Interview questions can make the strongest weak at the knees.

Many stumble when asked basic questions such as:

What position are you looking for?

Tell me about yourself?  - or -  What skill set do you “bring to the table”?

Job interview answers should be natural and spontaneous Choose one to three career options based on your experience and interests and write out and practice a Summary Statement, 30 – 45 second paragraph to talk about your work experience.

Examples:

“My best fit will be as a production supervisor but I also have great interest in positions where I can use my process engineering and maintenance knowledge”.

“I have seven years as experience as a production supervisor in high speed pharmaceutical packaging and have managed groups from 10 to 25 people. I am presently enrolled in an industrial engineering night school course at Cambridge College and have had the opportunity to become more involved in the maintenance and process side over the past two years and I am looking for an opportunity where I can apply these skills and assume more responsibility”.

Golden Interview Tip: Keep it short, to the point, work related and professional.

Interview Questions

There are two basic types of questions – standard open ended and behavioural.

Standard Interview Questions  

• Tell me about yourself?
• Where do you want to be in five years?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are you greatest weaknesses?
• Why are you looking for a new position?
• What do you know about our company – the position?
• What is the biggest mistake you have made?
• What is the biggest challenge you have had?
• What did you learn from that?
• What comments did you receive in your last review?
• What is the most difficult job you have had and why?
• Which job did you enjoy the most and why?
• What are you most proud of?
• What do you wish you could have done again?
• What salary are you looking for?

Behavioural Interview Questions

• Can you give an example of a conflict situation or disagreement involving a co-worker or supervisor and how you handled it?
• When a team member is not pulling their weight, what do you do about it?
• Give an example of how you handle a quality issue with the customer?
• When projects are backing up with deadlines approaching what do you do?
• Give a specific example of a production problem you have faced and the steps you took to resolve it?

Golden Interview Tip 1: Listen to the question. If not sure, ask for clarification. Answer only the question you are asked and then be quiet. Do not embellish. Do not brag.

Golden Interview Tip 2: Practice answering each of these questions out loud. Then ask a family member or friend to take you through each question. It can really help.

Golden Interview Tip 3: Join a local International Toastmasters Club. It is reasonably priced, friendly and supportive and a great place to practice answering impromptu questions and public speaking.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make that first impression.

Job interview hints and tips can help you prepare for that all important meeting. Preparation before and on the day of the job interview is a key part of the job placement process.

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

During the interview

The function of the interview is simply to determine if you have the skill set to perform the job and the personality to fit with the company culture.

The interviewer may be a highly trained professional who will ask probing and insightful questions or someone who has never received any training or guidelines in interview techniques.

Interviews can take five minutes or two hours. The length of the interview does not necessarily reflect the interest in your application, it may be more indicative of the personal style of the interviewer. Type A personalities prefer short, straight to the point meetings, administrators tend to have longer meetings.

Golden Interview Tip 1: listen to the question and answer the question being asked. It’s amazing how many people answer a question they have not been asked.

Golden Interview Tip 2: answer the question and be quiet.

Take control

If the interview starts to wander you can take control to get your point across. This is the ideal time to use you Summary Statement (see: Job Interview Hints and Tips – Before the Interview).

A good way to take control is by saying “let me tell you something about myself” and launch into your rehearsed Summary Statement.

Do not

Talk too much. Let the interviewer interview you unless the interview starts to wander too much.

Do not stare. Eye contact is important, but keep it natural and do not look away when answering questions.

Do not fiddle. Keep your hands in your lap and do not play with a pen, pencil or paper clip as it can be very distracting.

Golden Interview Tip: same as above: listen to the question and answer the question being asked. It’s amazing how many people like to answer a question they have not been asked.

Golden Rule 2: answer the question and be quiet.

At the end of the interview

Thank them for the interview and say that you look forward to meeting with them again and ask what the next step will be.

Ask about the time frame for the next meeting and/or a decision.

An interview thank you letter by e-mail is a nice touch.  Extend thanks, outline a couple of your strengths that relate and reinforce your interest in the company and the position. Be sincere, do not flatter and a short e-mail with no attachment will suffice. It’s unlikely it will get more than a cursory look, but it puts your name in front of them again in a professional manner.

Golden Interview Tip: Our final and most important comment in job interview hints and tips is to check the person’s spelling and job title before sending anything. Nothing will blow you out of the water faster than misspelling someone’s name especially after they have interviewed you. Make no assumptions, because the chances are you will be wrong, a simple name like “Ian” can also be spelled: Ion, Iain, Eion or Eoan.

Golden Interview Tip: Do not harass the interviewer. You may call once or send an e-mail to request an update. Any further contact, unless asked to call, can take you off the list.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make that first impression.


- Simon A. Bull

Job interview hints and tips can help you prepare for that all important meeting. Preparation before the day of the job interview is a key part of the job placement process.

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Know where your interview is taking place

We work with one company that has five buildings on the same street, always confirm the complete address, including postal code, phone numbers, extensions and the nearest major intersection.

Having all the job interview skills will not help if you are in the wrong place.

The address is particularly important if you are meeting at a chain restaurant or coffee shop as there may be a few similar locations, maybe even on the same street.

If meeting at an off-site location request and give cell phone numbers with the person you are meeting in case of any last minute problems.

Golden Interview Tip:  “you can’t miss it” means “good luck finding it”.

Ask who you will be meeting with

If you are meeting with human resources and the director of sales you can prepare job interview answers and interview questions that will appeal both to human resources and to a promotional sales profile.

Golden Interview Tip:  be flexible as the meeting list will likely change.

Ask what the dress code is

You want to fit in, so it’s OK to ask what the dress code is.

Golden Interview Tip:  never wear jeans, even on casual Friday. Many senior managers are OK with casual Friday but do not follow the rule themselves.

Check out the interview location

If possible, do a dry run a day or two earlier to confirm where you are going and check on potential obstacles, one way streets, local construction etc. See if there is a security sign-in process and allow an extra 30 minutes to check in on arrival.

Golden Interview Tip:  road construction and detours will start the morning of your interview.

If the meeting is at a hotel or restaurant and food may be involved, this is one of the most important job interview hints and tips we know. Visit the location and read the menu to select something easy to prepare (served faster) and stay away from exotic foods, expensive dishes and foods that needs to be chewed or bitten through.

Check out the washroom so if you need the facilities when you are next there, you know where they are.

Golden Interview Tip:  whatever you preselected on the menu is no longer available, so have a second choice ready. No alcohol – period.

Research the position and the company

Review what you know about the position. Read the advertisement or posting for key words or phrases.

Search for the company online under the company name and phone number.

Golden Interview Tip:  do not say in words or writing that this is a company you really want to work for, unless it really is. Insincere statements are just that - insincere.

Prepare questions

Write ten questions that relate to the position and the company. Focus on challenges, opportunity, responsibilities, reporting structure and the customer.

Golden Interview Tip:  do not include questions that relates to money, vacation, benefits, time off, work hour, lunch breaks or personal issues.

Choose what to wear

Preselecting and cleaning what you will wear takes some of the pressure off the job interview and can help set the stage for you to show your interview skills.

Golden Interview Tip:  it’s going to rain or snow, so take a change of shoes with you.

Write it down

Write down all of the contact information in your notepad; time of the interview, where you are going and who you are meeting, plus all related phone numbers. If unsure of the location, include a hand drawn map showing the major intersections or print the directions from MapQuest.

Golden Interview Tip:  Knowing exactly where you are going means you will be calmer and more focused when you arrive.

Practice your handshake

To limp or too strong a handshake can create a negative impression. Best to be firm and professional rather than unsure or like a wet noodle.

Practice with friends and family and ask for feedback.

The standard rule is not to be the first to extend your hand. Wait to see what the interviewer does and follow the lead. They are the one controlling the meeting.

Golden Interview Tip:  if no hand is offered, do not take it personally. Some people just don’t like shaking hands.

Prepare a Summary statement

Create a four or five line summary statement about yourself and the skill set you “bring to the table”. Practice and learn to present this summary statement clearly and professionally so that when the asked the question, “tell me about yourself” you have a standard pat answer.

(see article: Tough Job Interview Questions – Be Prepared)

Your summary statement should highlight your skill set and strong points and can be modified from time to time to relate more effectively to the position you are applying for.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make that first impression.


- Simon A. Bull

Job interview hints and tips can help you prepare for that all important meeting. Preparation on the day of the job interview is a key part of the job placement process.

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Dress appropriately

Groom for success to present a clean and professional image for the job interview.

It’s better to have one outfit that fits properly rather than many outfits that don’t fit at all.

Dress for the environment you are going into. Casual hip clothing is accepted in video production or the music field, but not in banking or insurance.

Smart casual is correct for most meetings, but for corporate and professional environments a suit, pant suit or jacket and tie would be more appropriate.

Stay away from high fashion or very expensive clothes unless you are interviewing for positions in fashion related fields.
Keep jewelry to a minimum and no dangling earrings, bracelets that jingle and necklaces that hang low.

Golden Interview Tip: no visible tattoos, no shorts, no short dresses, no halter tops, visible skin from elbows down, knees down and neck up only and definitely no aftershave or perfume and do not smoke in the car on the way to the interview.

Take with you

A bound notepad and a few extra resumes in case they have mislaid it or other people are unexpectedly involved in the meeting.

Carry an umbrella if rain is possible.

Company address, phone, directions and interview information.

Cell phone if you have one.

Golden Interview Tip: your notepad is to look professional, not to actually use, unless it is really, really important.

Be on time

Of all of the job interview hints and tips, this is the most important. There are no excuses for being late.

Be aware

Do not preen and check your hair and makeup in the reflective glass in or outside the building as people inside may be able to see you from the moment you arrive.

Arriving too early can be almost as bad as arriving late.

Arrive at the reception area 10 minutes before the interview. This will allow sufficient time if other people are waiting. If the reception area is quiet you can introduce yourself and say who you are meeting but you are there a little early and want to take a few minutes to review some notes.

Present yourself at reception at five minutes prior to your interview time.

Pay attention to what happens next as busy receptionists can miss announcing your arrival, particularly if the person you are meeting is on the phone. Watch and listen carefully and follow-up occasionally if need be.

Golden Interview Tip: Reception is the gatekeeper. Always treat the gatekeeper with respect. They have more power and know more about what is happening than many in the company and the interviewer may ask them how you handled yourself at reception.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make that first impression.


- Simon A. Bull

With over 30 years in the placement business, we have learned a thing or two about resumes, interview techniques, job offers and all the related challenges involved in search and placement.

We have been there to offer a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on in difficult termination and outplacement situations and have celebrated when candidate get great positions with good companies.

Over the years we have presented workshops and programs in placement, outplacement, behavioural profiling and resume writing and we have placed from shop floor support personnel to president.

We have been through counter offers, no shows, no starts and have also had success in going from a new assignment to the start of employment in about 14 hours and also having three of our candidates hired on the same day when the client was initially just looking for one person.

We even had a candidate asked by a vice president to play “closest to the wall” for money while waiting for the president to show up for a meeting.

This Blog is designed to help, encourage and support all those on a career path. It does not matter if you are looking for your first job or have 20+ years experience , we are confident that within these pages you will find gems that will help you on your way.

Questions are encouraged and we will answer as many as possible on these pages as soon as we can.
Please note that we are not lawyers and are unable to offer any advice or opinion on legal matters. Legal, moral or ethical questions should be referred to the appropriate authorities in your area. This Blog is to offer employment related information for your personal use and the contents may not be used in any other manner without the express written consent of the writer.

Please enjoy and we welcome your comments and suggestions.