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The Interview

Selling Yourself - Part III

Job Search in the Internet Age, Part I
Writing A Resume That Gets Results, Part II
Job Search By Workers 50 & Over, Part IV

CONGRATULATIONS . . . you just confirmed an interview appointment at the company you have been dying to work for! Now what do you do? "Prepare" of course. The majority of interviewees (you) fail at interviewing due to lack of preparation.

During your initial job search process (see Part I), you should have developed extensive information on all potential employers your resume was submitted to. If not, now is the time to go back "on-line."

Nothing turns off an interviewer faster than an interviewee (you) who doesn't know anything about the company and who doesn't ask any questions about the company or the job.

Your preparation for an interview should include, but not be limited to the following:

Research the company
Research the position for which you are interviewing
Prepare a list of questions
Prepare yourself
Know the physical location of the interview
Know with whom you are interviewing

Research the company:
Put yourself in the place of the interviewer - who may also be the hiring manager. If you were interviewing an individual for a position in your department, would you consider hiring someone who was not interested enough to ask any questions about either the company or the job? You should not expect the interviewer to tell you everything about the firm.

If you have not already done so (this should have been part of your initial job search), now is the time to go back "on-line" to check out the firm's web site. This will provide you with the basics: what the company manufactures or sells; how long they have been in business; the geographical areas they sell in; their latest sales promotions and mission statement (many firms include this) and if it is a public company, their latest financial statements should be posted. If financial statements are not posted on the company's web page, check the company out through www.hoovers.com.

You may want to ask the interviewer some of the following questions about the firm: what is the company's plan for increasing revenues over the next 1-3 years; what are the company's best selling products or services - reasons; who is the company's largest competitor(s); what is the company's business philosophy. From your research, you should already know if the company is profitable. You should also be able to do some trend analysis and frame questions accordingly.

Research the job:

While checking out the company's web site, look for the employment or job page. Many firms list a brief job description for each open position. If the company is not on the internet, call their human resources depart-ment and ask for a copy of the job description for the position for which you are interviewing. If the interview has been arranged through a search agency, ask the recruiter for as much information as possible about the position, the firm and the person with whom you are interviewing. The more information you obtain, the better questions you will be able to formulate. Being well prepared will enable you to enter the interview in a prepared, relaxed, confident manner.

Prepare interview questions:

Your questions should include, but not be limited to: the scope of the position responsibilities; number of employees reporting to the position - if any; any travel involved; future growth potential of the position; interaction with customers and internal departments; reporting requirements and management support for educational and credit association membership activities.

Prepare yourself:

The old cliché "you only have once chance to make a first impression" directly applies to interviewing. At least, in my humble opinion. Personal appearance has been known to make or break interviews. I recently read an interview with a recruiter who stated "image is everything." In today's relaxed business atmosphere, many companies have a casual dress code. However, I strongly recommend that you do not go to any interview in casual clothes. Even if the person arranging the interview suggests it.

Professional recruiters may have different points of view when it comes to how to dress for an interview. The following are my personal favorites:

Men:

Suit - dark blue or black, neatly pressed, lint removed.
Shirt - white or light blue, crisply laundered and pressed, no frayed collars or cuffs
Tie - conservative color and pattern, should compliment the suit and shirt, leave the "power tie" in the closet this time
Shoes - black or dark cordovan dress style, highly polished and in good repair
Socks - dark blue or black, as dark as suit color
Hair - neatly trimmed, if you have a mustache or beard, have them professionally trimmed
Nails - trim short, clean, consider treating yourself to a professional manicure
Jewelry - keep it simple, nothing flashy or dangling, if you normally wear an earring or have other visible body parts pierced, don't wear your adornments to the interview
Cologne - subtle, nothing over powering, this is an interview, not a date
Portfolio - black or dark colored, good grade of leather, a good quality pen or pencil, writing pad, extra copies of your resume, personal references and list of questions, don't carry a large, bulky briefcase or a laptop, it won't impress, but will be a distraction
PDA - If your must carry your personal data assistant, leave it in your portfolio
Cell Phone/Pager - Nothing else is more important than this interview, turn off your cell phone or page until finished or leave them in your car
Overcoat/Raincoat/Umbrella - depending on the weather, best quality you can afford, keep clean and in good repair
Carry a small container of breath mints or spray and tissues. Do not smoke just prior to the interview if at all possible. The person with whom you are interviewing may not smoke or may be allergic to tobacco products

Women:

Suit or Dress - dark blue or black business style - dress hem should be modestly below the knee
Blouse - white or light contrasting color business style - cuffs and collar should not be frilly, neckline should be modestly cut
Shoes - black or subtle contrasting color, heels of medium height, in good repair and polished - most good shoe repair shops will polish your shoes for a few dollars - it is a good investment
Hose - dark or natural color, nothing metallic or glittery, no unusual patterns
Perfume - subtle, day-time fragrance
Hair/Make up - hair in your normal, natural style, make up should be natural in appearance
Jewelry - when in doubt, understated is always best, no dangling earrings or bracelets, nose-rings or other body part adornments are suggested for interviews
Nails - medium length, well trimmed and manicured, subtle colors are recommended
Portfolio/Tote - It is suggested that you not try to carry both a portfolio and a purse, rather a portfolio in a tote, both of good quality leather, a good quality pen or pencil, a note pad, include extra copies of your resume, reference list and your list of questions, you may also want to include an extra pair of hose, breath mints and tissues
PDA - If your must carry your personal data assistant, leave it in your portfolio
Cell Phone/Pager - Nothing else is more important than this interview, turn off your cell phone or page until finished or leave them in your car
Overcoat/Raincoat/Umbrella - depending on the weather, best quality you can afford, keep clean and in good repair
Do not smoke just prior to the interview if at all possible. The person with whom you are interviewing may not smoke or may be allergic to tobacco products.

Know where you are going:

Know the physical or street address of the interview location. If you are unfamiliar with the area, check the location on a street map. Or download a map and driving directions from one of the search engines such as Yahoo. Compare the time of the interview to known traffic conditions. If you have concerns and are able, make a "dry run" to check the length of time it will take you to get to the interview location. Arriving late or getting lost on your way to an interview is not the "first impression" that you want to make. However, in the event that you are delayed in traffic due to an accident, bridge closure, or mechanical trouble, call the person with whom you are to interview to let them know of your difficulties. It will show your respect for the other individual's time.

Know with whom you are interviewing:

This should be determined at the time the interview is confirmed. Know who you will interviewing with, positions held and how they fit into the interview scenario. The interview process is stressful enough without arriving to learn that you will be meeting with several people, either one-at-at-time or all together. This is also important so you know how much time to allot yourself for the interview. Also, some firms will ask that you fill out an employment application prior to interviewing. If at all possible, try to do this either before or after the initial interview. Ask that the form be sent to you before hand, or ask that you be permitted to take it with you to be completed and returned later.

The Interview

Plan to arrive 10 - 15 minutes early, but no earlier. Check in with the receptionist, but ask that you not be announced until the actual time for your interview. Ask to use a restroom so you can freshen up and check your appearance one last time. Also, take a few deep breaths to relax, and practice smiling in the mirror again. Take a drink of water and use a breath freshener.

When you finally meet the interviewer, SMILE and shake hands firmly (this is not the time to be macho, especially when shaking hands with a woman). Act energetic and genuinely happy to be there.

Remember, the first few seconds and minutes of the interview are the most important of the entire meeting (this is where interviews are one or lost). This is your chance to make that great "first impression." The interview will be observing you closely to see if you fit the image that he or she had created from reading your resume. The interviewer will also be determining whether or not you will fit into his or her organization from a personality standpoint.

From your resume, the interviewer will have formed a mental image of you and made some assumptions regarding your skills and experience to do the job for which you are interviewing. During the interview, he or she will attempt to confirm their first impressions about you. This is your chance (perhaps last chance) to sell the interviewer on your skills and experience.

Most managers will admit this, but they don't like to interview prospective employees any more than your or I like being interviewed. And, at the risk of ticking off a lot of people, I'll go a step further and say that it has been my experience that most managers are poor interviewers. Inter-viewing skills are not something that a lot of managers spend time developing or honing. So, with that in mind, this is your time to shine!

Remember, your resume got you the interview, but it won't get you the job. Approach the interview with a positive attitude. You are the best person for the job. You are the best candidate that the interviewer will ever meet. The job is yours to lose. You know your strengths, so "play them up" while minimizing your weaknesses.

Remember, an interview is a two-way communication event. Neither party should dominate the interview. Try to make it conversational rather than just trading questions and answers.

Be prepared to answer some difficult questions. Interviewers tend to ask the same questions of each job candidate. Questions like; ‘why should I hire you instead of another candidate," "where do you see yourself (or what do you want to be doing) in 5 years," "what do you like best about your present (or past) job," or "what do you like least about your (present or past) job." These are difficult questions if you don't have a prepared answer. Such questions by design, put you at a disadvantage. If you give an answer that is too strong, the interviewer may feel that you are over confident or egotistical. Some interviewers are afraid of strong candidates, especially if they themselves are insecure in their jobs. They may see you as a threat to their job future. You can be assertive without being overly aggressive.

If you are interviewing the direct-hire manager, the person to whom you would be reporting, chances are you might be asked questions that may be inappropriate. Hiring managers who don't interview frequently may not be current on federal regulations regarding questioning of prospective employees. These questions include such topics as; your age, marital status, religion or sexual preference. If asked such questions, do not start quoting federal prohibitions, rather state that you will be happy to provide such information at an appropriate time.

Interviews are like speeches or dates - they have a beginning, a middle and an end. Know where you are during the interview so you will be able to ask the questions on your list and receive satisfactory answers. At the end of the interview, ask about the next step in the process. Where is the hiring manager in the process, are they still interviewing candidates, etc? Ask for the interviewers business card so you will know where to send you thank you letter.

The interview should end on a light, positive note. Let the interviewer know if you are still interested in the position, recap your strengths as they relate to the job and the organization, smile and shake hands. Say thank you with sincerity.

The next step is writing a thank you letter. Remember, you are still selling yourself.

Thank You Letter

This is a simple, but important step to close out the interview. Your letter or note should be short, using the same format and font style as the cover letter you used to send your resume.

Keep the text brief and to the point. Thank the person for taking the time to meet with you to discuss the job opportunity and your skills and background. Restate your interest in the position and the company and indicate you look forward to continuing your discussion (see Sample Letter). Write a separate letter to each person with whom you interviewed at each company. If the interviewer requested copies of any articles or reports that you may have previously written, include them with the Thank You letter. However, be careful that any information contained in reports or documents created while employed by another company is not proprietary. Although widely popular, email is considered too impersonal for a thank you letter.

Mental Attitude

Throughout your entire job search, it is important to maintain a positive mental attitude. After each interview, it is natural to feel a letdown, the pressure is off for the moment. It is not unusual these days for hiring managers to interview four or more candidates the first time around, then pare that number down for a second round of interviews. Personally, I have never understood why some hiring managers insist on interviewing a multi-tude of candidates. To me, the more candidates you interview, the more confusing the process becomes. Many credit executives I know select no more than four candidates from the resumes received for interviews, then after the first round, recall only 2 or 3 of those for a second interview. Given busy work and travel schedules, even using a short list of candi-dates, the interview process may often take several weeks to complete. This can be an emotionally wearing process, especially if you don't make the cut for the final interviews.

Remember, if a company doesn't select you for the final interviews, it doesn't mean you weren't right for the job. There could be any number of reasons for the rejection. It could be a simple case of the lack of chemistry between you and the interviewer(s). It does happen and you should not let it discourage you. Just remember, if you are not selected for the final interview, or no job is offered, it only means that the company doesn't want the best person for the job - you! Don't let the turkeys keep you down when you want to soar with eagles.

(SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER)

Your Letterhead
Your Address etc.

(current date)

(full name, title and address of person you interviewed with)

Re: (Job title)

Dear:

Thank you for taking time to meet with me today to discuss the (job title) position with (company name). During our meeting, we discussed how my experience and skills (list specifics that apply) would make positive contributions to your (department or organization). I look forward to our next meeting to continue our discussion. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your name

Job Search in the Internet Age, Part I
Writing A Resume That Gets Results, Part II
Job Search By Workers 50 & Over, Part IV