INTERNATIONAL CAREERS : A World of Opportunity : Brushing Up to Master the Art of the Interview : Experts advise applicants to research the company, then radiate the right mix of confidence and ability.
Congratulations. You have passed the first hurdle in looking for a job and are scheduled for a personal interview. Now comes the hard part.
Interviewing is more an art than a science, say people on both sides of the table. And knowing how to prepare, respond to questions and radiate the right mix of confidence and ability is crucial.
While some interview requirements haven’t changed, be aware that employers look for more skills today than they did a decade ago. Here’s what a variety of experts and employers have to say about interviewing for a job in 1995.
Rule 1: Be well-groomed and look professional. While this may seem obvious, employers say appearance will either disqualify a prospective employee immediately or move the applicant along to the next level.
Especially for office jobs, employers look for professional appearance. “Even if you’re too conservative, it’s better than being too casual,” says Darin Rado, owner of Career Strategies Inc., a Los Angeles employment agency that specializes in computer professionals, administrative and clerical personnel.
Rule 2: Do your homework as though you were preparing for a test in school. Bone up on the company by networking with friends or relatives who already work there. Most on-line services have business reference sections where applicants can download reams of information about a company’s history, product line and profits. When the recruiter winds down and asks if you have any questions, you should be prepared to ask intelligent ones that demonstrate your knowledge of the firm.
The second part of Rule No. 2 is just as crucial.
“What’s most impressive in the interview is when people have done the homework on themselves,” says Shayne Lightner, a senior associate in the worldwide entertainment and media division at Korn/Ferry International, an executive search firm based in Los Angeles.
“I want to see initiative,” Lightner says. “A lot of times people have that in their background but they don’t take the time to think about their accomplishments and how to best communicate them in the interview.”
Rule 3: Write down sample questions and practice answering them so your thoughts are organized when you walk in for the interview. Some recruiters even recommend tape-recording answers and playing them back to see if your is voice clear and modulated. This will also help with Rule No. 4.
Rule 4: Appear confident and relaxed during the interview and use humor where appropriate, especially to defuse inappropriate or touchy questions.
Recruiters dislike stiff, canned speeches, so avoid them. Even if you’ve been practicing all week, try to appear as natural as possible. Employers say they like applicants who listen carefully, don’t interrupt and show respect for the recruiter’s time.
“If I tell them we only have 30 minutes to talk, I don’t expect five-minute answers,” says Greg Paquin, a recruitment manager for Apple Computer Inc.
Be aware of your body language. Don’t cross your arms or fiddle nervously with a pen or piece of paper. It’s OK to lean forward to make points. You want to be natural yet convey energy and initiative, Paquin says.
Rule 5: Employers and recruiters say they are more aware today than ever before that well-rounded applicants make better employees. So it’s OK that you have outside interests. And many companies look for employees who understand computers and technology.
Says Fran Plushner, manager of staffing and affirmative action for Rockwell International Corp.’s Seal Beach facility: “You need to know your way around a computer; you need to walk in here and realize that every facet of what we do now involves high-tech.”
Depending on the job, some recruiters say you may want to describe any work or travel experience abroad.
“Especially in high-tech industries where so many partnerships are in the Pacific Rim, I look for someone who has done several different things, and language skills and knowledge of culture are pluses,” says Apple’s Paquin.
Rule 6: Don’t ask about money at the beginning of the interview. “Obviously everyone is concerned about how much they’re going to make, but if you start with that it says money is your No. 1 concern,” advises Rockwell’s Plusher. She recommends that applicants wait until the interview is well under way or winding down and then, if the recruiter has not brought it up, to say, “Can you give me some idea of what the [salary] range might be?”
As you shake hands goodby, restate the obvious, such as: “Steve, you’ve given me a great picture of ABC Company and it just confirms in my mind that ABC Company remains my first choice. Working for you is something I’d really like to do. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. If there’s any other information you need, please give me a call.”
That won’t get you a job, but it will set you apart from the pack, experts say.
Rule 7: Send thank-you cards. Some employers say they appreciate receiving a short card from applicants after the interview. Others suggest that even rejected applicants should send thank-you cards that say “I’m sorry things didn’t work out but I’m still interested in case something opens up.”
Rule 8: If you don’t get the job, don’t despair. You may not be the right person for that position, and you need to keep looking for the job that will suit you the best.
“What most people don’t take into consideration in an interview is that personality match counts for 80%,” says Rado, of Career Strategies. “People hire the person they like the best, and it’s a phenomenon based on who they feel will fit in the best and [who] they feel comfortable working with.”
