JOB INTERVIEW

Preparing for an interview means being ready to talk about yourself, your experiences, your strengths and your goals. Bring your resume with you to the interview. You may have to fill out a company application prior to your interview appointment. Learn all you can about the company and know how your education and experience apply to the company.

Important Interview Behaviors - Do's & Don'ts

Do's:

• Go alone
• Arrive a little early
• Address the interviewer by name
• Smile
• Shake Hands firmly
• Wait until you are asked to be seated
• Maintain Good Eye Contact
• Take time to think about your answers
  to interview questions
• Speak clearly, use good grammar
• Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question
• Be positive
• Stress your qualifications
• Stress your readiness to undertake the job duties
• Ask when you may call to learn about the hiring decision
• Be clean and well groomed

Don'ts:

• Say "I'll take anything."
• Smoke or chew anything, even if invited to do so
• Apologize for your lack of experience
• Ask about salary of days off
• Discuss personal problems, financial problems,
  other jobs you did not get, or criticize teachers or employers
• Provide information which not factual
• Beg for the job or hang around after the interview

Questions for the Job Interview

Questions you may be asked by the interviewer?

• Where did you hear about us?
• What is your background?
• What does your current job include?
  
• What is or was your best subject in school? Your Worst? Your favorite?
• If you have a job of any choice, what would you choose to do?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• What are your short and long term goals?
• What kind of contribution can you make to our company?
• Where do you see yourself in this company in the next five-year? Ten years?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• How does your previous experience relate to the job for which you are applying?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• What would your former employer or teacher say about you?
• Why should we hire you?
• How much pay do you expect?

Question you may want to ask the prospective employer:

• Will you describe a typical job for me? What would the daily duties for the job be?
• Does the company have a policy of promoting from within?
• What kind of person do you hope to hire for this job?
• What is the turnover rate for this job in your company?
• How does this work are fit into the company as a whole?
• What problems do you hope to solve by hiring this person?
• What opportunities for moving up can this company offer?
• Why is this job open?

That extra touch

Another important step in the job-hunting process, one that is often ignored, is the follow-up letter sent after the interview. A follow-up letter will get your name before the interviewer one more time; it is your chance to further influence the decision. A good follow up letter should contain a thank you for the interview comment, a statement that reaffirms your interest in the position and your value as an employee in that position, as well as a statement that you will be available for further interviews at their convenience.

Source: Pennsylvania 2000 Career Guide

Cover Letter | Resume Writing | Job Application