Job Interview Guide
by Susan Ireland
When you’re in a good interview, it’s like being on a relay team. You and the employer are runners on the same team, and you both have a common goal: to figure out if you and the employer's organization are a winning combination.
So think of your interview as a sports event where you and the manager pass a "baton" back and forth. One good question leads to a good answer, which leads to another good question.
Before you know it, 30 or 40 minutes have gone by: You’ve both learned a lot about each other and made your selling points. Using this image of cooperation rather than one of opposition will help you have an effective interview.
Of course, not all interviews are going to be that fluid. Some managers aren’t skilled at asking good questions. Some may even try to trip you up with tricky questions. This guide is filled with tips about how to turn your interview into a winning relay.
Here's what's in this guide:
Top of this page
Interview Preparation
A little preparation before the interview will help take the edge off of the event. Here are some simple ways to get ready for your meeting.
1. Research the company.
By knowing as much as possible about the organization you're interviewing with, you'll be able to speak about topics that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Good places to research company information include:
- The business section of your public library
- Business and financial magazines
- Business sections of newspapers
- Your prospective employer’s company literature
- Your professional and personal network
- The company's Web site
- Online research sources such as Vault Reports (www.vaultreports.com), and Yahoo! Finance (http://biz.yahoo.com/ic)
Compile your company information into a company profile something like the following. (Of course, the contents of your format will depend upon what information you're able to gather.)
COMPANY PROFILE
Company's name: Westwood Running Shoes
Company's location: Los Angeles, California
Company's principle product: Running shoes
Company's other products: Socks, t-shirts, shoe laces, sports decals
Hiring manager for department I'm interested in: Mr. Alfred Jones, VP of Marketing
Company's annual revenue: $14 million
Customer demographics: 43% ages 18 and under, 35% ages 19-30, 17% ages 30-45, 5% ages 46+
Projected growth: $18 million in three years
Chief competitor: Anchor Line Shoes
Company promotional slogan: Westwood, for those in the fast lane
Top of this page
2. Learn about your interviewer.
If you can learn a little about the person who will be interviewing you, you'll be miles ahead of the game. Try to research up one or two things about her accomplishments, history with the organization, outside interests—anything that will help you break the ice and speak to her about things she's interested in.
For help in how to get the inside scoop on your interviewer, try some of these techniques:
- Ask people in your professional and personal network what they know about the interviewer.
- Conduct a search on the Internet using the person's name and company name.
- Read the company's annual report to learn about the company's directions and goals, including those that might involve the interviewer's department.
- Call organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, professional associations, and community groups that you think the hiring manager might belong to.
Once you've uncovered some information about the interviewer, compile it in a profile such as the following. (The information on your interviewer's profile will be determined by what information you dig up.)
INTERVIEWER'S PROFILE
Name: Mr. Alfred Jones
Title: VP of Marketing
How long with company: 4 years
Number of people he supervises: Directly 3, indirectly 19
Reports to: CEO
Education: M.A. from UCLA
Salary: Don't have the exact figure, but I think somewhere around $95K
Management style: Known for being fair but demanding
Articles: Published in U.S. Marketing Magazine, April 2001
Outside interests: He's a jogger. He ran the Los Angeles Marathon the same year I did
Work ethics: They say he has a high standard and puts in about a 60-hour week
Career ambitions: Unknown, but I imagine he's aiming for a promotion to president
Personality: Jones is a friendly man, but a tough negotiator
Volunteer activities: Member of several organizations that focus on children's issues
Top of this page
3. Know your PAR.s.
A job interview is a two-way street—both you and the employer will be making sales pitches. To go into your meeting knowing what you have to offer, make a short list of your strengths—especially the ones you know will interest this particular manager. Once you’ve got your strengths down cold, you’ll be ready to talk about them in your interview.
Practice telling at least three stories that illustrate your strengths in a PAR format (Problem, Action, Result). Prepare to sprinkle them throughout the interview in response to relevant questions. Your stories can make the difference between a ho-hum and striking answer.
4. List the questions you want to ask.
The employer shouldn’t be the only one asking questions during the interview. After all, you’re trying to decide where you want to spend eight or more hours a day for the next few years. Be prepared with your own questions, which should:
- Gather information you need to make your career decision
- Show that you understand the basics of the job you seek
- Demonstrate your level of commitment, interest, and abilities
Here are some commonly asked questions, which might help you compile your own. By the way, it’s OK to refer to your list during the interview.
- How do you define successful performance in this position?
- Am I correct in my understanding that the role of such-and-such job entails such-and-such?
- Is there special training you require or suggest for someone holding this position?
- How do you envision this company changing in five years?
- How does this unit’s objectives contribute to the overall company goals?
- How will the current economic trend impact this department?
- Which problems facing our industry will affect this unit?
- What challenges will I inherit when I take this job?
- To whom will I report and who will report to me?
- Will I have hiring/firing authority within my area?
- What have you found to be the most important traits of someone who is successful in this position?
- Could you tell me how long you've worked for this company and a little bit about how you grew into your current position?
- What projects or goals will bring success to your department or team?
- What is your feeling about how I would fit into this organization? (This is a good closing question for the interview)
Top of this page
5. Create a portfolio of your work.
Just as a picture speaks a thousand words, so does a sample brochure, photograph, or technical prototype. If you have samples that demonstrate your relevant skills, bring those samples to the interview in a briefcase or small bag. When the appropriate question is asked, refer to your samples as a way of showing your talent. The act of showing the interviewer something tangible will change the pace of the interview and make a memorable impression about your achievements. By the way, don't bring a sample if it's larger than what you can carry in one hand or more elaborate than what can be taken out of its case and presented in ten seconds or less. Your portfolio should make you look good, not clumsy
Top of this page
Answering Interview Questions
Your interview is likely to last between 20 and 30 minutes. During that time, the interviewer will try to learn the following:
- The level of your experience and skills
- Your willingness and ability to learn
- A sense of your personality, professionalism, and commitment
- An indication of how you would fit into the organization
- Answers to specific questions
Interview Styles
There are two styles of interviewing: traditional and behavior-based. Traditional questions are direct and tend to give the interviewee the sense that he's being tested, as if there are right and wrong answers. Traditional questions might be something like these:
- Why do you want to hold this position?
- Aside from money, what will you gain from having this job?
- What motivates you to excel?
Behavior-based questions invite the job applicant to tell a story. The theory behind behavior-based interviewing is that by hearing about a job seeker's past behavior, the employer can predict his future behavior. Here are some sample behavior-based questions.
- What accomplishment are you particularly proud of?
- When did you handle conflict with your boss, colleagues, or subordinates? Tell me about it.
- Tell me about a situation that demonstrates your work habits.
- Describe a time when you and your superior were in conflict and how it was resolved.
Many managers have been trained in giving behavior-based interviews, so you're likely to run into them. Others will ask traditional questions, in which case, here's a tip: Give behavior-based answers whenever possible. Even when asked traditional questions, take every opportunity to tell a short story about one of your accomplishments, a scenario that demonstrates your style of work, or an example of your skills in action. Your behavior-based answers will make your interview more memorable, more meaningful, and more fun for the manager.
Top of this page
Practice Questions for Everyone
To give you a little practice in answering both traditional and behavior-based questions, here are some interview questions that might be asked of an applicant going for a position at any level in an organization. After each question, you'll find an analysis of the question, which may help you understand how to answer such a question in your job interview.
1. Could you please tell me about yourself?
Although this question is broad, keep your answer focused and relevant to the job you're applying for. Mention the top three or four aspects of your experience, skills, interests, and personality that make you a qualified candidate for the job.
2. What are your long- and short-term career goals?
Good question! The interviewer is trying to get a feel for why you want this job and how long you’re going to stick with it. The ideal answer will assure the employer that you’re worth his investment—that is, training you, introducing you to clients, entrusting you with responsibility. Your answer should assure him that you’ll be around for awhile—and maybe even a long time.
3. Outside of work, what are some of the things you do?
Employers know that what an applicant does for free can speak louder about his character than what he does for money. Tell the interviewer about something in your nonprofessional life that says: “Hey, I’m a good person.”
4. What strengths do you bring to this job that other candidates might not?
There’s no hidden message here. The employer’s giving you the floor to sell yourself for the job. Prepare well for this answer and deliver it with confidence. After all, who knows more about why you’re suited for the job than you? And make your presentation using brief achievement stories whenever possible.
5. Do you consider this a lateral or vertical career move?
This question is designed to find out how challenged you’ll be on the job—be careful, it’s a double-edged sword. If you aren’t challenged, you’ll get bored and move on. If you’re too challenged, you might not make it past the first week. Try to come in somewhere in the middle—maybe say something to the effect of, "It’s a comfortable stretch." Another tip: Your answer will also give the employer a sense of whether you’re hoping for a just a little or a big increase in salary.
Top of this page
6. Why do you want to leave your current position?
Ah, the interviewer’s concerned about any problems that might pop up on your next job—especially since that might be with him. Be sure to use good judgment here. Don’t bad-mouth your current boss and don’t bring up anything negative. A safe approach is to say something like: “It’s time to move on in my career” or "I'm looking for a greater challenge."
7. Why did you leave your last job?
Sounds like the interviewer wants to know if there are any underlying problems like: lack of commitment, difficult personality, poor performance, or anything that might lead to termination. Employers don’t want to take on someone who has a record of walking out on jobs or getting fired. No matter why you left your last job, couch your response in positive terms, without lying.
8. Please explain why you have a gap in your employment history.
With this question, the employer’s looking for any problems in your personal life that might become his headache if he hires you. Explain your gaps honestly, leaning on activities that support your job objective, if that’s possible. If you don’t have anything to say that’s relevant, then talk about activities that show your strength of character and helped you know what you really want to do next: the job you're interviewing for.
9. Of all the problems you had at your previous position, which was the hardest to deal with?
What a sneaky question! “Of all the problems”... don’t fall for it. Don’t let on that you had lots of problems, even if you did. Instead, refer briefly to an area you—and probably the rest of the world—find challenging, and move right on to how you’ve learned to deal with it.
10. What project required you to work under pressure? And what were the results?
How you respond to this question will tell the interviewer whether or not you like working under pressure. Be honest and positive. All jobs bring with them a certain amount of pressure, but some have a lot more than others. So give an example where the level of pressure was just right for you, which will suggest how much pressure you’re looking for on your next job.
11. What college experience are you especially proud of?
If you haven't been in the workforce long, this question is your opportunity to give balance to the fact that you don't have much paid experience. Spotlight your academic and extracurricular achievements, especially the ones that are relevant to your job objective.
12. What classes or training are you planning to pursue at this point?
This one’s tricky. You want to look dedicated to developing your profession but you don’t want to appear to have so much going on that you won’t be 100 percent on the job. Make it clear that your number one priority is your job; developing your profession is second.
Top of this page
Practice Questions for Managers
If you're going for a management position, you may be asked a few questions not asked of nonmanagement folks. Questions about:
- Budget
- Company policy
- Management style
- Conflict management
- Consensus building
- Team development
- Organizational systems
- Supervisory skills
- P&L responsibility
- Goal achievement
- Public relations
- Investor relations
Here are some questions you might find yourself answering in your executive interview.
1. Tell me about a time when you developed or re-organized a procedure successfully.
Here’s your chance to look good by talking about one of your favorite achievements. While telling your story, keep in mind what tasks you might be asked to perform at the job you’re applying for and highlight anything in your story that relates to your next job.
2. When did you initiate a policy or project, and how did your idea affect the organization?
Employers love to hear how you affected the bottom line, since it implies that you’ll be able to do the same for them. Tell a story that demonstrates that you understand how success is measured in your line of work, and that you’re able to achieve it to the satisfaction of your employer.
3. Could you describe a challenging problem you solved and what the long-term result of your solution was?
Most of us hate to admit that we have problems, but the truth is that we do. It’s how we handle problems that shows our real talent. So dig deep and come up with a time when you either took on a problem and solved it, or you were in the middle of a project and a problem came up unexpectedly.
4. What was the toughest budget issue you ever faced? Could you tell me about it?
Budget management is a big deal to employers. Before you decide how to answer this question, decide how involved you want to be with the budget on your next job. If you want to manage a budget, talk about a time when you did a terrific job with the money. If you hate dealing with budgets, tell about a time when you worked with someone else on the budget.
5. Tell me about a creative approach you used to increase profits.
There are two ways to increase profits: decrease spending and increase revenue. This question is designed to find out if you’re going to bring new profit-making ideas to the company, especially ones that work. So tell about a time when you either cut costs or drove up revenues.
Top of this page
6. Give me an example of how you built consensus within your team.
An effective manager gains buy-in from his staff so that everyone experiences success, both individually and as a group. To respond to this question, you could speak about one of your experiences in morale building, creating incentive programs, or using your fine management style to increase cooperation among your staff.
7. When did you have to resolve conflict among your subordinates?
Conflict resolution is a valuable skill. With downsizing, mergers, and problems in corporate management, this could be your winning ticket. Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes to know what interpersonal issues are current stumbling blocks at the company. Then come up with an experience of your own that parallels the company’s.
8. When have you had to represent the company or your department before a group of people?
Here’s your chance to show where your presentation skills lie. If you love speaking before groups, great—tell about some winning presentations you’ve done. If you’re not really comfortable in front of large groups (not all of us are), refer to a time when you delivered a message to either a small group or to an individual, and don't forget to emphasize the positive result of your presentation.
9. When did you have to sell an idea within your company and how did it work out?
The employer wants to know how much courage and persuasion you have. Think of a time when you persuaded someone or a group to follow your lead to a successful end. Your experience might have been around a serious business matter, or maybe even a personal interaction that turned into a humorous tale.
Top of this page
What Questions are Illegal
In the hopes of reducing hiring discrimination, the government has stepped into the interview room and said essentially, “Before the job offer, it’s illegal for an interviewer to ask direct questions about issues that could lead to discrimination.” Here’s a handy list of some of those issues.
- Age
- Gender
- Sexual preference
- Health
- Marital status
- Children
- Family planning
- Religion
- Political leanings
- Substance abuse
Legal Answers to Illegal Questions
Even though it may be illegal for an interviewer to ask a certain question, it’s not illegal for you to answer it. So if you’re asked one of those hot button issues, think carefully before answering. Figure out whether it’s to your advantage to respond honestly or to hedge the issue.
Think about it: Answering honestly might be to your advantage. Let’s say you want to work at an elementary school and the interviewer wants to know if you have children. If you tell him you have two kids, he might see it as a plus.
But let’s say you want to work as a traveling sales person and the interviewer asks if you have kids? It would probably be better not to talk about your kids at that point.
If you don’t want to answer the question, whatever you do, don’t accuse the interviewer of having broken the law. Instead, take a minute to understand what’s behind the question. If he’s asked if you have kids, maybe he’s concerned that you’ll be pulled away from work a lot. In that case, you could answer, “I believe you're concerned about my attendance on the job. Let me assure you that my personal life won’t interfere with my work.”
Top of this page
Questions You're Afraid Of
Almost all of us have questions we'd rather not be asked. To avoid going into an interview with anxiety about the possibility of those questions emerging, do two things:
1. Review your resume before you send it out to be sure it doesn't highlight anything that would instigate conversation about one of your "dark" issues.
2. Make a list of the questions you're afraid of and practice how you'll answer them in a positive way.
A Word of Thanks
When the interview draws to an end, thank the interviewer by name, saying something like, “Ms. Jones, this interview’s been really helpful and enjoyable. Thank you! Is it OK for me to call you tomorrow if I have more questions?” or "I'm very interested in this job. What is the next step in your hiring process?"
And don’t forget to thank the administrative assistant and receptionist on your way out. And to be a real hit, use their names if you know them. It always helps to be friends with these folks, since they’re the ones who screen calls and messages.
Top of this page
20 Job Interview Tips
- Get clear directions to the interview site and arrive on time—or early—for your meeting.
- A professional-looking outfit is bound to impress most employers, even if you wouldn’t usually dress up that much everyday on the job. Here’s a rule of thumb: Dress one notch above what you’d wear to a typical day at work. Women should be sure to dress modestly and should not wear perfume, bulky jewelry, or excessive makeup. Guys, stay away from the cologne… although a little deodorant is good.
- When you pack your bag for the interview, be sure to put in a few copies of your resume, a pen, note pad, and that list of questions you want to ask. Also bring samples of your work, if you have any (such as a brochure you wrote or a design your created), that's relevant to the job you're applying for.
- Your interview starts the minute you walk in the company's front door and lasts until you exit that door. So, keep your best foot forward from start to finish.
- Smile, especially when you first meet the interviewer. That first impression will stick in the manager’s mind for a long time.
- There’s nothing like a confident handshake! The right amount of tension in your grip is important—not too tight, not too limp.
- Eye contact is actually a form of communication and it has a magical ability to build rapport. So, make eye contact with your interviewer, both when you’re talking and when he’s talking.
- Try to have good posture that shows you’re alert and focused. Avoid negative body language. In other words, don’t cross your arms over your chest, don’t clench your fists, don’t clutch your purse or briefcase tightly, or do anything that might indicate insecurity, hostility, or resistance to change.
- Listen carefully to everything the interviewer says, and ask questions when you don’t understand something. Understanding each question will help you give the best response.
- Answer questions with an appropriate balance of confidence and modesty.
- Respond with answers based on PAR (Problem, Action, Result): What was a problem you faced? What action did you take to solve it? What was the result?
- Shift your interview from an interrogation to a dialog by occasionally finishing your answers with a relevant leading question.
- Once in awhile, answer a question by saying what somebody else has said about you. Something like: “My supervisor always used to say, 'Bob’s the one you want around when it’s time to launch a product.'”
- It’s OK to be quiet for a minute before you answer a question. It’ll help you gather your ideas and give a good answer. The employer will appreciate the fact that you’re thoughtful.
- Be honest, even if that means saying you don’t know something or you don’t have a particular experience. At some point, you may need to say something like: “No, I’ve never done that, but here’s why I know I can do it, or why I think I’d be very good at it.”
- Be prepared to tell stories that demonstrate how you work with people, as the interviewer is undoubtedly curious as to how you'll fit in with his staff. Remember to weave your stories into the answers of pertinent questions.
- A great way to build rapport is to use your interviewer’s name when you answer a question. So learn his name, and, if it’s a tricky one, practice the pronunciation beforehand so it’ll roll off your tongue during your interview.
- Delay talking about salary history and expectations until you fully understand what is entailed in the job and you've had time to think about what is fair. (More about salary negotiations coming up.)
- When introduced to potential co-workers, be friendly. Your interviewer may be watching to see how you interact with his staff and may later ask employees how they liked you.
- Send a thank you letter as soon as your interview is completed. After all, the employer took a chunk out of his day to give you a chance to win a job, so this is the time for you to say “thanks” —in writing.
Top of this page
|