With the economy in recession and businesses cutting back, more people are competing for fewer positions. According to The Wall Street Journal, a recent career fair attracted more than 10,000 job seekers. One employer met with 2,000 people to fill 17 positions.
To find a job in these difficult times, you will need every advantage at your disposal. This means presenting yourself as prepared, articulate, and professional at every step, especially in job interviews. Try these interview tips to gain the edge you need.
The Week Before: Prepare and Practice
Gather all the information you can find about the company and the industry. Find out the correct pronunciation and spelling of the corporate name, the company's specialties, its geographic reach, its size, and how long it has been in business. Familiarize yourself with the latest corporate news and industry trends.At the same time, prepare to talk about yourself. How could you best describe your skills, experience, education, volunteer activities, and awards? Give concrete examples of how you might apply these strengths in your new position. Emphasize your willingness to learn new things.
Your preparation should also cover the questions an interviewer might ask. Some common questions include: What were the best and worst aspects of your previous job? What would your ideal job look like? Why do you want to work for us? How could you help our organization? Think about the most likely questions and determine your answers ahead of time.
Rehearse your responses and make them specific. For example, rather than stating that you have good organizational skills, explain how you used them to ensure the success of a project.
The Day Before: Sweat the Small Stuff
Now is the time to take care of the hundred little details that make up a thoroughly professional image. Pay close attention to your grooming and hygiene. Dress according to industry standards. Know the names of the people you will be meeting and how to pronounce their names. Bring a briefcase, a leather portfolio, a pen, extra copies of your resume and references, and the address and phone number of the meeting place. Know how long it will take you to arrive, and where you should park.The Big Day: Mind Your Manners
Reach the interview setting at least 15 minutes before the interview. When you arrive, use the restroom to check buttons, zippers, makeup, face, and hair before entering the office. In the waiting room, give your name and the interviewer's name to the receptionist. Select a seat, sit attentively on the edge of it, and turn off your cell phone. When the interviewer comes out to greet you, stand, extend your hand, smile, and make eye contact.Once you are in the interviewer's office, wait until you are told where to sit. Place your briefcase on the floor near your seat. Do not touch or comment about anything on the interviewer's desk.
During the interview, listen carefully to each question. Then take a moment, pause, and begin your response. Do not start with "um" or "ah." As the interview progresses, let the interviewer know that you would be proud to join the team. Toward the end, you may ask when you can expect to hear about a decision.
Finally, let the interviewer end the interview. Send a thank-you note no more than 48 hours after the meeting. Thank-you notes mark you as a professional with good business manners.
In times like these, the best jobs go to the best interviewers who know how to present themselves. Follow these tips and you can become one of them.
©2008 Professional Image Management
If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog, you may do so. Please include our credit information: Written by Juanita Ecker, Professional Image Management www.professionalimagemanagement.com. © Copyright 2008. I would also appreciate it if you would send us a copy for our files.
Juanita Ecker, president of Professional Image Management, is a business etiquette and
international protocol consultant. She can be reached by phone at (518) 279-9388 or online at www.professionalimagemanagement.com.