- assume business dress, err on the conservative side (unless you are told different)
- listen more than talk
- pay attention to questions, verbal and non verbal cues
- use good eye contact, firm handshake, remember to smile and use a professional but open posture
- have your "elevator pitch" ready as well as 4 or 5 "home run" statements of your key accomplishments that are most relevant to the job
- be prepared for personality / culture match questions
- prepare to discuss your strengths and weaknesses
- have questions ready for the interviewer - as they answer the questions in the interview process check them off - only ask for clarification on the ones answered and focus on the questions not answered
- have good closing skills including asking if there is any doubt in their mind about your skills in doing the job. ask where they are in the process and let them know how interested you are at the end of the interview.
What about the interviewer? Is there a well known set of rules for interviewers? I've been in some fantastic interviews where the interviewer really gives me a chance to succeed and I've landed the job before I left. I've also been through 5 rounds of interviews with each successive stakeholder and finally bombed with the last person who was pretty sure from the onset that I was the wrong person.... I have been asked lousy questions about my detailed experience in something that was not part of the job description. When I pointed out that this was not part of the description - it was pointed out that it is up to the hiring manager to determine the final skills necessary. I've been invited to interview for whole and half days to meet the entire department - some live and others via phone conference. Each asking the same questions - each having different expectations of what the role should be or what type of person should fit the role. At the end of the day I met with the most important interviewer - I don't know how I made it through the whole day and he asked me several deep questions like "what I saw myself doing in 5 years?" At that moment - I was brain dead - I don't remember what I said nor how I made it 22 miles home in heavy traffic. I was not surprised that I didn't get the job - but I did want to know their reason... was told "the hiring manager felt I showed great inflexibility in mentioning to a couple of the interviewers that the day of interviewing was not made known to me until late the night before". And yet - I cleared my schedule for the day. Was that an important part of the role? Did they show me the same courtesy?
I've also been invited to an interview for a very important director role - met with the VP of worldwide sales - we talked for 30 minutes and he said 15 others had been rejected by the CFO. After 2 weeks - I called this guy's secretary and asked if the position had been filled or if I was still being considered. I was told to call the CFO. I left a message that I was considering 2 other offers - if they were still interested - they should invite me in for a follow up and determine if they would like to make an offer to me. Next day I'm in at 8:30 (actually 8 minutes late) and after a 20 minute interview - I was told I'd hear something by noon. By the time I got home - I had an offer.
It seems then - there may be no common standard of rules for the interviewer. If you want the job - make sure you meet their needs. All the good advice in the "job search" world might or might not get you the job.
I'm currently reading "Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters v2.o" by ~ Jay Conrad Levinson (Author), David E. Perry (Author), Darren Hardy (Foreword). See if the library has this or earlier versions - a great idea book and motivator for the serious job hunter.
Hotjobs had some pretty good, quick advice on some interview myths I'd like to share:
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-interview_myths_that_keep_you_from_landing_the_job-1026
I'd love to hear from anyone who would like to share their thoughts on interview etiquette. Great ideas most appreciated.
Hang in there!
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