It’s not just your skill set that wins jobs… It’s how you separate yourself from the rest of the people interviewing…
Many of us are not sure how to handle interviews. Before every and any interview the assigned recruiter will give you tips on how to interview well.
Please feel free to use any of the tips below. Our recruiters will be more than happy to provide you with more helpful and useful ideas.
What is needed for all interviews:
- Address of company and phone number for initial contact person (in case you are running late)
- Names of Interviewers- titles, where they fit into corporate structure
- Company and Job Information
- Type of Attire/Presentation expected
- Fresh copy of Resume
- Positive Attitude
FAQ’s:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are you looking to do?
- Why are you looking to leave?
- Why are you interested in our firm?
- What salary are you looking for?
- Tell me about your job history or background.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Commonly asked questions:
- How would your colleagues define you as in a sentence or less?
- Give an example where you exercised conflict resolution between competing technologies or conflict resolution between 2 members of a group you managed.
- How did you provide mentoring to direct reports?
- How do you deliver bad news to management?
- What process did you follow when faced with making a significant technology change?
- How do you resolve resource contention when there appears to be 2 priority projects?
- How do you manage a major operational crisis when no one is clear on what is going on?
Good questions:
It’s not just your skill set that wins jobs… It’s how you separate yourself from the rest of the people interviewing (who could have similar or even better skills). Asking good questions demonstrates your intelligence, interpersonal skills, and values.
Listening:
Please also consider that how you LISTEN is as vital as the answers you give. Doing everything in the last section of this document correctly will be negated if you are not a good listener. Listening properly also gives the interviewer insight into your interpersonal skills. To be a good listener you must let them finish their sentences and thoughts completely. You may be excited to jump in and add to what they are saying, but instead of showing your intelligence, it actually makes people uncomfortable when they don’t get a chance to finish. It’s best to LISTEN and NOD your head APPROVINGLY. When they finish their sentence, it’s best to reply with a smile and if appropriate, ask another question or add some of your thoughts. The main point is to be a good listener in addition to asking good questions. Good conversation is a give and take.
Follow-up etiquette:
OK, you made it through the interview… But you are not done ye!. There is some follow-up etiquette that is useful to get into the habit of using. Go the extra inch and you will stand out miles ahead of the competition as a personable and professional candidate that people want on their team.
Always get a business card from the person(s) you are meeting. You should send a thank you note, which is dropped in the mail the day of the interview. If getting a card mailed is hard, an email will work just as well. (But ALWAYS spell check your message, and correct any grammar before hitting the send button!)
Ask politely, not anxiously, what the next steps in the process might be. Don’t be afraid to let them know that you like what you have seen so far, and want to continue the process. You can say- I have a sincere intent in moving forward.”
Always contact your recruiter as soon as possible after an interview. The sooner you give your feedback the sooner the recruiter can move the process forward.
3 IMPORTANT TIPS
- Always get a business card from the person(s) you are meeting
- Ask politely, not anxiously, what the next steps in the process might be
- Always contact your recruiter as soon as possible after an interview
It’s not just your skill set that wins jobs… It’s how you separate yourself from the rest of the people interviewing…
