Your Career

Feeling locked out of the job market?  There are many key elements to a successful job search--research, resume writing, filling out applications, interviewing, and follow-up.  The job interview puts you on the spot to show your key strengths.   Unlock the door to successful interviewing by following these keys:

Plan and prepare carefully Present your strengths clearly Be prepared for questions Be effective in your follow-up

Dress and Grooming

Dress and grooming are important and often critical factors in an employer's hiring decision. 

Despite an apparent trend towards more freedom of expression in dress in today's society, many employers have dress codes.  With most employers, first impressions will count.  Poor personal appearance and careless dress at an interview are major factors leading to the rejection of applicants.  Check out our grooming checklist:

• Hair should be combed, or arranged
• Use make-up appropriately
• Be clean shaven/trimmed
• Avoid tobacco, alcohol and spiced foods prior to interview
• Teeth should be brushed
• Wear clean, pressed clothing
• Shoes should be shined
• Face, hands, and fingernails should be clean

Present Your Strengths

The most effective way to present your strengths at a job interview is to tell the employer what you can do for him/her and then prove what you can do by giving specific examples of what you have done in the past.  Here are the steps to developing strong answers that will convince the prospective employer that your are right for the job.

Think about which skills, abilities, experiences, training and attitudes the prospective employer might want and need.  Think about what you have to offer in terms of the employer's wants and needs.  These are your strengths.  Think about specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your job-related strengths.

Provide examples about specific problems, challenges, situations or skills that prove your job-related abilities, attitudes, and skills.  Include specific details about for whom, when, where, what, how, and why.  Use numbers to show the employer how much, how many, how often, how long, or how fast.  Keep your examples brief, and be sure they are related to the job.

Show results of your actions that benefited your past employer.  Did you increase sales?   Cut costs?  Improve quality?  Reduce production time?  Improve customer satisfaction?  Save money?  Etc.

Specific examples of what you have accomplished in the past will allow the employer to forecast what you might accomplish in the future.  This is the key to presenting your strengths.

Be Prepared For Questions

Questions you will be asked will vary from employer to employer.  However, there are standard questions most interviewers ask.  The best way to relax and build self-confidence is practice, practice, practice!

Here are some sample interview questions and suggestions for how to answer the question.

Tell me about yourself.
Indicate trustworthiness, stability, job-related interests and skills, as well as other positive qualities.

What are your future plans?
Express your desire to gain more on-the-job experience.  Talk about wanting to become a valuable employee to the company.  If you have heard that the company is good to work for, say so.

Why do you want to work here?
State your interest in the company and be positive in your response.  Aspects to include may be the good reputation of the company in the community, you would be proud to tell others you work here, they are an honest employer, you have heard that the company appreciates good workers, and that there are pleasant working conditions.  The important thing to mention is that you like this type of work and you feel that you can do a good job.

What are your salary requirements?
Depending on the job, your qualifications and your self-confidence, either: 

1. State that you feel whatever the employer suggests would be fair, it is based on your experience, qualifications, and the company's set salary rate
2. Give the employer a salary range based on your qualifications, but make sure to let the interviewer know that it is flexible, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the job
3. Ask the employer what wage range was paid in the past for the position.

If possible, have the employer offer you the job before discussing wages.  Be careful about mentioning a wage figure below or above the standard rate.  If you mention a figure below the standard wage, you may wind up with less than you could have received.  If you ask for more than a standard wage, you may not get the job.

What is your greatest strength/weakness?
Mention something that is related to the job and explain how it would be useful to the company.  You want to present yourself as a good worker.  Turn weaknesses into strengths.  Examples:  "I see a project through to completion even though it requires working extra hours" or "I tend to be overly organized."

Do you have any questions?
An interviewer will often ask if you have questions.  Have some questions prepared before the interview.  It is a good opportunity to clear up any details, gain insight into the company, and show your interest in the position and company.   Here are some sample questions you could ask during the interview:

Will I work alone or with other people?
Who do I report to directly or indirectly?
What are the key tasks/responsibilities of the position?
Why is this company a good place to work?
Can you describe a typical work day?

To Close the Interview

People remember what they see first and hear last.

Do you feel I have the qualifications you are looking for?

Is there any additional information you would like to know about me?

Is there any area in which you feel I fall short of your requirements?

When are you planning on making a hiring decision?

Shake hands and tell the employer you look forward to hearing from him/her.

Before the interview is over, let the interviewer know that you really want the job and that you have something to contribute.  Be sure the interviewer has a telephone number where you can be reached during the interviewer's business hours for at least the next few days.  If you are currently employed, you may wish to set a time when you can call the interviewer back.

Sense when the interview is over and leave.  Do not linger in the doorway with unnecessary questions.  Close the interview positively.

Effective Follow-up

After you leave the interviewer's office, take a few minutes to mentally review and decide how you did.  Review your interview material again, and decide what to do differently, if anything, in your next interview.

Mail a thank-you letter to the employment interviewer the same day after a job interview.  The purpose of the letter is to restate your interest in the job.   It also serves to remind the interviewer of you and to give the interviewer a positive impression.

The letter may be neatly typed or handwritten.  It may be on note paper or personal stationary.  Always address the letter to the person who interviewed you.   (Be sure to center the text on the paper, even if the letter is very brief.)

If you have not heard from the interviewer after a reasonable amount of time, check back to see if they have been able to contact you.  Even if you do not get a job offer, let the company know you are still interested in working for them, and that you would like to be considered for other job openings.

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