Interview today! Advice anyone?

Question

Big interview schduled! I want to make a good impression. Any H/R people out there? Please respond!!

Answer 1

Good luck!

Ugh -- interviewing is so stressful. My most successful interviews have been when I have the attitude that I just don't really need the job (even though I really do!). Stay relaxed, be yourself, and make sure that you ask questions of the interviewer. Have you researched the background of the company? Ask how the position became available. Ask what are the 3 things that the interviewer seeks most in a candidate. Make sure that you indicate that you are a team player. Do not discuss salary or benefits.

Again good luck!

Answer 2

Interviewers look for certain characteristics that are usually posted on a new hire brochure.
1. Know a lot of detailed information about the company you plan to represent. Know how they began, current affairs and the direction of the company.
2. ANSWER THE QUESTION ASKED! Too many people answer the question past what is asked...and sometimes never give a proper answer to the question asked.
3. Show charisma and smile confidently. Show them that you will be the best candidate they interview.
4. Always bring a list of questions to ask them at the end of the interview.
5. Ask for the job!!! Too many people never ask for the job during the interview. Say, "I want this opportunity and I am willing to work hard to represent this company".
6. Give firm handshakes to EVERY person who meets with you. Make eye contact on all answers.
7. Remember...you are on stage! Everyone (including secretary out front) is evaluating the way you look, speak, sit, etc...
It really depends on the job you are interviewing for, but show them how you will fit in with that particular company.

Answer 3

I usually don't cut and paste my answers but as I just spent 25 minutes writing a response, I don't have it in me to re-word and re-type it, I took out the specific company stuff I listed for the other guy, so before someone reports me, it aint a spammed answer!.

Here you go:

This is long, and I apologize. But if you really want the job (or think you do now) these are the questions that will actually let you know if you even want the job. You should be interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

Great interviews are conversations between equals, not interrogations between superiors & subordinates. As most interviewers are used to applicants coming in holding their hats in their hands and acting the part of a subordinate, it blows them away if you come in acting like a professional business person. The way you rise to the level of equal is all in how you conduct yourself and the questions you ask in the interview.

Their goal is getting you to open your mouth, insert your foot, and prove why they shouldn't hire you and this is the typical interview set up. Your goal is to say as little as possible, and get the interviewer psyched about the selling the company to you.

Instead of only answering questions, you need to use every opportunity you can to ask good business questions. Nearly every time the interviewer asks a question you should 1. think 2. respond and 3. ask a question back. See a conversation, not interrogation. Here are your questions.

1. Why is this job open? If promotion or move within the company, then ask if you end up being considered for the position could you have the chance to speak to the person who worked the job.
2. How long did the person work in this position?
3. Describe a typical day for this position
4. How long have you been with the company?
5. Are you still in the same position you hired into? (only makes sense if they have been there awhile)
6. What is the biggest challenge you face in your job?
7. What is the biggest challenge facing the person who takes the open position?
8. What do you like most about working here? Least?
9. What did you do before you came here? What was your biggest challenge to acclimating to this company?
10. I see the President is the son of the founder, is the founder still involved? If yes, what active role does he play? THIS IS WHERE YOUR RESEARCH COMES IN, ALTER THIS TO FIT THE COMPANY WHERE YOU ARE INTERVIEWING.
11. How involved in the day to day duties of this position is the President? Upper management? And while we're at it, how "hands on" is management?
12. What is the single best thing to keep in mind to be successful with the company?
13. How are the company's revenues to expenses? How is the effect of higher insurance and utilities effecting your business? Are you seeing a downturn, or upswing over the last quarter/year/couple of years?

What I do is break up my questions into 3 catagories, 1-company, 2- job related and 3-interviewer related and I write down all questions on a notepad so that I can stick to my script and write down their answers. Unbelievable how many jobs I turned down due to my interview of them. And super unbelievable how many offers I get from my interviews. My offer to interview ratio is over 75% and I don't even have a degree.

Finally, be super polite to every person you meet from receptionist to President. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, go in and ask to use the restroom to double check your appearance (especially nose & teeth!) and to take a few deep breaths to calm down and put yourself in selling mode.

Dress for the position above you, not the position you are applying for. Get business cards from anyone who spends anytime with you and make sure your last question is, What is the next step in the hiring process, how long do you feel it will be before you decide who gets there? Then send either emails or handwritten thank you's depending on the time frame (less than a week, send email, more than a week, hand written is the way to go, mail the day of the interview).

Good luck and if you have a specific question, drop me a line.

Answer 4

Interviewers seem for suitable advantageous factors which may be traditionally revealed on a clean hire brochure. a million. understand a lot of suitable expertise approximately the producer you need to characterize. understand how they began, modern affairs and the process the producer. 2. answer THE question asked! Too many persons respond the question previous what's asked...and usually under no circumstances grant a suited respond to the question asked. 3. coach air of poser and smile optimistically. coach them which you would be the 1st-value candidate they interview. 4. constantly positioned across a checklist of inquiries to ask them on the end of the interview. 5. Ask for the approach!!! Too many persons under no circumstances ask for the approach in the process the interview. Say, "I wish this probability and that i'm vulnerable to paintings tough to characterize this producer". 6. provide organization handshakes to each guy or woman who meets with you. Make eye touch on all suggestions. 7. undergo in ideas...you're on point! every person (including secretary out front) is comparing the final way you seem, communicate, sit down, and particularly some others... It particularly will matter on the approach you're interviewing for, besides the indisputable fact that show them the way you are going to have compatibility in with that unique producer.

Answer 5

You really got a lot of good responses from folks who seem to know what they are talking about. I just have one caveat - don't sound like a professional interviewee.

I have been interviewing and hiring for over 25 years and will never hire someone who sounds like they just graduated from Job Interview University. I want someone genuine. I expect them to be a little nervous. I expect them to stumble a little on the hard questions. I expect them to look me squarely in the eye. Above all, I expect them to be neat, clean, and NOT fragrant. I have never hired someone who repeatedly says any of the following:

1) UM
2) UH
3) LIKE
4) KNOW WHAT I MEAN
5) YEAH
6) UH HUH
7) FER SURE
8) TOTALLY
9) BASICALLY
and # 10 with a bullet...
10) DUDE

Good luck, and just be yourself.

Answer 6

What is your biggest weakness?

Your answer is that your weaknesses and strengthes are the same at times--You are a perfectionist and sometimes it is difficult to let things go because you want them perfect.