job.search@2009 – Interviews

It is important to understand that being invited in for an interview is actually a sign that you are doing something right, even if you don’t get an offer.  With the rising unemployment statistics, if someone wants to interview you that means that you are standing out from the crowd in some way.  Pat yourself on the back.

Even so, do not relax yet.  It is important that you continue to do what you are doing – sourcing open positions, updating your online profiles, and revising your resume.  Your whole goal is to have at least two different positions offered to you.  You should be the one making the choice of where you work and what you do.  It is your career.  You don’t want your career choices to be made for you.

Interviews may be successful even if you do not get a job offer.  How should you prepare for an interview?  What should you focus your attention on while you are being interviewed?  How should you follow up on your interviews? 

 Preparation, Preparation, Preparation

All of my previous articles have focused on preparing you in a general way for the interviewing step; however, you should prepare for each and every interview.  The company has taken the time to learn about your background.  The following steps will allow you to show that you are committed to understanding the company’s background as well: 

1. Research the company before you show up there.  What is their product or service?  What industry are they in?  Find a way to rebrand your experience to fit that exact product/service and industry.  Prepare several questions about the company, product/service, and industry that you can ask during the interview.
2. Review the job posting.  What is the underlying need that caused that company to look for a candidate?  Find a way to rebrand yourself to fit that exact need.  Prepare several questions about position that you can ask during the interview.
3. Update your resume.  Print at least 6 copies to bring with you, along with your Detailed Work Experience document and your List of References.
4. Ensure that your professional internet presence is visible to that company.  Many executives are blogging.  Posting a well thought out and well written response to a blog posted by your interviewer before you are interviewed will help you stand out from the crowd of job seekers that the interviewer is sifting through.  Believe me, the interviewer is swamped with resumes, interviews, and they still have to do their actual job.  Help them out: do some of their homework for them.
5. Dress for success.  Yes, that is a cliché, but so true.  Always dress better for the interview than you expect to dress while working there.  Ensure that your clothes fit properly (don’t sag your pants, don’t wear a ball cap twisted off to the side, don’t wear sunglasses).  Wear a well-fitting suit.  Wear a white shirt.  Red is still a power color – put on a red tie. Show the interviewer that you are serious about your job search.  It doesn’t cost a lot of money.  Suits are less than 20 dollars at most second hand stores, and garment alterations are relatively inexpensive.

 

Interviewing Techniques

By the time that you are invited in, you have already made it through a screening process.  The company believes that you can do the job, or else you would not be there.  Now is the time to show that you are the best candidate for the opening. Chemistry is the key during interviews.  Approach the interview as a dress-rehearsal for the job.

1. Ask Questions.  Questions show that you are willing to learn.  If you ask the right types of questions, they will also show that you thoughtful, intelligent, and have done your homework.  Questions are a powerful tool.
2. Watch your body language.  Sit or stand tall.  Make good use of eye contact. Smile.  Body language is a good advertisement of you.  Use it to your advantage.
3. Give real-world answers to hypothetical questions.  When the interviewer asks you questions, do not start off your answers with “My last company handled that issue by…”  The interview is not about your previous company.  It is about you.  Answer questions by telling the interviewer how you have personally handled circumstances that are similar to the hypothetical questions asked of you.
4. Be direct.  Drive the interview to specific reasons why you are a good match for the position.  Do not give general answers, give specific ones.  If you have done your homework on the company, the position, the industry, it will be apparent to your interviewer.
5. Do not ask about compensation during the initial interview.  This topic will be covered in a future article (Reviewing Job Offers).  For now, steer clear of compensation.  In compensation negotiation, whoever asks first loses.  If the interviewer brings up the topic, let him or her know that you are negotiable and turn the conversation back to why you are a good fit for the job.  If the issue is pressed by the interviewer, turn it around on them by ask what the pay range is that they had in mind.  Salary negotiations should not be a part of an initial interview.
6. Do not revolve the interview around samples of your work.  Bring the samples, by all means.  Present the samples at the appropriate time.  Remember, though, the point of the interview is not to view your samples, but to learn about you. 
7. At the conclusion of the interview, ask if there are any other questions.  Once you have answered any further questions, ask what the next step is in the hiring process.  Show your initiative.  Ask what you could do to drive towards the offer.
8. Ask for a business card or contact information (phone number, email address).

 Follow Up

It is important to do what you can to follow up on an interview.  Send a brief thank-you email (or even a professional thank-you card) to the interviewer.  Personalize the note; do not send out a generic catch-all thank you. 

1. Thank the interviewer.
2. Briefly recap the interview, reminding them of why you are a good fit for the position.
3. If you forgot to mention any items during the interview, this is your time to bring them up.
4. When appropriate, let them know that you are working on the Next Step (see item number 7 under the heading Interviewing Techniques).
5. When appropriate, ask for feedback on your resume and your interviewing techniques.

It is important that you do not make a pest out of yourself.  It is not ok to phone or email the interviewer every day or even every week asking for the job.  Once again, your goal is to make the company aware of you, not annoyed by you.

Managing your job search is a complicated process.  It is important to stay on top of all aspects of the search.  You should still be sourcing open positions even if you have successful interviews.  Until you have a job offer, you should still be looking to see what is out there.  Always consider yourself at square one.

Hard Work Always Pays Off.