Interview Tips

Before you interview for a position, learn as much about the position and the employer as possible. If you found the position through a recruiter, he or she should be able to provide that information for you. If not, conduct research on the Web, visit the library, or tap into industry contacts. The following tips will help you during the interview process.

Research the Company

Before you walk into any interview, you should know as much as you can about the company and the position for which you are interviewing. In today's world, the ability to launch a search for relevant information about the position, the company, the industry, and even the interviewer is often literally at your fingertips.

Sources of Information

The Company's Web Site
The company's web site is often a quick and easy way to obtain information regarding the company's history, products/services, mission statement, financials, and even a posting of the position you are applying for. Also look for an "In the News" section that links to recent news releases. As you spot details about your prospective employer's new initiatives, product releases, etc. consider how your role will impact the success of the company. If there is an "About Our Team" section, see if a bio or even a picture of the person or people you will be meeting with is available.

Hoover's Online
Hoover's provides capsule descriptions, financial data, and a list of competitors for thousands of large corporations.

Trade Publications or Industry Association Web Sites
This is a quick and easy way to determine who the company's competitors are as well as to read articles about what challenges or opportunities the industry is facing as a whole.

Go to the Grapevine
If you have professional contacts that are acquainted with the company or interviewer, ask them for information about the company and interviewer. You can possibly obtain information about the interviewer's likes and dislikes, or even information regarding their interviewing style.

Google.com
The Google.com search engine can help you find the company's web site if you don't know it, and can also locate articles where the company or industry are mentioned.

Questions to Ask: Prepare Thoughtful Questions

In today's competitive marketplace, companies are absolutely evaluating candidates based on the quality of the questions they ask in the interview. Not having any questions to ask is consistently becoming one of the top pet peeves of interviewers. It gives the impression that you are not interested in or curious about what goes on in the company. Prepare 8 - 10 questions before the interview (it is appropriate to write them down on a notepad and bring them into the interview) to avoid giving the dreaded "no" response when asked, "Do you have any questions?"

The following is a list of questions you may want to ask during an interview:

What are the responsibilities of this position? What are the priorities for the person in this position? What is the main priority for this position?
What would be my first project or production goal? What obstacles could prevent me from reaching this goal?
What do you expect the person in this position to have accomplished in 90 days? 6 months?
Describe the person that you feel did or does do the best job in a position like this one. What made that person so successful?
What challenges and opportunities are associated with this position? How are you currently addressing these challenges?
Will I have subordinates? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Who will be my superior and how would you describe his or her management style?
Are there any projects in motion for which I will inherit responsibility? What is their history and status?
What are the goals of this company? This department?
What are the most important things I can do to help achieve this company's/department's goals?
What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance? When are evaluations scheduled?
What can you tell me about the people that work here? How would you describe the culture?
What kinds of people don't make it at the company and why?
Why is this position open? Why did my predecessor leave this position?
How long have you been with the Company? What caused you to get excited about this company when you came on board and why have you stayed?
If you compared this company with its closest competitors what advantages does this company have?
How do you compare my experience and qualifications to what your needs are today?
Do you have any concerns about my ability to do this job? In your opinion, what specific aspects of my background make me right or wrong for this position?
(If new management has come on board with the company) How has the new leadership affected the dynamics of this company?
On a one to ten scale, how would you rate the employee morale at this company?
What could I show you or tell you right now that would convince you that I am the right one for this job?

Questions You May be Asked

No one can predict the exact questions an interviewer will ask, but Stonemill Partners will give you a good idea of the hiring authority's personality and his or her interview demeanor. The most common questions are:

Tell me about yourself?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why are you leaving your current employer?
What kind of salary are you expecting?

The following is a list of sample questions that you should be prepared to answer during an in-depth interview. Being prepared to answer questions of this nature will give you confidence in handling the interview and may even assist you in gaining some insight as to your own career ambitions.

Why should we be interested in hiring you?
Does your present employer know you are looking for another job?
Why have you made so many job changes?
What interests you about our company and industry?
What are your three greatest strengths?
Do you have management potential? Why?
Are you a good manager?
What have you liked and disliked most about past jobs?
What do you think you would like best about this job?
How important to you is salary versus other aspects of the job?
What five things have you done in your life (or career) that you are most proud of?
What does the term "success" mean to you?
What types of jobs are you looking for?
If you had your choice of any job at all at this moment, what would that job be and why?
Tell me about the most and least interesting work that you have done.
What were your best and worst grades in school?
What were the characteristics of your best and worst bosses?
What are your most-liked and least-liked leisure time activities?
What are your long and short-term financial goals?
May I call your previous employers? What will they say about you?
What are your outside interests? For how long?
What books have you read that have had an impact on your professional life?

Behavioral-Based Questions

Behavior based questions support the concept that your future actions can be predicted by your past behaviors. Below are some typical questions that are designed to provide the interviewer with that insight.

Tell me about a time when you...

Worked effectively under pressure.
Handled a difficult situation with a co-worker.
Were creative in solving a problem.
Missed an obvious solution to a problem.
Were unable to complete a project on time.
Persuaded team members to do things your way.
Wrote a report that was well received.
Anticipated potential problems and developed preventative measures.
Had to make an important decision with limited facts.
Were forced to make an unpopular decision.
Had to adapt to a difficult situation.
Were tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours.
Were disappointed in your behavior.
Used your political savvy to push a program that you really believed in.
Had to deal with an irate customer.
Delegated a project effectively.
Surmounted a major obstacle.
Set your sights too high or too low.
Prioritized the elements of a complicated project.
Got bogged down in the details of a project.
Lost or won an important contract.
Made a bad decision.
Had to fire a friend.
Hired or fired the wrong person.
Turned down a job offer.

Get Directions

Nothing could be more nerve-wracking on the day of your interview than to find yourself lost on the way there. If you do not get directions from the person who contacts you for the interview, or if you are confused about them, call in to the company and ask the receptionist. You can also plot your course using MapQuest or a GPS. Drive a trial run the day before (ideally around the same time of your interview to gauge traffic conditions), and identify possible parking options. Bring the company's phone number as you drive to the interview so if any last minute conflicts arise (an unexpected train or traffic jam), you can let them know in advance that you will be arriving late.

Thank You Notes

After the Interview

Sending a thank-you note after an interview is a great way to show your interviewer(s) professional respect and courtesy. Since 100% of employers like receiving thank-you notes after an interview, but only 33% of job candidates actually send them, it is also a very easy way to help you stand out among the crowd. Because of all the options available today (sending an e-mail vs. mailing a word-processed letter vs. mailing a handwritten note), we have included some thank-you note guidelines to help you select the appropriate format and method of delivery.

Email

Email thank-you notes have one clear advantage: They can put your name in front of the interviewer within moments of your interview. If the timing of the company's hiring decision is within the next 24 hours, then an e-mailed thank-you note may be the most appropriate option.

Mail

Because mailing a thank-you note requires the extra effort of addressing and stamping an envelope it provides a tactile, tangible quality. In addition it is many employers' preferred way of receiving a thank-you. Should it be handwritten or word-processed? Word-processed is standard. Not only will you show that you are professional, but if you are applying for an office administrative role you'll also prove you know how to construct a business letter.

Handwritten notes are appropriate if you'd like to extend your thanks to others in the office that helped you out. For example, if a receptionist, assistant, office manager, or other person involved with the interviewing process was especially helpful -- say they took you to lunch or guided you from office to office -- then a handwritten note is a nice gesture to show your appreciation.

What to Say

More important are what you say and how you say it. A thank-you note should include:

Thanking the person for the opportunity to interview with the company.
A recap of some of the conversational highlights and why you are impressed with the company and position.
Most importantly, a reminder of how your skills or work experience can bring value to the company.

Telephone Interviewing

Telephone interviewing is unique. You can't count on visual stimuli such as professional appearance, eye contact or body language to aid your presentation. Neither can you rely on visual signals to interpret the interviewer's response. In this context, both strengths and weaknesses are magnified through the phone. Preparation is the key.

Since you are unlikely to win the job from a telephone interview, your goal is to entice the interviewer and secure an in-person interview. Approach the call with that attitude.

Find a quiet place
Try to avoid as much noise and as many distractions as you can during the call. If you're at home, go to a quiet room and ask your family not to disturb you and not to pick up the phone. Some people set up a separate business line during a job search which allows for fewer disturbances. You shouldn't pick up calls on another line during the interview.
Use an animated voice
The quality, pitch and tempo of your speech convey a certain attitude, energy level and enthusiasm. Practice responses out loud before the call and be mindful of your level of expressiveness.
Don't be afraid of silence
The interviewer may be taking notes or reviewing your resume when he or she is silent. Some candidates are unnerved by this and continue to talk though the silence, often saying anything just to fill the gaps. When you have completed an answer, wait for a response. Even a few brief seconds may seem like hours on the phone but remember to be patient.
Pay attention to verbal miscues
Some people use pausing like, "um" or "you know" in everyday speech and aren't aware of it. On the phone, the interviewer will detect these words as a sign of nervousness even more so than in person.
Listen for clues
In person it's much easier to detect when someone is going to speak by their body language. When speaking over the telephone, however, be mindful of the interviewer and listen for clues that he or she wants to break in and ask another question.
Have notes available
One advantage of a telephone interview is that you can have many resources at your fingertips. If possible, pull up the company's homepage on your computer so it's live during your interview.

Have handy the lists of the questions and major selling points that you plan to address during the interview.

Keep a resume handy
The interviewer will have your resume close by so keep your own copy in front of you to answer questions about specific points. You might want to make notes on the resume so that you illustrate prior experience with maximum impact.
Follow up
As the conversation comes to a close, ask the interviewer about next steps and reiterate your interest in the position. Just as in a person-to-person interview, send a thank you note after the telephone call

Do's and Don'ts on an Interview

Do not be late
Dress Professionally
Remember to smile
Do not chew gum
Do not smell like a cigarette
Do not interrupt
Do not ramble
Do not lie
Do not express bitterness
Do not reveal how nervous you may be
Do not seem frazzled
Do not sound apologetic or indecisive

After the Interview

As soon as you get in your car after the interview, call your recruiter at Stonemill Partners to discuss the interview and the next steps. Following up with your recruiter is very important so that he or she may address any questions or concerns that you may have.