You've Landed The Job Interview! … Now What?

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You've Landed The Job Interview! … Now What?
© Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new, Job Interview "Secret"

Congratulations, you've landed an interview for a position you'd love. You're eager to make a good impression. You hope to be offered the job. To get the result you want, be sure to ask questions––during the interview. Plan ahead. Think about what you'd like to know. Then jot down a list of questions on those topics. Here are some examples:

1. May I give you an example of something I believe I can to bring to your company if given the opportunity to fill this position?
2. What are the main qualifications you're looking for in the person you'll chose to hire?
3. When do you expect to hire a person for this job?

How To "Close" The Interview

Once the interview is over, wrap up your time with a friendly closure.

1. Express your thanks.
2. Exchange business cards.
3. Offer to provide more information, if needed.
4. Look the hiring manager in the eye and shake hands firmly.
5. Ask for the opportunity to fill this position.
6. Follow up with a written thank you note.

Be clear. Be calm. Be courteous. The more professional and prepared you are when you go into an interview, the greater your chance of achieving your goal––a job offer!

How To ASK For The Job You Want––DURING The Interview.

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Written By Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,
Job Interview "Secret"

The phone rings. It's a prospective employer calling, inviting you in for an interview—the very one you hoped would come through!

Suddenly you're pumped up, excited, and a bit nervous. You start to wonder, "Where will this lead?" Of course you want to shine, to show the hiring manager what you can do for the company and how you can contribute.

So what's next?

Making sure you 'stand out' during the interview.

HOW to really stand out by ASKING for the job during the interview!

Assert yourself to the point where the hiring manager knows you want this job.

• Smile and look him or her in the eye.
• Ask intelligent questions, showing your professionalism.
• Mention a few facts about the company to indicate you've done your homework.
• Give an example of some new detail you could bring to the job.
• Then respectfully ASK for the opportunity to be hired for this job.

Most important: PLAN AHEAD. Be prepared for the interview. Jot down a few notes and have them with you, ready to refer to at the opportune moment.

Remember: This is not an exercise in sitting, hoping, and waiting. It's a golden opportunity for you to ask for the job and to do so in a way that inspires the hiring manager to take notice and take action.

So take the active approach yourself. While others wait and watch, you'll ask and receive!

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new "Secret Career Document" job landing formula. Jimmy is the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
Visit our friends at Job Interview "Secret" and discover Jimmy Sweeney's breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a 'Harvard Grad' at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview!

INTERVIEWING TIPS

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Well, its that time again. Time to prepare yourself for the journey that lies ahead. It can be a little scary, but with the proper preparation you will do much better. Below are some general tips to get your focus on track. With a few interviews you'll be on your way!

Interview Tip 1: Plan Ahead - Do a little homework! Research the company and the position if possible, as well, the people you will meet with at the interview. Review your work experiences. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the companies needs. Have your facts ready!!!!!

Interview Tip 2: Role Play - Once you have finished studying, begin role playing (rehearsing). Use the general questions provided below in the Interview Preparation Area. Write down answers if it helps to make your presentation more concise. Try to keep your answers to the information your new employer will want to know.

Interview Tip 3: Eye Contact - Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Show you want the job with your interest.


Interview Tip 4: Be Positive - In particular, avoid negative comments about past employers.

Interview Tip 5: Adapt - Listen and adapt. Be sensitive to the style of the interviewer. Pay attention to those details of dress, office furniture, and general decor which will afford helpful clues to assist you in tailoring your presentation.

Interview Tip 6: Relate - Try to relate your answers to the interviewer and his or her company. Focus on achievements relevant to the position.


Interview Tip 7: Encourage - Encourage the interviewer to share information about his or her company. Demonstrate your interest. Some suggested questions to ask the interviewer are provided in the "Questions You Could Consider Asking the Employer" section.

Written by Career Consulting Center

Prevent “Zone-Out” During your Job Interviews

Written by Bonnie Lowe
Learn more about Bonnie Lowe's, Job Interview Success System

I admit it. I zoned out the other day during an interview. Fortunately for me, I was asking the questions this time, not answering them. I was part of a five-person interview panel.

The first candidate was very sharp... well prepared, knowledgeable, smiling, good body language, well spoken, giving all the right answers—he was awesome! And I mentally picked him as my top choice, even though we hadn't interviewed anyone else yet.

Then the second candidate came in. She was also very well prepared. Her experience and skills were not quite as impressive as those of the first candidate's, but her PERSONALITY made up for it! She was very energetic and enthusiastic; you could easily see how passionate she was, how much she loved her chosen career field, and how excited and happy she was to be interviewing for the position! People who bring that kind of passion to their work are rare and valuable.

Hmmm... candidate number one now had some serious competition in my mind.

Then came the third candidate. He was very reserved, soft-spoken, showed no emotion whatsoever—and I completely zoned out within 30 seconds. I didn't even hear his responses to several questions. He could very well have been the most skilled, experienced and knowledgeable of the bunch... but I didn't give him the chance to convince me of that because I zoned out. I mentally dismissed him from contention before he even finished answering the first question.

Was I being unfair to him? You bet! But you know what? I'm human. Every interviewer is human (though it's easy to forget that sometimes, especially when you're the candidate who doesn't get hired!).

As humans, we respond—or fail to respond—to each other on an emotional level more often and more strongly than on an intellectual level.

Realize that, and don't let an interviewer zone out during YOUR next interview!

Show your personality, your enthusiasm, your passion. Don't be "over the top" or fake about it, but if you don’t show any excitement about the job, why should the interviewer show any excitement about hiring you?

Imagine the interviewer's perspective. Often they've been stuck in a room all day, hearing one candidate after the other drone on and on about qualifications that are probably very similar to yours. Ho-hum.

You need to WAKE 'EM UP!

What will make you STAND OUT and grab their attention? YOU. Not your skills, not your resume, not your references... YOU.

If you have a reserved, low-key personality, this will be more of a challenge. But if you really want that job, you have to work for it. You have to be passionate about it.

Don’t underestimate the power of emotion. Showing genuine excitement for the position and the opportunity to work for the company that's interviewing you is one of the MOST IMPORTANT things you can do during the interview.

It will make you Zone-Out Proof!

You Made It to the Second Interview! Now What?

Written by Bonnie Lowe
Learn more about Bonnie Lowe's, Job Interview Success System

If you’ve made it past the first round and been invited back for a second interview—congratulate yourself, celebrate briefly, then come back down to earth and start getting ready for the next round.

Are second interviews different than first interviews? Yes and no. And it depends.

Where I work, for instance, first interviews are conducted by a panel of people from outside agencies. (This ensures a fresh perspective and zero favoritism for internal candidates.) Then the second interview is with the hiring supervisor, and sometimes with members of the team with which the new person will be working. On rare occasions (depending on the position), the hiring supervisor's manager will also participate in the second interview.

In other companies, the initial interview (sometimes a telephone interview) is done by someone from HR, and the second interview is a panel interview that includes the hiring supervisor.

Different companies handle first and second (and sometimes third, fourth, and fifth!) interviews differently.

But here are some tips that should be helpful in all second interview circumstances:

1. Prepare even more carefully. Making it to the second interview is a great accomplishment, but never assume it means you’ve got the job. Everyone who makes it to the second round is a top candidate—you have to prove you’re the best of the best!

2. Polish your performance based on your first interview. Were there any specific things you did, said, or asked at the first interview that you’d change if you could? Now’s your chance. Did you forget to shake hands? Did some questions catch you off guard? Did you forget to mention something important? If you can recall what you did or said that impressed them the most, “repeat” those elements during your second interview. Replay the entire first interview process in your mind and focus on how to improve your performance and make an even better impression than you did before.

3. Expect the same—and different—questions. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked many of the same questions as in the first interview. There may be different people questioning you, or they may be looking for more detail. There will also be totally different questions. Typically the first interview focuses on basic qualifications to ensure you’re capable of doing the job, and the second interview focuses more on your fit. They’ll want to know things like whether your personality will allow you to work well with other team members and whether you’ll enjoy the job. There also may be specific questions about the work environment, such as will you mind working overtime or traveling? Another topic that may come up is your salary requirements. You should know the going rate for the job (if necessary, do research at sites such as www.Salary.com) and decide on the minimum amount you’d accept. But if possible, avoid discussing salary until you’re offered the job.

4. Show your expanded knowledge. By the second interview you'll have had more time to do research about the company and the position (and hopefully you learned a thing or two by listening carefully at the first interview), so be sure to demonstrate your expanded knowledge if the opportunity presents itself. You can do this by having some good questions prepared, such as "I was pleased to learn that XYZ Company recently contributed one million dollars to charity. Would I be able to participate in any company fund-raising events?"

5. Be flexible with your time and expect a long day. Your second interview may actually be several interviews--with managers, department heads, and/or prospective team members. You may also be given a tour of the building and work areas. (Wear comfortable shoes.)

6. Don’t forget to learn more about THEM. The second interview is a great opportunity to learn more about the job, the company, and the people you’d be working with and for. After all, you are judging them as much as they are judging you. After the second interview, you should have no problems deciding whether or not you'd enjoy the position.

7. Recap your best qualities. Remember how you impressed them at the first interview by communicating the benefits associated with hiring you? Recap those benefits and make sure they understand why YOU are the person they need.

In summary, follow the same important steps as for your first interview--do your research about the company and the job, anticipate likely questions, prepare and practice your answers, dress appropriately, arrive early, let your enthusiasm show, maintain eye contact, provide succinct and to-the-point answers (don't ramble), etc. And don't forget to send thank-you notes to everyone. (Even if some of the people were in the first interview and received thank-you notes from you then.)

You’ll do great!

Facts, Figures Give You the Power to Negotiate Salary

Teena Rose is a top interviewing professional with Resume to Referral. Learn more about interviewing in top form with interview questions, tips, and techniques located at InterviewStrategies.com.

Interviewing and salary negotiations are closely related. Once the interview progresses smoothly, a job offer follows with dreaded salary negotiations next on the agenda. It would be nice if we all had a wizard that followed us from job to job, acting as a financial guiding force throughout our careers. Well, this isn’t the movies and the workplace definitely isn’t Fantasyland.

There is, however, a little tool called a salary wizard that’s popped up on the Internet and can be found at many prominent employment websites like Monster and CareerBuilder. It’s a device that has come in handy and helped give employees valuable information for determining what they’re worth, which is the No. 1 concern for most employees. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 89% of workers say salary is the most important factor when deciding on whether to take a job or turn it down.

Everyone would like to know if they’re paychecks are up to snuff when compared to other workers in related fields. But finding this out doesn’t come naturally. It’s not like your boss is going to volunteer information on what other companies are paying and whether or not your compensation package is fair. That’s something you’re going to have to do on your own.

The first thing to determine when evaluating your salary is understanding the total package. For instance, let’s say you’re in the job market and Alpha Company in Sacramento, Calif., has made you an offer of $50,000 per year with above-average benefits and three weeks vacation, while Beta Company in San Francisco has offered you $70,000 per year with standard benefits and two weeks vacation. At first glance the job with the higher salary looks great, but the cost of living in the San Francisco area makes the compensation package offered by the Sacramento employer the best bet. The two cities are separated by just 100 miles, but are world’s apart in living costs. The average cost for a home is roughly 40 percent higher in San Francisco, which also trickles down to higher costs for rent. The website Moving.com has plenty of research material and a city comparison tool that provides dozens of useful statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor.

When determining the best compensation package, always take into account benefits. In today’s world of skyrocketing medial costs, the difference between two company plans can result in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

Once you’ve armed yourself with the facts on how much you should be making, use them. But, use those facts wisely. If you’re interviewing for a new job, never bring up salary during the interview process. Employers should make the first move and then the negotiation begins. Some companies will ask for a salary history or preferred salary range. Don’t mislead the employer, but keep this area as flexible as possible. If an employer is thinking of offering $75,000 and you blurt out that you would be happy making $70,000, you’ve cost yourself five grand.

Throughout any negotiation, remember to always remain positive and realistic. Don’t go overboard with your expectations. At the same time, don’t get taken advantage of by employers who want to pay you less. The bottom line is that when you have the ability to make an informed decision, the power is yours when negotiating a compensation package that’s fair for everyone.

12 Ways to Trash a Job Interview

(c) Copyright 2007, Teena Rose, Resume to Referral
Need a kick-butt resume and cover letter? Teena Rose is a credentialed resume writer, columnist, book author, and careerist.

You’ll find lots of information on the Internet about how to ace a job interview. Everything from take extra ginseng to bake brownies for the interviewer. Sure, there’s plenty of information on how to conduct a successful interview, but what if you want to trash an interview. Well, there are still plenty of things you can do to succeed at your interview failure.

Call the interviewer by the wrong name. Pure interview poison. If you want the job, focus on the interviewer’s name when you introduce yourself and use it throughout the interview. People like it when you remember their names. On the other hand, if you want to flush the interview, call the interviewer by the wrong name even though her nameplate is sitting on her desk 11 inches from your nose. You’re outta there.

Arrive late. Even a few minutes late will usually get you the boot faster than you can say “traffic jam”. The ideal time to arrive for the interview is 5-10 minutes before your appointment so to really louse it up, show up 35 minutes late eating a Krispy Kreme doughnut.

Arrive early. If your appointment is at 2:00 in the afternoon, show up at 10:00 in the morning. Pace nervously in the waiting area and keep asking the receptionist what time it is. It won’t be long before security is summoned and your interview worries are over.

Eat. Sure fire, can’t miss. If you come to the interview eating a Krispy Kreme doughnut, kiss that job good-bye; especially if you didn’t bring one for the HR Director who’s conducting the interview. It’s just not done.

Slouch. Shows complete lack of initiate or even concern. Putting your feet on the interviewer’s desk is way over the top, but slumping in your chair could get you out the door quickly.

Answer Your Cell Phone. Dweedle, dweedle, dweedle. Dweedle, dweedle, dweedle. “Excuse me while I get this call.” You better hope it’s your last boss calling to beg you to come back to your old job ‘cause you aren’t getting this one.

Bring up religion or politics. This also works at parties. Ask the interviewer who he voted for in the last election. Think of it as an ice breaker that also guarantees that this interview is over before it even gets started. Religion or politics, it doesn’t matter. Just bring it up early in the interview so you can cut to the chase – out the office door! There are appropriate times and places for this topic, and the interview isn’t one of them, unless you’re looking for a short-lived interview.

Mention that you’ve been probed by aliens. Oh, yeah, you’re a goner. In fact, if you want to kill a job interview, bring up any lunk-headed theory or half-baked belief and you’ll be home watching the TV soaps before you know it.

Ask what’s in it for you. First question you ask, “So, Bob, how many week’s vacation do I get?” This is followed by, “And what about matching 401k contributions?” Finally, close out by asking, “When will I be getting my first raise?” It’ll be sometime shortly after hell freezes over.

Call the position a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Employers like nothing more than spending a bunch of money to train you, only to have you take your “transportable skill set” with you when the competition offers you a better job. Be sure to mention this toward the end of the interview, after you’ve wasted an hour of the interviewer’s time.

Wear all of your piercings. Nose, lobes, tongue, eyebrows – wear your finest. Even better if it dangles.

Chew gum Does anything say ‘I could care less’ better than loudly chewing some Juicy Fruit? Feel free to offer the interviewer a stick, why don’t you. It won’t matter. Either way, you won’t get the job.

So there they are – the deadly dozen interview killers. Be sure to follow them carefully to ensure continued unemployment. Or not.