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Posts Tagged ‘Interviewing’

Product Description
“AMACOM PRODUCTIVE INTERVIEWING: Each of the titles in this program contains a basic manual or handbook, accompanied by one 60-minute cassette, on a particular type of managerial interviewing. They are equally suited to individual study and classroom use. By reading the concise, easy-to-understand text and, as directed, listening to the sample interviews on the cassette, users can quickly enhance their knowledge of those interviewing skills that are essential to suc… More >>

Productive Interviewing 2: The Exit Interview, Second Edition By John R. Hinrichs

• ISBN13: 9781879505933
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

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The Art of the Interview teaches just that–the interviewer’s art of preparation, attitude, interaction, and improvisation. In its few pages, it provides an invaluable set of practical guidelines for both novice and veteran interviewers working in all media. Through the author’s accompanying tales and anecdotes, culled from his long and noted interview career, these guidelines are brought to life and light is shed on the activity’s many pitfalls and agil… More >>

The Art of the Interview: A Guide to Insightful Interviewing

There is much talk about Interviewing Styles: The Directive Interview, The Behavioral Interview, The Stress Interview, The Qualifying Interview, The This Interview, The That Interview. Articles outline different styles, list typical questions for each and tell you how to prepare for them, as well as suggesting appropriate answers.
That’s all well and good, but there’s an obvious question here that begs to be asked: how do you KNOW which style you’ll encounter? When you phone to schedule the interview, do you ask, “Oh, by the way Mr. Interviewer, what interview style do you use? I’d like to study that one and ignore all the others.”?
I absolutely endorse asking questions that you need to know the answers to (when it’s the appropriate time)……but THAT question is obviously an exception!
So do you study all of the styles? Memorize every question that applies to each style and all the recommended answers to prepare for each one? And when the interview begins, you say to yourself, “AHA! It’s The Abstract Theoretical Look Sideways Style!” and then you know exactly what to say and do.
What if you missed a style? And you find yourself saying “What the heck style is THIS? I don’t recognize it! HELP!” Which completely throws you off and you bomb the rest of the interview.
Worrying about interviewing styles is ridiculous. Not only is it too much information to memorize, but it’s also a waste of time. An interview is nerve-wracking as it is without worrying about which style you’re going to encounter.
The interview is about the company and how your presence will benefit them. The preparation (with the exception of your company research) is about knowing who you are and what you’re looking for. It’s not about the company or anticipating their interviewing style.
Interview preparation is an absolute, non-negotiable, unequivocal must, but preparing by learning different styles is not. That’s why your interview preparation needs to be focused on learning about yourself, listing questions to ask, forming your answers to fundamental interview questions.
You prepare by focusing on yourself because you are seeking your perfect job. You want to have the power to decide if you want to return for another interview instead of giving that power away. You want to be in control of your future.
An interview is a sales process. The product is, essentially, you. And you need to be real about who you are, AND be prepared enough to interview well. Do THAT properly and the style you encounter is irrelevant.
Interviewing is 85% prep and 15% common sense. Sometimes it does involve a bit of mirroring, but again, some of that is common sense. Do it without losing your individuality. For instance, if the interviewer is chatty, longer answers are okay. If the interviewer is crisp and serious, keep your answers focused and on the topic.
Occasionally you’ll run into an interviewer who wants to make you sweat. You feel as if you’re under a bright light – they’re grilling you, and you might as well have been fingerprinted. There’s no need to get all worked up (besides, they WANT you to). If that’s his interview style, what do you think it will be like to work for him?
The answer to that should calm you down. You won’t care what he thinks, because you probably won’t want to return. Good money? Eventually you’ll hate your boss, then you’ll hate your job, then your life will be hell, because the salary won’t be worth it. Short drive? Eventually you’ll hate your boss, then you’ll hate your job then your life will be hell, because the drive will STILL be too long – you don’t want to go where you’re driving. Great advancement promised? After how long? How many people have held that position in the last 6 years?
If you want to work for a control freak or someone who needs to appear tough and all-knowing, you’ve found the place. If he’s rapid firing questions at you, hoping to trip you up, let him feel important . Finish the interview and then cross the company off your list.
Another interviewer might leave you thinking “What’s UP with this guy?” He seems sort of at a loss as to what to ask you. His questions are all open ended and don’t seem to have any firm direction or point. Just use common sense. You’ve done your interview prep work – jump in and sell yourself. That doesn’t mean talk non-stop, but you don’t have to sit there and be uncomfortably silent for long periods of time either.
Ease the awkwardness. Help him out. Lots of holes? Gracefully and professionally answer some of the questions you were prepared to answer, even though he hasn’t asked them. He may not know how to interview very well.
(Face it, NO ONE – except maybe a human resources person – should have a lot of experience interviewing. If they do – they either can’t keep a job….or they can’t keep employees!)
If your first interview is with human resources, often they can be crisply black and white, detail oriented, and by the book. Don’t let it throw you. If you know yourself and what you’re looking for, you’ve done your research on the company, and you’ve thoroughly prepped yourself for the interview, you’re much less likely to get flustered.
Mirror their style, but don’t drown your personality. SOME human resources people are adept at giving you enough rope to hang yourself – so don’t be lulled into a warm cozy camaraderie. Watch their visual cues – which can be subtle. Follow your instinct, but follow their lead. They’re screeners, but in that sense, they are also decision makers.
Don’t waste your time memorizing styles and how to handle each one. There ARE different interview styles, just as there are different types of people. The hiring authority’s interviewing style is usually a reflection of his personality. Stay aware of what’s happening at the moment, what you’re saying, what you’re learning, and how you’re feeling about what’s taking place.
The more you’ve done your homework in accordance with what I’ve suggested, the more relaxed you’ll feel. The more relaxed you feel, the more confident and in control of your answers you’ll be, and the less likely you’ll be to worry about interview styles and types. When you know your background and who you are – the hows and whys and whats – you’re also less likely to be blindsided by an unexpected “type” question.
So before you interview, it is imperative for you to give significant thought to:
• Why you chose your current field
• What environment you work best in and why
• What your personality traits are
• Why you liked and didn’t like your previous jobs and what you learned from them
• What your skills and talents are
• How you’ve handled diverse situations and what you might have done differently, or why what you did was effective – be able to back it up
• What you’ve accomplished in your previous positions and how those accomplishments contributed to the success of the department and the company
• In what areas you feel you need some work or polish
• Where you see yourself going and how you plan on getting there
• Why you chose to leave one company to go to the next
In addition to knowing the answers to the above topics, you need to think about the most appropriate way to phrase those answers AND how they relate to what you’ve learned about the company from your research on line or at the library.
In fact, some of the topics on the above list you should already have given thought to before you began your job search. If you don’t know who you are, what you want, in what circumstances you perform best and in what circumstances you don’t perform well at all, what type of management style helps you to flourish and give back to the company, and what the goal of your next job is – you won’t know what you’re looking for, much less be able to recognize it.
Put effort into making sure you know who you are and what makes you that way. Know what you’ve accomplished and what contributed to those accomplishments, what motivates you and what turns you off. Spend time learning about the company with whom you’ll be interviewing. Make a list of questions to bring with you, and know what kind of answers you’re looking for. Be able to address issues by showing how who YOU are will benefit THEM.
Then it won’t matter what style you encounter. You’ll be comfortable with any style you meet. And when they want you to come back for another interview, you can decide if you want to….or not.
copyright: Judi Perkins, VisionQuest

 So you have distributed your resume to prospective employers and you have determined the correct job to apply for. The next step is to schedule the job interview.

You can make the acquaintance of the assistant or the receptionist when you schedule for the interview, either by phone or personally. Be friendly and polite, as these people might provide information that can be essential to getting that job or, even just give you a background of the company or your prospective boss.

Finally, you show up for the interview.

The basic traits of being prompt, how you speak and carry yourself and even how you dress are all factors that contribute in making a lasting impression that will eventually get you hired.

Here are 7 easy steps on how you can improve your interviewing skills:

1.) Prepare for the interview.

First, dress appropriately. Once the interviewer walks into the room, or once you walk into the room to be interviewed, your appearance will be the first thing to make the impact. Dress appropriately, check your grooming and mind your posture.

Second, practice basic courtesy. Know where the interview will be held and be there with ample time to prepare yourself before the scheduled interview. Turn your phone off to avoid unnecessary distractions.

2.) Research.

Use all your resources to make sure that you know the basics about the company. You would not want to be caught unprepared when asked about how you heard or what you know about the company that you are applying for.

Learn about your potential employer. In your mind, develop a clear picture of the company profile.

Make sure that you prepared answers to a few basic questions, but do not sound scripted. This happens when you rehearse what you will be saying word for word. It is enough that you have an overview of what you will impart to the interviewer, and it is better to be spontaneous.

3.) Be cool.

Step forward so that you are now seated and the interview is about to begin. Make a great first impression by maintaining eye contact, giving the interviewer a firm handshake, a friendly smile and a polite greeting. Sit only when you are asked to do so and do not forget to thank the interviewer for taking time off of his or her busy schedule to interview you.

Make sure to start on a positive note and set the proper expectations.

4.) Do not sell yourself short.

In the course of the interview, answer the questions briefly and accurately. The key is to be honest.

Make sure that as a prospective employee, you impart to your future employer what you really are and what you can do for the company, not the other way around. Stay positive and do not give a bad impression about your previous employer.

If you are applying for your first job, do not let your lack of experience hinder you from gaining the advantage against more experienced applicants. What you lack in experience, make up for in confidence and eagerness to learn.

You may also put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Ask yourself, if I were on the other side of this desk, what qualities should I look for in a potential employee? Would I profit if he works for me and can he contribute to the development of the company?

Do not be afraid to sell yourself but do not be overconfident. Just project an air that you are sure of yourself and your capabilities.

5.) Ask questions.

Should you encounter a difficult interviewer, do not be intimidated. One who does not let you put in a word edgewise should be lightly reminded that you should do most of the talking since he is the one who needs to learn more about you.

6.) Wrap it up.

As you near the end of the interview, make sure that all bases are covered. Now is not the time to discuss or even ask about the salary and the benefits that you will receive once employed. There is ample time for that once you do get the position and you are discussing the job offer.

Wrap things up by summarizing your strengths and pointing out your positive traits. Finally, as you end the interview, make sure to thank the interviewer again for his or her time, thus leaving a lasting impression.

7.) Follow up.

Send that all-important thank you note after the interview. Thank the interviewer for the time that he took with you and for giving you that opportunity. Make sure that you know who to contact for follow-up of the results.

A lot of research has been made about the interviewing process. Here is a brief run-through:

First, you make a schedule for the interview.Then, you are there in the office and you are seen by the interviewee.The interview itself then transpires.Next is the closing, then you follow-up with a thank-you-note.You eventually get accepted and you discuss, negotiate for and sign-up the job offer.You may notice that the interviewing takes up a great deal of the getting-hired process, so you might as well polish up your interviewing skills on your way to getting that dream job.

http://www.surfnfind.info

Product Description
Interviewing is an essential tool in qualitative research and this introduction to interviewing outlines both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical aspects of the process. After examining the role of the interview in the research process, Steinar Kvale considers some of the key philosophical issues relating to interviewing: the interview as conversation, hermeneutics, phenomenology, concerns about ethics as well as validity, and postmodernism. Having estab… More >>

InterViews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing

You have received a high school or college diploma and now it’s time to land a job you deserve.  You have sent out resumes & cover letters and now you finally got the call for a real job interview. The way you present yourself will determine if you will get hired for the job or not.

1. Dress for success! You need to dress professionally to make the first impression. Don’t where low cut shirts, midriff shirts or sandals, because you are going to workplace and not to a beach party.  While it may not be necessary to purchase a business suit, it is very important that you dress the part. If you are trying to get a job as a salesperson, you should not dress as if you are going to the gym.  If you are applying for a retail position, business causal usually works the best. Instead of listing what clothes are appropriate or not, I suggest dressing as if you were going to meet the president of your country.

2. Being well-groomed for the interview is a must. Make sure you take care of your personal hygiene, don’t go to the interview looking like you just rolled out of bed.  Coming to an interview unkempt, will make the interviewer rush through it and not give you a second thought. As a potential employer for the hiring company, you represent the company both internally and externally and if you are not well-groomed, no one will want to do business with you.

3. Make sure you keep your body language on top of mind. The best way to start off an interview is a firm handshake. This will show the interviewer that you are confident.  Make sure during the interview that you maintain eye contact at all times. Asking questions and paying attention, shows the interviewer that you are engaged in the conversation. Take your time answering interview questions, make sure you punctuate your words correctly and keep the conversation on topic. 

4. Make sure you are prepared for the interview. Do your research on the company before the interview. Most businesses have a website that provides information about them and their marketplace. This shows the job interviewer that you are very serious about the job and took the initiative to know as much as you can about the potential employer.

5. Make sure you are alert for the interview. I’ve been interview situations where candidates didn’t show interest in the position and acted like they were waiting in the doctor’s office.  I was sure they were not paying attention to me, as they didn’t ask questions and all they did was just listen to me. Show your enthusiasm. Show your energy. Ask questions and partake in the interview. I remember one time where I was interviewing a candidate that didn’t ask any questions. After I was done with my questions, I asked her if this position is of interest and she reply that she could do the job. I thought to myself “that’s it.” She didn’t answer the question. She looked like she could have cared less if she got the job or not. If you’re not excited about the job interview, you’re not going to be excited to be in the office place either.

First impressions do make a different and potential employers want to know if you are willing to work hard for them and give 100% in doing your best for them.  Although you may not be the best candidate for the job, but will you still get the job over the rest because you stood out more than any other candidate did.  

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If you want more job interview tips and want to provide the best job interview answers for interview questions and get the job you deserve, then the Superstar Interview Guide is your best bet! You can find the Superstar Interview Guide at www.InstantJobInterviewTools.com

 

Candidates more often that not miss one of the best opportunities during the interview to shine, to differentiate themselves, and demonstrate their ability to do the job. What a great opportunity missed!!

In most interviews, the interviewer even sets the candidate up with the opportunity to shine and candidates blow right past it. The interviewer asks the soft ball question, “Do you have any questions for me?” A golden opportunity to shine. The questions you ask can outshine every answer you have given so far in the interview.

However, time and time again, I hear candidates do one of two things:

This is your opportunity to ask questions that demonstrate your ability to understand the job and what performance standards will be. Challenge the interviewer, ask “Why” are you doing X, probe deeply into the issues you will face once on board, how they manage, etc. Every candidate knows this question is coming in one form or the other. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions is a sign of strength, confidence and demonstrates a depth of knowledge. As a recruiter for almost 30 years, when a hiring manager calls back and says, “This person really asked me some great questions. They made me think in the interview.” I know that person is getting the job.

One component of your interviewing preparation should be questions to ask. Not just questions about the company, but specific questions about the job, ask “why”, ask about communications, ask about past issues, ask about future challenges, ask about people, ask about KPI’s, ask about systems, there are so many issues to discuss to make sure you will be successful.

The best advice I have is ask the same questions you will be asking once in the job to be successful. You might as well know them before you accept the position. Otherwise, it might be a position where you can’t succeed.

This is such a critical issue in our job search workbook, “This is NOT The Position I Accepted” (This wouldn’t happen if candidates probed in the interview.) We list over 150 question to ask in an interview in this workbook. We even break these questions into categories to help identify when to ask the question. In addition, we give you the 10 most important questions to ask in an interview. You can receive this book to review for FREE right now. Just pay the $5 shipping. CLICK HERE

Get a FREE sample cover letter to help with your search. CLICK HERE

Don’t miss our talk radio show every Monday at 11 AM PDT on www.latalkradio.com. Barry and I discuss the most important challenges you will face in your search. You can listen to past shows in our audio library. CLICK HERE to enter the library. All files are free to download

Most interviewing processes start and stop with the phone interview. In our opinion this is the most important interview. Not only because if you fail here the process stops, but mainly because it sets the stage for the in-person interview if you do well. Have a great phone interview and the mindset of the person bringing you in for the face-to-face interview is already positive, they believe you must be qualified, and you are starting out in a strong position.

Here is a quick quiz to see if you are ready to, “Win The Phone Interview.” Answer these in your mind, not fair if you already read the book or downloaded the free chapter. (Answers below)

If you can answer all of these, then you are aware of how different the phone interview is from the in-person interview. If you can’t answer all of them then you should consider doing your homework. It is possible you’ve missed an opportunity because you were weeded out during a phone interview.

To help you, we have a number of completely FREE resources to make sure you know how to win the phone interview.

Please consider taking advantage of these. They are all free tools you can use to ensure you not only win the phone interview, but win the job.

Help your friends and family know how they can win a phone interview by sharing this with them.

Please let us know how you did on the quiz. Did you really know all of the answers?

Answers:

In the midst of technological advancement nowadays, the “back-to-basics” rule still applies when it comes to getting hired for a job. It does not matter if you are planning to apply for a million-dollar company or a small, independent firm. When you face an interviewer, it all boils down to how you present yourself. This is the deciding factor whether you will get hired or not.
So you have distributed your resume to prospective employers and you have determined the correct job to apply for. The next step is to schedule the job interview.
You can make the acquaintance of the assistant or the receptionist when you schedule for the interview, either by phone or personally. Be friendly and polite, as these people might provide information that can be essential to getting that job or, even just give you a background of the company or your prospective boss.
Finally, you show up for the interview.
The basic traits of being prompt, how you speak and carry yourself and even how you dress are all factors that contribute in making a lasting impression that will eventually get you hired.
Here are 7 easy steps on how you can improve your interviewing skills:
1.) Prepare for the interview.
First, dress appropriately. Once the interviewer walks into the room, or once you walk into the room to be interviewed, your appearance will be the first thing to make the impact. Dress appropriately, check your grooming and mind your posture.
Second, practice basic courtesy. Know where the interview will be held and be there with ample time to prepare yourself before the scheduled interview. Turn your phone off to avoid unnecessary distractions.
2.) Research.
Use all your resources to make sure that you know the basics about the company. You would not want to be caught unprepared when asked about how you heard or what you know about the company that you are applying for.
Learn about your potential employer. In your mind, develop a clear picture of the company profile.
Make sure that you prepared answers to a few basic questions, but do not sound scripted. This happens when you rehearse what you will be saying word for word. It is enough that you have an overview of what you will impart to the interviewer, and it is better to be spontaneous.
3.) Be cool.
Step forward so that you are now seated and the interview is about to begin. Make a great first impression by maintaining eye contact, giving the interviewer a firm handshake, a friendly smile and a polite greeting. Sit only when you are asked to do so and do not forget to thank the interviewer for taking time off of his or her busy schedule to interview you.
Make sure to start on a positive note and set the proper expectations.
4.) Do not sell yourself short.
In the course of the interview, answer the questions briefly and accurately. The key is to be honest.
Make sure that as a prospective employee, you impart to your future employer what you really are and what you can do for the company, not the other way around. Stay positive and do not give a bad impression about your previous employer.
If you are applying for your first job, do not let your lack of experience hinder you from gaining the advantage against more experienced applicants. What you lack in experience, make up for in confidence and eagerness to learn.
You may also put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Ask yourself, if I were on the other side of this desk, what qualities should I look for in a potential employee? Would I profit if he works for me and can he contribute to the development of the company?
Do not be afraid to sell yourself but do not be overconfident. Just project an air that you are sure of yourself and your capabilities.
5.) Ask questions.
Should you encounter a difficult interviewer, do not be intimidated. One who does not let you put in a word edgewise should be lightly reminded that you should do most of the talking since he is the one who needs to learn more about you.
6.) Wrap it up.
As you near the end of the interview, make sure that all bases are covered. Now is not the time to discuss or even ask about the salary and the benefits that you will receive once employed. There is ample time for that once you do get the position and you are discussing the job offer.
Wrap things up by summarizing your strengths and pointing out your positive traits. Finally, as you end the interview, make sure to thank the interviewer again for his or her time, thus leaving a lasting impression.
7.) Follow up.
Send that all-important thank you note after the interview. Thank the interviewer for the time that he took with you and for giving you that opportunity. Make sure that you know who to contact for follow-up of the results.
A lot of research has been made about the interviewing process. Here is a brief run-through:
First, you make a schedule for the interview.
Then, you are there in the office and you are seen by the interviewee.
The interview itself then transpires.
Next is the closing, then you follow-up with a thank-you-note.
You eventually get accepted and you discuss, negotiate for and sign-up the job offer.
You may notice that the interviewing takes up a great deal of the getting-hired process, so you might as well polish up your interviewing skills on your way to getting that dream job.

Product Description
Is your organization using the most effective type of interviewing in your hiring and promotional processes? Selection research results indicate that the most valid type of interview to use is a structured, behavioral interview that is focused on the success related knowledge, skills and personal qualities. Behavioral Interviewing Guide provides you with a practical step-by-step approach for planning, conducting and evaluating a structured, behavioral inter… More >>

Behavioral Interviewing Guide: A Practical, Structured Approach For Conducting Effective Selection Interviews.