Interview Help
It has been said that the interview is the deciding factor in getting hired. It is at this time that you get to show your future employer that you the right candidate for the job. Following are some very important tips and some advice on how to prepare for and how to have a great interview.
1. Research the Job and the Company
Before you go to the interview you should do prepare just like you were writing a research paper: you’ve got to get the facts. The idea is that you want to make an impression on the interviewer with your knowledge about the company and the industry. You want to show them that you know what they do, what your responsibilities would be in the position that you are interviewing for and, most of all, that you want to work for them. They are going to have your resume and be asking you a lot of questions so why not be prepared with the right information.
Make sure your clothes are clean, pressed, and fit well and your shoes should be clean and shiny. Check that your hair is clean and neatly styled. Men should be freshly shaved. Check that your face, hands and fingernails are clean and neat.
Dress for job hunting and an interview based on the type of job you would like to find. Some times it’s a good idea to visit the work place and check how the workers in the job dress and then dress like them. And as a general rule neutral colors and styles are better than bright or loud colors.
3. Make sure that you have your own questions in the interview.
Usually at the end of interview, the interviewer is going to ask, "Do you have any questions for us?" It is always a good idea to have questions prepared for the interview but there may be something that discussed earlier that you would like clarification on – now is the time.
4. Following up with the interviewer
You may think the interview is over when you walk out the door. But in reality the interview is only over when someone (hopefully you) has the job. If you handle the follow-up correctly, the chances of that someone being you will increase dramatically.
Send a thank-you letter the very day of the interview - not the next day or the day after that - send out a thank you letter to your interviewer. The letter should be a simple note thanking that person for taking the time to meet you, saying how much you enjoyed your discussion, and how much you'd like to join the team.
5. Making a follow-up phone call
If you haven't heard anything after a week, then it might be time to call them back. No one wants to be a nuisance, but a little perseverance never hurt anyone either. A friendly phone call after a week tells the employer that you are truly interested. The call will serve to remind the company about the incredible interviewee they don't want to let go. You can also ask (in a polite fashion) inquire about how long they'll be making their decision. If that date passes and you still haven't heard anything, call again. It's not being pushy, it's being persistent. Pushiness is bad, but persistence is good.
