PHONE VERSUS FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS

If your résumé and cover letter were successful at gaining the attention of a prospective employer, you’ll probably get a phone call. The phone call might only be to set up an initial screening interview over the phone, or a face-to-face interview. Face-to-face interviews may be one-on-one or with a group or panel. In addition, with today’s technology, videoconferencing may also be used, particularly if the job is one in which you will be working in another location, or virtually. If this is the case, combine both telephone and face-to-face tips.

Phone Interview Tips: The telephone screening interview is usually the first step. This is where you will be asked some basic questions intended to solidify their interest or rule you out. It may be done by the person for whom you will work, an assistant to that person, or a human resources professional. Regardless of who is conducting the interview, don’t think that because it’s over the phone, it’s a piece of cake. Consider the following:

• Set a time when you know you will have privacy and can focus.
• Use a landline as cell phones can be unreliable.
• Find out who will be on the phone and their role.
• Plan for general questions about availability and salary expectations.
• Don’t offer more information than is asked.
• Review your résumé and application to predict questions clarifying this information.
• Be prepared to address holes in your education or vague gaps in time.
• Never read your answers. Use bullet points as reminders of information to convey.
• Listen carefully to pick up on any confusion or hesitation by the interviewer.
• Ask for clarification if a question seems vague.
• Stay away from “what’s in it for me” questions.
• Show an interest in the interviewer with a question or comment related to their role in the organization or some other information your research has turned up.
• Consider dressing professionally to get into an interviewing mode.
• Stand up and smile to project a strong voice and an enthusiastic and positive attitude.

Face-to-Face Tips:

• Make a trial run to the location where the interview will be held.
• Don’t be late.
• Make a strong first impression with a handshake, a smile, and eye contact.
• Dress for success.
• Remember that those who are not formally interviewing you may also weigh in on the decision to hire you. You are “on camera” from the time you walk in the door.
• Review all of the materials you’ve submitted.
• Print several copies of your résumé to hand to interviewers as requested.
• Establish rapport with the interviewer. Notice something in their office you can take an interest in and ask about it.
• Be relaxed and be yourself but don’t be too casual.
• Be a good listener, don’t interrupt, and maintain eye contact with the person speaking.
• Use confident gestures and body language.
• Match the energy level and tone of the interviewer.
• Always use appropriate language and the organization's lingo.
• Assume you have the job by using “we” when appropriate.
• Be honest and sincere.
• Ask pertinent questions that demonstrate you’ve done your homework.
• Stay away from self-serving, what’s in it for me, questions.
• Be positive and eager to learn more about the organization.
• Don’t speak negatively about past jobs or supervisors.
• Be assertive by asking if there are any concerns you can address.
• Ask about the next step.

Group or Panel Interview Tips: All of the above tips apply as well as the following:

• If possible, connect with each person by introducing yourself and shaking each person’s hand.
• Engage all group members by making eye contact and including them in the conversation.
• Consider taking and responding to questions on your feet to display enthusiasm.
• Don’t worry about making a mistake. Just move on.

Finally, look at each interview as an opportunity to practice these tips until they become natural. As with anything, practice makes perfect, anxiety decreases, and confidence builds.

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!

WHAT TYPE OF INTERVIEW CAN I EXPECT?

When preparing for your interview, what probably comes to mind are those traditional questions: “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”, “Where do want to be in 5 years?”, and yes, you will probably be asked these questions. In order to stand out from the rest of the candidates, you should be prepared to answer a variety of questions depending on the type of job and the type of interview. In addition to the traditional interview, there are three other types that will determine the nature of the questions asked: behavioral (or experiential), situational, and case.

The Traditional Interview: The main goal of this interview is to learn more about you, why you want the job, and why you think they should hire you. Traditional interview questions might include:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you feel you are the best candidate for this job?
• How has your university education prepared you for this position?

The Behavioral and Situation Interview: The goal of this interview is to gain an understanding of how, in the past, you dealt with challenging situations. A behavioral question might be:

• Tell me about a time when you were the leader of a team and some of the others on the team disagreed with you on the approach the team should take to solve a problem. What did you do?

Evidence is the key here. In order to prepare for these questions, think about your achievements, the challenges you have overcome, and examples of your leadership skills. Your stories should demonstrate a positive attitude, and an ability to get along with others. Never talk negatively about others as this is a red flag for the interviewer.

The Situational Interview:Whereas the behavioral interview asks about future situations, this interview will focus on potential future situations and problems. A situational question might sound like:

• "If you were the leader of a team with a project and encountered a significant road block and your supervisor(s) were unavailable, what would you do?"

The Case Interview: Typically used by consulting and investment firms, this interview is designed to gauge your problem solving, listening, interpersonal skills, and your ability to think under pressure.

In this interview, you might be presented with a business problem, and some facts pertaining to an organization, often the one for which you are being interviewed. You will be asked to identify key issues, ask questions, analyze the situation, and “crack the case” by providing a solution. There is usually no absolutely “right” answer. Success is based upon the process you demonstrate, your questioning skills, the logic of your conclusions, and the poise displayed throughout the exercise.

To prepare for this type of interview, research the type of issues the organization is typically faced with. Some companies that use these interviews provide examples on their website. Vault.com is an excellent resource for learning more about case interviews. Additional tips for approaching the case interview are:

• Since this is an interactive process where your interpersonal skills are as important as your conclusions, form a practice group.
• Don’t ramble. Practice stating conclusions with authority and without fillers such as “uh” and “um”.
• Remember that listening is the most important skill in consulting and handling a case interview.
• Be in tuned to your interviewer’s reaction. These can provide clues as to whether you are on target.
• Think out of the box. Innovative thinking is a plus for any organization.

Logic problems may also be part of the case interview so prepare for old stand-by questions such as “If one non-stop train leaves Cleveland going east at 55 miles per hour and another non-stop train leaves Pittsburgh at 65 miles per hour headed towards Cleveland, when will they pass?”

Finally, computer science and IT firms might ask you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge during the interview so it’s important to have your laptop and your technical skills primed and ready.

More than likely, in the course of a single interview, you will be faced with elements of each type of interview; so once again, preparation is the key to success. For all types of questions, practice getting your points across, clearly, briefly, and without rambling to increase credibility.

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!

HANDLING THE DREADED SALARY QUESTION

The typical reason you are asked about your salary requirements in an interview is to get a baseline figure of what you expect to be paid. This helps the organization narrow down the field of applicants to those candidates whose salary range is in their budget.

Don’t give them an answer that will rule you out! Answering the question with a dollar figure is dangerous. If you give them a figure that is too high, there’s a good chance the interview process will end here. If you answer too low, one of two things could happen: 1) they will question your value or 2) they will think they are getting a great deal and this is what you will be offered.

Try one of these approaches:

"My salary is negotiable. I’m excited about the opportunity to work for XYZ Company and know that as I prove my value, I will be paid fairly."

"I am very interested in this opportunity and trust that the job pays the market competitive rate for the position."

The good news is this: Whether your educational background and degree is in demand, or whether you are hoping for a job offer, if you are offered a job that will make you jump out of bed in the morning, it will seem less like a job and more like a hobby. If you love your job, you will excel at it and be paid well.

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!

HOW TO RESPOND TO "TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF"

The job interview may hold some surprises for you but one thing you can count on is the interviewer saying, “Tell me about yourself”. The way in which you respond can mean the difference between a job offer and a rejection letter, so don’t be caught off guard.

One way to prepare for this question is to have a 30-second elevator speech up your sleeve. An elevator speech is a clear, high impact statement that tells your interviewer who you are, your background and experience, and how the company can benefit from hiring you. The term comes from the fact that it is so concise, it can be used during an elevator ride.

Here is your opportunity to highlight the unique value you can bring to the organization, as well as get some mileage out of the homework you’ve done. It might sound something like this:

“I’m a business major with a focus in marketing. My education and my internship with XYZ company has given me specific experience developing creative advertisements for start-up companies. In looking at your website, I know connecting with these up and coming organizations are important to you.”

Another great thing about the elevator speech is it can come in handy anywhere, particularly networking events, where meeting as many people as possible is the goal.

When preparing your elevator speech, keep in mind the following 4 tips:

1. It should contain information that is interesting, valuable, important, and useful.
2. It should be well rehearsed to sound natural and conversational.
3. It should be tailored to the situation, organization, interviewer, and/or position in which you are applying.
4. It should be continually reviewed and updated for greater impact based on the reaction of others.

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!

DRESSING FOR THE JOB INTERVIEW: BLEND IN TO STAND OUT!

Now that you've landed the job interview, it's no time to get sloppy. Don't think that in order to make a good impression, your clothes must make a unique statement. The truth is that in order to stand out, you should blend in. Don't wear anything that will distract your interviewer and diminish the favorable impact your resume and cover letter made.

Simply put, think of the interview as a business meeting and dress for success. Even if the position you are applying for is in an industry where dressing casually is acceptable, it's still better to be safe than sorry. Regardless of where your interview is scheduled to take place, you still want to show up for the interview looking polished and professional.

The following tips apply no matter who the company is, the location of the interview, and the specific job you hope to get:

• A smart, basic, dark colored suit is always a safe bet for both men and women.
• A conservative white shirt and tie is a sure thing for men.
• Stay away from articles of clothing that are too tight or revealing.
• Make sure your shoes are not too clunky or casual, or too high to walk comfortably.
• Leave your showy, dangly, sparkly jewelry and accessories at home.
• Look neat, well groomed, and clean shaven.
• Don't go overboard on perfume or cologne.
• Keep your bulky and tattered backpack or messy briefcase in the car.
• Don't bring your own coffee or water bottle to the interview.
• Don't go into the interview smelling like smoke.
• Save your mints and gum for another time.

In short, take the interview seriously. Dressing professionally not only gives a favorable impression, but also demonstrates good manners, maturity, and respect.

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!

JOB INTERVIEW PREPARATION: IT'S ALL IN THE HOMEWORK

Maybe you’ve breezed through college and have been able to “wing it” better than most, but when it comes to job interviews, if you don’t spend time doing your homework,it could cost you the offer.

If you want to make a favorable impression, take time to research the organization, the industry in which it belongs, and even competitors. Doing a simple “google” search on the organization, or looking at their corporate website to learn more about the staff, can provide you with valuable information and give you a ton of leverage.

Here are seven ways homework can help you in your job interview:

• You can discover the vision and mission of the company, the company culture, and even the language they use.
• You can read recent articles, press releases, and even financial reports to gain an in depth snapshot of the organization.
• You can learn what is important to the organization and prepare answers to certain questions they are likely to ask.
• You can read about the departments, the board of directors, and key members of the senior management team that you may be meeting with.
• You can look for things you might have in common with those interviewing you, in order to establish rapport and connect with your interviewer quickly and naturally.
• You can impress your interviewer by demonstrating knowledge of their competitors and the challenges the industry is facing.
• You can find out the types of salaries and benefits typical jobs in this field offer and increase your negotiating power when an offer is made.

And remember – This homework thing works both ways. Be aware that the organization has probably done their homework on you. In addition to reading your resume, they have probably “googled” you and maybe even looked at your credit score. These things are easily obtained and are a reflection of your values, ethics, and character.

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!

INTERVIEWING FOR A JOB; WELCOME TO SALES!

You might be wondering what sales and job interviews have in common. It’s simple. Think of interviewing as selling yourself. Don’t worry about looking boastful – you are applying for a job! If there was ever a time to show off, it’s now. Of course you don’t want to go overboard and appear smug or snobbish, but you definitely want to let your potential employer know that you are the most qualified person for the job.

If you’ve landed an interview, you’ve already used your sales skills to get a foot in the door. Good salespeople do their research and customize their sales presentation to the company they are meeting with. You no doubt did the same thing when you put together that great resume and cover letter. Now it’s time to meet your potential employer, and whether your meeting is over the phone or face-to-face, remember to keep your sales hat on.

Most importantly, stay away from self-serving questions. Of course you are anxious to know if you can keep flexible hours, when your vacation days kick in, and if Friday is casual day, but these questions are a turnoff. If you ask these questions before you’ve sold yourself and received a job offer, your job search will continue indefinitely. If you wait until you’ve knocked their socks off and received the offer, you will not only get your answers but you will be in a better position to bargain!

For more tips on job interviewing skills, check out our new blog section: Generation.Next! New tips will be added throughout April. Do post and share your feedback!