Use Your Resume as Your Outline This strategy works especially well for those of you who have never had a 'real' interview experience before. It helps to keep you on track and focused on your professional accomplishments. This is a good 'beginners' approach to tackle that "Tell me about yourself" question. Your education and work experience is already laid out in your resume, so use it as an outline - just don't read directly off of your resume. Match Yourself to the Position In the world of the job search you are a product and that product's respective sales associate. If a 'prospective customer' is looking for apples, sell them apples, not oranges. If an employer is seeking a customer service representative, 'sell' them on your strong communication skills and ability to resolve conflicts & not your experience welding steel girders. Demonstrate how your skills, education and past experiences have prepared you to excel at the position you are applying for. Questions like: "Tell me of a time when (something related to the position you are interviewing for went amiss). How did you handle it?" are becoming more frequent in interview sessions. Employers are seeking evidence of your problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills. Think of stories that highlight your success in dealing with difficult situations that relate to the working world. These stories give the interviewer(s) insight into your personality and can indicate your future job performance & a great opportunity to strut your stuff. Take Notes Some people may think taking notes during the interview is a sign that you are not paying attention. Just the opposite is true. It shows the interviewer you are listening and that what they have to say is very important to you. It provides you with an opportunity to jot down any questions you may have to ask at the end of the interview (don't interrupt - hold those questions till you are asked). Your notes will also help to formulate key points in your 'Thank You' letter. Do Not Ask About Salary & Benefits As a rule of thumb, do not mention salary or benefits until the interviewer brings it up first. Yes, I know that money is a top consideration when considering employment, but it is considered tacky to broach the subject prior to the company showing a serious interest in you. Asking questions like "How much vacation do we get?" gives the employer the impression of someone who is not too motivated to work. Questions regarding benefits should be discussed with the company's Human Resource personnel. First Impressions Count Just like dating, first impressions count. Within the first ten seconds of meeting, the impression you make with the interviewer(s) will have a significant impact on their decision to hire you. Therefore, dress to impress, arrive early, give a firm handshake and smile. Follow Up After the interview, one way to continue to market yourself is to send a Thank You letter to the people you interviewed with. Taking the time to write a Thank You letter shows interest in the position and a sincere desire to work for the organization, as well as another opportunity for the employer to read your name. Most importantly, it's another chance to tell them how your skills, education and experiences are a match for the position. Getting ready for that 'real' job interview is serious work. Just as with most things, it will get easier each time you do it. Today's economic situation has created a lot of competition for a diminishing number of jobs, so you need every angle you can get to promote yourself in the employer's mind as the right candidate. This pressure can cause stress that can adversely affect your interview performance. Taking the time to properly prepare and research will do a whole lot to alleviate the worry associated with your first career move and will set you up for a successful interview experience. There are tons of resources available (online, books, magazines, newspaper articles) for you to help make your transition form school to work as smooth as possible. A great resource available to all BCC students and graduates is your campus career center. This is your one-stop shop for resume and cover letter help, occupational, industry and salary data, job postings, and one-on-one employment counseling. Come visit us, we will be happy to assist you.
Download and/or printout this reference guide to typical interview questions:
Monster - Interview Center |
Interviewing Typical Questions