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Job interview ettiquette.

A

alexgtp

newbie extrodinaire!!
Joined
Oct 19, 2004
Messages
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Villa Nueva, Guatemala C.A.
Hey guys. Need your help.

It has been a while since I have been on a job interview (13yrs).

Today I sent my resume to a prospective employer. Well 1 hr later they called me and asked me to come in on short notice this monday for an interview. Well as you can see I am out of practice on the proper way to interview. Do any of you have any tips or suggestions of what employers look for in canidates now a days? I am in the I.T. field but welcome all comments and suggestions.

Thanks...
 
Yes sit up straight, make eye contact but don't challenge. Maybe send me some of those VR in case they want a reference. Understand what they need before you get there and speak to those points and how your experience will add value to them
 
I gave 3 IT interviews today.

Besides the obvious ones like 1) always wear a suit, no exceptions (unless the hiring manager explicitly says NO SUITS) 2) be on time (you'd be amazed) 3) shave - unless you have a standard beard (you'd be even more amazed)

Know your own resume. Chances are you are going to be asked questions along the lines of what is on your resume. You should darn well know and understand everything that is on there. I'll go after bullet points that might look sketchy to me.

When you are asked to describe something on your resume answer in terms of an achieved goal.

"When I arrived we had 80% uptime and by doing this this and this I left with 99% uptime and 3 more employees. It wound up being a success because...."

Shows you started something and finished it.

Eye contact is critical.

Ask questions in return.

Try to find something in common with the interviewer and start a conversation. People want to know you are cool to work with and not socially inept.

Just a few... good luck!

:thumbs:
 
Here are some suggestion:

1. Research the company. This should be easy with the internet. Use this informaiton in your interview. It will make you look well prepared and resourceful. Also helps with #2 below.

2. Ask questions at the interview. Have some prepared and also take quick notes of new questions if the interviewer is doing most of the talking. Be sure to have thought of why you want this job. Why this company. You will be asked. At the end of the interview ask them if they have any concerns about hiring you. This will allow you to address those concerns instead of leaving them as a great unknown when they make their final decision.

3. Accentuate what you have accomplished but do not brag. Be sure the inforation you are presenting is relevant. If you won best french fry cook at your first job as a teen do not bring that up if you are applying for an IT position obviously.

4. Smile. I recently had an interviewer tell (at the end of my interview) that she will not consider any applicant who does nto smile at least 3 times during the interview. (BTW . . . I was smiling :D )

5. Arrive early, but not too early. I try to arrive approx. 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

6. Dress appropriately. If you are not sure over dress. You may want to go by the place (if possible) and see what the other staff are wearing to get an idea. At one interview years ago I went by and notice that the uniform was blue polos with Khaki pants. I wore a polo (dark grey) and Khakis. If you already look like you fit in and work there it can make a great impression. Personally I wear a suit to every interview. Of course I was interviewing for associate attorney positions.

7. Look the interviewer(s) in the eye.

8. Have copies of your resume and reference information ahndy. You may have already sent one in but undoubtedly you will be asked for another . . . this always happens to me.

9. (GOOD ONE FOR US CIGAR SMOKERS) Do not smoke a stogie before going to the interview. Some people may be turned off by the residual smell on your clothes, hair etc. I personally refrained from smoking all day before my recent 5pm interview.

10. Turn off the cell phone, beeper, PDA etc. AN ABSOLUTE MUST!

11. Be yourself. Do not try to impress the interviewer(s) by trying to be something that you are not. Do not suck up. Good managers do not want a suck up. Those that do you would not like to work for.


GOOD LUCK!!
 
Get a haircut and don't smoke any weed before you go, you hippie....
 
Interviewing:

Your resume, cover letter and networking efforts have gotten you the interview. Your job in the interview is to portray — sincerely and enthusiastically — that you are knowledgeable about the organization and have something to offer it.

Interviewing doesn't have to be intimidating. The best jobs go to the candidates that are qualified and prepared. To ensure your interview success, use the tips listed below.

Prepare for the interview:

Research the company
Know what kind of interview to expect
Prepare yourself to present the marketable skills you have to offer
Practice how to answer standard interview questions
Be prepared to answer the hard questions
Know how to deal with illegal questions tactfully
Prepare questions you wish to ask
Line up your references in advance

You have two minutes to make an impression and typically an hour to get your message across convincingly.

During the interview remember to:

Arrive early
Bring extra resumes, reference lists, a notepad and pen
Be sure you know how to pronounce your interviewer's name correctly
Be polite to everyone
Be aware of your body language
Get your core message across to the hiring manager, regardless of the person's skills as an interviewer
Feel free to ask for clarification before answering a question
Take some time to formulate your answers before you speak
Do not talk negatively about former employers

Conclude the interview

Summarize the meeting with your positioning statement
Arrange a specific date and time for your next contact
Ask what the next steps will be

After the interview

Make notes about the interview right after you leave
Send follow-up letters within 24 hours to each interviewer
Spell all names correctly and use correct titles

Video conferencing is becoming an easy way for companies to interview candidates who are in a different location. Video conference facilities are available at some office supply stores, major corporations, and many universities.

To prepare, practice interviewing so you can get used to enhancing your body language and expression. This will also give you a chance to be prepared for how the transmission delay may affect your ability to communicate with the interviewer. If possible, practice in front of a video camera.
 
I would definitely learn about the company. When I was interviewing and just starting my job, I think I impressed a few people by knowing so much about the company. I don't know if it helped me get the job, but it sure didn't hurt!
 
I'm formerly from the chemical industry but I've done my fair share of interviewing from the paid chair. I can't give you industry-specific advice but I can add the following.

1. Be more confident than you feel you should. Insecurity pisses off hiring managers.
2. Be more humble than you think you need be. Arrogance pisses off hiring managers even more.
3. Don't be afraid to answer regarding mistakes and missteps honestly and with a clear idea of what was lost, learned and gained. Inability to respond constructively to challenges pisses off hiring managers.
4. The hiring manager is not your friend. Do not treat him or her as such. It's the hiring manager's job to trick you into revealing your weaknesses, foibles and other idiosyncrasies. These are considered risk factors.
5. Be more mature than you really are. Hiring managers don't like hiring irresponsible teen-brained jar heads.
6. Speak to the manger as a colleague of only slightly lower level. If he's worth working for, he'll want someone he can depend on and potentially bring up.

There's a lot more in terms of working the social side, but it's up to you to figure out whether they will be hitting the personnel stuff or the tech stuff harder.

Best of luck and good hunting.

Wilkey
 
I just realized item number 5 might be considered a knock on you. It's not. What I meant was that, in general, the way we are, relaxed while off-duty or kicking back when we are actually on the job is not the way to be. Hiring mangers want to see someone who is earnest and serious.

Wilkey
 
When interviewing prospective candidates I tend to look for people that are career/ success/ goal oriented and driven. Other key points that I find to be a plus are performance core values that are geared toward integrity, urgency, efficiency, quality, respect, and teamwork.

Be relaxed and ensure that you are effectively able to communicate your skills in relation to the key position responsibilites for the job. Paint the picture for them.

Good luck! I hope all works out for you!
 
Lots of really good stuff here......

Top things:

-Extra copiers of your resume
-Research on the company
-WRITE DOWN your questions - 1. You won't forget them in a pressure situation, 2. It shows you have prepared

We use a situational interviewing technique I think works well. STAR, Situation, Tasks, Action, Results. When asked a question, give specific examples to answer the question.

What was the situation?
What Tasks, or things needed to be done?
What action did you take?
What were the results?

You can't BS your way through these, and that will be clearly evident to the interviewer.

I've done dozen's, maybe over 100 of these.

Most of all, be yourself.
Good luck.
 
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