Interview Preperation Getting a Job; How to Prepare For The Interview Preparation is the key to a successful interview. It is expected that you are familiar with the company & job description of the position you are applying for. Keep these things in mind when preparing for an interview: 1. Dress Professionally - Even if the company you may be interviewing with has a casual dress code, prospective employers expect a candidate to be dressed professionally for the interview. Dressing professionally, for a man, is considered a dark suit or slacks, a tie & sport jacket. Dressing professionally, for a woman, is considered a dark dress or pantsuit. Keep in mind all clothes should be neat, clean, pressed & conservative. 2. Grooming - Hair should be kept neat & clean. 3. Know Where & When You are Interviewing - Make sure you have the correct address, phone number & name of the person you are interviewing with. Also, ask for directions prior to the interview & give yourself plenty of time to get there. 4. Know Facts About the Company As discussed above, make sure you know some key facts about the company you are interviewing with. For example, when they first were established, how they ended for last year, how many stores they have, etc. 5. Know Facts About Your Current Company - A prospective employer will want to know what your current job responsibilities & duties are. Also, how your current company is doing & what their plans for the future are. 6. Questions You Might Want to Ask People in general like to talk about themselves & their company, so show your enthusiasm & interest level by asking questions. What are the duties of the position?  Why is the position open?  What is the management style of the company? What are the company's five year, ten-year goals?  What are they looking for in a candidate?  What do you like about the company? 7. Bring Your Resume - Even if the company you go to has it‘s own application, you can use the information on your resume to fill out their application. The Interview The big day has arrived. Here are some Do's & Don'ts regarding the interview. DO arrive on time or early. DO fill out an application if it is presented to you. Fill it out completely & neatly. Never misrepresent your education or work experience. When filling out salary desired, always write "open". DO greet the interviewer by his or her name & shake hands firmly. DO wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Make sure to sit upright & look alert at all times. Be as good a listener as a talker & be sure to smile. DO look the interviewer in the eye while you are talking with him or her. DO follow the interviewer's leads. However, try to get the interviewer to describe the responsibilities & duties of the position early on so you can relate your background & skills to the position. DO make sure that your strengths come across. You want the interviewer to realize their need for you in their organization. DO show enthusiasm & have a positive attitude. DO use key words when describing yourself: Driven, Global, Tenacious, Good Motivator  Goal Oriented, Operationally Strong, High Energy, Enthusiastic, Pro-Active, Good Communicator, Sense of Urgency, Assertive, Aggressive, Accountable, Team Player, Determined, Dedicated DO be prepared to answer typical questions: Why would you like to work for this company & why would you make a move? What are you looking for to make a move? What are your strengths/weaknesses? What is your customer service philosophy? Who have you developed to be promoted?  Where do you see yourself in five years? What do you look for when you're interviewing a candidate? Why should I hire you? DON'T chew gum or smoke even if the interviewer offers. DON'T answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no". Explain your answers whenever possible & relate it to the position. DON'T "over answer" questions. Answer questions by speaking in terms of the position. Emphasize what you can do for the company. Your answers should tell the employer why you would be an asset to their company. Be clear, direct & detailed in your answers. Use examples when appropriate. DON'T lie. Answer questions truthfully & as to the point as possible. DON'T talk negative about any company or person you've worked with. DON'T bring up salary, benefits, vacation, bonuses, etc. at the initial interview. If the interviewer asks about salary, let him or her know that you are looking for opportunity & growth, but hope that they would offer you something competitive. Closing the Interview 1. If you are interested in the position, let the interviewer know. Feel free to tell the interviewer that you are impressed with the company & hope that he or she will consider you for a position. 2. Ask for the job or for the next interview. Let the interviewer know that you would like to proceed on in the interviewing process. If this is a final interview & the interviewer offers you a job & you want it, accept it on the spot. If you would like some time to think it over, ask the interviewer if you can have some time to think about it. Give the interviewer a specific date of when you will get back to him or her. A customary time frame is 24-48 hours. 3. Don't be discouraged if no immediate commitment is made. The interviewer may need to communicate with others before making a decision. 4. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well, do not let your discouragement show. Some interviewers may try & discourage you as a way to test your reaction. 5. Thank the interviewer for his or her time & consideration. 6. Ask for a business card. 7. Remember to follow up the interview with a "thank you" letter, stating why you are interested in the position & why you would be an asset to their company. A Job? What about a Career? The job search can be an overwhelming and time consuming process. What do you do and where do you begin? To achieve the goal of making a successful career change you have to follow a systematic process. The more methodical and efficient you are in the process, the faster and better the results. Part of that process is as follows: Self-Assessment - Take time to better know yourself. Identify your interests, skills and work values and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Emphasize those that connect most directly with your current goals. Identifying this information will help you articulate your career objective, which will assist you in targeting employers and ultimately marketing yourself in the interview. Research & Explore Career Options - Become knowledgeable about the job market. Explore occupations related to your skills and education. Know what is required to compete for these positions. Target Employers - Use a variety of methods to identify potential employers and research their organizations. Utilize employer directories, the Internet, public library, professional associations, trade journals, and similar sources to develop a list of employers' names and addresses. Find out as much as you can about prospective employers through employees, visits, company literature and reference books. Don't forget networking. Networking gets 80% of jobs. Prioritize your list of employers in order of preference. Prepare Job Search Material - Develop a dynamic resume and cover letters targeted to the needs of potential employers. Consider developing several versions of your resume, depending upon the positions or organizations you are pursuing. Employers are looking for six skills. Do you know what they are? Conduct Your Job Search Campaign - This part of the process requires you do it daily. Develop a schedule and record keeping system. Your records should include prospective contacts, company‘s contacted, follow-up dates and status of contact. Access all possible job listings and contact employers of interest for potential hiring needs. Be persistent and follow through. Interview - Organizations usually hire based on face-to-face interviews. Practice your interviewing skills and set a goal of gaining an interview with all organizations on your list even if some do not have current openings. Personal contact improves your chances of being remembered once an opening does occur. New Job - When all the terms have been agreed upon, request an employment letter/contract stating salary, starting date and benefits. After reviewing and accepting the offer, relax and enjoy your new job! Review Your Decision - Career development is an ongoing process. Review your job search experience and determine successes and problems. Keep your resume current - you never know when you may need it!

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