Does anyone have any great tips for job interviews? 10 points to the most helpful?

Answer 1

1. Know yourself really well. What do you 'know', what can you 'do', and 'how' do you approach your work. How do you relate to others, what is the best environment for you to do your best work?
2. Know what they're looking for. Go into the interview with some idea (the more the better) on the specific needs of the employer. Analyze the job description and pick out the key thngs they are looking for. Do you match up? If so, be prepared to give an example of how you've done similar things in the past. If the description says 'must be able to work independently', then think of a time when you had a project/task/problem at work that you had to work on by yourself. Tell them how you went about it, and what the end result was.
3. Connect the dots for the interviewer. Don't just say "I'm really creative". Say "I'm very creative, which has helped me produce exceptionally successful designs for my last employer. For example, we had a client who .... and I....and the result was that we won the account and got an excellent reference site."
4. Know who you're talking to. Everyone on the interview team has a different perspective. HR wants to make sure you'll 'fit in' and not be a problem employee. The hiring manager wants to make sure you'll solve the immediate problems without being a management problem. His/her boss will want to know that you'll fit into the organization even if the job description changes or they have to reorganize. Peers will care about if you'll carry your load, if they'll like working with you everyday, and if you're trustworthy.
5. Practice your answer to 'tell me about yourself'. It's often the first question, and can get you off on the right foot with more confidence. Don't tell them a long history of everything about you. Tell them what you do, where you've done it, what you're good at, why you're there. And always end with a question. Otherwise you start the interview out as if it were an interrogation. Example" I provide administrative support to large technical organizations. Most recently I've been at XYZ corp where I supported a team of 50 engineers. I've had a lot of success at organizing schedules, managing expense reports, and dealing with customer calls. I recently set up an expense reporting process for the engineers that allowed my manager to have instant visibility to where she was against her budget. While I've enjoyed my work at XYZ, I'm looking for new opportunities and this position at your company seems a good fit with my experience. Can you tell me more about your team?"
6. Be totally prepared. Do your research on the company, find anyone you possibily can that knows about what it is like to work there and what the job entails. Prepare at least 10 stories about accomplishments you've had in the past.
7. Practice the predictable questions. What are your weaknesses? Pick one that is not critical to the job, and wrap in in positives. "while I've picked up a number of new applications in the past, I've not had much experience with powerpoint. I have done some online classes, and with my past experience in picking up new applications I am confident in my ability to master powerpoint."
8. Get a positive mindset. Think of the interview as a conversation, a two way conversation to see if there is a good fit. If you've got the interview, then they've reviewed your resume and think that there is a good possibility that you'll be a good match. They want it to work out! Sure, they'll be other candidates for the job, but you want to make sure it is the right job for you, where you'll be a good fit for their needs.
9. Dress a step above what you think they'll be wearing. If necessary, go to the parking lot a few days before and check out what people wear to work. Don't assume you can dress like them, you're not part of the 'club' yet! By dressing professionally you'll show respect and a desire for the position. Don't overdo it either. If you're going for an engineering position, a three piece suit and tie will make everyone uncomfortable!
10. Go for the close, and don't forget to followup. When asked 'do you have any questions?" don't go into a long list of simple questions. Do 'summation' quesitons. "You've said that customer service is the most important aspect of this position. As a member of your team, how would you measure my success in providing great customer service". Always ask what the next steps are, and when you can contact them. Follow up with a thank you promptly. Not a generic blah blah blah. Reference specific topics from the interview and express your interest. And don't forget to follow up with a phone call within a week if you have not heard anything.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 2

Be confident in yourself. Look the interviewer in the eye and introduce yourself using the persons name with a firm handshake. Dress for the job above what is expected. Suit and tie. Business dress. Be prepared with a professional resume. Have names and numbers of references. Bring 2 pens. When asked to sit across a desk of the interviewer, bring your chair closer. Sit upright and always maintain eye contact. Do your homework and learn about the company your are interviewing. Be prepared for the classic questions, "Why do you want to work for us?" and "What talents and skills would you bring to our company?". Do not be overly enthusiastic and talk too much. Listen. When the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, turn it around ask the interviewer about how they started and how long they have been with company. Let the interviewer talk about themselves.

I have been on both sides many times. I have been hired many times with these tools and hired many people who exhibit these introductory skills.

Wish you the best of luck.

BTW. I am looking for an assistant Restaurant Manager for a 4 star restaurant in NJ. I will post this on CraigsList.

Answer 3

Sure thing! Dress to impress - but dress appropriately! Black or navy business suit or something similar. Simple jewelry. Next, arrive on time! 10 minutes early - but no earlier! Have a good attitude! Be positive but not silly or ingenuine. Be confident! Have a firm handshake and use words like "I can" or "I am" instead of "I think I can..." Be prepared! Bring several copies of your resume on quality paper. Bring 3-5 references on a typed professional page like your resume. Bring a notepad with - inside a nice portfolio if possible. Have a list of questions ready to ask them! Start with asking questions about the history of the company...what they like about working there....how will they know when they have found the right candidate.... And do your research! Visit their website and show them that you reseached them. "I understand that your organization employs 5,000 people nationwide, how many employees are at this location?" Also - ask questions about benefits, room for advancement, dress code, etc. Prepare for tough questions! It is becoming more popular for HR folks to ask questions where they expect an example. "Give me an example of a time you had to manage a project with little supervison. How did it go? What were some obstacles?" "Give me an example of a time you had to confront your coworker about something. What was the result." Be prepared with expamples of your work! Show them you are interested! At the end, 'close' the interview. Thank them for having you, remind them why they should select you, and ask them when you can expect to hear from them and what the next step is. Get business cards from each person you met with and send them individual thank you cards afterwards. HR reps and managers want to be impressed and respected! Don't call to follow up the next day! Give them a few days and if you don't hear from them by the time they promised to notify you, call and follow up. Bottom line - be yourself and be genuine! Well good luck and let me know how else I can help. (Last thing I thought of....have someone proof read your resume. There is nothing worse than seeing errors on someone's resume!)

Answer 4

As a Supervisor in Human Resources I often do the interviewing for all the new hires...I would suggest doing the STAR approach......Situation(describe a situation that relates to you) Task(what you had to do to remedie the situation) A (the action you took to remedy) and finally Result (the results that occured).....Lots of employers use this method of interviewing....It demonstrates the whittiness of the person being interviewed....Most important be confident and dress appropriatley.

Answer 5

Read some job interview career and more tips on this site

Answer 6

Research a company before you apply and get the name of someone who works there. Snail-mail your cover letter and resume addressed to a particular person by name, preferably the hiring manager. Learn about the company's current issues and tell them how your skills can help them meet their goals.

Check here for more tips:
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/AskQues.htm