Handling the Interview

There are three basic stages to the interview, and following them will help to ensure success:

1. Set the Stage

• Arrive 10 minutes early. Being late to an interview is never excusable.
• Establish rapport by asking some pre-planned questions that enable you to get to know the interviewer more personally and help you better understand the interviewer's key hot buttons. Sample questions include:
  • Why is this position available?
  • What specific results will you expect from me?
  • What obstacles must be overcome for me to succeed in this position?
  • How will my performance be evaluated?
  • If I am successful here, what opportunities are there for growth in the next 12 months? Two years? Five years?
  • What growth do you anticipate for your organization in the next 12 months?
  • What training programs will be available to me?

2. Sell Yourself

• Use the accomplishment stories you prepared and link them to the hot buttons you identified through questions in Stage 1.
• Ask questions from a pre-planned list to get the information you need to decide if the job is right for you.
• Don't ask about compensation or benefits! If the employer raises the issue, respond by saying that your focus is on the fit, not the money.

3. Get Feedback and Close

• Always leave the interview on a positive note by expressing your interest to the interviewer.
• Get feedback before you close out the conversation. Ask, "Is anything else we need to cover?" Do you have any reservations or concerns about my fit with this position?" This will provide you one last chance to dispel any concerns, sell your strengths and end the interview on a positive note. Finally, try to find out what the next step will be by asking: "So, where do we go from here?"

Immediately After Your Interview

• Write down the key issues that were discussed.
• Identify the positives about the opportunity and any potential reservations.
• Write out any unanswered questions.
• Call your recruiter to debrief within 60 minutes after the end of the interview.
• Send thank-you notes to everyone with whom you interviewed within 24 hours.

Other tips:

• Clarify questions. Answer the interviewer's questions as specifically as possible.
• Relate your skills and background to the position requirements throughout the interview.
• Focus on accomplishments that are most pertinent to the job.
• Anticipate tough questions. Prepare to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths.
• Listen. Concentrate not only on the interviewer's words, but also on the tone of voice and body language. Once you understand how the interviewer thinks, pattern your answers accordingly and you will be able to establish a better rapport.
• Dress appropriately. Make your first impression a professional one and is consistent the company's expectations.
• Be professional. Smile, make eye contact and maintain good posture. These are simple but important things that are easy to forget to do during an interview.
• Don't answer vague questions. Ask the interviewer to clarify fuzzy questions.
• Don't interrupt the interviewer. If you don't listen, the interviewer won't either.
• Don't be overly familiar, even if the interviewer is.
• Don't ramble. Overlong answers may make you sound apologetic or indecisive.
• Don't lie. Answer questions truthfully.
• Don't express resentment or make negative remarks about present or former employers.