Suggestions for successful interviewing

1. SUGGESTIONS FROM: INTERVIEWS
QUICK TIPS FOR
a publication of the Utah Department of
EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWING
Workforce Services
Preparation is an essential part of the
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effective interview
1. Research employer profiles at any Chamber
Dress the part. If it is appropriate to dress of Commerce or local library. Network with
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professionally then do so. It is a sign of anyone you know who works for the com-
respect and sends the message that you are pany or for a related company.
serious about wanting the job. 2. The next step is to match your qualifications
to the requirements of the job. A good ap-
Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. Never-Ever be
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proach is to write out your qualifications
late for an interview! If anything happens
along with the job requirements
and you are going to be late, stop and call;
3. Think about some standard interview ques-
even if it makes you arrive later.
tions and how you might respond. Most
Smile and show enthusiasm for the inter-
• questions are designed to find out more about
view. If you have prepared then you have no you, your qualifications, or to test your reac-
reason to be nervous. Smiling puts the inter- tions in a given situation.
viewer at ease and sends the message that 4. During an interview it is important that you
THE INTERVIEW
you like being there. be yourself. It is advised that you get a good
Only speak positively about a former em- night’s sleep and plan your travel to arrive in
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ployer. Try to focus on what you liked about plenty of time.
Suggestions for
the experience and how you grew personally 5. The interview is a sales meeting and you are
from it. both the salesperson and the product. The
successful interviewing
basic question in every interview, whether it
Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes.
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is asked or not, is “Why should I hire you?”
Before you respond to any question, ask
John Grant,
Express a good attitude and show that you
yourself how you would react to what you
are willing to work, eager to learn, and are
Professional Technical
are about to say if you were the interviewer.
flexible.
Taking a moment to consider your response
Recruiter
6. If you are unsure of a question, do not be
is not only acceptable, it is highly
afraid to ask for clarification.
recommended.
7. The interview is not over when you are asked
Answer questions directly. Be brief and to
• if you have any questions. Come prepared to
the point. Don’t go off on tangents or per- ask a couple of specific questions that again
There is no
sonal experiences that have little or nothing show your knowledge and interest in the job.
to do with the question. 8. If you have researched the company before-
substitute for
hand, you will be better informed and better
Breath! The brain needs oxygen in order to
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able to ask more in-depth questions.
think clearly. A lack of oxygen causes the
thorough
9. Close the interview in the same friendly
brain to panic and leads to nervousness.
manner in which you started. If you want the
preparation.
Come prepared with questions to ask. This
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job – say so.
shows the employer that you have a higher
level of interest in the position. http://jobs.utah.gov/jobseeker/guides/07_34.pdf

2. THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW TIPS FOR PREPARING INTERVIEWING PSYCHOLOGY
The interview is an opportunity for the Preparation for an interview is key to Once you have researched a company
employer to learn more about you, to dis- your success. The better prepared an and found it to be the kind of company you
cuss your background and qualifications, applicant is, the greater his or her chances are want to work for, and you have found a position
and to determine your general fit for the of being hired. Key to successful preparation within that company that you are qualified to
position. While many is a thorough knowledge of the company you interview for, it is important that you prepare
applicants view the in- are applying to, the functions of the position yourself emotionally and psychologically to be
terviewing process as a you are applying for and what qualities, successful in that interview. Always keep in
stressful and sometimes education and mind that the interviewer wants you to be the
hostile process, this is experience the com- right person for the job as much as you do. If
actually counter- pany is looking for in you are a fit for the position then her job is
productive to doing a qualified candidate. done. If you have done your research and you
well in an interview. One of the know that you are qualified for the position then
The truth is that a candidate will not be best resources for de- you can enter the interview with confidence. If
offered an opportunity to interview unless termining the answers your research has been thorough then you can
their background or personality suggest to to these questions is convince the interviewer that you know about
the employer that they may be a fit for the the recruiter. Listen carefully to what they the company – it’s history and the industry it
position. The interview is the employer’s tell you about the company. Ask questions operates in – the functions of the job, and most
opportunity to verify that in fact the and find out as much as you can about the importantly how your experience and abilities
candidate is an appropriate fit for the company’s culture and work environment. match with what the company is looking for.
position they are hiring for. An invitation Likely, they have been there and can give
to interview should then be viewed by the you a first hand perspective. You can also
applicant as a use the internet. Find out if the company has
compliment and an a website and search the site for any informa-
opportunity to show tion that will help you to prepare for the in-
the employer first terview as well as help
hand that they can do you to decide if that
the job. While most company is indeed a
applicants spend company you will want
hours preparing their to work for.
resumes and cover letters, far fewer spend With your
any time at all preparing themselves for the research in place, take Confidence will be your strongest ally
interview. This is similar to an athlete who a few minutes to as you interview with any company. If you lack
goes to great lengths to ensure that his compare what you confidence, then the best way to acquire it is
equipment is ready for the game, but never know about the company and the position through preparation. Preparation breeds confi-
shows up for practice. In any job search, with your own work experience. This exer- dence and confidence leads to a determination
the difference between who prepares for cise will better prepare you for answering to succeed. Be careful, however, to not allow
the interview and who doesn’t is the questions regarding how you are uniquely your confidence to come across as arrogance.
difference between who gets the job and suited to the position and what skills and ex- Confidence is not an attitude, it’s a calm and
who gets the opportunity to keep looking. perience you bring to the company. reassuring belief in your own abilities.