Trish’s Jobsearch Tips

Interviews

It’s not just the company that does the interviewing, you should be interviewing them too, and you want to find out if this is a good fit.

You need to do some of the interviewing too, you want to find out if the company’s culture is a good fit for you too!

• Once you receive the call to set up interview in response to your resume you need to do some research about the company, if you haven’t already. Many people say you should research the company prior to even sending a resume. I think that’s all well and good, but that is not going to get you an interview your skills and a great resume will. It is always nice to decide where you want to work, and actively pursue this.

• Now that you have the interview you need to decide several things, what is it you want? Based on this you should create a list: Salary-hi and low, benefits, vacation, 401K etc. Are you looking for a flexible position so you can work from home, or telecommute? These are what help us to decide if the company is as good for us as we are for them.

• Make a list of questions you have for the interviewer i.e. : Why is this position available? Is this a new position? If not what happened to the prior person who held this job? Where they promoted or did they leave? If they left why did they leave? What are the primary responsibilities of the position? How many clients will I be expected to handle? What are the hours? Is there travel? If so how much? Answers to some of these questions could tell you if this is a firm you want to work for or not.

Things we should do on the day of the interview or the day before.

1. Dress for success-regardless of the culture or if they have a casual atmosphere. Wear a suit, be sure your shoes are clean and polished, hair is neat, and you’re clean shaved and showered. If you have face jewelry, you should remove it prior to the interview, tattoos should also be covered.
2. Print out your resume-be sure to bring a printed copy of your resume to the interview.
3. Get directions-be sure to get the complete address of where you are to interview, also a phone number. If you are driving look up the address on one of the many online maps’s and print out the directions or send it to your pda etc.
4. Be on time-leave yourself plenty of time to get to the interview on time, you should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the interview so the reception desk can announce you, bring a book or magazine to read while you wait, or go over the questions you have prepared for your interview.
5. Introduce yourself and shake hands with the interviewer.
6. Make yourself comfortable, don’t fidget, try to relax. Face the interviewer, place your hands on the arms of the chair if there are arms, or in you lap.
7. Let the interview begin.
8. Don’t forget the questions you created from your list-You can take out your list or just have it available to reference.
9. Ask if the person doing the interviewing is the hiring manager-If not it is not an unreasonable request to meet them, and to see where you would be working. (sometimes this is done on second interview and not on the initial interview)
10. You should be sure to explain you researched the company and are familiar with their firm, products and services.
11. At the end of the interview ask when they plan on making a decision-it’s okay to ask when they plan to make a decision and it’s okay to ask when you can anticipate hearing from them.
12. Be sure to thank them for their time. Thank whoever is interviewing you for their time and shake hands. Be sure to settle on when you will hear from them.
13. Write a Thank you note.-When you return from your interview sit down and write a thank you note, this will also give you an opportunity to make additional points or to drive home briefly why they should hire you. (If you still want the job).
14. Be Patient- wait until the agreed upon date prior to following up, it is okay to place a call or send a follow up email but only after the date set for the decision. Most companies will contact you either way.

I think this covers interviewing at a very high level, I will add articles and some further things you may want to use tomorrow.

I sent out a few more resumes, and did some reading today. No calls today. But thats okay I am busy. Many of my contacts are responding to my Network requests and Linking in, it has only been a week. Not discouraged yet!

Well that’s all for now, talk again tomorrow.

Trish