Job interview tomorrow: any tips?

[freebfrost]

Take copies of your resume.

Remember, an interview is a two-way conversation. While they are interviewing you to see if you are a good fit for the organization, you should be interviewing them to discover if this is a place where you *want* to work. To that end, ask pertinent questions and let them know that you are just as interested in finding out about them as they are about you.

And definitely dress to impress.

 

[Tinner]

Eye contact.

Firm, but non-psychotic handshake.

Get the interviewer to agree with you three times. I know this one sounds nuts, but it works. If you can get a person to say "Yes" three times in one conversation, they are much more likely to form a positive favorable impression of you.
They pounded this one ito me during my stint as a loan officer, and it seems to work. Any pitch (and a job interview IS a sales pitch - you're selling YOU!) where I could get the other party to respond with a yes three times always led to a deal.
Doesn't seem to even matter what they are agreeing with either, as long as it's not some totally inane off-topic comment "I always like Kirk better than Picard, didn't you?"
If you can get them to be agreeable about things that actually matter to them it's even more dramatic. "I see from your financial reports last year that your company had record growth. That's very impressive don't you think?"

As always, YMMV. Be yourself is still the best advice going.

 

[Scotley]

Some good advice here already, but I'll try to add a little more. I interview a lot of people for our company. Firm handshake and eye contact are good. Asking questions is good. Also, show that you've done your research--check out the company website at the very least. Look for mission and vision statements and incorporate the ideas you find there in what you have to say. Be prepared to defend your weaknesses. We post specific job requirements, if you can't meet all of them be willing to explain why you can do the job anyway. The perfect candidate rarely walks in and employers often have to choose the one closest to what they want. Have some stories to tell. Most interviewers use standard questions. As someone else already said look for a list and prepare some answers. Most interviewers will ask about how you've handled some problem, your strenghts and weaknesses, why you are the best candidate for the job--have some good stories to tell in answer to these type of questions and you'll be well on your way. They can't ask you about your health, family, religion, minority status etc., but if any of that is in your favor volunteer it. Good Luck!

 

[Jdvn1]

he perfect candidate rarely walks in and employers often have to choose the one closest to what they want. Have some stories to tell. Most interviewers use standard questions. As someone else already said look for a list and prepare some answers. Most interviewers will ask about how you've handled some problem, your strenghts and weaknesses, why you are the best candidate for the job--have some good stories to tell in answer to these type of questions and you'll be well on your way.

See, I never looked up questions beforehand, but I always do well answering the standard questions--maybe the interviewer was impressed I could do all of that on my feet?

 

[Scotley]

I agree that being able to handle the questions on the fly is best, much like DMing on the fly can create some really great adventures. However, not every body can do it all the time, so a little preparation never hurts. I will say that I've had people over-memorize. It is really quite funny. You ask a question and they come out in a monotone with a little speech that often doesn't even relate to the question. Those folks don't get hired. You can talk too much as well. I've been in interviews where I asked, "tell me a little about yourself" or some equally open ended question only to find myself finally getting a word in edgewise an hour later. That doesn't go over too well with me either. I'm a busy guy. I answers that get to the point fairly quickly.

 

[Jdvn1]

You can talk too much as well. I've been in interviews where I asked, "tell me a little about yourself" or some equally open ended question only to find myself finally getting a word in edgewise an hour later. That doesn't go over too well with me either. I'm a busy guy. I answers that get to the point fairly quickly.

If I were doing that, I'd be annoyed at myself too, for being so roundabout.

 

[barsoomcore]

I'll tell you what makes me want to hire somebody:

They smile, they talk and they listen.

They do NOT cut me off while I'm asking my questions. They make me feel like they're seriously considering each question and take their time composing their answer.

THEY ARE SPECIFIC. Good grief do I ever hate when I ask somebody, "Have you ever had a project blow up in your face?" and they say something like, "Well, when a project fails you have to make sure you rally the hoobajoob and always look to the west blah blah blah..." What I want to hear is, "Oh, yes. Last summer I was in charge of a couch rental agency and one day..." I want stories, I want SPECIFIC, CONCRETE EXAMPLES of how you learned what you know. People who talk in generalities make me think they've read a lot of books on the subject but haven't got any real-world experience.

They know my company. They want to work at MY company. When somebody says, "I'm just looking for any job," I think, "Alright, then, you go out and find any job. When you want the most challenging, most exciting, most rewarding job in the industry, come see me." The folks I hire are the folks who convince me that they are excited and eager to take on exactly the job I need taken on.

 

[reveal]

Wear pants.

 

[Jdvn1]

They know my company. They want to work at MY company. When somebody says, "I'm just looking for any job," I think, "Alright, then, you go out and find any job. When you want the most challenging, most exciting, most rewarding job in the industry, come see me." The folks I hire are the folks who convince me that they are excited and eager to take on exactly the job I need taken on.

I asked one of my old managers what he thought about interviews, and one of the stories he told me went like this:

"... And they asked me what I would do if I wasn't hired here. I told them that I'd go work for some other store and then, in about a year, come back here and try again. I think that really impressed him because they hired me almost right away."

 

[Dark Jezter]

If the interviewer asks if you've ever been convicted of a felony, smile knowingly and say "Nope, never been convicted."