Interview Nook - Archives

The focus for both sides should be on the immediate benefits you can add to and get from
the company. Use examples; emphasize thought processes rather than results;
and turn negatives into positives.

Research,
research, research

Be ready to rattle off your achievements and how your current projects fit
in with the goals of the prospective employer. Research industry trends and
know where the company excels and where it might need your talents. Use
media, reference books and sites, and your contacts in the industry.

Do enough research to speak authoritatively during the interview. Look at the
company's recent stock price if it is publicly traded. Find out its values
through the mission statement and the recent comings and goings of its
executives. Keep current on relevant news and check for late-breaking events
that could affect the business.

Interviews come in various guises.

• 
  Screening interviews narrow the applicant pool. You might be screened
  without knowing it, in person or otherwise. Career fairs, for example,
  provide screening opportunities. Job applicants might also be screened by
  phone.


• 
  Electronic or phone interviews may be used when you are relocating.
  Treat virtual interviews as if they were face to face, even if you are in
  your pajamas. Keep any materials you might need for the conversation at
  hand.


• 
  Sequential interviews, where you visit different interviewers one
  after another within a company, are the most common. Treat each interview
  as though it were the first.


• Panel
  interviews, where you face a panel of interviewers, or group
  interviews, where multiple candidates are interviewed at once, are less
  common but might also occur.

It's all in the package you present

Interviewers will probably ply you with questions about your education,
experience, skills, and long-term career goals as they look for the
following.

• 
  Confidence without arrogance. Show you work well with others as equals
  while exhibiting the confidence and assertiveness of a self-starter.
  


• Reason.
  The prospective employer looks for how well you process information.
  


• 
  Communication. The interviewer looks for social savvy, small talk, and
  interpersonal ability with coworkers.


• 
  Success. Show how you have used your skills by providing measurable
  statistics and explain the thought process behind your actions.
  


• 
  Organization. Show your level of organization by your dress, manner,
  and coordination handling the papers and equipment you bring to the
  interview.


• 
  Enthusiasm. Let how much you want the job shine through and add a
  positive spin to negative situations.

Every
question counts

Interviewers might pose behavioral questions to get an idea of how you might
act in the office. Certain banking, finance, and consulting employers use
case questions to test your analytical skills. Hypothetical questions offer
a picture of how you might handle a situation you have yet to encounter. You
may face these types of questions if you are interviewing for a job in a new
industry or for one with more responsibilities.

Respond to the interview questions with articulate, focused answers but make
sure to get some answers for yourself.

• Ask
  about attitude and environment. If the interviewer shows you around,
  pay attention to the work environment. Listen to what employees say;
  notice how they dress and the relative diversity or homogeneity of the
  workforce.


• Ask
  about training. Training programs help facilitate your transition into
  a new position. Look for companies willing to enhance your skills and
  knowledge, regardless of job level and tenure.


• Ask
  about management. Ask about the relationships workers have with senior
  management and whether one department is held in higher regard than
  another. Find out whether your department has an advocate before senior
  staff or how strong an advocate you will be able to be.


• Ask
  about time, travel, and relocation. Find out the time commitment
  expected from you. Ask whether the company expects you to travel or
  relocate and whether they will reimburse you.


• Ask
  about promotions and reviews. A good rate of promotion is 18 months to
  two years. Performance reviews, which may include a raise, should take
  place once a year.


• Ask
  about compensation. The interviewer is likely to cover this topic
  eventually, but make sure all your questions are answered. Does the
  company pay competitive salaries in general? Does it offer cash bonuses,
  stock options, paid holidays, and gifts like meals and tickets?
  


• Ask
  about turnover. If employees are leaving in droves, you know something
  is wrong. Workers may be dissatisfied with their pay, management, or work
  culture; or there may have been layoffs. Ask whether the company is in
  talks on acquisitions or mergers. Find out about any current litigation
  and its possible impact.

What happens next? The interviewer will contact you about the job if the company is
interested. Ask how long you can expect to wait. Contact the interviewer in
the interim if you have questions or for additional materials or references.
But the decision will depend mostly on your interview. Do your best to leave
a great impression.