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Overview
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Arrive 10 minutes early. Being late is never acceptable. |
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Be sure you answer the questions the interviewer asks. |
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Ask the interviewer to describe the position and specific responsibilities early in the conversation so you can relate your skills and background to the position throughout the course of the interview. |
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Discuss your qualifications, and stress the accomplishments that are most pertinent to this position. |
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Conduct yourself professionally. Be aware of what your body language is saying. Smile, make eye contact, don't slouch, and maintain your composure. |
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Anticipate difficult questions about your chosen career path and prepare in advance so you can turn apparent weaknesses into strengths. |
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Dress appropriately. Make your first impression on a prospective employer a professional one. |
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Ask questions throughout the interview. An interview should be a mutual exchange of information, not a one-sided conversation. |
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Listen. By focusing not only on the interviewer’s words, but also on their tone and body language, you will be able to pick up on their style. Form your answers accordingly. This will also enable you to establish a personal rapport with the interviewer.
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Have You Done Your Homework
| One of the most important aspects of the interview occurs before a candidate even walks into the room – homework. Candidates should do thorough research about both the company and the position for which you are being considered. |
| The Holmes Group Team will provide candidates with information about the company and the position for which they are interviewing. But, candidates should do their own research before the interview about the nature of the company and the service they provide to their customers. |
| Next, prepare a list of questions to ask the person you are interviewing with about the company and the position. Being prepared for the interview with a solid base of knowledge about the company and its business services, along with questions to ask the interviewer, illustrates a candidate’s intelligence, resourcefulness and interest in the position. |
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Possible Candidate Questions:
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Why is this position available? Why did the person previously in this position leave? |
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What are your goals for this position? What are your expectations of someone filling this job? |
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What roadblocks are in store for the candidate filling this position? |
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How will job performance be evaluated? Who will perform the evaluations? |
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What opportunities are there for growth over the next 12 months for someone entering this position? What are the growth opportunities in the next 5 years? |
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What kind of growth do you anticipate for your firm over the next year? |
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Closing The Interview
If candidates are prepared for the interview, there is no need to doubt your answers after the interview. If you feel that the interview went well and you would like to continue the interview process, express your interest to the interviewer. For example, “After hearing more about your company, the position and the responsibilities at hand, I am certain that I possess the qualities that you are looking for in the (title) position. Based on our conversation and my qualifications, are there any issues or concerns that you have that would lead you to believe otherwise?
”You have a right to be assertive. This is a great closing question because it opens the door for the interviewer to be honest with you about his or her feelings concerning your qualifications for the position. If concerns do exist, this is the opportunity to address them.
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Don't be discouraged if no definite offer is made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will likely want to communicate with a superior or interview other applicants before making a decision. |
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Express thanks for the interviewer’s time and consideration. |
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Ask for the interviewer’s business card so you can write a thank you letter.
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Following Up After The Interview:
After leaving the interview, take a few minutes to write down key issues that were raised during the interview, such as specific qualifications for the position, your strengths in meeting these needs, areas of concern and how to address them, etc.
Then, call us at The Holmes Group. Follow-up at this stage is critical!
Finally, write a thank you message no later than 24 hours after the interview.
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