Thank You For An Interview

This month Turkish IT consultancy Netron share some top tips. Check out their website at http://www.netron.com.tr/netronenglishsite/ Job Interview Skills You submitted a job application and have a date in your diary for the interview. Congratulations – you have passed the first stage of the hiring process. This is when things start becoming more complex, however. Interviews can be highly complex, and nowadays, companies often employ a whole battery of techniques to select the most suitable candidate, such as psychological tests, role playing scenarios, and intelligence speed tests. The following is a guide to help you through the whole process, and to maximize your possibilities of getting that much sought-after job. Good luck! Remember: • • • • A company that interviews candidates is a company that want to recruit. First impressions are vital. In general, the first five minutes of the interview are the most important of all. A job interview is an opportunity to show your competence, education, skill and enthusiasm. If you are not adequately prepared, whatever is on your resume will count for nothing. You have to convince the employer that you have something special to present to the organization. Don’t leave this to chance – prepare and prepare well. Go over and practice any questions you think might be tricky to answer at the interview. Keep practicing until you can express your answers comfortably. • If you show any doubts about whether you are right for the job, or if the job is suitable for you, the interviewer may well detect them. With this in mind, continually seek to convince the interviewer that you are the ideal candidate. It has been observed that companies selecting the wrong candidates lose money, waste time and bleed prestige, resulting in a loss of customers. Which is why any potential employer will be incredibly careful of its final selection before offering anyone a job. It is your task to convince them that you fit the bill. You can always improve your interview technique, so: Get prepared for the interview Communicate your strengths Use the power of your personality What is the purpose of an interview? Job interviews provide the employer with information about your: • Skills • • • • • Personality Work experience Education Motivation Interests Job interviews will give you information concerning the company’s: • • • • • Requirements History Working environment Business activities Future plans Contrary to the general preconception, the job interview is not only an environment where the employer can get to know you. Use it to learn about the position and the organisation. Knowing Yourself Honestly taking stock of yourself is the first step to preparing for an interview. Asking youself the following questions as fully and frankly as possible will help you do so: Your interests What kind of work excites you? What type of a job do you really want? Skills What kind of skills do you have? Education List degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc. Experience All the jobs you have worked in previously, including full-time, part-time, internship and voluntary activities. Your Attitude Towards yourself, other people, work in general and your chosen career. Strengths and areas for improvement: What are you good at? What do you need to improve? Knowing your goals: Ask yourself where you want to be in five years’ time and what you want to be doing. When the question comes up in the interview you’ll able to give a considered, confident and 2 convincing answer that could make the difference between being hired and being shown the door. Preparation • • • • • • • • Look at the interview as a verbal examination to be passed. When getting prepared for the interview, do not forget your physical appearance. Pay attention to the state of your hair, teeth, and nails. Men should remember to shave, or trim beards and moustaches, as appropriate. Dress appropriately for the organization you wish to join, to make a positive first impression. Women should avoid too much make-up, jewelry and perfume. Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to appointment to ensure you are in good time for the interview. If you are going be late or cannot attend the interview for any reason, make sure that you phone as early as possible. Be considerate and polite to everybody you see. They may provide information about you to the interviewer. You may be asked to fill in an information form before the interview begins. Do so very carefully, and do not write answers such as “refer to resume”. Keep a photo with you in case one is needed for these forms. Take more than one resume with you when you go to an interview. Collect information about the company and position you are applying for beforehand. You can use the Internet, industry magazines and other publications. Make sure you visit the company’s website. The Interview Some general points to remember: • Be courteous Address the interviewer with their title, such as Mr., Mrs., or Professor. Take a polite and professional approach. Show that your are eager Many employers eliminate candidates due to their lack of energy and enthusiasm in the interview. Being positive, interested and sociable will help you build a good impression. • 3 • • Establish eye contact This is one of the key factors for establishing a bond and building trust with interviewer. Body language Never underestimate its importance. Nervously waving your arms or shaking your legs is distracting and could give a poor impression. Posture is also important. Sit up straight and slightly forward, without hunching your shoulders. Do not rest your hand or arm on the interviewer’s desk. Refreshments If the interviewer wants to offer you something to drink, chose the easiest option for them, such as water. Be a good listener Do not lose eye contact when listening to the interviewer and show that you follow him or her by nodding where appropriate. Be yourself: Do not try to change your personality. Try to let the interviewer get to know you for who you are. • • • Specific tips which can make all the difference include: 1. Pick up clues in the interview. Just as you create an impression with your style of dress, the interviewer’s office and their personal possessions like photos will give you an idea of their personality and interests. If you are able to interpret these cues correctly, you can increase your chances by using them to engage with the interviewer more effectively. 2. Prepare answers to typical interview questions before the interview. 3. Behave thoughtfully and be polite at all times, and introduce yourself to everybody. 4. Enter the interview confidently. Shake the hand of the interviewer firmly, but not too tightly. 5. Concentrate on the questions you have been asked, and give relevant, in-depth answers to questions about your education, work experiences, and any voluntary or charitable activities. 6. Introduce and sell your training, skills and abilities that will be suitable and useful for the organization. 7. Prepare two or three intelligent questions related to the job and organization to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. 8. If you have mentioned negative aspects of your previous or current job, make sure you also outline a few positives. Complaining about your previous job or colleagues will give a poor impression. 4 Don’t forget to relax! You don’t go to job interviews every day, so nervousness before and during them is perfectly normal. Being a participant in an interview can be an unfamiliar role, so you may have to cope with a higher than usual level of stress. Rehearsing for an interview is a very good way to build up your confidence and so minimize tension. Immediately before, and during, the interview take slow, controlled breaths, stay focused and try to be calm as you can. Dealing with interview questions: When an interviewer assess the candidates before them, the questions they ask will try to reveal answers to the following key issues, even if they do not asked them directly: 1. Is this person capable of fulfilling this role? 2. Do they have the necessary motivation and commitment to do so? 3. Will this person adapt to the organization? Bearing this in mind, you need to ensure any answer you give will give a positive response to these issues. Moreover: • Answer every question briefly, but in full, avoiding a “yes” or “no” reply. • There is no need to hurry. A short pause before the answer will be interpreted as thinking time, but try to avoid over-long silences. • If you cannot answer a question fully, say so. • Remember that some interviewers will be asking questions to get a general idea of your background and personality. • Even if you think that the interview did not go well, leave the room with a positive and cool-headed attitude. • Thank the interviewer for their time. Tell them that you found the interview very helpful and that you were very pleased to attend. Question examples The following is a guide to some of the most frequently asked questions at job interviews, and some suggestions on how best to reply to them. Why should I give you the job? Avoid answering this question in very general terms. It is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself in the most positive way possible. Emphasize your strengths, personality and what you can do. Everybody says he or she is hard-working or honest, so avoid banal replies of this sort. 5 When you talk about your personal characteristics, decide beforehand which abilities will showcase your talents best. In brief, instead of simply saying that you are ideal for the job, demonstrate that you really are. Why do you want to work here? Attending an interview without getting any information about the company and the relevant industry sector is professional suicide. Do your research properly, consider your strengths, personality, qualifications and experience and you should be able to answer this question. What’s more, you will be able to use it as an opportunity to effectively sell yourself to the interviewer. What are your weak points? The only answer you should never give is: “I don’t have any”. By asking this question, the interviewer aims to learn whether you can cope with stress or not, how self aware you are, and finally, whether you do something or not in order to overcome your weaknesses. When answering, do not just state your weakness. Describe how you deal with it and, if possible, how you use it to an advantage in your professional life. For example; “Perhaps I’m am a perfectionist, but as a result I always try to produce the best results possible.” How would you cope with the following problem…? It may be hard to find an answer to this question. Try to demonstrate you abilities as a problem-solver when answering it. What have been you biggest successes? What are your strengths? Always ensure you tailor your answer to the specific job you have applied to, the relevant industry, and if, possible, the personality of your interviewer. Tell me about yourself. Don’t get caught out. This can be a very hard question to answer because its scope is so wide. The important thing is that the interviewer wants to know you personally, rather than learning the things you do at the weekend. Before the interview, isolate your most relevant personal aspects, professional experiences, career goals, and do not deviate from these subjects. Wrap up the subject and conclude with your desire to work at that company. Have you ever worked in this sector before? If your answer is “no”, you need to qualify your reply. Try to present a positive after the negative, as in the following example: For example: Q: “Have you ever worked in the media sector before? ” A: “I have not, but I spent 2 summer internships in an advertising agency, so I can say that I have a comprehensive knowledge of the media sector as both are closely related.” You could also encounter the following questions: • • • • Which aspect of this job do find most interesting? This is a very stressful job. Do you think you’ll be able to cope? I am concerned that you have no knowledge/experience of … We frequently work late. Would that be a problem for you? 6 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • What do you like to do in your spare time? What things motivate you? What are your goals in the long-term? How creative are you, and to what extent are you a problem-solver? Can you motivate others? How would you grade yourself out of 10 as a leader? What was your favorite subject/lesson at school? What were your grades at school? What kind of people do you like working with? Are you quick-tempered? Are you the kind of a person who can motivate him/herself? How long would you be satisfied in performing this job before wanting promotion to a more senior position? Do you have any health problems? Do you really like working? How sensitive are you to criticism? Do you like being criticized? Do you have anything to ask us? Generally this is asked at the end of the interview. Try to ascertain whether the interviewer really wants to ask a question or is simply being polite. At this point you can ask for further information about the post. For example: • • • • Working hours. Corporate culture. Company’s priorities. Stages followed in recruitment. Some Do’s and Don’t’s • • • • • • Give your answers after thinking about them for a while. Never ask questions about holiday time or medical support. Never ask how well you did during the interview Do not force the interviewer to tell you about your chances of getting the job. Do not ask the question “Can you tell me about your company?” Do not smoke, even if invited to do so by the interviewer. Never become defensive If you think you are being bombarded with questions, remain calm, do not lose your cool, and avoid sounding irritated or confrontational, however hostile the situation. Show that you learn lessons from past mistakes 7 If you can learn from previous errors you will be an asset to the company, and most employers are well aware of this. Illustrate your suitability for the job using real-life examples When you are asked “Why are you ideal for the job?” it’s more impressive if you can reply by recounting a suitable experience from your professional life, rather than simply quoting from your resume. Visit the company. Undertaking research in order to understand the company’s culture will give you an advantage. Visit the company and take a corporate brochure or magazine from the reception, if any are available. You should also look for news about the company on the Internet. Salary bargaining: The most challenging part of the job interview for both sides is negotiating the benefits package, which is usually left until the final stage of the interview process. “What sort of salary were you thinking of?” is the question which usually kicks off the bargaining process, and it is often a hard one to answer for those who do not have much work experience. Before going to the job interview, research the market and determine the salary range for the type of job you are applying for, or similar positions. With this background, you can negotiate from a stronger position. You should also take into account how many other candidates could be in your situation. Obviously, if you know you are the only one left at this stage in the selection process, you will be in a good position, but try to avoid making unreasonable demands. Before you are offered the job, do not raise the subject of salary. When you are asked about it, you can ask how much budget they were considering for the position before you answer the question, which could offer some guidance. If the salary is not satisfactory, but you are still interested in the job, you can ask when the next raise is due, and how often salary reviews are done. Enquire what circumstance you would need to fulfill in order to qualify for an improvement in pay. Additionally, you can talk about other benefits, such as travel, private health insurance, company car, etc. This can be a tactic to increase the value your overall package if more money is not available for the actual salary. After the interview At the end of the interview, reiterate your interest in the position and the organization, and afterwards do not forget to send a letter of thanks. 8 The purpose of the letter is not only to show your gratitude, but is also an opportunity for you to show your commitment to obtaining the job and joining the organization, and to add any relevant details that might have been missed during the interview due to nerves or lack of time. Your letter should be simple and brief. Thank the interviewer for their time and make your enthusiasm for the post clear. You can use the following sample: Sample letter of thanks NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE NUMBERS DATE E-mail Dear Mr./Ms. Surname I would like to thank you for the time and the information you gave me about …………………… position during yesterday’s interview. As I mentioned before, I think I have the three important qualities required for the position, namely… (list qualities with a short explanation of why they are relevant to the job) I think I will be able to make important contributions to your organization in this position. Thank you for your kind interest. Best Regards, Your Name, Surname References: Job Interview Skills, Channing L Bete. Co., Massachusetts 1995 Eggert, Max,Kusursuz Labor Görüşmesi altın kitaplar yay. 1999 İstanbul How To Write A Great Resume Permacharts, Mindsource Technologies Inc. 2002 9