INTERVIEWING TIPS: 

Be prepared:
*  Conduct research on the company, e.g., products and services, markets, corporate culture, size and locations. Be prepared to ask questions.
*  Visit the company website and be prepared to comment on the site or latest press release.
*  Know your resume well and be ready to expand on the statements in your resume using numbers and accomplishments.
*  Rehearse the Common Interview Questions (see below).
*  Prepare your interview materials in advance (e.g. certificates, engineering drawings, patent documentation, awards, honors, clippings of any accomplishments, letters of thanks, commendation, or recommendations).Do not voluntarily bring these items out unless the specific topic comes up, then ask if there is an interest in seeing it, and only produce the specific item under discussion.                                                                                                                                                               *  Have at least 2 clean copies of your resume with you (even if you have previously submitted one).                                                                                                                                                                  *  Have a pen and a small notepad with you if you need to write something. (Borrowing items from the interviewer is a no-no.)                                                                                                                                    *  Bring a typed list of references (If the interview goes well, you may be asked for them.)

Present a professional appearance and demeanor:
*  Wear appropriate business attire. A professional and well-groomed appearance is critical. Consult with your staffing manager or executive recruiter to help determine proper attire. For men a coat and tie is always preferred if applying for a management position. If the environment you find is more casual you may be asked to take off the tie or put the jacket on the back of a chair. (You can always dress down, but you can't dress up.) For other levels, a sportcoat or, at the minimum, a tucked-in shirt with collar, and dress pants-no jeans! 
*  Pay attention to your grooming. No matter how nice the clothes, stains and wrinkles are a major negative. Men-shine your shoes.
*  Don’t smoke or wear too much cologne/perfume.
*  Do not chew gum in the interview room or in the waiting area.

Arrive early:
*  Arrive 5-10 minutes early for your appointment, unless otherwise instructed. (Get phone number to office so you can call if there is any delay for traffic, etc.)
*  Always greet the receptionist warmly and professionally – he/she is the “gatekeeper” and your impression with  him/her could either help or harm you.  

During the interview:
*  Stand up to greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and a smile. Follow him/her to the interview room.
*  Express yourself clearly and with confidence, however, don't appear cocky.
*  Remember body language. The manner in which you carry yourself leaves either a positive or negative impression.
*  Sit straight, yet comfortably. Don’t be afraid to lean forward and show interest. 
*  Make eye contact with the interviewer whenever you can.
*  Do not tap your foot or fingers during the conversation.
*  Convey enthusiasm, and a sense of pride and dedication in your work.
*  Remember to listen - don't interrupt. 
*  Be sure to answer each question as completely but briefly as possible. 
*  When formulating your answers avoid using “uh’s, mmm’s and err’s" while you are thinking. Silence, or a simple “well…” is preferable. Also, avoid using "cool", "neat", and "no way", etc.
*  Maintain a good conversational style and think about your responses before answering.
*  At all costs, avoid giving the interviewer a “data dump” of everything you know, have ever done, etc. A good interview is an exchange of information, not a one sided presentation. (There is frequently a desire to tell everything so you won’t forget and leave something important out.) Proper preparation will help with this.
*  Focus on presenting what you can contribute to the organization rather than what the employer can do for you.
*  Ask the questions you prepared in advance.
*  Ask for the job. Too many candidates leave interviewers wondering about their interest. If you are truly interested in the position state that clearly to the interviewer and inquire about the next step.
*  Send “thank you” letters or e-mails to each person you interview with. Keep these letters brief and be sure to send them in a timely fashion. DO NOT SEND the same e-mail to everybody. Please be certain there are no typos. Have someone proof read them. (Spell check is not a cure-all. Many words sound the same but are spelled differently.) Verify names and titles prior to sending.

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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: 

Tell me about yourself.  
   While this query may seem simple, it is difficult to answer because it is so broad. The important thing to know is that the interviewer typically does not want to know about your hometown or what you do on the weekends. He or she is trying to figure you out professionally. Pick a couple of points about yourself, your professional experience and your career goals and stick to those points.  Focus on relevant skills, experience, etc. don’t ramble (limit your response to 3 minutes!!). Stress qualities you possess that have allowed you to stand out in previous positions and which describe those characteristics that make you unique and an asset to future employers. Use your resume summary or highlight section as a starting point. If you have a solid response prepared for this question, it can lead your conversation in a direction that will allow you to elaborate on your qualifications. 

What do you know about our company?
   Do your investigative homework before the interview! Take a look at the Internet for information or at the library researching the company. Research as much information as possible – including products, history, size, financial status, reputation, image, management talent, people, and philosophy. You will want to be excited about the company and project that to the interviewer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! You might ask the interviewer his/her background, how long they’ve been there, etc. 

Why do you want to work for our company?
   This is one tool interviewers use to see if you’ve done your homework. You should never attend an interview unless you know about the company, it’s direction and the industry in which it functions. If you have done your research, this gives you an opportunity to show initiative and demonstrate how your experience and qualifications match the company’s needs. Emphasize the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These would not endear you to a prospective employer. Start by addressing their needs and how your abilities can benefit them by:
* Solving problems
* Training and mentoring future employees
* Contributing to company goals
* Assisting on future projects 

Why should we hire you?
      Here’s the chance to really sell yourself. You need to briefly and succinctly lay out your strengths, qualifications, and what you can bring to the table. Be careful not to answer this question too generically,  however. Nearly everyone says they are hardworking and motivated. Set yourself apart by telling the interviewer about qualities that are unique to you. Again relate this answer back to you knowledge, experience, abilities and skills. This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying for. 

Why did you choose a career in…
     Be positive about your reasons. If you have changed careers make a logical argument as to why you did so.

How long do you anticipate staying with our company?
     As long as we both feel I’m contributing, achieving, growing, etc.

Why are you leaving your current employer?
     Never say anything negative about any previous employer; even if the last job ended badly. Be as diplomatic as possible. If you do point out negative aspects of your last job, find some positives to mention as well. Stress what you are looking for, not what you are running from. Give group answers if possible, “our” department was consolidated, company wide layoffs, merger or acquisition, bankruptcy, change in upper management, etc. Whining and complaining endlessly about your last position will not say much for your attitude.

What are you looking for in a new job?
     Make sure your answer fits in with the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.

What would your ideal job be?
     Again, remember where you are! Describe the job in terms of the criteria they have used to describe their job. An ideal job might include things like challenging work, a fair rate of pay for the job, nice colleagues, good career prospects for advancement, good team atmosphere, an opportunity to learn new skills, apply old skills, etc.

Where do you see yourself five years from today?
     Give long-range goals and state the goals that are job related. Discuss career goals, aspirations and how your current experience will get you there. This is not always about job titles. (If it is a sales job, your goal doesn’t have to be VP of Sales; it could be to become the #1 salesman in the company.) It can relate to expanded responsibilities and challenges, increased compensation based on merit, etc. You can always state that without direct knowledge of their personnel and management structure, it is difficult to be specific, but you want to be with a company that recognizes and rewards performance.

If I were to ask a co-worker about your strengths, what would he/she say about you?
     Give three strengths or character traits you feel were observed in previous positions, such as: always willing to help out if they were overloaded; very technically competent; a quick learner; always calm under pressure/facing deadlines, etc. and then relate them back to the company & job you are applying to. Be prepared to cite examples and even specify who might say those things if asked.  

Same question however related to weaknesses?
      Always turn a negative into a positive. Cite an example of a minor weakness and how you have overcome it or are currently working on it. (Always too serious-never take the time to relax; being a perfectionist; being over-analytical, etc). 

Can you work well under pressure and deadlines?
     Yes, it’s a way of life in business. Be sure to cite examples of your success under pressure. 

In your current or last position, what aspects do/did you like the most? The least?
     The most can be the challenge, the people you work with, the freedom, etc.
The least could be the compensation, lack of freedom, autocratic management, etc. Be honest but put a positive spin on your least favorite duties. Be certain that these elements don’t exist in the new company, and have alternative “least favorites” ready if it looks like they might. 

What is/are your greatest weakness/es?
     The secret to answering this question is being honest about a weakness, but demonstrating how you turned it into an asset or strength. For example, if you had a problem with organizational skills in the past, outline the steps you took to establish a system that is working for you and you use daily. This shows that you not only have the ability to recognize aspects of yourself that need improvement, but actually have the initiative to change and improve them. This skill carries over quite nicely into corporate life. 

What did you do on a day-to-day basis?
     Stress the positive things you did including your achievements. Even if some or much of it was paperwork, you can still show your interest in the way it was tackled. 

Describe a problem situation and how you solved it.
     This requires some thought in advance. Whether it involved resolving a conflict in the office, closing an extremely difficult sale, meeting an impossible deadline, designing a new technical solution for an engineering problem, developing a new strategy to overcome a long standing problem area, etc. This one definitely should have a little role playing before the interview! What if you give a great response and the interviewer asks “Great, now can you give me another one?” Better have 2 ready!! 

What has been your biggest failure?
     Try to pick a failure which you were later able to correct through initiative and an analysis of the cause. Stress that you intend to never have that happen again now that you know why it happened. 

What motivates you?
     Our suggestions are (in addition to family, health, etc) career growth, opportunity to learn new skills, good co-workers, satisfaction gained from achievement, etc. 

What single accomplishment are you most proud of?
     The secret to this question is in being specific and selecting an accomplishment that relates to the position. If your greatest accomplishment was being Captain of your college football team, pick one that is more relevant. While you can briefly say something like, “Well in addition to staying married 25 years, or the birth of my first son” Think of the qualities the company is seeking and come up with one greatest accomplishment that demonstrates a quality or achievement that has direct applicability and, of which you are justly proud. 

What interests do you have outside of work?
     Your hobbies and interests can tell an employer a lot about you, including whether you are sociable or solitary, and whether you can take on 'leadership' roles. So you should think about which interests will paint the right picture of you given the position you are discussing.

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 FIVE WAYS TO BLOW AN INTERVIEW: 

1. Poor Communication Skills

A candidate who has bad grammar, talks too much, or does not listen is a red flag. Being too open during the interview is a killer, too. You should be candid, but don't spill your guts with all your personal problems. And think before you speak - one candidate asked each person he met if they drug-tested, how frequently, if there was advance notice, and how much notice. 

2. Poor Performance or Preparation

Yes, there are job seekers who don't prepare or even know what job they're interviewing for. Physical traits like lack of eye contact, staring at the floor or out the window, or extreme gestures and movement turned off employers. Other candidates simply flaked out - answering a cell phone, eating food, or jumping up out of the chair and pacing around the room. 

3. Negative Attitude Displayed

Hiring managers are turned off by unenthusiastic, bored or arrogant behavior. Using profanity, acting cocky, or putting down a previous boss will quickly turn off an interviewer. One 37 year-old candidate said the only reason he seeking a job at all was because his mother wanted him to. 

4. Inappropriate Appearance

Improper dress and grooming can jeopardize an interview, too. Ladies, this is not a pick-up opportunity, don't dress like you're going clubbing. Guys, jeans and a t-shirt are not acceptable. Countless hiring managers cited instances of candidates who obviously did not bathe. Think that's bad? Said one employer, "One candidate did not wear shoes to the interview. How you can forget your shoes?" Oh, and please be sober. 

5. Lying on Resume or During Interview

Do you have to be told that dishonesty is a no-no? "One guy mentioned his arrest after completing on an application that he had never been arrested," said one hiring manager. Mentioning experiences from companies that are not listed on your resume is a killer. And just in case you weren't sure, stealing from a prospective employer is also frowned upon in an interview.