WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN INTERVIEW?

The purpose of an interview is to persuade an employer that you have the needed qualifications, background, and ability to be a successful employee. The interviewer also wants to ensure that your personality will be an appropriate fit for the organization. While you must be qualified for the position, the interviewer is also measuring your interpersonal skills, communicative ability, personality, and the confidence you exude.

During the interview process, you should be attentively listening and gathering information about the company or organization. You, therefore, can ask appropriate questions and truly see if the position matches your personality, qualifications, and career direction.

WHAT ARE DIFFERENT INTERVIEW TYPES?

Phone Interview: Common for jobs that are out-of-state. These positions attract many applicants and require superior verbal communicative skills and a strong telephone demeanor.

Screening Interview: Narrows down a relatively large number of likely candidates to a smaller list of possibilities. Companies use screening tools to ensure that candidates meet minimum qualifications. The interviewer's primary goal is not to determine whether you are the best candidate for the position. The interviewer is instead seeking to eliminate candidates who do not meet the qualifications.

Directive Style: The interviewer has a clear agenda that he or she follows. Interviewers ask each candidate the same series of questions. This technique allows them to more easily compare results.

Behavioral Interview: A technique that focuses on demonstrated behaviors as the best evidence of future performance. Open-ended questions are asked to see how you acted in previous situations. Note: This is the most common type of interview.

Group Interview: An interview with other candidates, which shows a glimpse of how you interact with peers. The interviewer might call on you to discuss an issue with the other candidates or discuss your qualifications in front of them.

Informational Interview: An interview you initiate. It is an opportunity to learn firsthand about a particular career by speaking with someone who works in the profession.

HOW TO PREPARE BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• Do advance research on the company: You should be familiar with the employer before the interview. This preparation will allow you to be educated about the position and ask questions when prompted by the interviewer. Employer research can be conducted with the following resources: company websites, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, and the Chamber of Commerce. Additional helpful websites include: www.salary.com and www.hoovers.com. Current news about employers is often found in the Business Section of any local newspaper. Company information is also available on www.louisvilleworks.com
• Questions to consider when doing research on a company:

What does this company do?
How long has it been in the area?
Does it have other offices, stores, or locations?
How has the company been doing recently?
What kind of positions does it have available?

• Bring extra copies of your resume: The interviewer might want to give copies of your resume to other hiring personnel. You also might be in an interview with more than one interviewer.

• On the day of the interview, know where you're going and arrive 10-15 minutes early: If you're unfamiliar with the area, you should practice the driving route prior to the interview. Be sure to always give yourself additional time! You can never be sure about parking and traffic.

• Be sure to take a professional looking padfolio containing a pen and paper.

• Prepare questions to ask the employer (refer to "Questions to Ask the Employer" section)

• Have reference names and contact information. Refer to resume packet for information on how to compose a reference sheet.

• Be familiar with the content of your resume and the job description.

HOW SHOULD YOU DRESS DURING THE INTERVIEW?

First impressions are critical in an interview. Your appearance is the first observable factor an employer will see. To be successful, do the following:

General Guidelines

● Avoid trendy fashions
● Hide body art and tattoos
● Pressed clothing
● Conservative makeup
● Minimal jewelry
● Neat hair
● No jeans/sweats
● No perfume/cologne

Women

Acceptable dress includes:

• A skirted suit, pantsuit or conservative dress.
(Go to Louisville.dressforsuccess.org or call 502-584-8050 for Dress for Success Louisville.)

• Skirts should be knee-length or longer. Avoid pants that are too tight. No Capri pants.
• No spaghetti strap or sleeveless shirts.
• Avoid shirts that are too tight fitting, have low necklines, or revealing waistlines.
• Always wear plain-style, non-patterned hose to interviews.
• Wear flat shoes or low pumps in colors that avoid making your feet a focal point.
• Avoid open-toed shoes; they are inappropriate for interviews.

Men

Acceptable dress includes:
• Conservative dark navy or gray two-piece business suit. (Go to www.calky.org or call 502-589-6620 for the First Impressions Men's Suit Program.)

• If you do not own a suit, then you should wear a conservative dress shirt (always collared) and nicely pressed slacks.
• Wear conservative, clean, and polished shoes.
• A short hair cut and no facial hair is expected.

Remember that each industry or career field has different standards of professional dress for the interview. What is appropriate in one career field may possibly be inappropriate in another industry. If in doubt of how to dress appropriately, then ask an individual in that career field, a Career Counselor, or contact the company.

HOW SHOULD YOU ACT DURING THE INTERVIEW?

• Turn off your cell phone before the interview.
• Have a positive attitude and be optimistic.
• Provide a firm handshake and make eye contact when greeting the employer.
• Sit still and upright in your chair.
• When asked a question, be thoughtful about your answer.
• Give specific examples to support your answers.
• Don't get personal in the interview.
• Never bring up salary.
• Thank the interviewer for his/her time and find out when you may get back to the interviewer.
• Ask for the employer's Business Card. You can use this to write your thank-you letter at the conclusion of the interview.

TWO-MINUTE PRESENTATION

What is a two-minute presentation and why is it important?

A two-minute presentation is what you will respond with when the interviewer asks you "Tell me a little bit about yourself". It is long enough to keep the attention of the interviewer while also giving just enough information about you. The interviewer can take notes and ask follow-up questions for additional information. This is the time to make your "sales pitch!"

As you create your Two-Minute Presentation, review your skills and consider what employers want. Studying job descriptions will provide you with specific skills and strengths to include in your presentation! You will include:

• Your career objective
• Related past work experiences
• Strengths/abilities/skills
• What you can offer the company
• Include specific accomplishments
• How the position fits with your career goals
• Why you are interested with the specific company

EXAMPLE OF A TWO-MINUTE PRESENTATION

Steve is looking for a marketing position. He is a recent college graduate with limited experience. The company is looking for someone who is energetic, organized, and has experience in the marketing field, specifically someone who can think creatively to reach new markets. They also need someone with excellent communication, problem-solving and negotiating skills.

"I recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. As part of my program, I conducted an internship where I worked as a public relations/marketing representative (related past work experiences). This position allowed me to gain experience with planning and marketing, problem-solving, and working with people at all levels (skills). Some of my strengths include excellent organizational skills, communicating with customers and vendors, and targeting new customers or markets to achieve sales goals (strengths). I believe I could benefit your company by using a customer-oriented approach to negotiate new accounts and exceed profit goals (how to improve company). I am looking for an opportunity to use the skills I have acquired to continue to serve customers while using my high-energy and creativity to reach new markets and increase sales (objective). I am eager to work for this company because of the vast clientele you serve and your reputation for excellence (why you are interested in the company)."

POPULAR QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE INTERVIEW

1. What can you tell me about yourself? Don't give the interviewer your life history. Instead, specify how your related past work experiences/skills relate to the position. Refer to the two-minute presentation section.

2. Why should we hire you? This question is critical. You should emphasize in what ways you will be a value to the organization. Customize your responses to address the skill requirements listed in the job description as well as the company's mission.

3. What are your major strengths? The interviewer is looking for you to emphasize your skills, especially your adaptive skills. Adaptive skills are defined as personality traits such as honesty, dependability, and enthusiasm.

4. What are your major weaknesses? This is a hard question for many job seekers to answer. The interviewer wants to know that you are aware of your weak points and in what ways you are working to overcome them. A helpful hint would be to articulate a weakness that is also a strength.

For Example, a nurse candidate might state: "I can become emotionally attached to my patients. While this may be perceived by some as a weakness, my empathy can serve as a strength because I easily build rapport with my patients and their families. I also have an excellent bed-side manner."

5. What are your short/long-term goals? The interviewer wants to see that you have considered plans for your future. Outline your career objectives before the interview - but remember, do not get personal!

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AN INTERVIEWER MAY ASK

• How did your education prepare you for this position?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What do you know about this field?
• What two or three things are most important to you in a position?
• What do you know about our company?
• How well do you accept criticism?
• What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
• How do you handle stressful situations?
• Where do you see yourself in three years? Five years?
• What did you like best/least about your last position?

EXAMPLE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING QUESTIONS

1. Give an example of an instance when you had to deal with frequent changes or unexpected events on the job (or at school).

2. Describe a situation in which you had to draw a conclusion quickly and take speedy action.

3. Tell about a time when your ability to listen helped you communicate better.

4. Give an example of when one of your ideas was well received by others.

5. Tell about a time when you were particularly driven and highly motivated. (school or work)

6. Tell about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person at work.

7. Describe a time when you had to say something difficult or unpleasant to your employer or professor.

When answering behavioral based questions, use the S.TA.R. method (Situation, Task, Action taken, and Result). For example, if the interviewer asks you, "Tell me about a time when you had to handle an angry customer," your response could be:

"When I was working at a department store, a customer was mad about our return policy. I listened to the customer express her frustration, and calmly explained to her why the company has this policy. I then offered her the opportunity to exchange the item. She was still angry because she wanted to return the item. I called my manager for assistance and he was able to make a special consideration for the customer, allowing her to return the item. The customer was happy and my manager was proud of the way I professionally handled the situation."

EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE QUESTIONS FROM EMPLOYERS

Examples of inappropriate and/or illegal questions:

• Age ("What year did you graduate from high school?")
• Disability/Medical History
• Race
• Marital Status ("Do you have a spouse?")
• Religious preferences ("Where do you go to church?")
• Country of origin ("What country are you from?")

You can ask the interviewer (if the question is inappropriate) "Does this have job relevancy?" or "is your question relevant to the job?" You want to steer the interviewer away from inappropriate questions. A great way to do that is to bring attention to your skills/qualifications.

QUESTIONS TO ASK EMPLOYERS

You should always prepare questions to ask employers. Do not ask questions that are clearly stated on the employer's website or in company literature. This would only show that you have not done previous research on the company. Instead, ask strong, probing questions. These will demonstrate that you have studied the company and are sincerely interested in working for them. It is appropriate to type or write these questions down ahead of time and use them as a reference tool during the interview. The following are some sample questions to consider:

• Could you explain your organizational structure?
• Can you describe the work environment at this company?
• What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
• What skills are especially important for someone in this position?
• Could you describe your company's management style and the type of employee who fits well with it?
• How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?
• What particular computer equipment and software do you use?
• What is the company's policy on providing seminars, workshops, and training so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones?
• How would you characterize the organization? What are its principal values? What are its greatest challenges?
• How much guidance or assistance is made available to individuals developing career goals?
• How do you like your employees to communicate with you?
• May I have a business card? (This ensures that you will use the correct address and spelling of the interviewer's name in your thank you note).
• When do you expect to make a decision concerning this position?

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Send a thank-you note immediately after the interview.
• In your thank-you note, refer to specific details about the interview.
• Remind the potential employer of your qualifications.
• Include any key information you forgot to bring to the employer's attention during the interview.
• A thank-you note serves to confirm your interest in the company and shows appreciation for the interview.
• The thank-you note can either be typed or handwritten. If you know the company is going to make a quick decision about the candidate or if you have poor handwriting, then go ahead and email the letter. Under any other circumstance, handwrite the letter because it is more personal.

SALARY
www.Salaryexpert.com

• Never initiate salary discussions. This can give the employer the impression that your main interest is money, instead of the position and the company. Allow the employer to initiate this topic.

• When you state your salary expectations, first tell the employer that you are interested in the position, the company and the opportunities they are offering you. Reiterate your skills and experience. Provide the employer your salary range and state that it is based on your knowledge of the field. You may want to bring up cost of living expenses and if you have above average credentials.

• Research how much your position earns and give the employer a range. Example: $23,000-$25,000. You may want to reply by asking them to give you the salary range for the position first.

• If you are asked to supply your salary expectations or current salary prior to the interview, state that your salary is negotiable and that you will disclose this information during the interview.

• Salary is negotiable and based on education, experience, type of benefits package offered and job responsibilities. Assume the first offer is negotiable and state that you will get back to them with a decision. Talk to someone who is knowledgeable about salary and benefits packages for a second opinion.

EXAMPLE THANK-YOU NOTE AFTER INTERVIEW

Your Name
Address
City, State Zip Code
Phone Number

Today's Date

Name of Person who interviewed you
Their title
Name of company
Address
City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr. or Ms. (last name of person who interviewed you):

Thank you for discussing the Customer Service/Sales Representative position with me today. I believe this position matches my personality, abilities, and interests and I want to express my continued interest in the job.

In the interview you mentioned that the person in this position must be energetic, outgoing, and a problem solver. I hope that you were able to witness these qualities in me during our meeting, as well as my positive attitude and desire to learn all that I can from your company.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at (your phone number) should you need further information from me. I am very excited at the opportunity to join your team.

Sincerely,

Sign your name here

Type your name here

5 COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES

1. Lack of preparation. The interview is your opportunity to demonstrate your skills that would benefit the employer. Employers are looking for verbal and non-verbal signals that answer questions like: Did you do your research? Did you arrive on time? Do you take pride in your appearance and does it reflect the organization's culture?

2. Getting personal in the interview. Employers want to know if you are able and qualified to do the job and that you will fit into the culture of the organization. Be polite and friendly but avoid any personal subjects such as family life, age, or religion. Even if a personal issue arises in conversation, try to concentrate on discussing your skills and qualifications relevant to the position.

3. Poor verbal and non-verbal signals. Employers are reviewing ALL of the information you provide to determine if you are a right fit for the position. Pay attention to these common errors: (1) Avoid a limp handshake that communicates a lack of confidence. (2) In appropriate eye contact. Not enough eye contact communicates dishonesty and/or lack of confidence. Too much eye contact, such as staring, can communicate that you are lost, overwhelmed or confused. (3) Words such as "like", "ya know", "um", and "er" are very distracting and will ultimately cause the employer to tune out your real message. (4) Letting your nerves get the best of you by constantly fidgeting can communicate a lack of confidence. Stop playing with your hair, kicking your feet, touching your face, etc.

4. Failing to promote your candidacy. If you don't sell your candidacy, no one else will! Before the interview, conduct a thorough self-assessment. What are your skills and abilities and how will these qualities benefit the employer? Review the common interview questions and practice your responses. Did you use every opportunity to sell a skill?

5. Failing to answer employer questions accurately and in a concise manner. Candidates who go off on tangents or never directly answer an interviewer's question can give an employer the wrong impression. Employers may assume the candidate does not listen well, has poor verbal communication skills, or may be trying to hide something.

WHERE CAN YOU GO FOR ADDITIONAL CAREER ASSISTANCE?

• Visit a KentuckianaWorks One-Stop Career Center. For a list of center locations and office hours, visit: http://www.kentuckianaworks.org/

• Ask a friend or colleague to conduct a mock interview. Provide the interviewer with a list of questions from this blog and ask for their feedback. Did you make the right first impression?

Courtesy: Courtney Abboud, Metropolitan College Director of Workforce and Student Development