Interview- Catch them and Keep them

You've taken all the steps that were outlined in the previous post, you did your follow-up call or e-mail and have now been scheduled for an interview. Congrats! and good for you:) Whether the interview is over the phone or face to face the key to catching and keeping them is to be CONFIDENT!

RESEARCH the company before interviewing

Here are some of the most common questions that are asked:

1- What are some of your strengths?
2- What are some of your weaknesses?
3- Why did you leave your last job
4- What were your duties in your last position?
5- Describe to me a situation where you demonstrated customer service, etc
6- If you were put in a difficult situation how would you handle it?
7- What did you like about your last job?
8- What didn't you like about your last job?
9- How long have you been searching for work?
10- What can you bring to the company?
11- Why should you be hired?
12- What would you do if you didn't know how to do a certain task or duty?
13- Are you competitive (if it's a sales job)
14- What are some of your achievements?
15- What were your numbers? Sales Ratio? (Sales job)
16- Make sure to do your research on the company so you know what they stand for and how they function, etc. I've been asked questions about the company many times.

As you can see there are different questions for different positions but as long as you are confident in yourself and your ability to do the job you will definitely get some brownie points:)

Types of Interviews:

Phone Interview-
Make sure you are ready to take the call and have a quiet place, take a few breaths and have your resume in hand. Do not be late for your interview because you will miss out. Smile because they can tell over the phone and stay calm. Listen when the interviewer is speaking and do not interrupt. Be professional and courteous. Remember to be confident in your skills and ability if you feel confident you will sound confident.

Face to face Interview-
Dress professionally and make sure to have a copy of your resume and references. Arrive at your appointment time early 10 or 15 minutes is good, this will give you some time to scope out your potential workplace and learn more about the company. Review your resume and try to relax. When you are called in for the interview make eye contact and smile, listen to the interviewer and when answering questions take a few seconds to think. Sometimes you can reiterate the question so that you can get some time to think. If you miss the question you can say,"I'm sorry can you please repeat that?" However, don't do that too much. Always make eye contact, smile and sit up still and try to keep your hands on your lap. I keep my hands crossed on my lap so it seems more professional and you can't really tell if I'm nervous. After you are done being interviewed they will more than likely ask if you have any questions. This is a chance for you to really show that you are really interested in the position and the company. Come prepared with a few questions about the company and shake hands and thank the interviewer for their time after you are done. They will usually let you know when to expect a call or they will give you their business card. If not, you can ask them when they will be done conducting interviews and will be getting back to people.


How to dress for the interview

Ladies- It is always important to stay conservative. The best dress for ladies would be either black pants and a business like shirt or a professional top. You can also wear a knee length skirt with a business like top. You want to look clean and professional. This would be a good time to dress up a little such as grooming and putting on some makeup. You can put on some perfume but not too much.

Men- Long sleeve business shirt you can choose to wear a tie depending on how professional the company is. Slacks are a good choice for men, usually beige or black with clean shoes would be considered professional. Remove earrings if they are not allowed and grooming is also important. You can put on cologne but not too much.

Ok so now that you know, go get em'!!:)

Following-Up

Some people think that all they need to do is apply for a job and wait for the call. In most cases this is not true, there are so many applicants each day that employers hardly have any time to sift through each application. This is the reason why a cover letter is so important because if you don't catch the employer's eye on the first impression you miss out. Basically, the employer or hiring manager will toss out your application. Other important factors are spelling, alignment and grammar because again you are trying to sell yourself through the computer. The process does not stop there, after you have applied it is important write a follow-up email.

1. How soon is too soon to follow-up?
Do not follow up to soon because if you do you will look desperate. Less than a week is usually to soon.

2. When is the best time to follow-up?
The best time to follow-up is usually after a week, sometimes a week might even be too soon because the company may have many applicants and need time to contact people for interviews. I would say to follow-up 1 week to 2 weeks, no more than 2 1/2 weeks.

3. How do I write a follow-up e-mail?
Dear (Hiring manager),

I am writing to follow-up on the status of my application and also the status of the job position as (position here). Please let me know if you require further information, thank you and have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,
(Your name here)

These follow-up e-mails usually work and you will get a reply as to whether you got an interview, need additional information or the position has been filled.

Good luck!

On another note: I would love to hear success stories if you've been reading my blog and following the tips:) and it worked for you. Feel free to just drop me a comment or e-mail also let me know if you have any questions:)

Writing a Cover letter

A Cover letter is very important when applying for jobs. Basically a cover letter is a letter that distinguishes you from all the other candidates and it's what makes the hiring manager want to read your resume. When writing a cover letter I always try to keep it simple, up to 3 paragraphs is good. This is the format that I use.

To Whom it May Concern or Dear Hiring Manager:

(1st Paragraph talk about how you found the job and how you are qualified for the position).
(2nd Paragraph talk about your experience and relate it to the position you are applying for).
(3rd Paragraph talk about how if you were to get the position it would benefit the company and the skills you will bring).

Thank you,
(Your name)

(E-mail)
(phone#)
Enclosed: Resume

When applying for the position you want to compose an e-mail with the cover letter in the body and attach your application to the e-mail. This way since you hooked the reader they can learn more by clicking on your resume. That is why a cover letter is important, it's the thing that initially sells you.

Please stay tuned as I will be talking about Following-up and later interviews