move on to the next company to help them staff people to fill their open positions of employment. My career has allowed me to work in many different H.R. departments across the U.S.A. I've witnessed first-hand what a company both wants and needs in their next new employee. Today you will step inside my office and learn what are some of the dos and don'ts for conducting an effective interview.
Do Preparefor the interview by reviewing the company web site and all details provided by the recruiter and the job description. Search the internet for additional information about the company and the type of job that you will be interviewing for.
Don't ask appropriate questions at inappropriate times. It's OK to ask about benefits, pay and work hours but save these questions for when the interviewer seems genuinely interested in hiring you. Go ahead and ask these questions at the end of the interview but don't make them the only questions that you ask the interviewer. I've seen my fair share of job applicants turned down for a job offer because their questions focused solely on how much time they will have off, can they come in late, leave early, how much over-time pay can they expect, does the company provide re-imbursement for parking, etc... The applicant appears fixated on what the company can provide for them thus diminishing any expectations that the employee is eager to contribute to the company's future health and welfare.
Do, during the final interview process, mention any impending vacations or special events that you have already arranged and will require time off for if hired.
Do communicate intelligently. Use proper grammar, make eye contact and speak clearly.
Don't lie. If you have one semester or even one class left to finish your degree don't say that you have the degree. If you were fired say so without sounding whiney or angry with your past employer. If you were fired you can impress your interviewer by telling them what you have learned from that humbling experience. Not everyone has been fired but everyone has had to overcome obstacles in life, showing the ability to learn from your obstacles is an admirable trait.
Do show enthusiasm. Smile. Provide more than one word answers. During the course of the conversation let the interviewer know how you have prepared for the interview.
Don't be negative. No matter how rotten your past employment situations were always have something positive to say about them. Never speak ill of your boss, co-workers or patients. Your next employer might think that you will talk about them in the same negative light at some point in the future.
Do dress professionally.Leave the scrubs in the locker room, the low-riding jeans at home and the revealing tops in the closet. It is better to risk being over-dressed than under-dressed.
Don't forget to thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to discuss the position you are interviewing for. You can verbally thank the interviewer at the close of the interview as well as by sending them a follow-up email or hand-written thank-you note. Your thank-you message should reiterate your interest in the position highlighting a few key reasons as to why your skills would be a good match for the role. Always provide your full contact information with any correspondence that you have with the interviewer.
I'd like to close this article by saying, 'Thank You', thank you reader for taking the time to read this article. I wish you well with your job search efforts.
Article Source:EzineArticles.com
My job has me working anywhere from 3 months to 2 years at a single company then I'll move on to the next company to help them staff people to fill their open positions of employment. My career has allowed me to work in many different H.R. departments across the U.S.A. I've witnessed first-hand what a company both wants and needs in their next new employee. Today you will step inside my office and learn what are some of the dos and don'ts for conducting an effective interview.
Do Preparefor the interview by reviewing the company web site and all details provided by the recruiter and the job description. Search the internet for additional information about the company and the type of job that you will be interviewing for.
Don't ask appropriate questions at inappropriate times. It's OK to ask about benefits, pay and work hours but save these questions for when the interviewer seems genuinely interested in hiring you. Go ahead and ask these questions at the end of the interview but don't make them the only questions that you ask the interviewer. I've seen my fair share of job applicants turned down for a job offer because their questions focused solely on how much time they will have off, can they come in late, leave early, how much over-time pay can they expect, does the company provide re-imbursement for parking, etc... The applicant appears fixated on what the company can provide for them thus diminishing any expectations that the employee is eager to contribute to the company's future health and welfare.
Do, during the final interview process, mention any impending vacations or special events that you have already arranged and will require time off for if hired.
Do communicate intelligently. Use proper grammar, make eye contact and speak clearly.
Don't lie. If you have one semester or even one class left to finish your degree don't say that you have the degree. If you were fired say so without sounding whiney or angry with your past employer. If you were fired you can impress your interviewer by telling them what you have learned from that humbling experience. Not everyone has been fired but everyone has had to overcome obstacles in life, showing the ability to learn from your obstacles is an admirable trait.
Do show enthusiasm. Smile. Provide more than one word answers. During the course of the conversation let the interviewer know how you have prepared for the interview.
Don't be negative. No matter how rotten your past employment situations were always have something positive to say about them. Never speak ill of your boss, co-workers or patients. Your next employer might think that you will talk about them in the same negative light at some point in the future.
Do dress professionally.Leave the scrubs in the locker room, the low-riding jeans at home and the revealing tops in the closet. It is better to risk being over-dressed than under-dressed.
Don't forget to thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to discuss the position you are interviewing for. You can verbally thank the interviewer at the close of the interview as well as by sending them a follow-up email or hand-written thank-you note. Your thank-you message should reiterate your interest in the position highlighting a few key reasons as to why your skills would be a good match for the role. Always provide your full contact information with any correspondence that you have with the interviewer.
I'd like to close this article by saying, 'Thank You', thank you reader for taking the time to read this article. I wish you well with your job search efforts.
Guide to the Perfect Behavioral Interview Responses (STAR Format)
So you're a college student who has landed your first interview for a college internship or full time job. Now if you've given it much thought, you've probably asked yourself "Self, What exactly are those recruiters looking for as an ideal answer to their questions?"
The first thing you should have probably asked is "Self, What are they going to ask me in that interview?" For that, please refer to my article Questions recruiters are likely to ask in an interview. After you've read through that, read on in this article!
Now that you know recruiters are very likely to ask you behavioral questions, the next thing to do is to figure out what they are looking for in an ideal response. And the wonderful thing is that there is a systematic response you can give to every single question they can throw at you! You just have to know how to formulate it. That's where I come in.
In my very first interview freshman year (with General Electric), I thought I was providing great answers, had some great experiences to share, etc. I look at it now, and it's no surprise I didn't hear back from them. I even wonder how fast it took the recruiter to throw away my resume.
Here's an example of mine of what not to do... The interviewer asked me "Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership." To which I responded fairly plainly "Well...I was Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts for several years, that's probably my best example of leadership."
The interviewer was nice and tried to help me through the rest of the interview, but honestly, it was a train-wreck. I hope you can see why. Now I know you won't ever do anything quite that bad, and I wrote this article to make sure of it.
Recruiters who use behavioral questions are looking for responses in what's called the STAR format. That breaks down into:
Situation
Task
Actions Taken
Results
As long as you answer behavioral questions in that format, you cannot go wrong! And the cool part about it is that it flows in a logical order that keeps you on track. By practicing this format, you are guaranteed to answer questions fully and concisely.
So let's get down to the details of the Situation component. The Situation is basically setting the stage for your response with the relevant background information. This includes where and when you were working (company, how old/what year in school), and maybe a bit of info on the problem you faced.
The Task blends slightly with the Situation, and is just as simple. This is something along the lines of "I was assigned to do x." Plain and simple, it may be the most straight forward part of your response. Keep in mind that it also sets up the measuring stick for your results, so be sure that it is actually what you were assigned to do!
The Actions portion of your response should be where the meat of your answer is. You need to take this opportunity to say "I performed xyz analysis and used abc tools to do so." or "I led the group by doing abc." You also need to consider how technically savvy your interviewer is. If she/he is an engineer, then you can feel free to go into a few (but not too many!) details about what you did. If you get an HR person doing the interview, don't even try to go into details, it probably won't help!
The Results should also be very easy, but is without question the most important part of your response. As interviewers and companies are looking for candidates who have been extremely effective in their past jobs and experiences, this is where they look to determine if you are someone they want to hire. Use this opportunity to highlight your results, and their impact on the company: awards, cost savings, sales made, production improvement, etc. Don't short change yourself on this section, its critical that you highlight every positive impact that you made!
I also must warn you not to exaggerate or lie about your accomplishments! This doesn't ever help anyone in the process, especially if a company does their homework by calling your provided references to ask about you!
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
The first thing you should have probably asked is "Self, What are they going to ask me in that interview?" For that, please refer to my article Questions recruiters are likely to ask in an interview. After you've read through that, read on in this article!
Now that you know recruiters are very likely to ask you behavioral questions, the next thing to do is to figure out what they are looking for in an ideal response. And the wonderful thing is that there is a systematic response you can give to every single question they can throw at you! You just have to know how to formulate it. That's where I come in.
In my very first interview freshman year (with General Electric), I thought I was providing great answers, had some great experiences to share, etc. I look at it now, and it's no surprise I didn't hear back from them. I even wonder how fast it took the recruiter to throw away my resume.
Here's an example of mine of what not to do... The interviewer asked me "Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership." To which I responded fairly plainly "Well...I was Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts for several years, that's probably my best example of leadership."
The interviewer was nice and tried to help me through the rest of the interview, but honestly, it was a train-wreck. I hope you can see why. Now I know you won't ever do anything quite that bad, and I wrote this article to make sure of it.
Recruiters who use behavioral questions are looking for responses in what's called the STAR format. That breaks down into:
Situation
Task
Actions Taken
Results
As long as you answer behavioral questions in that format, you cannot go wrong! And the cool part about it is that it flows in a logical order that keeps you on track. By practicing this format, you are guaranteed to answer questions fully and concisely.
So let's get down to the details of the Situation component. The Situation is basically setting the stage for your response with the relevant background information. This includes where and when you were working (company, how old/what year in school), and maybe a bit of info on the problem you faced.
The Task blends slightly with the Situation, and is just as simple. This is something along the lines of "I was assigned to do x." Plain and simple, it may be the most straight forward part of your response. Keep in mind that it also sets up the measuring stick for your results, so be sure that it is actually what you were assigned to do!
The Actions portion of your response should be where the meat of your answer is. You need to take this opportunity to say "I performed xyz analysis and used abc tools to do so." or "I led the group by doing abc." You also need to consider how technically savvy your interviewer is. If she/he is an engineer, then you can feel free to go into a few (but not too many!) details about what you did. If you get an HR person doing the interview, don't even try to go into details, it probably won't help!
The Results should also be very easy, but is without question the most important part of your response. As interviewers and companies are looking for candidates who have been extremely effective in their past jobs and experiences, this is where they look to determine if you are someone they want to hire. Use this opportunity to highlight your results, and their impact on the company: awards, cost savings, sales made, production improvement, etc. Don't short change yourself on this section, its critical that you highlight every positive impact that you made!
I also must warn you not to exaggerate or lie about your accomplishments! This doesn't ever help anyone in the process, especially if a company does their homework by calling your provided references to ask about you!
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
6 Interview Tips and Tricks
1) Be on Time (I'm not kidding!)
2) Appearance (Body Language!)
3) Be Enthusiastic (Smile!)
4) Be Prepared (Research Everything!)
5) Ask Questions (A lot of questions!)
6) Repeat # 5
Be on Time
This seems ridiculous to even mention as an interview tip, doesn't it? But it's the first impression you will make - even before the interview gets started - so this is a big one! You must prepare accordingly. Do a trial run to the company's location. Pick the route you will take. If you don't have a way to get to the interview it's important to make arrangements ahead of time. Don't wait until the last minute to find out about public transportation, a family member's availability, or whatever means you will need to get there on time.
Showing up a little early will show interest on your part. And it also shows that you understand the value of time. When you get there a little early it also gives you time to get familiar with your surroundings, go to the rest room, and go over any "talking points" you want to cover in the interview.
If you show up late, what happens? Everything is rushed and you're not prepared. And, probably the biggest thing that happens is you will be apologizing for being late. Do you think that is a good first impression? Absolutely not! Starting your interview out apologizing is no way to start a relationship with a company. In fact, it will kill the interview! So, it's very important that you be on time to all of your interviews. It matters.
Appearance
The first thing people think about when I say appearance is how they might be dressed. The old "Dress for Success" thing and that's part of it, but not all of it. How about your body language? This is just as important in my book. Are you slouching? Do you look and act depressed? Do you make eye contact when you speak? Are you wearing a lot of make-up or cologne? Are you restless? What about your voice? Do you speak softly? Are you hard to understand? To you have a heavy accent? All of these things are just as important as the way you look. Your body language is very important. Make sure you practice your interview with a family member or a friend, or even in front of a mirror, to make sure your body language isn't projecting a negative image.
Now regarding dress. I think your appearance must match the company and the position. If you're interviewing for a construction superintendent you will dress differently than if you're interviewing for a vice president of finance. You have to dress the part (I know some of you HR types will disagree with this, but so be it). The best advice regarding dress is - if you don't know or if you're not sure - dress your best! Your appearance is very important when you're interviewing, but don't just don't think it's all about how you're dressed, you must be very aware of your body language.
Be Enthusiastic
Make sure you are attentive and enthusiastic about the interview, the position, the company and the INTERVIEWER. Nobody likes to interview a person that just sits there and doesn't show any signs of life. Companies have plenty of dead batteries on their staff, what they want are spark plugs! They want someone fresh, positive, and enthusiastic about their industry and, more specifically, their company. I have had candidates in my career get hired just because they were more enthusiastic. That's it!
And, here's the big one - smile! If that sounds corny, it's not. Everyone likes a good smile. So make sure you smile and are very enthusiastic in your interviews, but let me caution you on one thing. Don't overdo it.
Be Prepared
Make sure you are prepared BEFORE your interviews. Don't wing it! I want you to research everything you can about the company, people, culture, locations, and philosophies, as well as anything else that pertains to your industry.
For example, what kind of company is this? Privately held or publicly traded? What kind of reputation in the industry do they have? How many locations do they have and where are they located? What kind of people work at this company? What schools do they hire from? What type of degrees do they like? What kind of company culture do they have? Are they a partying company? Are they health nuts? Sports nuts? What are they're overall philosophies about business? How do they treat their employees? And the list goes on and on. I want you to dig into everything you can find. This will be very useful when you interview. Be prepared!
Ask Questions
Now take your research you just did when you were preparing for the interview and start formulating your questions. This is probably the most important interview tip of the 6. You must ask a lot of questions when you're interviewing. Interviewing is a two-way street. The company is asking you questions to see if you fit in, and you will be asking questions of them to see if it's a company you want to join.
I want you in control of your interviews. Ask questions of the company. Put them on the spot. Too many of you have made career decisions without asking a lot of questions in your interviews, then you get to the company and you cannot believe what they have you doing. Why? Because you didn't ask enough questions in your interview, that's why! This is not the time to be shy.
When you ask a lot of questions in your interview it shows the company you did your research and this is important to you. This is your life and career! You want to make sure the opportunity is right for both of you. The company will appreciate your level of interest and how important you view this, because most candidates don't. Most candidates just wing it. They just answer the questions and hope for the best. Yikes!
Another thing, and this is very important, don't ask money and benefits questions in your interview. You have to make sure the opportunity is right for YOU first. The money is not as important as the other stuff like, The Company. The position. The location. The travel. The culture. And, of course, one of the most important questions to ask is about the advancement opportunities.
These are the things you need to know before any money or benefits questions. Never make career decisions based solely on money. Don't get me wrong, I know it plays a role in the decision making process, just don't make it the sole reason for making a change. If you do you will regret it.
Repeat # 5 (Which is Ask Questions)
I cannot stress this enough when it comes to your interviews. Ask a lot of questions! You have to know and understand what you might be getting into. Make sure the opportunity is right for you. Most of the people that are unhappy in their careers are unhappy because they're working for the wrong company and they're in the wrong position. Don't make this mistake. By asking a lot of questions you can make sure the opportunity is right for YOU.
So, be on time, be aware of your appearance and be enthusiastic and prepared to ask a lot of questions in your interviews. Don't put a lot of time in your resume, cover letter and job search and then get to the interview and blow it! Try these 6 interview tips the next time you interview and watch what happens. You will be surprised at the results. I hope this helps.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
2) Appearance (Body Language!)
3) Be Enthusiastic (Smile!)
4) Be Prepared (Research Everything!)
5) Ask Questions (A lot of questions!)
6) Repeat # 5
Be on Time
This seems ridiculous to even mention as an interview tip, doesn't it? But it's the first impression you will make - even before the interview gets started - so this is a big one! You must prepare accordingly. Do a trial run to the company's location. Pick the route you will take. If you don't have a way to get to the interview it's important to make arrangements ahead of time. Don't wait until the last minute to find out about public transportation, a family member's availability, or whatever means you will need to get there on time.
Showing up a little early will show interest on your part. And it also shows that you understand the value of time. When you get there a little early it also gives you time to get familiar with your surroundings, go to the rest room, and go over any "talking points" you want to cover in the interview.
If you show up late, what happens? Everything is rushed and you're not prepared. And, probably the biggest thing that happens is you will be apologizing for being late. Do you think that is a good first impression? Absolutely not! Starting your interview out apologizing is no way to start a relationship with a company. In fact, it will kill the interview! So, it's very important that you be on time to all of your interviews. It matters.
Appearance
The first thing people think about when I say appearance is how they might be dressed. The old "Dress for Success" thing and that's part of it, but not all of it. How about your body language? This is just as important in my book. Are you slouching? Do you look and act depressed? Do you make eye contact when you speak? Are you wearing a lot of make-up or cologne? Are you restless? What about your voice? Do you speak softly? Are you hard to understand? To you have a heavy accent? All of these things are just as important as the way you look. Your body language is very important. Make sure you practice your interview with a family member or a friend, or even in front of a mirror, to make sure your body language isn't projecting a negative image.
Now regarding dress. I think your appearance must match the company and the position. If you're interviewing for a construction superintendent you will dress differently than if you're interviewing for a vice president of finance. You have to dress the part (I know some of you HR types will disagree with this, but so be it). The best advice regarding dress is - if you don't know or if you're not sure - dress your best! Your appearance is very important when you're interviewing, but don't just don't think it's all about how you're dressed, you must be very aware of your body language.
Be Enthusiastic
Make sure you are attentive and enthusiastic about the interview, the position, the company and the INTERVIEWER. Nobody likes to interview a person that just sits there and doesn't show any signs of life. Companies have plenty of dead batteries on their staff, what they want are spark plugs! They want someone fresh, positive, and enthusiastic about their industry and, more specifically, their company. I have had candidates in my career get hired just because they were more enthusiastic. That's it!
And, here's the big one - smile! If that sounds corny, it's not. Everyone likes a good smile. So make sure you smile and are very enthusiastic in your interviews, but let me caution you on one thing. Don't overdo it.
Be Prepared
Make sure you are prepared BEFORE your interviews. Don't wing it! I want you to research everything you can about the company, people, culture, locations, and philosophies, as well as anything else that pertains to your industry.
For example, what kind of company is this? Privately held or publicly traded? What kind of reputation in the industry do they have? How many locations do they have and where are they located? What kind of people work at this company? What schools do they hire from? What type of degrees do they like? What kind of company culture do they have? Are they a partying company? Are they health nuts? Sports nuts? What are they're overall philosophies about business? How do they treat their employees? And the list goes on and on. I want you to dig into everything you can find. This will be very useful when you interview. Be prepared!
Ask Questions
Now take your research you just did when you were preparing for the interview and start formulating your questions. This is probably the most important interview tip of the 6. You must ask a lot of questions when you're interviewing. Interviewing is a two-way street. The company is asking you questions to see if you fit in, and you will be asking questions of them to see if it's a company you want to join.
I want you in control of your interviews. Ask questions of the company. Put them on the spot. Too many of you have made career decisions without asking a lot of questions in your interviews, then you get to the company and you cannot believe what they have you doing. Why? Because you didn't ask enough questions in your interview, that's why! This is not the time to be shy.
When you ask a lot of questions in your interview it shows the company you did your research and this is important to you. This is your life and career! You want to make sure the opportunity is right for both of you. The company will appreciate your level of interest and how important you view this, because most candidates don't. Most candidates just wing it. They just answer the questions and hope for the best. Yikes!
Another thing, and this is very important, don't ask money and benefits questions in your interview. You have to make sure the opportunity is right for YOU first. The money is not as important as the other stuff like, The Company. The position. The location. The travel. The culture. And, of course, one of the most important questions to ask is about the advancement opportunities.
These are the things you need to know before any money or benefits questions. Never make career decisions based solely on money. Don't get me wrong, I know it plays a role in the decision making process, just don't make it the sole reason for making a change. If you do you will regret it.
Repeat # 5 (Which is Ask Questions)
I cannot stress this enough when it comes to your interviews. Ask a lot of questions! You have to know and understand what you might be getting into. Make sure the opportunity is right for you. Most of the people that are unhappy in their careers are unhappy because they're working for the wrong company and they're in the wrong position. Don't make this mistake. By asking a lot of questions you can make sure the opportunity is right for YOU.
So, be on time, be aware of your appearance and be enthusiastic and prepared to ask a lot of questions in your interviews. Don't put a lot of time in your resume, cover letter and job search and then get to the interview and blow it! Try these 6 interview tips the next time you interview and watch what happens. You will be surprised at the results. I hope this helps.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Job Interview 101 For Law Students - The Screening Interview
What does it take to ace a job interview? Put on a good suit, pop in a few breath mints, and making sure your tie matches your shirt?
These are tough economic times. Fewer and fewer firms are hiring new candidates, choosing to invest in experience than youth (if they're investing at all). In this tide of economic depression, great grades, strong extracurriculars, and a great school history might not be enough to land you that plum position at that prestigious law firm.
Enter the job interview.
If there's one place where you can rise above your resume and show your prospective employer where you shine, give him one more reason to hire you over others, its the job interview. The job interview is all about leaving an impression, and we'll tell you how to make the right one in both rounds:
The Screening Interview
The screening interview is the first round of evaluation when your prospective employer tries to see if you, the candidate, match up to your credentials. Depending on your law school, there might be a lottery system to sign up for a screening interview. In this lottery system, you can't be rejected outright based on your resume, so it is possible that even mediocre students with weak resumes will get their 15 minutes with a recruiter - and perhaps impress him enough for a call back interview.
Tip: If you don't win a scheduled appointment with a firm of your choice, persistence - a call to the law firm, for instance - should get you a spot.
Do Your Homework
Before the big day, do your homework. Research the law firm - their practice, history, and if possible, the attorney you'll be talking to. You can usually get all this information in the hospitality room (or waiting room, if you prefer), or on firm's website.
Learn as much as possible about the kind of work the firm does. Interviewers are usually happy to see that a candidate has shown interest in their firm. Moreover, it'll help to check what you talk about: your interviewer won't be thrilled to hear you talk on and on about an area the firm doesn't deal with.
Also, check out the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) form on the particular office of the firm at which you are interviewing. Many firms' branch offices have different stats from the headquarters, especially when it comes to practice areas and attorney demographics. Your career services office should also have some useful material, such as employer evaluations from years past.
And don't forget your classmates and the alumni. Talk to those people who've worked at your target firm. This will give you the real take on the firm - its practice, area of expertise, history, the work atmosphere, and even the less desirable aspects.
Dress Up
Your suit alone won't bag you the job, but it can never hurt to dress up professionally. While employers may state that students can attend the interview in business-casual attire, they really want to see you dressed up in a suit - as a real lawyer would have to in a court room. Moreover, clothing preferences might vary from interviewer to interviewer, and thus, your best bet is a classic suit, preferably in a neutral color like charcoal or brown.
Carry your documents in a leather portfolio, don't strut around carrying them in your hand.
And don't forget to carry additional copies of your resume and transcripts.
Sell Yourself
You usually get 20 minutes with the interviewer. More often than not, the interviewer has already decided if you should be invited to the firm for a call back - based on your resume, transcript, etc. even before you've walked into the room. If your resume and transcripts go heavily against you - low grades, no extra-curriculars, then there's little you can do to salvage the interview. However, for borderline candidates, a good show can really boost your chances of landing a call back.
As cliche as it may sound, try and be yourself. Remember that the interviewer has probably seen hundreds of candidates. He can see right through any facade you might have built up to fit into your perceived image of what the firm wants.
Fight the urge to discuss law-related topics only. If your interviewer seems interested in opera, you might be better off discussing Pavarotti than your law journal work. Keep in mind that the interview is designed to gauge your personality, not your grasp on law - your transcripts are enough proof of that.
Be Flexible
So you walk into the interview room, fully prepared to answer anything thrown at you. You sit, straight backed before the interviewer, thumbing through your answers in your head, smiling confidently.
But then the interviewer leans back in his chair and asks you, "So, what do you want to know about this law firm?"
And suddenly, all those scripted answers fall apart and you mumble a response.
Don't let this happen to you. Interviewers have a tendency to begin with random, off topic questions. In such a scenario, be prepared to give a 3-5 minute narrative answering the question (or asking questions), and gradually steering the topic of discussion to yourself - who you are, and what interests you in the law firm.
Try and incorporate elements that interest you in your narrative - a particular question that daunted you in moot court, a paper you're writing for the law journal, your 1L summer internship. You can use the same story, but present a different version each time. It'll keep you from sounding scripted.
But most importantly, learn to answer the interviewer's questions in a way that your answer blends in with your narrative.
Be Location Aware
You'll have firms from all over the country coming to your law school for the job interview. This can cause a problem if say, you've lived in New York all your life, and your target firm is based in L.A. You'll have a hard time convincing the interviewer about your sudden desire to move to L.A.
Remember that the firms are making an investment in you. They'll train and groom you for the first year. They want to be sure that you'll stay the course and not leave them midway. If you've lived in New York all your life, a firm will be (rightly) skeptical of your decision to stay in L.A. to work for them.
Confront this problem by visiting the city where your target firm is located. Arrange for a meeting with them. A casual meeting will make it appear as if you're really interested in moving to their city to work for them - factors that will go a long way in strengthening your resume when it comes to the interview.
It shouldn't appear that you simply signed up to be interviewed by every firm that came to your campus. When the inevitable question: "Why did you sign up to interview here?" pops up, be prepared with an arsenal of firm and location specific comments to make your interview seem more genuine.
Smile
So you hate your professor, your classmates are all idiots, and the campus cafeteria never has good coffee.
Great. But just don't tell the interviewer.
The interviewer doesn't want brutal honesty from you. They'd much rather listen to you describe that insightful professor or that wonderful course you took last fall. Interviewers are very wary of any hint of negativity and can and will latch on to it, severely impairing your chances for landing a job (and this applies to any job, not just a law firm - a negative attitude can be a major turn off).
Smile, and talk about your great experience during your 1L summer internship, the intelligent discussions after moot court with your classmates. Show them a happy face, and they might show you your interview date for a call back.
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
These are tough economic times. Fewer and fewer firms are hiring new candidates, choosing to invest in experience than youth (if they're investing at all). In this tide of economic depression, great grades, strong extracurriculars, and a great school history might not be enough to land you that plum position at that prestigious law firm.
Enter the job interview.
If there's one place where you can rise above your resume and show your prospective employer where you shine, give him one more reason to hire you over others, its the job interview. The job interview is all about leaving an impression, and we'll tell you how to make the right one in both rounds:
The Screening Interview
The screening interview is the first round of evaluation when your prospective employer tries to see if you, the candidate, match up to your credentials. Depending on your law school, there might be a lottery system to sign up for a screening interview. In this lottery system, you can't be rejected outright based on your resume, so it is possible that even mediocre students with weak resumes will get their 15 minutes with a recruiter - and perhaps impress him enough for a call back interview.
Tip: If you don't win a scheduled appointment with a firm of your choice, persistence - a call to the law firm, for instance - should get you a spot.
Do Your Homework
Before the big day, do your homework. Research the law firm - their practice, history, and if possible, the attorney you'll be talking to. You can usually get all this information in the hospitality room (or waiting room, if you prefer), or on firm's website.
Learn as much as possible about the kind of work the firm does. Interviewers are usually happy to see that a candidate has shown interest in their firm. Moreover, it'll help to check what you talk about: your interviewer won't be thrilled to hear you talk on and on about an area the firm doesn't deal with.
Also, check out the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) form on the particular office of the firm at which you are interviewing. Many firms' branch offices have different stats from the headquarters, especially when it comes to practice areas and attorney demographics. Your career services office should also have some useful material, such as employer evaluations from years past.
And don't forget your classmates and the alumni. Talk to those people who've worked at your target firm. This will give you the real take on the firm - its practice, area of expertise, history, the work atmosphere, and even the less desirable aspects.
Dress Up
Your suit alone won't bag you the job, but it can never hurt to dress up professionally. While employers may state that students can attend the interview in business-casual attire, they really want to see you dressed up in a suit - as a real lawyer would have to in a court room. Moreover, clothing preferences might vary from interviewer to interviewer, and thus, your best bet is a classic suit, preferably in a neutral color like charcoal or brown.
Carry your documents in a leather portfolio, don't strut around carrying them in your hand.
And don't forget to carry additional copies of your resume and transcripts.
Sell Yourself
You usually get 20 minutes with the interviewer. More often than not, the interviewer has already decided if you should be invited to the firm for a call back - based on your resume, transcript, etc. even before you've walked into the room. If your resume and transcripts go heavily against you - low grades, no extra-curriculars, then there's little you can do to salvage the interview. However, for borderline candidates, a good show can really boost your chances of landing a call back.
As cliche as it may sound, try and be yourself. Remember that the interviewer has probably seen hundreds of candidates. He can see right through any facade you might have built up to fit into your perceived image of what the firm wants.
Fight the urge to discuss law-related topics only. If your interviewer seems interested in opera, you might be better off discussing Pavarotti than your law journal work. Keep in mind that the interview is designed to gauge your personality, not your grasp on law - your transcripts are enough proof of that.
Be Flexible
So you walk into the interview room, fully prepared to answer anything thrown at you. You sit, straight backed before the interviewer, thumbing through your answers in your head, smiling confidently.
But then the interviewer leans back in his chair and asks you, "So, what do you want to know about this law firm?"
And suddenly, all those scripted answers fall apart and you mumble a response.
Don't let this happen to you. Interviewers have a tendency to begin with random, off topic questions. In such a scenario, be prepared to give a 3-5 minute narrative answering the question (or asking questions), and gradually steering the topic of discussion to yourself - who you are, and what interests you in the law firm.
Try and incorporate elements that interest you in your narrative - a particular question that daunted you in moot court, a paper you're writing for the law journal, your 1L summer internship. You can use the same story, but present a different version each time. It'll keep you from sounding scripted.
But most importantly, learn to answer the interviewer's questions in a way that your answer blends in with your narrative.
Be Location Aware
You'll have firms from all over the country coming to your law school for the job interview. This can cause a problem if say, you've lived in New York all your life, and your target firm is based in L.A. You'll have a hard time convincing the interviewer about your sudden desire to move to L.A.
Remember that the firms are making an investment in you. They'll train and groom you for the first year. They want to be sure that you'll stay the course and not leave them midway. If you've lived in New York all your life, a firm will be (rightly) skeptical of your decision to stay in L.A. to work for them.
Confront this problem by visiting the city where your target firm is located. Arrange for a meeting with them. A casual meeting will make it appear as if you're really interested in moving to their city to work for them - factors that will go a long way in strengthening your resume when it comes to the interview.
It shouldn't appear that you simply signed up to be interviewed by every firm that came to your campus. When the inevitable question: "Why did you sign up to interview here?" pops up, be prepared with an arsenal of firm and location specific comments to make your interview seem more genuine.
Smile
So you hate your professor, your classmates are all idiots, and the campus cafeteria never has good coffee.
Great. But just don't tell the interviewer.
The interviewer doesn't want brutal honesty from you. They'd much rather listen to you describe that insightful professor or that wonderful course you took last fall. Interviewers are very wary of any hint of negativity and can and will latch on to it, severely impairing your chances for landing a job (and this applies to any job, not just a law firm - a negative attitude can be a major turn off).
Smile, and talk about your great experience during your 1L summer internship, the intelligent discussions after moot court with your classmates. Show them a happy face, and they might show you your interview date for a call back.
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