The InterviewThe Interview

The Importance of the The Importance of the

InterviewInterview�� The CompanyThe Company’’s Views View

�� Are you a good investment?Are you a good investment?

�� When a company hires you, it is making an investment When a company hires you, it is making an investment in you from the very first day. in you from the very first day.

�� Should they invest time and money to further train you Should they invest time and money to further train you after you graduate? after you graduate?

�� Will you fit in?Will you fit in?

�� The interviewer must determine if you will The interviewer must determine if you will ““fitfit”” into the into the company and with your fellow company and with your fellow

coco--workers.workers.

�� Employers want employees who Employers want employees who

are a positive influence for each are a positive influence for each

other and their business. other and their business.

The Deciding Factor The Deciding Factor

This is your chance to sell yourself!

�How you are perceived by a potential employer will determine whether or not you are hired.

�The interview is your opportunity to influence that perception by “selling yourself.”

�Through your dress, personality and responses the interviewers will formulate an opinion of you based upon:

o What kind of person you are.

o Whether you will “fit in” with existing employees and patients/clients.

o If you can do the job.

Keys to a Great InterviewKeys to a Great Interview

�� PreparationPreparation

–– Your interview starts the minute you find out you have Your interview starts the minute you find out you have an interview.an interview.

�� EnthusiasmEnthusiasm

–– Hiring managers agreeHiring managers agree……enthusiasm separates the enthusiasm separates the winners from the losers. winners from the losers.

–– It can be more important than experience. It can be more important than experience.

�� Be courteousBe courteous

–– Say hello, smile and be friendly to everyone you meet. Say hello, smile and be friendly to everyone you meet. You can bet the interviewer will ask what everybody You can bet the interviewer will ask what everybody thought of you, after you leave the building.thought of you, after you leave the building.

–– Receptionist and Greeters in companies are part of the Receptionist and Greeters in companies are part of the team too!team too!

Keys to a Great InterviewKeys to a Great Interview

�� Offer a Professional GreetingOffer a Professional Greeting

–– When you meet the interviewer, stand straight, When you meet the interviewer, stand straight, look him or her in the eye, smile, and extend a look him or her in the eye, smile, and extend a firm handshake, and say, firm handshake, and say, ““Mr. or Ms. Mr. or Ms. ………… thank thank you so much for taking the time to interview you so much for taking the time to interview with me for yourwith me for your……………….Position..Position.””

�� The HandshakeThe Handshake

–– Engage the full hand, palm to Engage the full hand, palm to

palm. Grip firmly to show that palm. Grip firmly to show that

you mean it but, donyou mean it but, don’’t crush t crush

their hand!their hand!

Keys to a Great InterviewKeys to a Great Interview

Exiting the InterviewExiting the Interview

Once the interview is over, stand again extend your Once the interview is over, stand again extend your right hand for a firm handshake and end withright hand for a firm handshake and end with

a statement such as:a statement such as:

�� ““Thank you for your time. I look forward to Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.hearing from you.””

�� Ask for a business card Ask for a business card

and make sure you have and make sure you have

detailed contact info. detailed contact info.

for followfor follow--up. up.

�� You can get this from theYou can get this from the

receptionist if needed.receptionist if needed.

What to Wear to The What to Wear to The

InterviewInterview

-Pants or skirted suit with skirt length at or below the knees-Single or double-breasted jacket-White, off white or light blue cotton or silk blouse withconservative neckline and buttons

-Low to medium leather heel with closed toe & no sling back shoes-Neutral hosiery-Moderate jewelry or accessories. No more than 1 ring on each hand-Professional briefcase or portfolio instead of backpack-Minimal makeup and perfume-Trimmed fingernails with no color except clear polish-Neat hair style with hair away from face-Remove visible body piercings, except for one conservative earring in each ear. Cover tattoos!

Women

MenMen-Single-breasted navy, black, or charcoal gray two-piece suit. A subtlestripe or tone-on-tone pattern is acceptable.

-White, long-sleeved oxford cloth shirt. -Dark dress socks that match and when you are seated, will not sag. -Belt and polished shoes of matching color, typically black or cordovan.-Professional briefcase or portfolio instead of backpack. -Minimal cologne.-Neat hair style. -No more than 1 ring on each hand. -Professional watch, without alarm that may sound during the interview. -Do not wear theme clothing, such as a cartoon tie. -Trimmed and clean fingernails. -Remove visible body piercings, including earrings, and cover tattoos.

Frequently Asked Frequently Asked

Interview QuestionsInterview Questions�� Tell me about yourself. (usually at the Tell me about yourself. (usually at the

opening)opening)�� Why should I hire you instead of somebody Why should I hire you instead of somebody

else?else?�� What is your major strength?What is your major strength?�� What is your major weakness? What is your major weakness? �� What are your qualifications?What are your qualifications?Avoid:Avoid:-- PrePre--set answersset answers……..can get you into trouble...can get you into trouble.-- Not having an answer or skipping a questionNot having an answer or skipping a question-- Giving too much personal informationGiving too much personal information

Frequently Asked Frequently Asked

Interview QuestionsInterview Questions

�� Why do you want to work here? Why do you want to work here?

�� What interests you most in this What interests you most in this position? position?

�� What do you know about this What do you know about this company? company?

�� If you were hired, how long would If you were hired, how long would you stay with the company?you stay with the company?

�� What are your future plans or goals?What are your future plans or goals?

Frequently Asked Frequently Asked

Interview QuestionsInterview Questions

�� Why did you leave your last job? Why did you leave your last job? �� Did you like your last boss?Did you like your last boss?�� What did you like least/most about your last job? What did you like least/most about your last job? �� How would you handle an upset client? How would you handle an upset client? �� Tell me about a difficult situation you had in your Tell me about a difficult situation you had in your

past job and how did you handle it?past job and how did you handle it?�� Have you ever been fired? Have you ever been fired? �� How much are you looking to make?How much are you looking to make?�� Do you have any questions? Do you have any questions?

Sample Questions to Ask Sample Questions to Ask

the Interviewerthe Interviewer�� When will the hiring decision be made? When will the hiring decision be made?

�� Could you give me a brief outline of my typical day? Could you give me a brief outline of my typical day?

�� Is this a new position? Is this a new position?

�� Are promotions based on seniority or performance? Are promotions based on seniority or performance?

�� What do you like best about this company? What do you like best about this company?

�� How would you describe the companyHow would you describe the company’’s typical s typical employee? employee?

After The InterviewAfter The Interview

�� Although you thanked the Although you thanked the interviewer for his or her interviewer for his or her time at the end of your time at the end of your interview, a letter interview, a letter addressed to the addressed to the interviewer thanking him interviewer thanking him or her again will leave a or her again will leave a positive impression. positive impression.

�� In addition, it is a In addition, it is a reminder to the reminder to the interviewer of just how interviewer of just how interested and sincere you interested and sincere you are about the position.are about the position.

�� You only have 24 hours to You only have 24 hours to get a thank you letter to get a thank you letter to the employer.the employer.

When to Call BackWhen to Call Back

�� During the interview one of the questions to ask is when is During the interview one of the questions to ask is when is the hiring decision going to be made. the hiring decision going to be made.

�� Based on that date, is when you make your followBased on that date, is when you make your follow--up up telephone call. telephone call.

�� If after the interview, you still do not know when a decision isIf after the interview, you still do not know when a decision isgoing to be made, wait five business days from your interview going to be made, wait five business days from your interview date before calling. date before calling.

�� Your followYour follow--up call should be directedup call should be directed

to the person who interviewed you. to the person who interviewed you.

What to SayWhat to Say

�� When you reach the interviewer: When you reach the interviewer:

–– Briefly state the purpose of the call and remind the Briefly state the purpose of the call and remind the interviewer who you are and why you are calling. interviewer who you are and why you are calling.

–– Example: Example:

�� Good Morning/Afternoon Mr. / MsGood Morning/Afternoon Mr. / Ms…….. My name is.. My name is…………, , and I am calling to followand I am calling to follow--up on our interview from last up on our interview from last week for the position of week for the position of …………

�� Have you reached a decision at this point?Have you reached a decision at this point?

Final Interview PreparationFinal Interview Preparation

�� Things to avoidThings to avoid–– Arriving late for the Arriving late for the

interviewinterview–– Poor personal appearancePoor personal appearance–– Limp, fishy handshakeLimp, fishy handshake–– Poorly filled out applicationPoorly filled out application–– Sloppy rSloppy réésumsuméé–– Poor eye contactPoor eye contact–– NervousnessNervousness–– ImmaturityImmaturity–– Vague responses to Vague responses to

questionsquestions–– Lack of courtesyLack of courtesy

�� Lack of self confidenceLack of self confidence�� Poor attitudePoor attitude�� Lack of enthusiasmLack of enthusiasm�� Poor speechPoor speech�� Poor body language Poor body language �� LongLong--winded responseswinded responses�� Chewing gum Chewing gum �� Smell like smokeSmell like smoke�� Negative attitudeNegative attitude�� Bring friend or children to Bring friend or children to

interviewinterview�� Mispronouncing the Mispronouncing the

interviewerinterviewer’’s names name