interviews

[Haze]

any tips or anecdotes?

what are your top tips for interviews? - do's and don't, anecdotes, good or bad personal experience, serious or silly.

or, what do you think clinched it for the job you are in now?



finally got an interview for a job I'm confident I can (in theory) do quite well, the pay's not too bad and it's broadly related to my degree. I'm told it's a friendly company, and positions don't come up too often as no one ever leaves. Therefore trying to put in lots of effort, prepare for questions, etc., etc.


My own experience of the darn things is seriously limited, my entry to the degree programme I just finished was despite my interview rather than because of it, and since my work experience up to now has all been with the university I've only had one interview since, it did not go well (though the feeling was mutual, I'm glad I don't work there).

[jeff]

I've been successful at getting jobs and I've been a hiring manager, so I can talk from both perspectives. Some basics that might help:

- Show up on time. Bad sign if you can't arrange that.
- Be appropriately dressed for the company, type of business, etc. If it's a bank, then dress pretty formally (dress/skirt for females, suit and tie for males). If unsure - ask whoever is arranging the interview (headhunter, HR department, friend).
- Know something about the company, their business, their plans, even their competition. You don't have to be an expert, you just should show that you were motivated enough to prepare.
- Be prepared to answer questions like:
- "why do you want to work here"
- "what are your strengths and weaknesses"
- "what do you see yourself doing in 5 years."
- "what do you have that would make you an asset to this company"
- Be polite, friendly. Don't act cocky, antagonistic or weird. I've heard stories of people showing up drunk, putting their feet up on the interviewer's desk, opening up their lunch, falling asleep. All kinds of bizarre behavior.
- Answer honestly about your skills and experiences. A wee bit of exaggeration isn't uncommon, but you don't want to make up imaginary skills. They will find out! At the same time, don't be so meek that you don't present yourself confidently. If relevant to the type of job, maybe bring examples of work (eg: art portfolio if that line of business).
- Ask questions (in a friendly, interested way) about the nature of the job.
- Don't immediately leap into the question of pay and benefits. If it gets to the point of making an offer they'll tell you, and then you can try to bargain, depending on how much leverage you have. From your post it sounds like this wouldn't be a problem.

I used to also send job candidates to meet with my staff - it was mandatory that they approved of the new person too, since they were all going to have to work together. Your interviewer might or might not do that.

I hope that helps - ask specific questions if you feel it might be helpful.

[Larrison]

Dude! The one question no one can answer... but is always asked is..

"Why should we hire you?"

In general, my recommendation is go in and be professional. Dress properly, be on time, polite, attentive, and focused. Do a little bit of research into the firm, and the position they are hiring for. Make sure you can answer the above question, and have at least thought about what value you can bring to the firm. Don't lie,stall or prevaricate on any question but don't volunteer a lot of information either.

Best interview -- went to interview with a small company, and ended up going out to lunch with the CEO and CFO. Turns out the CEO and I got along like we were lost brothers, in that we were interested in many of the same things, had been to many of hte same places, etc. He shared a really cool idea of where he wanted the company to go, and lit up when I riffed in some variations and improvements on his basic strategic plan. Got an offer before 2 pm, same day. Didn't take the job unfortunately, for other reasons

Worst interview -- the guy (from an electronics company up in Silicon Valley) flipped through my resume and noticed I had taken a introductory class in his technical specialty (he was an EE). Next thing I know, he's up at the board and giving me a new final on the spot on that class, and the 2 classes "I should have taken" following that one. Really bad karma...

The funkiest interview was a combination briefing and grilling by a team of folks in an intereview. It turned out to be a lot of fun, but I think it could have been really stressfuls. This was for a technical job, so they started up with some brain-stretchers like "why are manholes round?" and "If you couldn't design a manhole cover to be round, what shape could you design it to?", followed by a technical presentation they had asked me to build and present, with a lot of Q&A following. Since it was one of few chances I'd had in a while to think on my feet and there were obvioiusly no single right answers, I approached it as "fun" and had a good time with it. Got an offer out of it, as it turned out.

A few references:
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/...tcmp=JS_advice

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/..._july06_advice

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/...1_may04_advice

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/...3_dec03_advice

[Haze]

Hey thanks guys, much obliged. A lot of work to do on the weekend I think!

Jeff out of interest, what line of work are you in?

The job I am going for is Trainee Store Planner / CAD Technician, supported by some autocad quals. I picked up a few years ago and I also have a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design & Technology, albeit third class.

Some of my concerns might be, for example if they ask what grade of degree I got how I can respond to that positively. (it was actually a combination of health stuff and not knowing about my learning difficulty for about 90% of my degree - Im capable of much better as some of my grades show)

Also I tend to have problems recalling words from time to time - this can be fine one day and horrendous the next and worse if im nervous. I think at my last interview it was perceived that I did not know what to say or had not thought things through or whatever. I guess I could just ask to come back to that part (whatever the topic was) later or just be honest and say I couldnt remember the word but I dont want it to be viewed badly. I guess though if I prepare answers properly and have them in memory that would help with this a lot.

Thanks again for the advice anyway.

[Moonitic]

Here's a couple of more:

1.Make sure they know you're open to new experiences, & learning.
2. A similar vein, make sure they know you'd be in it for the long haul. This isn't just a passing thing.
3. Be prepared for innocent or offhanded questions...they're not as innocent as they seem. (i.e. "describe yourself" or "if you were a kitchen appliance, what would you be")

Oh yeah, & smile. But not TOO much or you'll look like a loon. You know the type.

[latenight]

Same advice I gave for the recent driver's advice thread:


Hide your beers!

[cowpaste]

Wow, I'm still trying to get my FIRST interview.

[jeff]

Originally Posted by Haze

Hey thanks guys, much obliged. A lot of work to do on the weekend I think!

Don't put yourself in a nervous tizzy! :-) (really!)

Originally Posted by Haze

Jeff out of interest, what line of work are you in?

I'm in computing - I used to be a manager and techie at a large US brokerage (systems management, applications, market data, technology architecture) then switched to working for a computer manufacturer.

Originally Posted by Haze

The job I am going for is Trainee Store Planner / CAD Technician, supported by some autocad quals. I picked up a few years ago and I also have a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design & Technology, albeit third class.

Some of my concerns might be, for example if they ask what grade of degree I got how I can respond to that positively. (it was actually a combination of health stuff and not knowing about my learning difficulty for about 90% of my degree - Im capable of much better as some of my grades show)

I can't promise for your case in particular but there is far less emphasis in the workplace, or even awareness, of what people's school grades were or category of degree. Your place might be an exception, and it's possible the hiring manager might really be into this, but it tends to come up infrequently, Gasps from all the people in school: yes, once you're out, your grade point average won't be frequent subject of conversation. And, you can be a C or D student and still be President! FWIW, the smartest person I ever had working for me dropped out of college.

Originally Posted by Haze

Also I tend to have problems recalling words from time to time - this can be fine one day and horrendous the next and worse if im nervous. I think at my last interview it was perceived that I did not know what to say or had not thought things through or whatever. I guess I could just ask to come back to that part (whatever the topic was) later or just be honest and say I couldnt remember the word but I dont want it to be viewed badly. I guess though if I prepare answers properly and have them in memory that would help with this a lot.

If this happens during the interview, just let them know. "Gee, I sometimes get a little tongue-tied when I'm nervous!", with a smile and not making a bigger deal of it than it needs to be. They should understand you might be nervous in a job interview. Happens to everybody, actually - even the most articulate and poised of us will slap our heads an hour after a meeting and say "Darn! That's what I should have said!"

Originally Posted by Haze

Thanks again for the advice anyway.

You're quite welcome - Good luck! And let us know how you made out.

[Haze]

Originally Posted by jeff

Happens to everybody, actually - even the most articulate and poised of us will slap our heads an hour after a meeting and say "Darn! That's what I should have said!"

Yeah, it's more a phonetic thing, you know exactly what word/phrase you want to say, what it means, etc. but you can't recall the phonetics of how to say it. Which is reeeally annoying. It's like, er, the erm, *points*, you know, this shape *drawns shape in the air with hands*, see-though, opens, got glass in it...

(other person, *casually*) "you mean, a window?"

YES. Fantastic, a Window! Thanks!

(other person wanders off wondering what the big deal is about a window, and I continue to tell the rest of the story to the goldfish)

[ThatReallyHurt]

Hmm... a few thoughts:

- Regardless of the type or location of the job, dress very well for the interview. Even if you're applying for a tree planting job, dress up - pressed shirt and pants, that sort of thing. It shows you're actually interested and putting in some effort.

- As was mentioned in earlier posts, most interviewers will ask you if you have any questions. Don't be meek - ask about what you're wondering.

- Don't forget two copies of your resume and references. Bring them in a nice folder or satchel - not in a grocery bag.

- Bring a good pen. Not a plastic Bic or Paper-Mate, but something that looks good and doesn't leak. If you end up filling out or signing something and use your own pen, it looks good. I know this sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how many people notice a pen.

- Interviewers aren't out to get you - they're just asking questions to find out not only what you know, but what kind of person you are. Relax and be yourself - if they weren't already interested in you, you wouldn't even be going for the interview.

- Make mention of your academics and emphasize your strengths. Ensure that you also mention some real-world experiences as they relate to your skillset or the position you're applying for. When I'm giving interviews, I'm not as impressed with someone's education as I am with their ability to show they know what to do with it.

[sabreur]

There are a lot of websites with common interview questions--take a look at a couple of them, and think about how you would answer the questions. It's probably best to print out a couple of the lists of questions and actually write down, or at least outline, how you would answer the questions.

A classic stumper is "What was your biggest failure and what did you learn from it?"

The worst question I was ever asked in an interview was:

"What is your favorite joke?"

I flailed on it, since the only jokes that came to my mind weren't repeatable in an interview situation--if I was asked it again, I'd say that I didn't fell that question was appropriate to an interview, and I would prefer to discuss the position and my qualifications for it....

MR

[Epee_Pox]

Be friendly. Enthusiasm is key. And be yourself.

Sounds glib, but it's true. I've interviewed a fair number of candidates, and they could all do the job. I mean, if I didn't think they could do the work, they wouldn't have gotten the interview in the first place. So most of what I look for in interviews is whether this is going to be someone I'd like to work with. Are they someone I trust, someone whose company won't be a strain, and someone who wants to be here?

If I interview two people, and one is super-amazing-capable but doesn't seem all that into it, and the other person is less capable but enthusiastic, without question I'm hiring the person with enthusiasm. That person wants to be here.

(But not if they overdo the enthusiasm, of course. Fake is easy to spot. Just enough to show eagerness and that this is what they want to do.)

[Westley]

Alright, here's what you do on interviews. Give-em the tough questions. If they don't answer right away, hit them with the nearest available object. If they still don't answer, take a stapler open it, and slam it into their face. See if you can staple their nose to their upper lip. That'll get you answer's. Of course, You still never though if they're telling you the truth, so hook them up to a polygraph machine that's wired to the goods. If they ever lie- ZAP! Now, Make sure not to damage them permanently, because you'll need them to work for you. And of course, threaten them not to tell anyone or you'll burn their house down. Oh- you mean THAT kind of interview. Sorry.

[Westley]

Alright, here's what you do on interviews. Give-em the tough questions. If they don't answer right away, hit them with the nearest available object. If they still don't answer, take a stapler open it, and slam it into their face. See if you can staple their nose to their upper lip. That'll get you answer's. Of course, You still never though if they're telling you the truth, so hook them up to a polygraph machine that's wired to the goods. If they ever lie- ZAP! Now, Make sure not to damage them permanently, because you'll need them to work for you. And of course, threaten them not to tell anyone or you'll burn their house down. Oh- you mean THAT kind of interview. Sorry.

If they're interviewing YOU, well, then it's obviously a totally different story. See the first thing you have to do then, is come in a suit and tie, because clothes command respect. Shine your shoes, get some nice Armani, put enough grease in your hair to drown Mark Spitz. When you see the boss, don't ever look away. Keep your eyes on him at all times. Give a sign of acknowledgment to his hello, but nothing as big as a handshake. If he starts talking smack, reach across the table and b!tchslap him a few times. If he doesn't hire you then, tell him his address and show him a picture of his beloved daughter Nikki next to you with his wife's panties on his head. Finally, flip him fifty bucks made of new sharp tens in a silver clip. You'll get the job.

[Dave]

There are some great interview stories here

http://www.b3ta.com/questions/jobinterviews/


ahh, b3ta.