interview tips
interview

Valuable Interview Success Tips and Advice

 

Knowing how to succeed in the job interview is important to landing the career you want. It doesn't matter where you studied, which school or college you attended, how much experience you have, or whom you know in the industry--if you aren't able to answer interview questions and interview successfully, you won't get the job. Our job interview guide gives you information about how to conduct interviews successfully and covers most job interview techniques. It also covers what to avoid during interview. Learning the best interview skills is important for every individual.


  • 1. 10 seconds to sell or say so long
    Unless your resume catches the interviewer's eye in 10 seconds it's over, you're done. So the big question is how do I catch the interviewer's eye? Here comes the best advice on how to get a job interview you'll ever get. Cater your resume to the job description!!! I can't stress this point enough. It's imperative that you cater your resume to each position you apply for. And I mean taking each line on the job description and writing a line on your resume to reflect your experience with regard to that line.

    Yes, it takes more time than sending the same resume to 100's of jobs, but you're far better off applying to a fraction of those jobs with a resume specifically written for each job. Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes. Their job is to hire the most qualified candidate. They've been given a set of qualifications to look for: aka the job description, and that's exactly what they're after, so give it to them!


  • 2. Be on time
    There is no excuse for it, none! You don't want a pissed off person interviewing you. Leave extra early, do whatever it takes. Blaming it on traffic or anything else doesn't matter (even if it's true).
  • 3. Cell phone off
    Obvious but easily forgotten, at least it was with 2 of the people interviewed. Double and triple check to make sure your cell phone ringer is turned off.
  • 4. Know the company, and why you want to work there
    Google the company you're interviewing for. Learn as much as you can about the company's mission, objectives, goals, and future plans. If you're asked why you want to work for the company, you best answer something better then, "I like the company's location", which was said.
  • 5. Bring resumes
    Your interviewer(s) will likely have a copy of your resume but bring spares. It shows you're prepared and serious about getting the job.
  • 6. Bring a notepad
    Very few people bring a notepad with them to a job interview. It's a very subtle thing that makes you stand out. Take notes when appropriate.
  • 7. Dress in a clean conservative manner
    Make sure you go into a job interview having showered and wearing clean clothes. If you like wearing cologne or perfume, don't wear any on the day of the interview. What's subtle smelling to you may be overwhelming to your interviewer.
  • 8. Profiles to private
    If you don't think interviewers Google you or look you up on Facebook or MySpace, you're crazy. Hiring managers I've talked to all do this, as one put it, "to weed out people who wouldn't be a good fit in the company's culture." Don't give them ammo to not like you, set your profiles to private.
  • 9. Don't make jokes
    Too many people think they are funny when in reality they're not. A job interview isn't the place to test your material. Be friendly and outgoing, save the jokes.
  • 10. Don't babble
    When answering a question, answer the question. Don't start out answering a question and then veer off to talk about something else. Make sure your answer directly reflects the question being asked.
  • 11. Don't badmouth a boss
    Bad mouthing a previous boss in a job interview is a huge negative. They may have been the worst boss in the world but expressing that in a job interview is a huge mistake.
  • 12. Don't flirt with the interviewer
    Common sense but apparently needs to be stated.
  • 13. Don't play with your face/hair
    Interviews can be a nervous experience but rubbing your chin, twirling your hair, or anything else along those lines makes you look like you're lying or lacking confidence, both not good.
  • 14. Less is more
    Sometimes certain details of your life are better left unsaid.
  • 15. Have good eye contact
    Staring at the floor, ceiling, or wall when speaking or listening makes you appear disinterested. Again, simple and obvious but happens way more then you'd think.
  • 16. Have goals
    Maybe you don't have any idea where you want to be in a few years professionally but figure out something to say. If you don't and you're asked, you appear un-ambitious, which leads an interviewer to think you'd be a lazy employee.
  • 17. Have accomplishments
    Be prepared to talk about something that you're proud of accomplishing, whether professionally or personally (or a failure and what you learned from it).
  • 18. Have passion
    Be able to express why you want to work in that field/industry and what you do to further your knowledge (books, blogs you read). The more intelligent or informed you are the more impressive you'll look.
  • 19. Ask Questions
    At the end of the job interview make sure you have some questions to ask. If the interviewer doesn't offer you a chance, ask to ask. Again, it reinforces your strong interest in the job.
  • 20. Send a thank you note
    It's easy to send an email but take the extra effort to mail your interviewer a hand written thank you note. It reinforces your interest in the job. It doesn't need to be long, just make it sincere.
  • There you have it. The best job interview tips you'll ever get. Stick to them and you'll be on your way to getting hired!

    Below are questions you may want to ask the Interviewer: 


  • 1. Why is this position open?
  • 2. How often has it been filled in the past five years? What were the main reasons?
  • 3. What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position?
  • 4. What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job?
  • 5. What is most pressing? What would you like to have done in the next 3 months.
  • 6. What are some of the long term objectives you would like to see completed?
  • 7. What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this position?
  • 8. How do you think these could best be handled?
  • 9. What type of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances. etc?
  • 10. What freedom would I have in determining my own work objectives, deadlines, and methods of measurement?
  • 11. What advancement opportunities are available for the person who is successful in this position, and within what time frame?
  • 12. In what ways has this organization been most successful in terms of products and services over the years?
  • 13. What significant changes do you foresee in the near future?
  • 14. How is one evaluated in this position?
  • 15. What accounts for success within the company?
  • 16. These questions are presented only as interviewing guidelines. They are meant to help you prepare for the interview. Some questions may or may not be appropriate for your interviewing situation.
  • 17. By practicing your responses to some of these questions, hopefully you will not be taken off guard if asked one of them. Most importantly, relax, go with the flow, and before you know it, you'll be in your next job.
  • Interview Preparation Area

    Below are questions you may be asked in the interview:


  • Tell me about yourself? (try to hold your response to 2 minutes)
  • What do you know about our company?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What can you do for us that someone else can't?
  • What do you look for in a job?
  • What skills and qualifications are essential for success in the position of ______?
  • How long would it take for you to make a meaningful contribution?
  • How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan?
  • Describe your management style.
  • What do you believe is the most difficult part of being a supervisor of people?
  • Why are you looking for a new career?
  • How would your colleagues describe you?
  • How would your boss describe you?
  • How would you describe yourself?
  • What do you think of your present or past boss?
  • What were the five most significant accomplishments in your last assignment?
  • What were the five most significant accomplishments in your career so far?
  • Can you work well under deadlines or pressure?
  • How much do you expect if we offer you this position?
  • Why do you want to work for us?
  • What other positions are you considering?
  • Have you kept up in your field with additional training?
  • What are your career goals?
  • What are your strong points?
  • What are your weak points?
  • How did you do in school?
  • What position do you expect to have in 2 to 5 years?
  • If you took the job what would you accomplish in the first year?
  • What was wrong with your current or last position?
  • What kind of hours are you used to working or would like to work?
  • Do you have your reference list with you? (Remember don't give it out unless it is asked for).
  • Can you explain your salary history?
  • What questions didn't I ask that you expected?
  • Do you have any question for me? (See Questions for the Interviewer that you might want to ask below).