A resume
and cover letter by themselves can't get you the job you want. You need
to "prep" yourself before the interview. First, let's look at
interviewing from the hiring organization's point of view.
What are the
biggest "turnoffs" for potential employers?
One of the ways to help yourself perform well at an interview is to look
at the main reasons why organizations don't hire the people they
interview, according to those who do the interviewing. Notice that "lack
of appropriate background" (or lack of experience) is the last
reason for not being offered the job.
The 14 most common reasons job hunters are
not offered jobs (according to the companies who do
the interviewing and hiring):
1. Low level of accomplishment
2. Poor attitude, lack of self-confidence
3. Lack of goals/objectives
4. Lack of enthusiasm
5. Lack of interest in the company's business
6. Inability to sell or express yourself
7. Unrealistic salary demands
8. Poor appearance
9. Lack of maturity, no leadership potential
10. Lack of extracurricular activities
11. Lack of preparation for the interview, no knowledge
about the company
12. Objecting to travel
13. Excessive interest in security and benefits
14. Inappropraite background
Department of Labor studies have proven that smart,
"prepared" job hunters can increase their beginning salary while
getting a job in half the time it normally takes. (4½
months is the average national length of a job search) Here, from PREP,
are some questions that can prepare you to find a job faster.
Are you in the "right" frame of
mind?
It seems unfair that we have to look for a job just when
we're lowest in morale. Don't worry too much if you're nervous before
interviews. You're supposed to be a little nervous, especially if the
job means a lot to you. But the best way to kill unnecessary fears about
job hunting is through 1. making sure you have a great
resume and 2. preparing yourself for the interview. Here
are three main areas you need to think about before each interview.
Do you know what the company does?
Don't walk into an interview giving the impression that,
"If this is Tuesday, this must be General Motors."
Find out before the interview what the company's main
product or service is. Where is the company heading? Is it in a "growth"
or declining industry? (Answers to these questions may influence whether
or not you want to work there!) Information about
what the company does is in annual reports, in newspaper and magazine
articles, and on the Internet.
Do you know what you want to do for the company?
Before the interview, try to decide how you see yourself
fitting into the company. Remember, "lack of exact background"
the company wants is usually the last reason people are not offered jobs.
Understand before you go to each interview that the burden will be on
you to "sell" the interviewer on why you're the best person
for the job and the company.
How will you answer the critical
interview questions?
Put yourself in the interviewer's position and think about
the questions you're most likely to be asked. Here are some of the most
commonly asked interview questions:
What are your greatest strengths?
Don't say you've never thought about it! Go into an
interview knowing the three main impressions you want to leave about
yourself, such as "I'm hard-working, loyal, and an imaginative
cost-cutter."
What are your greatest weaknesses?
Don't confess that you're lazy or have trouble meeting
deadlines! Confessing that you tend to be a "workaholic" or
"tend to be a perfectionist and sometimes get frustrated when others
don't share my high standards" will make your prospective employer
see a "weakness" that he likes. Name a weakness that your
interviewer will perceive as a strength.
What are your long-range goals?
If you're interviewing with Microsoft, don't say you
want to work for IBM in five years! Say your long-range goal is to be
with the company, contributing to its goals and success.
What motivates you to do your
best work?
Don't get dollar signs in your eyes here! "A challenge"
is not a bad answer, but it's a little cliched. Saying something like
"troubleshooting" or "solving a tough problem" is
more interesting and specific. Give examples if you can.
What do you know about this
organization?
Don't say you never heard of it until they asked you
to the interview! Name an interesting positive thing you learned about
the company recently from your research. Remember, company executives
can sometimes feel rather "maternal" about the company they
serve. Don't get onto a negative area of the company if you can think
of positive facts you can bring up. Of course, if you learned in your
research that the company's sales seem to be taking a nose-dive, or
that the company president is being prosecuted for taking bribes, you
might politely ask your interviewer to tell you something that could
help you better understand what you've been reading. Those are the kinds
of company facts that can help you determine whether or not you want
to work there.
Why should I hire you?
"I'm unemployed and available" is the wrong
answer here! Get back to your strengths and say that you believe the
organization could benefit by a loyal, hard-working cost-cutter like
yourself.
In conclusion, you should decide in advance, before you
go to the interview, how you will answer each of these commonly asked
questions. Have some practice interviews with a friend to role-play and
build your confidence.
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