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INTERVIEWING
TECHNIQUES
Information
to obtain from recruiter:
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Know exact place and time of interview, interviewer’s full name and title.
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Get business cards with addresses for sending thank you notes.
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Plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival is never excusable. Be sure to have the following information:
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Title |
Phone
# |
| Initial
contact |
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| Second
contact |
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| Web
address (for company overview): |
| Company
address: |
| Thomas
Guide Page: |
Directions: |
Position Description/Skill Requirements:
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Know why the hiring manager/client representative is interested in your qualifications.
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Obtain a written description of the position for which you are interviewing as well as specifications and requirements from your recruiter.
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Ask questions during the first interview. An interview is a two-way street. Probing questions allow the hiring manager to evaluate your professional and personal needs. Insightful questions help both of you determine that your relationship can be mutually rewarding.
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Your recruiter tries to match your qualifications and personal needs to the appropriate opportunity. For the hiring manager, the “right match” means the company has identified an individual capable of performing the immediate challenge. You are being interviewed by the hiring manager(s) to determine whether you have the qualifications necessary to do the job and whether a mutually rewarding professional relationship can be formed.
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Present yourself in the best possible light. However, be yourself. Everyone (candidate, hiring manager, recruiter) has the same goal - “the right match”.
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Dress neatly and in good business taste. Assume you should wear a business suit, dress shirt, dress shoes and tie unless your recruiter has advised you otherwise (dark suits in gray, navy blue, and black, pin-stripe tend to be more flattering). If you are interviewing at a “blue jeans only” company, dress in business casual, but stylish and neat.
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Do not bring a large, bulky, worn briefcase/carrying bag. Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions. Bring a thin, neat portfolio case or folder with just a few samples of non-proprietary code you have written.
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Give the appearance of energy as you walk. Smile! Shake hands firmly but don’t over-power. Be genuinely glad to meet the people with whom you will interview.
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Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, look alert and interested. Be a good listener as well as a good talker.
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Make eye contact. This shows the interviewer that you are listening and interested. Speak firmly and clearly. Speak loudly enough to be understood. Apply your background, skills and accomplishments to the position.
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Make sure you are factual and sincere. Stress achievements. Help them understand how you can benefit them with your expertise, experience, good organizational skills and ability to prioritize.
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Sound enthusiastic. You’re there to potentially better both the company’s situation and yours!
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Don’t answer with a simple yes or no. Explain your answers by offering examples in your experience. Don’t falsify and don’t exaggerate. Your sincerity will show through and be appreciated. Don’t make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers, management or co-workers. It makes you look unprofessional and you never know whom your interviewer might know.
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Don’t smoke before the interview. You might not think there is any trace of smoke odor but there could be. Do NOT chew gum or eat.
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Don’t over-answer the questions by going off on tangents. Stick to the subject. Answer the questions concisely and stop talking.
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Don’t offer judgmental opinions unless your opinion is specifically requested and be careful to phrase it delicately. You don’t want to offend the hiring manager.
Be prepared to Answer Questions such as:
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Tell me about yourself?
- How do you stay professionally current?
- Tell me what you’ve done?
- What interests you about our opportunity?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What do you know about our company?
- How would you describe your job performance?
- What was your greatest challenge?
Be prepared to
Ask Questions such as:
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What kinds of projects are expected?
- How do you think I could help you to complete this and in what time frame?
- What would my first assignments here look like?
- What is the direction your department is taking? Your company?
- What are some of the greatest challenges in this position?
- How does this position fit in to that direction?
ASK FOR THE JOB!
Closing the interview:
If you are interested in the job, or think you may be interested with more information, ask for the job. Talents being more-or-less equal, the interested candidate always gets the offer over the non-interested candidate. An example of what you could say is, “I’m very interested in what you’re department is doing and the products you are developing. The working environment appears quite pleasant and the people I’ve met seem quite nice and knowledgeable. The opportunity is very interesting to me and I believe with my background I could make a significant contribution to the team and the department.”
Don’t be discouraged when no immediate commitment is made. The interviewer likely needs to communicate with other decision-makers in the firm and needs to finish interviewing a few more candidates before making a final decision and offer.
Thank the interviewer(s) for their time and consideration. Make sure to shake their hands when departing.
Relate what happened to your recruiter immediately after the interview. The more time that goes by, the more information you will forget and the more difficult for your recruiter to correct a false impression and bring things back on track.
Two biggest avoidable mistakes during interviewing:
The two biggest complaints heard from managers are: “The candidate was a real prima donna. He/she acted as though he was better or more technically knowledgeable than I was. I was turned off by that.” The other biggest complaint is, “He/she didn’t act interested in what I was saying. It seemed like his/her mind was elsewhere. He never once looked up at me. It’s clear he didn’t want the job or our firm.”
Money:
Remember, offers are based upon several factors:
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Departmental Budget.
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Comparison of your skill-set to others.
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Comparison of your skill-set to current candidates competing for the same position.
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Employees in similar positions doing similar jobs.
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Company perception of market salary for the position.
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Your current compensation package.
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Your ability to interview well.
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Your recruiter’s negotiation skills based on his/her experience with the manager(s).
Three things to remember about discussion of money:
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Be honest and accurate about your current compensation and salary history. Many hiring firms verify salary history by calling previous companies as part of their customary interviewing procedure. Companies often ask that you bring a copy of a recent paycheck stub to verify your current income.
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Be sure that the information you provide your recruiter about your current compensation package matches what you put on your application. This means you should calculate and include every dollar of your total compensation package. This includes: base salary, potential raises if likely within next 3 months, bonuses, employee stock purchase plan, discounted company stock, car allowance, 401-K and other retirement plans. This could require some calculations so be prepared ahead of time.
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If you are asked during the interview, “How much are you looking for?” or “What is the lowest offer you would consider?” answer with the following statement: “Based upon my current compensation and qualifications, I would hope to receive a fair market offer by your firm.” If you are asked this question again and pushed for an actual figure, you can politely tell the interviewer that you have been told by your recruiter that he/she would be handling compensation issues and would prefer that he discuss the matter with him/her.
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