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Planning for the Job Interview
A job interview is your chance to land the job, so it is important
to know what to expect and to prepare in advance so you can present yourself as
well as possible.
Each participant in an interview has specific goals. The
interviewer’s main objectives are:
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to gather relevant information about your qualifications,
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to assess how these qualifications match the requirements of the position in
order to hire the best qualified person for the job,
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to present the company or organization positively so that well-qualified
candidates will be attracted to the position, and
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to determine if you will fit into the corporate culture.
You, however, are primarily concerned about selling yourself. Your
main objectives are:
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to communicate information about yourself and your qualifications clearly,
concisely, and accurately,
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to tie your skills, experience, and qualifications directly to the demands of
the job, and
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to seek information about the job and the employer so that you can make a good
decision if the position is offered to you.
The interview offers a brief opportunity for you to make a good
impression on the interviewer and to find out as much as you can about the open
position and the company. The better prepared you are before the interview, the
more successful your interview is likely to be. Before the interview, make the
following preparations:
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Learn all you can about the company and its products or services: read material
on the company’s web site, acquire information via a phone call to the human
resource development office, or research the company in publications available
in public libraries. A good online resource for information about companies,
industries, and the job market is Hoover’s, Inc. found at
www.hoovers.com.
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Plan which clothing you will wear. Choose clothes that are neat, conservative,
and appropriate for the level of position for which you are interviewing. Wear
something that represents the best level of dress you might wear on that job.
Call the human resources department and ask about typical attire for this
position if you cannot find the information elsewhere.
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Arrange to arrive at the interview site five or ten minutes early. Make sure
you know the address of the building and, if appropriate, the specific room or
office to which you should report. You may wish to make a trial run the day
before the interview to ensure you know the route and how long the trip will
take. If possible, make the trial run on a weekday at about the same time as
the interview so you experience similar traffic conditions.
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Practice interviewing by thinking of good, concise answers to commonly asked
interview questions. (See the list that follows.) If possible, ask a friend,
family member, or career development professional to conduct a mock interview
with you so you can practice making good eye contact, projecting a confident
attitude, and answering questions aloud.
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Be prepared to relate your knowledge, skills, and past work experience to the
position for which you are interviewing. This means you need to learn as much
as possible about the position in advance of the interview.
Most candidates know that the job interview can have a strong
impact on their futures, yet many drift into interviews with little
preparation. Planning possible answers for the following commonly asked
interview questions will help you appear poised and professional. Always
consider your answers from the perspective of the interviewer. Consider why the
interviewer might ask each question and the kinds of information each is
intended to elicit. Try, when possible, to make your answers relevant to the
position and company for which you are interviewing.
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What are your future career plans? Where would you like to be in your career
five years from now?
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Tell me about yourself.
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What do you know about this position?
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Why are you interested in working for this company/organization?
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What jobs have you held? Why did you leave your last position?
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Why did you choose this area of work?
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How did you learn about this company (job)?
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What skills and experience do you have which make you believe that you will be
successful in this position?
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What are your expectations for a starting salary?
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How much do you hope to be earning five years from now?
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What do you think determines a person’s progress in a company or organization?
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Do you like to work with others, or do you prefer to work alone?
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What kind of supervisor do you prefer to work for?
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How do you respond to instructions about how to do your work?
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What interests you about our products or services?
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What kinds of people do you find difficult to work with?
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How do you feel about routine work tasks? About a variety of work tasks?
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Are you willing to travel?
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When workload demands, are you willing to work overtime?
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What can you offer to this company that will help it meet its goals?
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What do you consider to be your greatest weaknesses?
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How do you approach a problem situation?
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What are your expectations about advancing in the company (organization)?
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Are you willing to relocate if the company offers you a position in another
office?
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What examples can you offer that demonstrate your initiative and willingness to
work hard?
Interviews typically go through several stages. Your behavior and
goals will be different in these stages.
First Stage: Be aware that you are making an impression as
soon as you walk into the building. Present yourself as professional, friendly,
and confident to each person you meet, including the receptionist. The first
stage of the interview officially begins when the interviewer and interviewee
first meet. The initial impression you make is tremendously important. Greet
the interviewer with a firm handshake, good eye contact, and composure. This
stage usually includes a few minutes of small talk. The interviewer attempts to
make you feel comfortable. Respond appropriately to the interviewer’s lead and
participate in the small talk. Be careful, however, not to ramble or to talk
too much.
Second Stage: During the second phase, the employer usually
tells you something about the company and the position. Listen carefully, with
good eye contact, and look for opportunities to ask appropriate questions to
show that you have learned something about the company in advance of the
interview.
Third Stage: During the third phase, the interviewer is
likely to ask you in depth about your past positions, your school experience,
and your skills. Your goal in this phase is to identify your strong skills and
find ways to apply them to the needs of the employer. The interviewer may also
ask you why you want to work for this company and what attracted you to it. If
you are now unemployed, he or she may ask you why.
Fourth Stage: This phase offers you the opportunity to ask
questions about the position and the company. Depending on the flow of the
interview to this point, you may choose to ask about the fringe benefits
package, whether or not there is a tuition reimbursement plan, and what career
path might be related to the position. If you have taken self-assessments such
as the Kuder Career Search with Person Match, the Kuder Skills Assessment, and
the Super’s Work Values Inventory-revised, you might attempt to find out
whether the environment of the workplace will be consistent with your own
interests, skills, and work values.
Fifth Stage: During the closing segment, the interviewer may
tell you what the next stages in the hiring process are or when the company
plans to make a decision and how you will be notified of the outcome. If the
employer does not do this, it is appropriate for you to ask. You might ask if
you can call the interviewer in a few days in order to find out about the
progress in making a decision.
About two days after the interview, be sure to either write a short
thank you note or call the interviewer to thank him or her for the time spent
with you. This courtesy will not only impress the interviewer, but will also
keep your name active in the interviewer’s mind.
The process of locating a job that is satisfying to you is
challenging. It can be a time when your self-concept is low, especially after
many unsuccessful job interviews. Remember that this is a normal process for
everyone. Keep yourself focused on the job-search process. Continue to network
with people who may help you identify an opening. Accept the support of your
friends, family, and perhaps a job-search support group in order to fight the
tendency to be discouraged. Most importantly, continue to present yourself with
confidence.
Excerpted and adapted from Take Hold of Your Future, 5th
Edition, by JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, Ed.D.
Copyright © 2004 JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey
Used by permission of JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey and National Career Assessment
Services, Inc., Adel, IA.
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