Candidate Resources
Candidate Tips
First things first:
Most of us remember our first impressions of people; rarely are
there second opinions. (That is why they are called first
impressions.) Think about your "gut" reaction to first meetings.
In a matter of seconds you were probably forming all types of
conclusions. These conclusions right or wrong were based on
posture, eye contact, clothing, voice inflections, vocabulary,
type and condition of shoes. Briefcase, accessories, clothing
colors and hairstyle. More often than not, these issues will be
the determining factor when the decision is between you and an
equally qualified candidate!
Your attitude
Once an interview has been scheduled, you will normally
experience a full swing of emotions. "They won't want me... I
don't fit... they are going to want someone more qualified ...
they want someone older/younger... "The list of negatives you
manufacture is limited only to the time available before the
interview.
Wait a few minutes and the pendulum in your mind will swing the
other way. Actually, your mind may say you are really slightly
over qualified. Thoughts like these flow easily... "I could do
this job in my sleep ... I wonder how they have made it this far
without my talents? ... I am not going to settle with another
office without a view ... I wonder if my parking space will
display my full name or just my initials? ... I suppose they
will want me to start right away, no vacation."
Obviously these extremes, if taken seriously, will help you to
end the interview in disaster. You need to focus on your next
goal. Your only goal at the moment is to get an offer of
employment! Everything you do should be pointed to this one
objective. All of the other issues regarding how much, when,
where, title, etc. are extremely important, but totally
irrelevant if you don't get the offer. You will have plenty of
time to decide details about the job after you are invited to
join the company.
Practice
Professional performers all agree
that to minimize stage fright they practice and rehearse, so
they perform with complete confidence. Your "performance" is
critical. You will get only one debut per potential employer.
The only difference is that you are not "acting." You are on
display and the "audience" can only evaluate what you show them.
Leave the interview ready to critique your presentation. If you
do not receive an offer, you will want to know why.
Smile, if and when appropriate. Sincere smiles invite return
smiles and reduce tension. Forced or insincere smiles could
convey mistrust and a phony personality. Eye contact is vital to
credibility. Most people cannot look another in the eye if they
are not telling the truth. Besides the image you give, a lot can
be sensed by reading the interviewer's eyes (e.g., Are they
interested? Are they rushed? Are they excited about the
company?)
Convey your strengths - did you impart all the
information you wanted to concerning your capabilities and
experiences? It is also important to note a definite difference
between what you think about something and what your experience
has been relative to the subject.
Share your research - at the right time, you
should insert information you have uncovered that proves your
interest or fit for the opening. For example, if the interviewer
asks about any special interests, you can indicate that you are
aware of the company's involvement in environmental control and
that it is one of your personal concerns as well. The idea is to
let them know you have studied the company and sincerely fit the
culture.
Positive image - were you strong in your
convictions? Was your voice strong (not loud) and full of good
inflections? Being positive is definitely not to be confused
with being a "know it all", but rather that you can handle the
unknowns.
Body language - did you project good
reconfirming gestures? Were you leaning forward with interest
and involvement, or were you laid back and removed? Were you
fidgeting and foot tapping? Were your legs crossed and bouncing?
Were your eyes bouncing around the room and darting from the
interviewer's questions? Were your hands in control? Were you
distracted during your interview with adjusting glasses or
jewelry?
Timing
Time is of the essence. Arriving early is on time. Somewhere
between 10 to 15 minutes is acceptable. If you are unfamiliar
with the location, allow ample time to get through traffic or
compensate for making a wrong turn. After you arrive, if you
have a lot of time, use it to review your notes and answers for
the toughest questions in the privacy of your car, but don't
show up more that 15 minutes early. You certainly do not want to
convey too much eagerness or imply that your time has no value.
Conversely, being late places you in a very suspect position. If
you could not put together a plan to arrive on time, including
some unforeseen delays, how will you plan your job? If you are
late, acknowledge the inconvenience to your interviewer and try
to dispel the thought that this tardiness reflects your
management abilities.
Listening
Listen for information that you can play back to demonstrate
that you are qualified. If the interviewer discusses specific
problems, see if you can relate relative experiences in your
past, which would help to solve these problems or at least have
an understanding of what it will take to solve them. Be alert
for clues about your interviewer. People tend to show their
biases and even pet peeves to total strangers. For instance, you
might ask what the company business hours are. The answer may
be, "eight to five except, of course, for management." Comments
like this give you an insight into not only the interviewer's
personality and perspective, but the company's culture as well.
Your willingness to, and history of, working long hours, if
necessary, should get the interviewer's attention. Listen for
the concerns of the interviewer and the concerns of the company.
Control
Control is being in control and not taking control. Being
patient with unprofessional interviewers (80% are never trained
to interview) and offering information about yourself relative
to the position is generally appreciated. You can check by
simply asking, "Would you be interested in my experience
concerning ________?" This statement should be something
relative to the job and obviously very positive about your work
experience.
Interview the Company
Interviews are bi-directional. With this in mind, ask some
pertinent questions, particularly questions that focus on your
abilities and even reflect your capabilities by their nature.
For example, financial people should be abreast of current
accounting standards and ask if these standards have been
considered at the interviewer's company. Sales management
candidates should want to know if strategic selling or
conceptual selling ideas have been implemented. You show
interest when you ask relevant questions. What you hear in the
answer can help you decide if a cultural and ethical match
exists between you and the company.
Your questions
In Conclusion
Somewhere in the interview, you're going to have to ask for the
job, or at the very least, find out what the next step is. A
good way to do this is to utilize one of the following three
suggestions:
1) "I feel very comfortable with the idea of
working for you (& your team). How do you feel I would fit in?"
Get them to tell you what they think so you can overcome any
obstacles right away. This statement tells the hiring authority
that you like them and gives them a nice compliment. If there is
a hesitation or concern about your qualifications, it gives you
the opportunity to rebut.
2) "Based on how you have described the job,
and based on my past experience and responsibilities, I'm
confident that I can perform the job well and make substantial
contributions. How do you feel regarding my abilities /
qualifications to do the job well?"
3) "I like everything I've seen about you, the
company, etc., and I do want you to know that I want the job.
What remains to be done or what do I need to do at this point to
get the job?"
4) Send a thank you letter
