1) Keeping your Cool

2) Preparedness

3) Communication

Thought the first 2 may be easy to master, Communication needs some practise and concentration. Most people consider this to be unimportant if you knew the in's and out's of the job. Knowledge hidden from the interviewer is of know use. You need to express yourself and your capabilities as good as you can. At every point of the interview you must keep in mind what your resume contains and must stress on all points in favour of both the required qualifications and your ability to perform on the job. A good practise would be to revise your plus points well. Finally, Be precise, Be sharp, Be prepared.

The suggestions below will help you in answering unintended questions from the interviewer.

TRICKY QUESTIONS

An interviewer will give you many chances to put your foot in your mouth.

"TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF." Don't begin at your birth--give a very brief rundown including education, previous job titles, etc. (about 30 seconds) then say "That's rather general, perhaps I can answer something more specific." Don't be graphic--like the applicant when asked about his health, explained he was an amputee and showed the interviewer his wooden leg.

"WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?" Be prepared to give examples of your strong qualities such as: "I keep abreast of technology", "I attend to details", "I'm good at delegating," etc.

"WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?" Although it is tempting to say "I have NO weaknesses", a better answer is a positive sounding" I am sometimes impatient. This drives me to work excessively", "If I start on a project, I sometimes forget to go to lunch", "I am not a good speller, so I keep a dictionary handy."

"WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE?" The applicant should discuss the strategy with us, but for the candidate, this usually sticky question is easily answered. A good response is: "As you know, I have a job and wasn't actively looking, but I heard about your company's opportunity from the recruiter (individual's name). From the positive things he said, I felt I should meet with you to see if I would be an asset to (company's name)."

"WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN FIVE YEARS?" The company wants to find out how ambitious you are, but also wants to know what you are willing to do to achieve your goals. Be prepared to tell your interviewer your goals, but stress your ability to do the job at hand. Response could be: "I'm here to let you know that I am the best person for the job. If in the future you feel I would be a candidate for a higher level position, I know I wouldn't be passed up."

MORE QUESTIONS FOR WHICH TO BE PREPARED (be prepared for these if they apply to you.)


"How would you manage your people?"
"What is the most important part of selling?"
"How will you be an asset to our company?"
"How would you identify the market place?"
"How would you plan your time?"

STRESS ACHIEVEMENTS:
Without seeming arrogant or boastful, express your abilities and accomplishments. Your interviewer is not a mind-reader. After an interview, we asked a candidate how it went. The candidate responded affirmatively: there wasn't anything he couldn't handle. However when we asked if he told the interviewer, he said "I didn't get a chance."


BE ENTHUSIASTIC--LET THEM KNOW YOU WANT THE JOB:
Regardless of how you feel the interview went, make sure the interviewer knows you want the job! Why ask for the position if you are not sure you want it? -Because you want the offer-. Don't fear commitment. The final package may be better than you expected. Asking for the job doesn't have to mean doing so literally. It means implying so, in an enthusiastic interested way. Many hiring managers will not require the candidate to satisfy all the job requirements if the candidate shows ENTHUSIASM!


ONE-LINERS THAT KNOCKED OUT THE OFFER

The scenario is the same: every thing goes well in the interview and then the candidate pops a one-liner and the company does -not- make the offer (or withdraws an offfer). Here are actual examples:

"I like what I see and I want the job, but I want my wife to meet you and the others because she is a good judge of character."

"I see you have minorities and women here. I guess you're under pressure to hire them."

"That's sloppy work. No wonder the competition is stepping on you."

DRESS:
Dress is an important part of the interview. With few exceptions, the rule is still the same--wear a conservative two or three piece suit, dress shirt and tie. "Conservative" does not mean old fashioned. Conservative is: no loud colors, no flamboyant jewelry, no jet-set fashions. This holds true even if you are interviewing for a position for which casual dress is appropriate day-to-day. Even if you feel your interviewer will be dressed casually, you should look business-like. The exception would be if the interviewer invited you to dress in a certain way. Ranking among the worst dressing offense are: worn, un-polished or dirty shoes; socks that don't match suit; short pants legs; and dirty or un-ironed garments.



DO's and DON'Ts to REMEMBER
DON'T ask how much the job pays: The company has been told by us how much you are currently earning. If the company feels you are the one for the job, they will not make an offer that will insult you. In fact, if they feel you will fit the job well, the offer may be higher than you or they expected. If the interviewer asks "What are your salary requirements?" the best answer is: "You know what I am currently earning. I feel I am the person for the job. If you feel the same, I'm sure your offer will be fair and attractive." Once they have made you an OFFER, you (we) are in a position to negotiate it, if it is inadequate. If an agreement can't be reached, isn't it better (for your ego) to turn them down rather than they turn you down?

DO greet your interviewer enthusiastically. Stand up and extend both hands for the handshake (one hand if you are carrying something in the other). "Good morning, I'm glad to meet you" and "thank you for the opportunity to be a candidate for this position."

DON'T display personal habits. An interviewer wants your undivided attention. Personal habits distract. These include: smoking (without permission and don't ask permission prematurely); chewing gum; twiddling thumbs; tapping a pencil or fork; humming; whistling; nose picking; stretching parts of the body; staring; cleaning finger nails.

DON'T ask (at this time): "How much vacation time can I expect?", "What are the fringe benefits?" or "Where is my parking space?" Questions such as these are best answered AFTER the offer has been received and may be answered in the final offer letter. If you must have answers to these questions, ask us to ask them.

DON'T get too chatty about non-job related topics ie: hobbies, sports, family, religion etc. Keep small talk down to a minimum; however, do answer if you are asked by your interviewer (some interviewers push small talk to try to make you feel more comfortable and to get to know you). Don't barrage the interviewer with questions. Remember, they are interviewing you, you are not interviewing them. LISTEN. Look him in the eye, and nod encouragingly. Give your interviewer a chance to volunteer answers before you ask them. Then ask job related questions. For example, if you were told about the company's flexible work hours, you might ask if it had affected production. Get the idea?

DON'T make disparaging remarks about your present employer. Statements such as: "I'll be glad to leave that dump", "My supervisor doesn't know what he is doing" and "I sure hope you don't bug me like they do," can NOT help your cause. With these kinds of remarks, it will seem as though you are blaming others for your short-comings.

DON'T mention offers or interviews with other companies. If you are a good candidate, it will be assumed that you are sought by other companies.

DON'T give ambiguous "YES" answers: "I think I could do the job", "Maybe", "Probably." These don't have the impact of: "Certainly", "Absolutely" and "YES." If in fact, you lack certain technical experience, a good response is: "With my experience and background, I feel certain I'll have no problems coming up to speed."

DO have a good attitude: Reflect confidence in yourself and knowledge of your job. Let your interviewer feel at all stages of the interview that you really want the job (at this point you really want the offer). This is not to say that you should act subservient. Candidates SHOULD show interest in the position's duties and responsibilities. Show serious interest so you will be thought of as a serious candidate. Be ENTHUSIASTIC-no one likes the sad, troubled type (or the corny jokester either). Draw a fine line. Be business-like.

DO research the company thoroughly. For example: how are they organized, what is their position in the market place, etc.

TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW

8 Tips To Help You Improve Your Odds

Is there anything that can be done to make the process, if not more pleasant, at least more productive? Something that you can do to achieve a higher percentage of success during the process? Remember that this process is the same as a normal interview, except in hyperspeed -- and without the element of "in person" communication. Here are some ideas to review prior to the interview which will help you sharpen your telephone interview skills:


1) Remember that the person on the other end of the phone may be just as uncomfortable as you are. Concentrate less on your feelings of inadequacy and more on how to make the other person feel at ease. Most people do not like the telephone interview process -- remember that it works both ways.


2) Smile over the phone. Believe it or not, smiling while you are talking will actually help you sound more "friendly" and open. Many telephone marketing offices have a mirror on each desk so that their people can always keep this in mind!


3) During the telephone interview, you are judged by the same criteria used in an in-person interview, i.e.: self-confidence. Self-confidence is judged differently by phone than in-person (where eye contact, for example, can be an excellent barometer). Instead, you'll be judged by a much more subtle set of factors -- the sound of your voice, your level of friendliness and enthusiasm, etc.


4) The ability to speak succinctly about your past experiences and accomplishments will be critical. Many technical professionals launch into long, drawn-out answers to telephone interview questions. Because they do not have the sense of sight working for them, they are quite unable to tell if the person on the other line has gone to sleep!


5) Many people find that the most uncomfortable scenario in a telephone interview is the occasional "dead air" of silence during the conversation. Do you have a list of questions prepared about the company and the opportunity that you can refer to when caught in one of those dead spots? Although good communication seems to be up to both of you, typically that dead air will be your responsibility to fill.


6) Although you are always judged on your ability to listen well, nowhere in the recruiting process do listening skills become more important than in the telephone interview. You'll find that your nerves will sometimes make this very difficult. I suggest that you close off all thoughts about whatever is going on around you and concentrate on the words and voice of the interviewer.


7) It should be remembered that since so much of your success in this situation is determined by your comfort in the surroundings you are in during the call, make certain that you get yourself situated properly. Perhaps it is by suggesting a time for the call that is after the kids have gone to bed. Or, if the caller takes you by surprise, ask for five minutes to get organized and get a phone number to call them back.


8) Don't ever talk about issues related to potential compensation, company benefits, problems at your current employer, etc., when in the throes of an initial phone interview. This is solid advice for any first-interview situation. It always amazes me when an experienced veteran launches into a diatribe about bad management at their company, or asks the infamous line "What's the job pay?"

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