Launch

Interviews and Salary Negotiations

25 Tips for
Interviewing
The interviewing 4. Consider first and last
stage of your job impressions.
search is the most The first and last five minutes of the
critical. Your success interview are the most important. It is during this
or failure in obtaining time that critical first and lasting impressions are
a position is often made and the interviewer decides whether or not
determined at the you are a viable candidate. Communicate positive
interview. However, behaviors during the first five minutes and be
anyone can learn to interview well, since most sure you are remembered when you leave.
mistakes can be anticipated and corrected. Learn
the following top 25 interviewing techniques to 5. Fill out company applications
give you a winning edge. completely - even if you have a
resume.
1. Bring extra copies of your Even though you have brought
resume to the interview. a copy of your resume, many
Nothing shows less preparation companies require a completed
and readiness than being asked for application. Your willingness to
another copy of your resume and not “Be alert, complete one, and your thorough-
having one. Come prepared with extra energetic, ness in doing so, will convey a
copies of your resume. You may be and focused great deal about your professional-
asked to interview with more than ism and ability to follow through.
one person and it demonstrates on the
professionalism and preparedness to interviewer.” 6. Remember that the
anticipate needing extra copies. purpose of every
interview is to get an
2. Dress conservatively and offer.
professionally. You must impress your interviewer both
What you wear to an interview can make a professionally and personally to be offered the
tremendous difference. It is important to convey job. At the end of the interview, make sure you
a professional image, and it is better to overdress know what the next step is and when the em-
than underdress. ployer expects to make a decision.

3. Be aware of your body language. 7. Understand employers’ needs.

Be alert, energetic, and focused on the Present yourself as someone who can really
interviewer. Make eye contact. Non-verbally, this add value to an organization. Show that you can
communicates that you are interested in what the fit into the work environment.
interviewer has to say.

4th Edition, Volume 4

 How do you compare with your
peers in education, experience,
training, salary, and career
progression?
8. Be likeable. better remembered if you cite specific examples
Be enthusiastic. People love to hire individu- and support for your claims. Tell the interviewer
als who are easy to get along with and who are about business situations where you successfully
excited about their company. Be professional, yet used a skill and elaborate on the outcome. Be
demonstrate your interest and energy. specific.

9. Make sure you have the right 13. Don’t be afraid to admit
skills. mistakes.
Know your competition. How do you Employers want to know what mistakes you
compare with your peers in education, experi- have made and how you have learned from
ence, training, salary, and career progression? them. Don’t be afraid to admit making mistakes
Mention the things you know how to do really in the past, but continuously stress your positive
well. They are the keys to your next job. qualities as well, and how you have turned
weaknesses into positive results.
10. Display an ability to work hard
to pursue an organization’s goals. 14. Relate stories or examples that
Assume that most interviewers need to select heighten your past experience.
someone who will fit well into their organization Past performance is the best indicator of
in terms of both productivity and future performance. If you were
personality. You must confirm that successful at one company, odds are
you are a hard-working, productive, you can succeed at another. Be
and personable individual by empha- ready to sell your skills and perfor-
sizing the benefits you will bring to “Past mance using relevant stories from
the company. performance your work experience in the inter-
is the best view.
11. Market all of your
strengths. indicator 15. Know everything about
It is important to market of future your potential employer
yourself, including your technical before the interview.
performance. ”
qualifications, general skills and Customize your answers as
experiences as well as personal traits. much as possible in terms of the
Recruiters care about two things, needs of the employer. This requires
credentials and personality. Can you that you complete research before
do the job based on past performance and will the interview about the company, its customers,
you fit in with the corporate culture? Talk about and the work you anticipate doing. Speak the
your positive personality traits and give examples employer’s language and address his or her needs.
of how you demonstrate each one on the job.
16. Rehearse and practice interview
12. Give definitive answers and questions before the interview.
specific results. Prior to your interview, try to anticipate the
Whenever you make a claim of your types of questions you may be asked and
accomplishments, it will be more believable and rehearse the appropriate answers. Even if you do

Launch Interviews &

Salary Negotiations
not anticipate all of the questions, the process of 21. Don’t plan to arrive on time,
thinking them through will make you more plan to arrive early!
confident and relaxed during the interview itself. No matter how sympathetic your interviewer
may be to the fact that there was an accident on
17. Know how to respond to tough the freeway, it is virtually impossible to overcome
questions. a negative first impression. Do whatever it takes
The majority of questions that you will be to be on time, including allowing extra time for
asked can be anticipated. However, there are unexpected emergencies. However, don’t show
exceptional questions tailored to throw you off up too early either. A good time to announce
guard to see how you perform under pressure. your arrival is 5 - 10 minutes before your
Your best strategy is to be prepared, stay calm, interview is scheduled to start.
collect your thoughts, and respond as clearly as
possible. 22. Treat everyone you meet as
important to the interview.
18. Address the relevant needs of Make sure you are courteous to everyone
the employer. you come in contact with, no matter who they
While you no doubt have specific strengths, are or what their position. The opinion of
skills and experience, make sure you translate everyone can be important to the interview
how these qualifica- process.
tions would address
the prospective 23. Answer questions with complete
employer’s needs. “Skills sentences and with substance.
Emphasize the that you enjoy Remember that your interviewer is trying to
benefits you are likely determine what value you would bring to the
to provide in the new
are the ones company and the position. Avoid answering the
position. Whenever that are most questions asked with simple “yes” or “no”
possible, give ex- likely to benefit answers. Give complete answers and use ex-
amples of how your amples of past experiences that demonstrate
strengths, accomplish- a future your qualifications.
ments, and contribu- employer.”
tions relate to the 24. Reduce your nervousness by
employer, using the practicing stress-reduction
appropriate language techniques.
for the job or industry. There are many stress-reducing techniques
used by public speakers that can certainly aid you
19. Identify your strengths and in your interview process. Practice some of the
what you enjoy doing. relaxation methods as you approach your
Skills that you enjoy are the ones that are interview, such as taking slow deep breaths to
most likely to benefit a future employer. Prior to calm you down. The more you can relax, the
the interview, understand what it is that you more comfortable you will feel and the more
enjoy doing most, and what benefits this provides confident you will appear.
to both you and your employer.
25. Be sure to ask questions.
20. Know how you communicate Be prepared to ask several questions
verbally to others. relevant to the job, the employer, and the
Strong verbal communication skills are organization. These questions should be designed
highly valued by most employers. They are signs to elicit information to help you make a decision
of educated and competent individuals. Know as well as to demonstrate your interest, intelli-
how you communicate, and practice with others gence, and enthusiasm for the job.
to determine if you are presenting yourself in
the best possible light.

4th Edition, Volume 3