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Stan's Interview Tips

Over the past 25 years I have been on a few interviews. Both for personal jobs and
consulting jobs. For the most part it really doesn't make a difference. Either way, it's
still you going for that job. On this page I wanted to just highlight a few things for to
remember and really focus on those points that will give you the edge you need at your
next interview.

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No 1. Have a positive attitude

I can't express this enough. Employers ALWAYS want you look interested,
enthusiastic, cooperative and upbeat. This will be your first impression. Right
out of the gate your going to be judged on how you show yourself, before you
even say a word, before you answer any question.

Even if this is your 5th interview and you just missed that last one. Don't bring
those disappointments with you. Keep your frame of mind, positive, AT ALL
TIMES.

Alway be prepared for that interview

Dress appropriately, greet your interviewer with an appreciation of their time.
Start off with their first good impression of you. Let them know, you do value
their time. Getting this across will help them along with the interview.

Remember, they could be meeting with 10 or more people that day. It could be
hundreds before they have finished with all the interviews. It will be up to you
keep them interested in you. They opened this job and it does need to be filled.
Your resume got you there, so their first intentions were to hire you. Make sure
those intentions are kept up while being interviewed.

Be attentive to all their statements and questions. Listen to what they will say
about the job. Do not interrupt their opening statement. This is what they want
you to know and hear.

Do not give them the feeling that your doing them a favor showing up. Don't be
so self-centered thinking "What can they do for you?" Instead, show them
what you can do for them.

There are many ways for you to get interviewed. From the phone or in person. When
in person, again this can be done multiple ways. Alone with a one on one type
interview, or in a group with one with many employees at one time. I've actually been
on an interview with 3 other candidates all in the same interview. Here are
explanations of these types of interviews.

PHONE INTERVIEWS

Phone interviews for the most part are used to screen the applicant. They will
ask a few brief questions about your technical skills, particular questions for the
immediate job at hand, and probably information about your last job. Most
cases you will also be asked for the salary your are looking for.

Keep your resume available for reference. The interviews has yours in front of
them and you want to make sure your on the same page.

Be prepared. Do research on the company ahead of time. Have a paper and pen
with all your notes about the company and written questions you may have.

When addressing interviewer remember to address him or her as Mr., Mrs, Miss,
or Dr., unless otherwise asked to called by their first name.

NEVER, eat or chew anything while on the phone

SERIES INTERVIEWS

With Series Interviews a schedule is set up for you to meet with multiple
individuals. Generally you will meet up with Personnel first. Here you will be
screened for generally the same things as the phone interview as stated above if
the phone interview was never done.

When you get past the screening part of the interview you'll go on to meet your
boss, upper management or other individuals like your potential colleges or
someone you may support in a technical roll.

CANDIDATE GROUP INTERVIEWS

This is challenging task. It's also rare so, don't dwell too much on this. If you do
happen to be involved in this kind of interview, your challenge is not to clash
with the other interviewees.

This method is used to see how you do interact with others. Giving the group a
chance to work with each other.

I've been involved in this kind of an interview where you were to work with the
group in a project. We were given a task to take some supplies and come up
with an approach to complete the task in a set amount of time.

Here is where you need to work together but also try not to be shy. It is a
balancing act with no one real answer. If you try to be too much of a leader, you
may get some resistance also.

My suggestion is if you see someone taking the lead, listen to their suggestion
and if you do find the solution plausible go with the flow. If the approach does
not seem work, credit the suggestion and suggest an alternative approach.

If the group does flounder, take control and get the job done.

FOLLOW UP INTERVIEWS

There are a couple of these kind of interviews. One that may be needed because
not everyone had a chance to meet you or one needed to be done because there
are other candidates being considered also.

The good news is, you are being considered to be hired and you're being called
back. This is your chance to make that lasting impression. Re-hone up on the
company. Check your notes from the last interview. What went wrong, what
went well? Reinforce all those positive feeling you got from before and nail that
job.

During the Interview

Read your resume over and be prepared to explain all the bullet points you had
mentioned. Illustrate upon those points when asked about them. Give examples
that will help them remember you.

Keep in the back of your mind some of the examples that will be a testimonial to
your skills at hand. Give a detailed explanation of those events. This will help
the interviewer visualize how they will see you in their next job for you.

An interview can last as little as a half hour or as much as an hour or more.
Either way don't get too relaxed. Being too relaxed may cause you to sit back in
your chair and start to talk in too much of a monotone voice. If you find
yourself in this position, reposition yourself and add a slight inflection in your
voice. Show a bit more energy. This will get the interview on a better keel.

At times, the interview my catch you off guard. The interviewer may challenge
your skill or qualifications. DON'T let this get you upset. Try to reinforce your
qualification with a calm response and a positive example. Don't get in a
confrontational discussion. This could be a test to see how you will handle this
kind of a situation. You are going to be tested throughout the interview.

Types of interviews

Follow up Yourself

Send an Email thanking them for the interview. Give them one more reminder
of your visit. Don't elaborate on your points in this email. They have their all
their notes.

Just a simple thank you along with your enthusiasm of how much you would
like to work for them. You only need a few lines.

GOOD LUCK AND BE PREPARED