Bound for Success Interviewing- Chapter 5

To start the New Year we will be posting our frequently asked for series on interviewing. It will be broken down over the next six postings. The breakdown will be:
1- Preparing yourself for the interview
2- Doing practice interviews
3- The most often asked questions at an interview
4- What you should bring up at an interview
5- The dynamics of a job interview
6- Understanding the stresses facing the interviewer


DYNAMICS OF THE JOB INTERVIEW

Expectations of the Interviewer:
It is important for you to satisfy the basic expectations of the interviewer. Wear the style of clothing appropriate to the type of job you are seeking. Arrive well groomed from head to heels.
Bring extra copies of your resume.
Confirm the date and time of your appointment in advance and arrive five minutes before the scheduled time.
You want to generate an impression of energy and self-confidence as you meet the interviewer. Smile; look them in the eye; shake hands firmly. Convey that you are genuinely glad to meet them; be relaxed. Be prepared to like the person you are meeting. Intuitions are a funny thing – if you do not like them, they will be able to sense it and probably won’t like you either. Not many people are hired by folks who do not like them. Most interviewers want you to be relaxed and will start out an interview with small talk in an effort to make you feel at home. Look around the office and see if there are any personal items (college memorabilia, hobbies, crafts, pictures, etc.) on which you might comment and use to form a bond and rapport with the interviewer. Don’t press it – if there is nothing, let it go – you don’t want to look stupid.
Realize that you have done your best to prepare yourself for the interview. Go to the interview with the attitude that you are ready and interested in finding out even more about the position and company and whether or not you want to work for them. If you do not get this particular position, it is not a judgment upon you as a person. Maybe it was not a match; maybe you didn’t do your homework well enough; maybe you weren’t interested after you found out “the rest of the story.”

The Purpose of the Interview:
Keep fresh in your mind the goals you have set for yourself in this interview.
First, you are meeting with a hiring authority to convince them that you have the skills and abilities needed for the position.
Second, you are also in the position of the screener. You want to be active in the interview, not passive. You want to discover as much information as possible about the job and the person to whom you would be reporting so that you can decide if this is indeed the position, company and environment in which you can do your best job and grow professionally.
Third, you want to answer the following questions that will be in the front of the interviewer’s mind, whether they ask them directly or not:
1) Why are you here? Why have you chosen our company?
2) Precisely what can you do for our company?
3) What kind of personality do you have – how would you fit in with the other employees?

Presenting yourself effectively in an interview requires the ability not only to listen to what the other person is saying, but also to listen to what they are thinking.

By thoroughly preparing yourself to meet you interviewing goals, you will put yourself ahead of most other applicants for the position.

To start the New Year we will be posting our frequently asked for series on interviewing. It will be broken down over the next six postings. The breakdown will be:1- Preparing yourself for the interview2- Doing practice interviews3- The most often asked questions at an interview4- What you should bring up at an interview5- The dynamics of a job interview6- Understanding the stresses facing the interviewer

Bound for Success Interviewing- Chapter 4

To start the New Year we will be posting our frequently asked for series on interviewing. It will be broken down over the next six postings. The breakdown will be:
1- Preparing yourself for the interview
2- Doing practice interviews
3- The most often asked questions at an interview
4- What you should bring up at an interview
5- The dynamics of a job interview
6- Understanding the stresses facing the interviewer


WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING UP


PICK UP ON THE CONCERNS OF THE EMPLOYER.
They may be small, simple, obvious ones (e.g., the previous employee was always late) or complex, relating to cutting costs, increasing productivity, improving morale. Show how you can help to promote these goals.

ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY.
Here is where your research and listening skills during the interview will help. What are the company’s goals; what does it look for in an employee? “I noticed you are remodeling your unit on x street – is there a company-wide renovation plan in effect?” “Are you planning more products like your new x snacks?”

REMOVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT HIRING YOU.
Listen for any reservations the interviewer may have about your qualifications, abilities or personality, and try to answer them in a positive way.

ASK IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN TELL ABOUT YOURSELF.
Make it easy for the employer to hire you.

ASK FOR THE JOB.
“I’d very much like to work for you. What is the next step?”

Other questions to ask are:
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PERSON WHO HAD THE POSITION?
WHAT WERE THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS FACING THIS PERSON?
WHAT ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES THAT THE PERSON WITH THIS JOB
WOULD NEED TO ACCOMPLISH?
WHAT IS YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLE?
WHERE COULD A PERSON GO FROM THIS POSITION?

At the end of the interview, after you have asked for the job (if you are, in fact, still interested), ask what the next step will be and how soon they expect to make a decision. Don’t leave the interview wondering whether you will ever hear from them again.

Bound for Success Interviewing- Chapter 3

To start the New Year we will be posting our frequently asked for series on interviewing. It will be broken down over the next six postings. The breakdown will be:
1- Preparing yourself for the interview
2- Doing practice interviews
3- The most often asked questions at an interview
4- What you should bring up at an interview
5- The dynamics of a job interview

6- Understanding the stresses facing the interviewer


THE MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.
Talk about the parts of your background that relate to the job and make sure you have the qualitative and quantitative facts to support your presentation. Interviewers use this question not only for the actual information you will supply, but as a means of assessing your style and poise. By and large, they are not interested in hearing a lot of details about your childhood days. If the interviewer asks about your non-work interests and hobbies, respond with enthusiasm.

WHAT TYPE OF POSITION ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?
Make sure that you are interested in the position for which you are there to interview; otherwise the company will think you are not seriously committed to what they have to offer.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
Take one of these responses and expand upon it: “Where could I be?” “What programs do you have?” “In the same company, but with more responsibility.” Rosemary Bowman, staff specialist for Mountain Bell, advises: “Don’t say you want to be president of the company – this tells me that you’re unrealistic and haven’t really studied the firm. Instead, take the time to learn about the company structure and then select several company positions you might plausibly achieve in five years.”

Never, EVER, say, “I want to own a business of my own.” Hiring and training a new employee costs thousands of dollars – you want to assure the interviewer that if hired you plan on sticking around and making the investment pay off.

Employers like goal-oriented workers. Saying you have no idea what you’ll want in five years may score negative points. Offer reasons to support your ambitious plans. Maybe you plan on obtaining a post-graduate degree or some other accomplishment to help you achieve your goals.

ARE YOU WILLING TO TRANSFER?
You cannot predict the future. Unless you have serious, permanent reasons that make it impossible for you to ever move, it is best to respond with a “yes.”

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?
Accept this invitation to sell yourself by citing specific assets you know the employer desires. Be ready with at least three examples, along with supporting accomplishments that relate to the position for which you are interviewing. Interviewers like to hear abstract qualities – loyalty, willingness to work hard, politeness and promptness – expressed in concrete terms. Avoid the simple generalization. If you are good at something, say so and then back it up with an example. “I am very good with people – because of that ability I have been able to establish my current very profitable team and maintain it with the lowest turnover rate in the entire company.”

WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Nobody is perfect. Don’t be intimidated; don’t be flip. You do have weaknesses, and if you can’t think of any to share, it may demonstrate that you have no real insight into yourself. However, this is not the time to bare your soul and confess all of your imperfections. Be ready with at least two examples of strengths phrased as weaknesses, such as, “I tend to get really involved at work and think about it at home,” “I’m too hard on myself when I make mistakes,” or “I sometimes have a difficult time delegating and tend to do all the work myself.” Make sure that you do not bring up a weakness that would disqualify you from the job (e.g., a salesman who hates to travel or a controller who hates details).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF….?
Your solution to whatever problem posed by the interviewer is not really as important as maintaining a positive attitude. Be inventive enough to have several possibilities. Ask questions to clarify the situation, and show you are aware of various possible mitigating variables.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR OUR COMPANY?
Respond with one or two positive personal statements related to the company, such as “I like working with a dynamic organization,” or “I have always wanted to be with an industry leader.”

WHY SHOULD THE COMPANY HIRE YOU?
This is one of the most often-asked questions. If you are not ready to answer any other question, this is the one to make sure you are prepared for. Summarize your experience and accomplishments in a concise manner, just like you did in the Experience section of your resume, and direct them toward the job and its requirements.

WHY ARE YOU LEAVING OR DID LEAVE YOUR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER?
Never bad mouth a previous employer or use negative clichés. By all means, be honest and use positive reasons. For example, you are seeking greater advancement opportunities; looking for a better financial package; want to relocate to a warmer climate; or want the challenge of new and greater responsibility. If you were terminated, put it in the best possible light. For example: “We had a difference of opinion on a particular matter (be specific). I have learned a great deal from that experience which I can use effectively here.” You do not want to appear to be a person who constantly moves from job to job, every time something goes a little wrong. Use reasons that the interviewer can relate to and identify with.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS JOB?
Here is another opportunity to talk about your strengths that will be of value to the company. Be specific, talk about something you’ve accomplished. “I loved taking a concept and turning it into reality. For example, I was responsible for successfully developing a new merchandising program for all of our stores that would be directed more towards non-food items.” Be aware of the fact that you are giving the interviewer clues as to your strengths and weaknesses and about the type of atmosphere and projects that you like. The example above would be devastating for a person interviewing for a position where they could not have the opportunity to develop conceptual models.

YOU HAVE A WEAK FORMAL EDUCATION.
Turn the liability into an asset. Point out the training on the job and the real-life education you have had. Try not to be too strong or defensive, as it is very possible that the interviewer does have a strong formal education, and you don’t want to make any statement that will attack the value of their training. A good answer, if true, could include your track record in positions where you have worked alongside or over people with stronger academic credentials.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
Highlight pastimes that would be an asset to the job you seek. Companies are looking for well-rounded individuals, and your outside activities reflect a whole other side to you. They also give added insights into your likes and aptitudes. For example, if you enjoy working with your home computer, you may be very analytical and enjoy cerebral challenges.

WHAT TYPE OF SALARY DID YOU HAVE IN MIND?
Try to deal with this question at the end of your interview, not the beginning. Let the employer decide that they want you first and make sure you want them. If this is one of the first questions, try to stall by suggesting that you would like to discuss the job itself first. I have counseled many people to wait until the end of the interview to discuss salary. Literally, there are many jobs that I personally would do and accept subsistent wages for in order to get the job, and others for which I would not accept for a million dollars a year. Judge the company and position before pinning yourself to a figure to see what you think the position is worth.

When you get around to discussing salary, make sure that you suggest a range rather than a specific figure. If you are asked what salary you were previously making, be honest – this is an easily verified answer. If the amount you were making was low but had exceptional benefits or other perks that were important to you, do not forget to mention them. Do not neglect to investigate the fringe benefit package. Often times it is better to have an extensive benefit package and a lower salary than have to pay excessive amounts for your family’s insurance, etc.

SILENCE.
You have finished your answer, waiting on the next question, and there is none. Instead, there is just plain silence. You feel uncomfortable – did you leave something out of the last answer? Do they want you to elaborate? Under no circumstances say anything else. Once you have answered the question, relax. Some interviewers use this technique to see how you can handle stress. If you have some questions to ask and the time is passing by quietly, take control and, with poise, ask your question.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS.
These are questions you do not really have to answer. You could tell the interviewer that the question is off limits or illegal, but this will likely antagonize them and leave you without a job offer. Usually, they have an underlying, not necessarily insidious, motive for asking. For example, “What does your husband do?” may translate into “Might your husband’s employer ask your family to relocate some time in the future?” Unless you are incensed by the nature of the question (in which case you should not answer it), it is best to honestly reply. If you decide that you don’t want to work for a company that asks that type of question, you do not have to accept the position. If you do not answer, you may never get the chance to say no. I do not suggest that you answer demeaning questions or put up with disgusting or impolite behavior. You don’t want to work for any company that condones or allows that type of activity. Just excuse yourself and leave.

DISCRIMINATORY QUESTIONS.
These are hybrids of the personal questions and are even more insidious. Questions like “Are you planning on getting married and having children in the future?” In response, simply ask a question like “Is that a prerequisite for this position?” Chances are, the interviewer will reconsider pressing the question, and you will both be out of the situation gracefully.

Other questions that might be asked:
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS JOB AND THIS COMPANY?
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR?
WHAT WERE THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS YOU FACED?
HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THEM?
WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT-TERM GOALS?
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN YOUR CAREER?
WHAT WERE YOUR BEST SUBJECTS IN SCHOOL?
YOUR BACKGROUND SUGGESTS THAT YOU ARE OVER-QUALIFIED FOR
THE POSITION – WHY WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED?
YOUR BACKGROUND SUGGESTS THAT YOU ARE UNDER-QUALIFIED FOR
THE POSITION – WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THE JOB?
WHAT IS YOUR MANAGEMENT PHILOSPHY?
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN PEOPLE?
HOW DO YOU HANDLE FIRING PEOPLE?
WHAT OTHER JOBS OR COMPANIES ARE YOU CONSIDERING?
ARE YOU CREATIVE?

Bound For Sucess Interviewing- Chapter 2

To start the New Year we will be posting our frequently asked for series on interviewing. It will be broken down over the next six postings. The breakdown will be:
1- Preparing yourself for the interview
2- Doing practice interviews
3- The most often asked questions at an interview
4- What you should bring up at an interview
5- The dynamics of a job interview
6- Understanding the stresses facing the interviewer

PRACTICE INTERVIEWS- TIME WELL SPENT

If you are the type of individual who exudes self-confidence and welcomes the challenge of meeting with a hiring authority, you probably don’t need any preliminary interviewing experience. You are secure enough about the positive impression you will create to go directly into the job interview itself.

However, most individuals faced with the prospect of a one-on-one discussion with a manager they do not know, when the job they want is at stake, tend to feel nervous and tongue-tied. These feelings are normal and understandable. One way to relieve this kind of tension is to gain experience in the interviewing process - first in a low-stress, non-threatening environment, and then in practice high-stress interviews for the specific job itself.

Low-Stress Practice Interviews:
This technique is designed to help you become comfortable talking with people you do not know. In this type of interview, you are seeking knowledge about an interest or enthusiasm you have; you are not looking for a job. Approach the interview by talking with:
Someone who works in an environment that fascinates you – a museum, gourmet shop, TV station, etc.
Someone who has the same hobby or leisure activity that you have – gardening, skiing, painting, music, etc.
Someone who is working on an issue that interests you – ecology, assertiveness, lower taxes, etc.

Just “drop in,” do not formalize this process and heighten your anxieties by arranging an appointment. For example, on one of your trips to a museum, talk with the curator who may be arranging an exhibit; begin a conversation with a fellow visitor to a flower show; or stop by after an assertiveness class has just ended and ask the instructor for ten minutes of their time. Because you are suggesting a brief conversation about a topic you both enjoy, a mutual enthusiasm, the individual will usually be happy to talk with you.

Four questions which you may ask that will give you experience in the “interviewing process” are as follows:
1) How did you become interested in this type of work?
2) What do you like best about doing this?
3) What do you like least about doing this?
4) Where else can I find people who share this interest/enthusiasm?

Practice doing this type of interviewing until you feel relaxed and self-confident.

High-Stress Practice Interviews:
Very few companies practice this type of interviewing. They have found that it is not a good technique to be abrupt and adversarial. They attempt to relieve your anxiety and allow you to interview in your best possible manner. However, it is possible to run into a company or person who still believes in high-stress interviewing. Regardless, it is very good practice for you to interview using this framework. Practice being interviewed by your spouse or a friend, especially someone knowledgeable about the industry who can judge your responses from an educated platform. Practice the answers to typical questions such as those listed below. However, DO NOT memorize, or you will sound like a recording. Just sort out your thoughts. Don’t worry if you are nervous – it’s very natural -- and most interviewers expect you to be a slight bit nervous at the start of the interview. By practicing, you will get rid of a lot of your anxieties.

Do not get too cute -- pretend that the person who is doing the practice interview is someone you are meeting for the first time, and behave accordingly.

Research has shown that the individual who talks about 50% of the time during an interview is more likely to get the position. The person who talks too much has no time to hear what the interviewer is saying, and the feeling projected is that they aren’t really interested in the company. The person who talks too little can convey the impression that they have something to hide or are not a self-starter. It is very important to try and be an equal partner in directing the discussion. Neither undersell yourself nor monopolize the conversation.

Be sure that you represent your accomplishments honestly. Stress your strongest qualifications for the job in question. Use specific examples of successful past performance. Prepare in advance – write down what you know to be your main skills, and then next to them the accomplishments and achievements within in which you have demonstrated them. You must be able to give the interviewer a thorough explanation of the skills that will qualify you for the position.

Bound for Success Interviewing

To start the New Year we will be posting our frequently asked for series on interviewing. It will be broken down over the next six postings. The breakdown will be:
1- Preparing yourself for the interview
2- Doing practice interviews
3- The most often asked questions at an interview
4- What you should bring up at an interview
5- The dynamics of a job interview

6- Understanding the stresses facing the interviewer


PREPARING YOURSELF FOR THE INTERVIEW

RESEARCH: Learn as much as you possibly can about the company you are about to visit. Go to the library and see if they have any information on the company. Check any trade publications (e.g., Supermarket News, Restaurant News, Food Engineering, Institutional Distributors, etc.) for articles or other information on the company. If it is a publicly owned corporation, contact a stockbroker and request any information he might have on the company, including annual reports and 10 K’s. If at all possible, get out to one or more of the company’s units or sample their products and see what the company is all about. Even if you are interviewing for a support position (e.g., Warehouse Manager or Controller), it is important to be familiar with the operations in the field. NOTE: You are making this visit in order to be conversant about the company, NOT to evaluate or pick apart the operation, which could be disastrous. Talk with the employees to learn about what they do, what their concerns are, and how they like working for the company. Be sneaky, and UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES let any of the employees know why you are there. Find out as much as you can about the person you will be interviewing with and their responsibilities. Research – do your homework – What projects are currently in progress? What challenges are facing the company? What is anticipated for the near future? How do you get answers through such questions? By talking and researching and listening.

After you organize all of this information, give yourself time to reflect upon it. You want to convince the hiring authority that it is in their best interest to hire you. Analyze your own work experience in light of all you have learned about the company and the position to determine the most effective ways you could be an asset to the company. Be prepared to show both through your written presentation and your interview the specific ways in which your skills and experience match the qualifications needed for the position.

Remember that the manager’s primary interests are not your needs (what you want from the company or the position). Their primary objective is to satisfy the needs of their corporation. Thus, you want to prove just how you can help them achieve that objective.

There are five different types of interviews that you might be exposed to in any combination. They are:

Screen In/Screen Out Interview – Most of the time conducted by a member of the personnel department of a company or an agency that is representing them in order to ensure that the candidates passed on to the true decision makers are fully qualified as to the job’s specifications.

In-depth/Pattern Interview – Sometimes administered by the personnel department, but most frequently by the person to whom you will be reporting. It is more technically oriented; focused on personal chemistry, philosophies and specific job responsibilities.

“Horse Show” Interview – Usually a series of interviews – many lasting only fifteen minutes or so to give you a chance to meet a lot of people within the company – other department heads, your potential boss’s boss; people who would be your subordinates. These usually take place when you are getting close to a job offer and are very important. Do not take them for granted – it is very easy to trip up and do or say something that might cost you the job.

Psychological/Honesty Interview – Conducted by the personnel department, an in-house or retained psychologist or a polygraph or voice stress technician. Honesty interviews are becoming science. The psychological tests are best dealt with in a relaxed, forthright and honest manner.

Final Interview – Done normally by the person to whom you would be reporting and includes an opportunity for each to ask any last-minute questions and then negotiate a salary package.

You may be asked to participate in any number or combination of these types of interviews. Each one is very important; you do not have the job until you have that offer and acceptance in your pocket and you start to work on that first day.