Interview Hints

Introduction: 

You always need to “take temperatures” because people have minds and they’re changing them constantly. You need to listen to what they don’t say. Being prepared for an interview is vital; the following preparation is very unique and effective in conducting a positive interview.

Things to remember:

• People have to buy you before they buy from you. 
• People hire and accept emotionally first and justify logically later. 
• People are most sold by your conviction rather than by your persuasion. 
• Know your technology, but think PEOPLE. 
• The decision to hire is made in the first 5 to 10 minutes of the interview, with the remaining time spent justifying that decision. 

The Candidate Preparation:

Please take these notes to the interview and practice the anticipated questions that may be asked and your answers to those questions. Be sure to practice these steps out loud to yourself before the interview.

• What are the duties and responsibilities of the position I’m applying for? This is an excellent icebreaker question for the hiring authority and a great start to a successful interview. What percentage of my job is dedicated to administration, supervisory, and technical? (This should = 100%.) 
• What is my number one priority that has to be done before I leave each day? Why? (Priorities are personal.) 
• What are the production or sales goals? What obstacles would prevent me from reaching my goals? 
• What are the short and long term goals set for the person in this position? 
• Have questions for the hiring authority. Questions must be written out before the interview, while avoiding the topic of compensation and benefits for the first interview. 
• Salary – this is a trap question. If the question is brought up, a very good response is “I would like as much as the position will pay” OR “I am currently making $_____. Although I would like an increase, I don’t know enough about the opportunity to answer that fairly.” Be very careful that you don’t short yourself. Be sure to keep in mind your base salary, bonus program, stock options, gain sharing programs, performance bonuses, benefits, etc. 
• Ask for the job! “I haven’t interviewed in a while, what is the next step? Can we conclude our business today if all goes well?” OR summarize what you’ve done that ties in with the new position and ask, “Do I have the qualifications you’re looking for?” Then remain silent for an answer. If the hiring authority says, “I’m looking at other people,” you say, “How do my qualifications match the people you’re considering.” 

(Your #1 priority is to receive an offer, if this is a position that you desire, your #2 priority is to know the next step.)
ALWAYS SEND A FOLLOW-UP LETTER.

After you leave the interview, it is very important that you call us immediately

Resume Hints 

Can’t think of anything to write down
about what you do in your job? 

ANSWER 20 OR 30 OF THESE QUESTIONS.

We guarantee that you will come up with some new ideas about your job responsibilities and skills.

• What experience, skills, aptitudes, or traits do you have, or think you might have, that could be of some use to some employer? 
• What skills have you developed, at least to some degree, that you have never used at work? 
• Do others, at work or elsewhere, come to you for any particular kind of help? What kind? 
• Do you have military experience (include Coast Guard and Merchant Marine)? Branch, grade, specialty? Active duty, reserves, National Guard? Discharge? Duties? Accomplishments? Medals, citations, commendations? Promotions ahead of schedule? You can treat military experience as general background, or list each position as an employer in the Resume Questionnaire. Don’t forget, military training can be particularly useful in private industry if it is relevant to your objective. 
• Have you ever published an article, report, or anything, even as a volunteer, even in your company professional association newsletter? 
• Have you ever given a talk, speech, or presentation, or provided training to anyone at work or elsewhere? Give the specifics. 
• Computer literacy and related skills: What platforms can you use (PC, Apple, Unix, etc.)? Which ones are you most comfortable with? What operating systems are you familiar with (DOS; Windows; Unix; Apple; other)? If you program, which languages do you know, and what is your level of ability or experience? What programs, or kinds of programs, have you designed or helped design or debug? What Internet research tools are you familiar with? What programs are you familiar with (word processors; spread sheets; data bases; groupware or PIM’s, such as Lotus Notes, Groupwise, Ecco; graphics, desk-top publishing, etc.); office suites (Suite; Microsoft Office; Word Perfect Office); LAN or WAN system software? (If you know the latest version, mention it, as in “Photoshop CS ” If you’re not familiar with the latest version, give only program’s name.) 
• What foreign languages do you know at least somewhat, and what is your level of skill in each? (i.e. native speaker; fluent; moderate; phrase-book; write easily for professional purposes.) 
• What planning or analytical tools are you familiar with (e.g. critical path, PERT, quality function deployment, etc.) ? 
• What experience have you had as a manager of or participant in TQM? CQI? Business process reengineering (which version: general structure/function analysis or computer systems analysis)? 
• Do you have any special travel experience, domestic or foreign? If you studied, lived, or worked in a foreign country, how long were you there? Did you live in an American enclave? 

Responsibilities, Activities:

• How many people did you supervise? Orient? Hire? Train? 
• How large a budget did you manage? 
• To whom did you report ? 
• What was the highest level in the company that you reported to or communicated with directly? 
• Did you coordinate anything? 
• Serve as liaison between groups or key individuals? 
• Mediate between groups or individuals? Resolve any conflicts? Serve as mentor to anyone? 
• Did you do, or participate in, strategic planning? 
• Did you set or evaluate or participate in the setting or evaluation of policy? 
• Did you evaluate any individual or group performance, or any task or project research? 
• How did you relate to the product or service? 
• Did you communicate with customers? How? 
• Were you on any proposal teams, in-house or with a customer or subcontractor? Did the proposal succeed? 
• What was your function on the team, or your contribution to winning? Your team’s percentage of wins? 
• Did you communicate with suppliers or subcontractors? How? 
• Did you purchase services or supplies for the office, unit, department? 
• Ever serve as a troubleshooter? In what area? 
• Did you back up someone? Who? 
• Did you do any surveys or other research or studies? Determine requirements? 
• Prepare recommendations? 
• Design or manage any processes, systems, or projects? 
• Organize any events, conferences, meetings? How many? 
• Did you administer anything? 
• Consult for anyone, inside or outside the organization? 
• Did you gain experience in any special use software? 
• What kind of writing did you do, for yourself or someone else (e-mail, correspondence, memos, reports, concept papers, plans, proposals, office newsletter, etc.)? What did you write about? Did you write anything that was delivered to a customer as a product, or part of one? 

Achievements, Accomplishments:

• How much reduction in costs or increase in profits did you contribute to? 
• What did you do? 
• Did you add any smoothness, quality, or economy of operation that noticeably improved the way things were before you assumed responsibility? 
• Any concrete or specific signs of the gain you achieved? 
• Did you propose, suggest, or initiate any programs, changes, or improvements that were implemented at least partly because of your initiative? 
• What positive results occurred? 
• What did you do as a volunteer, beyond the regular duties of your position? 
• Whether you were paid for it or not, what were you particularly good at that made a difference in how the office (job, project, assignment) progressed from day to day? 

Awards, Recognition:

• Were you praised, recognized, or given a pat on the back for anything a particular assignment, a method of working, a trait of character? How? By whom? 
• Were you promoted ahead of schedule? 
• Selected for any special responsibilities or programs? 

Salary Calculator:  http://www.homefair.com/Find_A_Place/Calculators/SalaryCalc/index.asp

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