Nobody really teaches us how to interview. That’s why it can seem pretty scary when someone wants to talk to you about a job. The hard part is that not everyone interviews the same way. Some potential employers will have a very formal approach with specific questions typed out on a sheet of paper. The questions may sound like they came straight from an interviewing book (they probably did). Maybe you can read their face, maybe you can’t. Either way, they are no fun at all. Yet, other interviewers seem like your buddy. They laugh with you, make jokes and have a conversation, instead of a stiff interview. Don’t be fooled, though. They are watching your every move. You are not buddies. They are likely testing you for personality, quick thinking and a thousand other small things.
All of this doesn’t have to be scary, though. Just like you are trying to figure out if you’ll like working there, they are trying to figure you out. They know things about what it’s like to be there every day and you don’t. So if you don’t get the job, don’t be discouraged. Many times employers are looking for someone to fit into their culture so that everyone is happy.
Questions during an interview can vary greatly. From standard questions about jobs you’ve had to crazy things like what music you listened to on the way to the interview. When you are asked those kinds of questions, you can bet they are trying to figure out if you’ll fit in at the company – and if they like you. More and more it’s important for companies to find the right personality. You can always be trained how to do something. It’s not always about your skills. Sometimes you will get hired (or not) because of how much someone likes you. It’s a truth a lot of people don’t like to admit.
Since you’re headed to an interview soon, be prepared. Always do as much research on the company as possible. Visit their website and get an understanding of what they really do. Get to know how they like to portray themselves. Sometimes you can also find out about who works there (maybe even who you are interviewing with) and a little bit about them. It helps when it’s your turn to ask questions. ALWAYS have questions. It’s also a good idea to type the company name into a search engine. Sometimes you can find other news or comments from former employers about the company. This can be valuable info that you wouldn’t know otherwise.
While we’re on the subject of search engines, here is something to keep in mind. More and more employers will “Google�? job candidates. That’s right – they will do an Internet search on your name to see what comes up. It’s probably a good idea for you to do the same. There’s a chance that party pictures, your MySpace profile and comments or something worse could come up. Since you can’t make those pages go away, you will need to be prepared to answer questions about them if they do exist.
How does the interview process work? Sometimes a person from the Human Resources department will want to talk to you over the phone. This helps them determine if you’re at least close to what they are looking for. Once you “pass�? the basic phone interview, you will be asked to come into the office. Smaller companies generally skip the phone interview and ask you to come in. Phone interviews stay general and ask questions more about your work history and education. There isn’t much preparation needed for that, though you should keep a copy of your resume handy.
We can’t stress this enough. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for an interview. No jeans, t-shirts, shorts, tennis shoes, flip-flops or anything too casual. For guys, this means a pressed shirt, pants and a tie. If you have a suit that looks nice on you, wear that. For women, it’s more common to wear a pants suit than a jacket and skirt. Since the length of the skirt can be a big deal for some companies, it’s best to stay safe and wear slacks. The less perfume or cologne you wear, the better. Chewing gum during the interview is also a no-no.
The best advice we have is to be yourself and listen attentively. If you answer what is asked of you in an honest and calm way, it’s the best you can do. It really is only a conversation where you are both trying to decide if you want to be part of the same team. Anticipating some of the questions and answers can also be helpful. Think about how you would answer the following questions. These are some of the most commonly asked questions during an interview:
You will often have more than one interview that requires you to meet with multiple people. After this process, you will generally be notified if you have the job or not. The good news is, the more interviews you have, the more serious the company is about hiring you.
This last piece of advice may be the most important. Always send a thank you to the people you met during the interview. Their time is every bit as important as yours. Be sure to get everyone’s contact information before you go. It’s okay to send a thank you e-mail, but in today’s web-based world, it’s very impressive if you actually send a hand-written thank you note on nice paper or card stock. Also, don’t use someone’s e-mail address as away to keep bugging them about whether or not you have the job. If you haven’t heard anything in a week or two, feel free to contact the HR department regarding the status of their hiring decision. Good luck!
