Preparing For & Succeeding In A Job Interview
By: Jason R. Rich
(Web site: www.jasonrich.com)

Once you've submitted your resume and have successfully filled out an employment application, hopefully you'll be invited to visit the potential employer for an in-person job interview - the next major step in the job search process.
The job interview is your chance to sell yourself directly to a potential employer. Throughout the entire interview, the HR professional or executive conducting the interview will be evaluating everything about you, including:

• Your appearance. (What you're wearing and how well you're groomed.)
• Your body language. (Your mannerisms, nervous twitches, facial expressions, posture, hand gestures, etc.)
• What you say. (How you respond to questions and what questions you ask.)
• How you say it. (Avoid using any type of slang or too much industry or job-oriented lingo. Answer all questions using complete sentences.)
• our qualifications. (Your educational background, personal skill set and previous work experience are all important. Make sure you convey this information about yourself in a positive way. Put a positive spin on any negative information, such as gaps in your employment history or the reason you were fired from a previous job.)
• How well organized you are and your attention to detail. (Be able to demonstrate that you've arrived to the interview totally prepared. Show that you've done your research and that you know something about the company. Also, be able to answer, specifically, why you want to be hired. What is it about the employer and the specific job opening that's appealing?)
• How excited you are about landing the job you're applying for. (Be able to give specific reasons regarding why you want the specific job you're applying for.)

While your resume should serve as a powerful sales tool to communicate your professional accomplishments and educational background, it'll be the actual job interview that will help the interviewer make his or her decision about whether or not to actually hire you.
One of the biggest misconceptions job seekers have about the job interview process is that their success will be based upon being well liked (from a personal standpoint) by the interviewer. Sure, this plays a role in the interviewer's decision, but they'll also consider other things as well.
For example, an employer will be looking for someone to fill a specific job opening who is qualified, who will fit well within the established corporate culture of the company, and who the interviewer believes will get along well with their coworkers. The HR professional or executive doing the interview wants to hire someone who will become an asset to the company.
During the interview, you want to answer the question that's on every interviewer's mind - 'Why should I hire you?' Be able to provide qualitative and quantitative information to support your statements. Don't just say you're a hard worker, for example. Be able to talk about specific examples from your past work history that demonstrate this. Whenever possible, offer supporting documentation or proof of the statements you make about yourself and your accomplishments.
In addition to actual job qualifications, some of the qualities and personality traits most employers look for include:

· Being Career Oriented (with long-term goals)
· Creativity
· Dedication
· Hard Working
· Honesty
· Motivation
· Respect for Authority
· Someone who is a Team Player
· Someone who is Detail Oriented and Organized
· Someone with an Up-Beat, Polite and Pleasant Personality
· Success Oriented
· Willingness to Learn

During your job interview, you'll want to demonstrate that you posses these and other positive qualities. Make sure you're able to discuss your personal skill set and how the skills you posses can be applied to the job you're hoping to land.
At the same time, you'll want to showcase your interpersonal and communication skills by asking intelligent questions, offering complete and well-thought-out answers to the questions posed to you, and demonstrate a friendly (non-confrontational) personality.
As you begin preparing for a job interview, consider the following ten steps:

1. Dress professionally. Choose an outfit that fits well within the corporate culture of the company you're interviewing with. Make sure your outfit helps to create a professional image. Your visual appearance is one of the first things an interviewer will notice. It's critical that you make a positive first impression. In addition to making sure your outfit is clean and wrinkle-free, make sure you're well groomed. Your clothing, hairstyle, cleanliness, make-up, jewelry, accessories and even your briefcase should all convey a strong sense of professionalism, no matter what type of job you're applying for.
2. Do plenty of research about the company you're interviewing with. With the power of the Internet at your disposal, you have no excuse for not knowing about the potential employer. Read up on the company in trade journals and industry-oriented magazines. Visit the company's Web site. If applicable, read the company's annual report.
3. Create a detailed list of questions that you plan to ask the employer during the interview. These questions should be insightful and demonstrate that you have a basic knowledge of what the company is all about. Don't ask about salary, benefits or vacations until late in the interview process. If possible, wait until the employer brings up these topics.
4. Practice doing mock interviews with a friend, parent or career counselor. Try to determine what questions you will be asked, and determine, in advance, how you'll answer each question. Visualize yourself during the interview making a good impression. For example, you know you'll be asked about your previous work experience, your qualifications, and why you want the job you're applying for. Have answers prepared, but when you recite them during an interview, make your responses come across as natural as possible.
5. Show up early for the interview. Ideally, you'll want to arrive about 15 minutes early. Whatever you do, never be even one minute late! Plan your travel route accordingly. Leave plenty of time to deal with traffic, getting lost, finding a parking spot, etc. Also, be sure to use the restroom before the interview begins, and avoid drinking anything with caffeine (such as coffee) prior to the interview. You'll most likely be nervous and jittery enough without the artificial stimulate.
6. From the moment you step through the door of the company you're interviewing with, act professionally. Be polite to everyone you meet at the company. This includes the secretaries and receptionists.
7. During the interview, don't be afraid to refer to your research notes. It's also appropriate to take notes during your interview, so make sure you bring along a notepad and pen. You'll also want to bring additional copies of your resume and your personal planner (scheduler). If a second interview is requested, try to schedule it on the spot. Leave the interview knowing what the next step will be. Do you need to supply additional information? Will there be a second interview? Do you simply need to wait for the potential employer to make a decision about hiring you?
8. Never lie or stretch the truth about anything. Be open and honest about yourself, your skills, your education, and your work experience. Whenever you're introduced to someone, stand up, shack hands and, if possible, obtain their business card. Try to maintain as much eye contact as possible with the people you meet and speak with.
9. During the actual interview, never babble or lie. Answer all questions as honestly as possible, using complete sentences. Avoid single word responses. Make sure that during the interview, you specifically ask for the job you're applying for. You'll also want to explain, using as much detail as possible, why you're qualified to fill the job opening. Oh, and don't forget to smile!
10. When you get home after the interview, immediately write and send a personalized 'Thank You' note to the person or people who interviewed you. This should be mailed within 24 hours after the interview. Within the note, make reference to something specific that you discussed during the interview. You want to refresh the interviewer's mind about who you are.

The job interview process can be stressful. However, you can eliminate much of the stress through proper preparation. If you enter into an interview situation knowing in your heart that you're qualified for the job and fully prepared for the interview itself, you'll be in excellent shape.
Be open and honest about yourself, and don't be afraid to ask questions so that you develop a good understanding of what will be expected of you if you get hired for the job. Knowing what to expect and what's expected of you will help to insure that you ultimately land a job you'll be happy in.


# # #


About the author: Jason R. Rich, 34, is the author of six career-related books. He's also been a columnist for The Boston Herald's Sunday "Careers" section, and has contributed articles to: National Business Employment Weekly, MyJobCoach.com, Unicru.com, Salary.com, and a wide range of other career-oriented publications and Web sites. His most recent books, Your Career: Coach Yourself To Success (Learning Express) and Great Resumes (Learning Express) are now available nationwide. For additional information, please visit his Web site at www.JasonRich.com.


© 2001 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved. Send email correspondence to: jr7777@aol.com.

(C) 1998 Teen Talk Communications