Dos and donts of an Interview

With interviews the more thorough your preparation, the most likely your chance of being hired. Read the invitation letter carefully, be sure to check the day and time of the interview and the venue; make an electronic entry in your Outlook diary, a manual entry in your diary and do not rely on just your memory. To further prepare, think about the following:

Who is going to interview me? What kind of interview is it likely to be? Am I expected to do any tests and, if so, what tests will they be? Is there a job specification or outline, and do have it?

If you do not know the answers to these questions, you should telephone the writer of your invitation letter and politely and ask for clarification. There is no harm in doing this; it only shows that you are proactive. Also, if applying to another company, if it is practicable; it is also a good idea to do a practice journey of the interview at the same time of day as your interview day, so that you can have an idea of how long it takes to get there, traffic, transport, nearest car park and the amount to park.
Research the company: If you are applying for a job outside the company, you must

investigate the company. This may include, the companys products and services, details of how the company was formed or developed, the markets, turnover, plans for the future, number of branches, people employed, the companys values etc. Take steps to obtain as much information as possible. Review the job application: If you have a job specification, then read it carefully again. See if there any new points that were not apparent in the advertisement or were not covered in your original application. Go through each point and tick off the requirements that you meet, and note potential areas of weakness, do not be discouraged about these areas. Talk to someone who knows about the job, even if it means telephoning the company. At worst, this will demonstrate a methodical approach and a show of using your initiative. Look to showcase your Skills or Prime Selling Points: Look at a copy of the CV sent to them, consider your skills that are linked to their requirements. Go through the evidences that will showcase the skills. Remember that the skills won you the interview, now is your opportunity to use them as part of the main agenda in your interview. Recruiters will find this consistency very reassuring. Prepare questions and practice answers: It a brilliant idea to prepare a list of anticipated questions and suitable answers (See the list of 109 potential interview questions supplied by HR). Look at ways of turning the answers to further illustrate your skills. Most politicians are particularly adept at this method of getting across their predetermined points, and you should cleverly approach the interview with the same objective. You should

practise your answers aloud, either to a friend, a colleague, your manager or to a mirror and record your answers. Thinking about your answer is one thing, but the spoken words is sometimes a different thing altogether. Sometimes, words do not do not always come out as we intend and practice will enable you to sell yourself in a way that is comfortable and natural to you.

An opening statement: Prepare the answers to this popular question: o Tell me something about yourself. o This is a very popular opening to an interview. The invitation often comes within seconds of your arrival in the interview room. Do not be caught unawares so that you do not provide a waffling or muffled response. This is a wonderful opportunity to set the scene and fully outline your capabilities and attributes. So, write a two-minute sales pitch that embodies each of your skills. Keep your message to the point and do not include unnecessary information. Practise aloud until it rolls off your tongue! Your strengths: What are your strengths? This is another popular, almost inevitable question. It may come in a variety of other guises, but they all mean the same thing. Using the information you have prepared regarding your skills, the answer should be obvious. Give your answers without any hesitation, list your skills in order of importance for the job you are after one after the other and provide each with evidence. Possible weaknesses: There are both positive and negative aspects to any interviews tactic. As expected, the first will explore your strengths to see why you are the right person for the job while the second will probe your weakness or areas of improvements to see if you are not a suitable candidate. The strategy here is to quickly satisfy the recruiters doubts, but also to immediately direct the interviewer to a relevant Prime Selling Point that should diffuse the perceived weakness. Your own questions for the hiring manager(s): Interviewers will always ask if you have questions for them. Create the right impression by preparing at least one question for them. Waste no further opportunities to promote your keenness at securing the job. Get a question from your research into the company and its activities, and strongly connect it to your skills. Your question can concern future training, technical matters, new products or anything to demonstrate your ability and illustrate your skills. Leaving statement after the interview: It is important to prepare the scene for getting off the interview chair. Visualise gathering your belongings, rising with a smile, a firm handshake with a friendly but business like parting statement: Thank you for your time. I have enjoyed the interview and feel that it is been very useful. It has increased my interest in the job and confirmed my ability to be of value to your company. Remember that you are still creating a lasting impression that will get you noticed and remembered. Interviews: More hints and tips It is a fact that many job candidates are nervous about participating in a job interview. After much hard work in writing countless CVs, cover letters, and job applications, these individuals hope that they will interview well, impress the hiring manager of the company to which they have applied, and finally get hired to do the job. With some practice and preparation, employment interviewing need not be a mystery or a horror. In fact, it can be enjoyable, informative, and even sometimes fun. In addition, every interview that you complete will make you more practiced in the art of interviewing. By continuing to interview for jobs, you will learn the range of variety of

questions and scenarios that may confront you. Then you will be better prepared to win the job of your dreams! Never Say These 10 Things There are many different things that you should not say during a job interview and there are likely more than 10 things not to say. However, 10 of the worst things to say are listed below. There are also things that your potential employers representatives should not say to you or ask you. In addition, there are some questions that are simply illegal to ask any job candidate in an interview. 1. How much does the job pay? Some people ask this question before the interviewer has a chance to even ask THEIR first question and this is a big mistake. It makes it seem as if all you are after is money. As a rule, wages and salaries are not discussed during the first interview. You may have two or three interviews altogether with one company. If money is discussed, it is up to the interviewer from the company to open up that subject. If they ask you how much money you want, have a range of salaries to give them and not a specific amount. First, research how much the job you want really pays in your town or country and then come up with a range of a yearly salary to request. Lets say an editorial assistant makes 17,000 a year in Oxford after working five years. When you apply to become an editorial assistant after three years of service, state the range of pay you want as 16,000 19,000 a year. Or you could use a broader range, like 16,000 20,000 a year. However, make sure it is a realistic range. For example, if a full-time administrator in your town usually makes 15,000 per year, dont interview at that company and ask for 20,000 30,000 per year. 2. What does your company make (or do)? A job candidate must research the company for which they want to work before going into a job interview with them. Look the company up on the Internet and read as much as you can about it and take notes. Try to find the companys Annual Report and read it. Your local libraries can help you do that. 3. Do not use SLANG words or phrases in your job interview. The interview is not a casual conversation with friends on a street corner or in a lounge. It is a formal conversation and requires the use of good English grammar. There is not time enough during an interview for the interviewer to figure out what you are talking about. They also should not HAVE to figure it out. On the other hand, even if they do understand you, you are being disrespectful and overly casual in the interview by using slang. You will also sound like you are playing and not serious about doing good work, and the interviewer wont take you seriously.

4. What can you do for me; what are the benefits like vacations, promotions and bonuses? Hiring managers and job interviewers like job candidates with self-confidence, but they do not like people who are selfish. The first interview you have with a company is all about what you can do for THEM. You are not doing them a favour by interviewing with them, so keep these questions until you are in the company and have proven your capabilities. The interviewer will ask you why the company should hire you and then you can emphasize your skills, talents and contributions you have to offer them. Be prepared to tell clearly what specific ways you have helped your former employers. 5. No profanity or cursing of any kind. You must never curse, or use any kind of profanity in any job interview. That includes the word p_ssed, as in p_ssed off. That is cursing and profanity. Do not say it. Do not say damn, hell, or the F-word. 6. No stereotypical language. Do not refer to people of other genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, ethnicities, races, handicaps, religions or other diversity in any slang terms, slurs, or other denigrating language. 7. Do not criticise any former employer. Bashing a former boss, or criticising them in any way, lets the interviewer know that you will do the same to them if you leave their company. Instead, you can explain that you had a difference of opinion with your former employer in work philosophies or styles. Do not dwell on your answer about an employer where things did not go so well for you, and make it short. 8. If you are asked if you have any questions dont say No. Saying NO says to the interviewer that you are not very interested in the company and not very smart. So be smart. When you research the company before your interview, come up with at least three questions to ask about the company itself during the interview. For example, ask what plans they have to expand in the next 10 years, or ask what new products and services they might be considering. This is not the time to ask about salary and benefits, either. 9. I dont have any weaknesses. You will likely be asked what strengths and weaknesses you have. If you say you dont have any, the interviewer will believe that you are lying or that you are not thinking. You can say that you dont like to waste time on small talk and are working on being friendlier in the workplace. This is a positive weakness. 10. Dont tell them your life story. The interviewer will ask you to tell them a little about yourself, but this means where you went to school, what you accomplished in school, where you have worked, and how you have helped your former employers. It can include a little about hobbies and volunteer work, but dont dwell on these things. Dont tell the employer anything that will lead them to knowing your age, race, gender orientation, religious beliefs, medical conditions, or other personal information. Legally, until

they are offering you a job, the employer is not allowed to ask you if you are married, have children, or are planning these things in the future. They CAN ask you what certifications and licenses you have relevant to the position. If they ask you what nationality your last name is, politely answer that you dont know how that is relevant to the job, but that you would like to discuss your qualifications. If they ask you how old you are, tell them that you will gladly provide that information after you are hired. The exception to this is if you need to be at least 18 years old to work for the company in the UK. If you are 21 and look young, you may have to answer this question. Lastly, do not bring up personal problems in a job interview, including divorce, breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend, etc. Job interviews are designed to bring out information about your background, skills, personality, and character; especially as these aspects relate to the world of work. Twenty specific qualities that will be examined during most of your job interviews will include: 1. Ability to Take Direction 2. Positive, Proactive Attitude 3. Productivity 4. Flexibility 5. Integrity and Honesty 6. Communication and Interpersonal Skills 7. Teamwork Style 8. Loyalty 9. Willingness to Learn 10. Initiative 11. Willingness to Help 12. Time Management Skills 13. Problem Solving Skills 14. Planning and Organizational Skills 15. Decision Making 16. Goal Setting 17. Motivation Level and Energy

18. Stress Management 19. Creativity 20. Leadership Abilities and Style