Tips for Job Interviews

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 By Curt Smothers

Congratulations, you snared that job interview! Your résumé and cover letter got your foot in the door, and it's time to think about what you need to do to shine "front and center" as you lay "an eyeball and a handshake" on people who will decide your fate.

Here are 3 things you should pay attention to so that you will perform well during your interview:

1. Be well rested, well dressed, and well groomed. Confidence in your stamina and appearance will relax you more and allow you to focus on the interview.

2. Be friendly, but not flippant or overly familiar. Try to remember that at least one member of your interview panel might be a bit nervous and uncomfortable with the process. A smile, good posture and appropriate eye contact goes a long way with people who are interviewing you. They are people just like you, and they have been through this, but you must respect their personal space.

3. Be prepared!

-Make sure you are thoroughly familiar with what you put in your résumé. Many of us have a number of different résumés tailored to the job we are seeking. Read your resume over thoroughly, and expect to be asked about it.

- Be familiar with the background of the company you want to work for. You might be asked if you have any questions. That would be the time to say something you know about the company and then ask an appropriate question about the company.

- If appropriate and practical, bring a work sample to the interview. This could be a report or market study you did in the past or something that shows off your presentation of statistical skills. Bring sufficient copies to give one to each interviewer.

- Be ready to talk anecdotally. You might receive questions like "Describe a situation where you had to overcome some difficult work problem and how you handled it." Then there's the old favorite, "What do you think is your greatest weakness?" For that one you might want to come up with a trait that you can put a positive spin on; something like, "Some have said that I am too much of a perfectionist and tend to be overly dedicated at times. I'm working on that to achieve more balance in my life."

Here are 3 "don'ts:"

1. Don't come across as needy or desperate. Rather, think about the needs of the company you want to work for. Remember that the board will interview a number of similarly qualified candidates for the position. You need to show that you are the best person all around for the job. The interview is the tiebreaker.

2. Don't be negative. If asked why you are leaving or have left your current or previous job, find a way to put a positive spin on your parting of ways. Interviewers are turned off by bitterness and unfavorable personal comments and observations. They might think you would talk about them the same way.

3. Don't ask questions about compensation and benefits. However, if asked about the salary you would expect, it is best to say something to the effect that you would expect to be paid the compensation that employees in similar positions in the company or in other industries are paid.

And follow up!

Finally, there are also a couple of follow-up things you should do. The first is to show appreciation to the interview board for their time and trouble. These people are probably sacrificing time they could be spending on their regular duties. Tell them you appreciate that. You should also send a letter (or e-mail) telling the interview board how much you enjoyed the interview.

Be a star!

So "shining like a star" at an interview is a matter of anticipating the process and showing respect for the people who are interviewing you. You need to convince them that you would be a valued addition to their organization. Your small window of time to do that is limited, so preparation is everything.


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