Job Interview...help please?

therealjanelle

Here is another body language tip. If you are at a table or desk, fold your hands on the table so that they are visible. If you are not at a table, fold your hands on your lap. Honest, confident people do not hide their hands.

It is okay to use your hands expressively while talking in a subdued fashion but do not make wild gesticulations and do not allow your hands to fidget while you are not the one speaking.

susanofscottsdale

It is a tough market. You may not be doing anything "wrong". However, there are many things that can give you a relative advantage, or disadvantage in interviews. The list is long - including your manner, greeting, eye contact, quality of answers, dress, follow up..... Does your college have a career counseling office? Get help there - push to be able to do practice interviews and then listen to the feedback.

Good luck!

ZombieChaser

Definately make sure that you show lot's of interest in the role and the company. As an interviewer I find it a turn-off when interviews are mostly one-way. If a candicate expresses an interest in what it's like to work at the firm I see that as someone who is actively looking for the opportunity I have to offer and not just going through the motions to get another job.

This! I used to be a recruiter and I can't tell you the amount of interviews I've had where the candidate just said "yes", "no", and I'd have to pry for explanations or examples. With most questions, you can usually add a personal example to demonstrate when you performed a certain task.

I agree that you should do your research on the company that's interviewing you. And ASK QUESTIONS! BUT, Don't ask about pay, vacation entitlement or benefits at this point.

And always answer in 3's. What are your strengths? Give 3. What are your weaknesses? Give 3, and tell them how you're working to improve on them.

If you don't know an answer, don't ever bull**it your interviewer! Say that you do not know. There's no shame in not knowing something. If they explain it, engage in the explanation by asking them questions to understand. Be interested and candid. And then thank them for it. It shows that you're open to learning and appreciative of knowledge recieved.

And above all else, just be yourself The interviewers know that you'll be nervous - most candidates are The definitly should take that into consideration when debriefing after your interview.

Let us know how it went!

tam120

The company I work for also uses the STAR method. Situation/Task, Action, Result.
Make a list of significant projects/processes you've done whether the result/outcome was positive or not. For each situation think about what you had to do, how you did it, what you did, and the outcome of your actions. Take the list with you and refer to it if you get brain freeze. It's ok to say you'd like to refer to your notes. Interviewers may be looking to determine how you handle a less than expected result and what you learned and how you would do it differently, so don't be afraid of giving examples those types of projects or tasks but be sure to have a "what I learned" included in the result.

I always pop a mint in my mouth on the way to the interview, I can't tell you how turned off I am when I am interviewed or have to interview someone with awful breath. I just want it to be over and all I can think is; I don't want to be working closely with this person on a day to day basis.
Good luck.

angbieb

You are all helping me out sooo much..thank you!! Another hard question...Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Also, what are the best questions to ask them? Thanks again!

angbieb

Thanks so much everyone! Your advice is going to help out sooo much!! I will let you know how it goes!!

If anyone has some commonly asked questions at interviews would you please post them? I'd like to make some notes and see if I can answer them well.

ZombieChaser

Thanks so much everyone! Your advice is going to help out sooo much!! I will let you know how it goes!!

If anyone has some commonly asked questions at interviews would you please post them? I'd like to make some notes and see if I can answer them well.

It's hard to say, but here's some general ones:

What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your future goals?
Tell me about your last employer? (remember, no last employer bashing...)
What makes you a fit for this position?
What do you know about our company?
What do you think this position entails?
Do you have any questions for us? Ask questions about the company, like more details about daily operations. Ask about acceptable work attire. Daily schedules (when to arrive, lunch, break, leave). Ask if there's opportunity for overtime work. Umm and really anything else that comes to mind... just dont ask about pay, vacation entitlement and benefits at this stage...

kealey1318

Well, seems like you tons of replies and I didn't read them to see if we have the same suggestions, but here is what I would suggest...

1. Eye contact is crucial. People who don't make/keep eye contact come across as either shady or uncertain.
2. If it's a group interview, make sure you try to address everyone in the room at some point.
3. Have extra resumes with you just in case.
4. Find ways to equate your real-life experience to situations they present.
5. Smile and RELAX! The more stressed, the worse the interview.

Good luck!

AFTER the interview, make sure to thank them, ASK for the job (you'd be shocked at how few people do this), follow up with a nice e-mail or follow-up letter thanking them for their time, and addressing anything you felt wasn't mentioned in the interview, or perhaps needs further clarification. This is your opportunity to sell yourself without interruption!!!

sarafit926

Please wear a professional outfit. I'm a hiring manager and sometimes people come in for interviews wearing jeans and sneakers...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I send people home if they aren't dressed up, even if they came from 8 hours away.

That's my best advice. Everything else will come naturally if you're confident and know a lot about the company.

cbu23

Even though you are super eager to get the job don't come off that way. When I was looking for a job I met with a recruiter that said she happy to know I was so eager, but I needed to tone it down for the interview. If you are overly excited you could come off as desperate for a job. I had never thought of it like that?

Also, I know when they ask questions such as "tell me about a time when" it's really easy to get a lost feeling. You should already have a number of these stories in your head. Try to have one story for 3 or so different scenario questions. Don't feel like any of your past experience isn't good enough. My first office job I used a lot of restaurant example because that's all I had experience. Most interviewers don't care, customer service experience is experience no matter where it comes from. (works for more that just customer service, just my example).

Good luck on your interview!

TheNewDodge

Cleavage

Hernandeak11

I'm an HR student, so I'm going to be the interviewer someday!

A few tips:

1. As a few people have stated: ASK QUESTIONS! Have at least 1-2 in mind, if not more. Employers think you're not that attached to the position if you don't ask.

2. Don't be afraid to pause and think about the answer to a question! I typically repeat the question aloud that I'm pondering, so they realize I'm putting actual thought into it. Taking your time WILL NOT HURT you, and most interviewers are relieved that they get a second to catch up on their notes.

3. Confident, yet humble. Don't get cocky :P

I could go on, and on, and on!

booyatribe

Google job interview tips. there are lots of great resources out there and questions you can ask. be confident and good luck.

wisebadger53

When you check out the company's website, write down their Mission, Vision, and Core Values if they are displayed there. Then really think about how you can work into the interview aspects of your personality and work ethic that mirror these company values. Also, as an interviewer I look for well rounded applicants, so be sure to mention any charitible work or volunteering you might be involved in, and any non-business accomplishments you may have achieved (community involvement, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, civic organizations, etc.) .

Good luck!

aNEWmarcus

Firstly GOOD LUCK.. It is tough out there, so you need to show why you are unique and they NEED to hire you.

You have roughly 2-3minutes in the first stage to build rapport with the interviewer - to make them feel at ease with you, but also to establish a connection. If you have researched the company and there is some recent news you can mention that or if you spot something in their office that might be of interest, the weather is a simple one, but still opens up discussion.

1. Do your research
Fail to plan, and you plan to fail. You are certain to be asked specific questions about the company, so make sure you've done your homework on things like their last year's profits and latest product launches. Also take a look at the latest developments in the industry so you can converse with confidence.

2. Practice your answers
Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. You should prepare answers to some of the most common interview questions about your personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as being able to explain why you would be the best person for the job.

3. Look the part
Appearances shouldn't matter, but the plain fact is that you are often judged before you've even uttered a word. Make sure your shoes are polished, your clothes fit correctly and that your accessories are subtle. Dressing one level above the job you're applying for shows a desire to succeed.

4. Stay calm
Good preparation is the key to staying in control. Plan your route, allowing extra time for any unexpected delays, and get everything you need to take with you ready the night before. Remember to speak clearly, smile and remember that your interviewers are just normal people, and the may be nervous too!.

5. Ask questions
You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job, and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.

Here's an interesting article about the Top Tips that aren't mentioned:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/interviewing-top-tips-mentions/story?id=12032696

Again - GOOD LUCK!!!!

bikermike5094

Cleavage... everybody likes a little cleavage, it works believe it or not. It may sound trite and sexist but its basic animal magnatism. I once interviewed two ladies for the same job and the girl that got the job had the best cleavage. I think we used the term "hooker boobs" in conversations about her. And believe it or not, she was a rock star in performance and effort. She was a great employee.

simonsaysso

I just helped interview for my successor so I can try to give you a few tips:
1. Research the company. Very important. It was surprising to me that people that worked for us and wanted a promotion didn't do this and actually did not know very much about the rest of the company other than their own current job.
2. Be confident. You are there to sell yourself not to be modest about your qualifications. A firm handshake is important.
3. We gave people a computer test on excel. Nothing too complex - the data set was already entered. Completing it wasn't as important on how they handled it. One interviewee actually stood up and asked the secretary for us to come back because she didn't know how to do it.
4. Be honest. We wanted to know people goals not to see if they were going to leave but if they had the want and the drive to do more if supervisory spots open up. Telling us you want a 9 to 5 job did not go over well.

I hope these help!
Good Luck!

hanna1210

Just went through this myself, I feel your pain. I'm sure I'm just repeating what someone else has said, but...
First off, be yourself. If you sound like you've practiced the answers too much, they're not going to feel like they got a good idea of who you are. Have a conversation if you can. I interviewed with small companies and was able to get a good feel for the one, two, or three people interviewing me. On top of having legitimate answers, they want to make sure your personality will blend with the rest of the team.
Ask questions. Once I started doing this, I could see employers get caught off guard and then look a little impressed. "Where do you see this position going?" or something like that. Used that a couple times and was happy to hear the answers.
I'm trying to remember some of the questions I was asked (I blacked out a majority of the interviews):
- Give an example of a time you struggled. How did you resolve it?
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses? (Always turn what could easily be a negative response into a postive one, without sounding like a kiss-*kitten*)
- What could you bring to this position?
- What do you think makes you different from the other candidates?
Oh, and have answers ready for any lapses between job. What did you do with your time off, etc.? And bring extra copies of your resume in case there are other people in the interview who might not have it - that helped a couple times.

Good luck! It's a numbers game (so many people told me that), unfortunately, but soon it'll work out. Just be yourself, smile, and you'll be just fine.

hanna1210

Cleavage... everybody likes a little cleavage, it works believe it or not. It may sound trite and sexist but its basic animal magnatism. I once interviewed two ladies for the same job and the girl that got the job had the best cleavage. I think we used the term "hooker boobs" in conversations about her. And believe it or not, she was a rock star in performance and effort. She was a great employee.

I'm not even going to touch that. But, if your interviewer is a woman, it could easily go the other direction.

stacymama5

Be confident, YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!! Look them in the eye and tell them why they need you!!!

simonsaysso

Here are some questions I asked when interviewing for my successor.

1. What would you like to be doing in 5 years?
Of course we wanted to know career-wise but you would be surprised what people say.
2. What is your dream job?
3. A what-if scenario-
If a coach from the school calls the business office and wants to know where his soccer uniforms are and the season starts next week - what would you do? (There is no one right answer but here are some things people might say: getting the paperwork, calling the supplier and seeing if they got the order, contacting the delivery service, etc..)
4. I looked at their resumes and usually asked them questions about items they had on there- like why are you leaving your current job, you have a cert in this - why? - etc.
5. Google interview questions - thats what I did as the person asking the questions.

Other people said this too - but ask questions! I told people they would be replacing me so I was expecting more job specific questions but didn't really get many.

dhencel

Be confident. Have some knowldege about the company and the job you are interviewing for...Dress appropriately...No excessive jewelry...light on make up. SMILE....... Shake hands....remember to thank person for the interview....remember your manners..

angbieb

Thank you all soooo much!! The job interview went great!!! I think it is the best one I've ever had. I have to wait until the background check goes through (which is about two weeks), but they were already talking to me about my work schedule!!!!:noway: Huh?
Yahoo!!!!!

angbieb

All of you are awesome!!! :flowerforyou:

TimWilkinson101

Great to hear that it went so well. I'll check back to see how it goes

ZombieChaser

Hey wow, glad to hear it went well!!! Please keep us posted! XD

carriem73

good job! keep us posted!!!