Interview Tips

Never go into an interview without knowing as much as you can about the job and the position. Be prepared to sell yourself. Your consultant should be able to provide the necessary information, so ask questions. If you need additional information, do some research on your own - it is time well spent. Hiring managers expect that you are interviewing with them because you are interested in their company, not simply because your consultant managed to arrange an interview. If possible, ask the hiring manager to share some of his or her feelings about the job. This may give you a clue about what to emphasize in your own background.

Summarize your experience and what you could do to be an asset to the company. To prepare for the interview, make a mental list of past projects and accomplishments and how these may apply to the new position you are seeking. Demonstrate how the company would benefit by hiring you.

If there are issues which may be perceived as negative, discuss them with your consultant before the interview so you are prepared to address them with the hiring manager. Outweigh the weakness with a positive attitude. For example, this response effectively compensates for a lack of direct management experience: "I have no direct experience as a manager, but I have trained several people in my department.".

Toward the end of the interview, if you are excited about the prospects of the job, express your enthusiasm to the hiring manager. Inquire about the next step in the interviewing process, such as how soon you will hear from them, if they are planning a second round of interviews, etc. Now is the time to ask for, and address, any concerns or questions that the hiring manager may have about you as a potential employee.

The manner in which you present your skills is as important as the skills themselves. You have only one opportunity to make a strong impression and several factors are crucial:
1. Arrive a few minutes early to your interview so that you have time to gather your thoughts.
2. Wear professional attire, preferably a suit.
3. Greet the hiring manager with a smile and a firm handshake.
4. Keep eye contact and good posture during the interview.
5. Keep your answers straightforward and succinct; you will have a lot of topics to discuss in a short amount of time.

In the end, the way you present yourself is a key determinant to whether you are chosen for a particular job. The hiring manager must feel that you are a professional who will fit well into the environment of the company.