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Introduction
The interviewer may take this time to
engage in small talk to help break
the ice and to allow you to relax.
But, be careful.
Don’t get too comfortable.
Following are some of the basics
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- Be Confident
- Exude a positive attitude and pay attention
- Maintain direct eye contact
- Be a good listener and be aware of
non-verbal communication
- Pay attention to the verbiage you use and
how you articulate your thoughts
- Keep both feet on the floor and sit on the
front edge of the chair
- Sit on the tail of your jacket…it will force your posture upright
- Represent yourself honestly; don’t lie or deceive
- Take notes
- Use examples to explain your answers
- Ask questions pertaining to the position, organization or training
- Don’t use inappropriate language
- Don’t speak inappropriately of a former company or supervisor
Interviewer's Questions
This will be the main focus of the interview. It is during this time that your prep work for the
interview will be essential. Your research on the company and its structure will be translated
during the interview.
The interviewer will likely ask questions related to your career goals, current and past positions,
your motivation, the qualities you possess, activities for which you have participated that
demonstrate initiative, why you would be a strong candidate for this position and why you would
be an asset to their organization.
This is where you are going to win the interview. Pay attention to the question being asked. Once
the interviewer has finished asking the question, pause before responding. You don’t want to begin
answering too soon, only to find you didn’t answer the question. So, take a moment to gather your
thoughts.
Draw upon your experience. Speak to specific situations, actions you took, and ultimate outcomes.
Your Questions
Interviewers often expect strong candidates to have questions for them. This will show the interviewer
your interest level and will allow you to demonstrate your communication skills. Be sure to prepare
questions ahead of time. A lack of questions may be mistaken for a lack of interest.
Discussions about major accomplishments should dominate the interview session. If the interviewer is
not focusing on this right away, you can help get him or her started.
To do this, ask the interviewer to clarify the position, responsibilities and specific skills. It may sound
something like the following: “I don’t have a complete understanding of your real job needs. Would you
please give me an overview of what the job entails and describe some of the key challenges in the job?
Then, I’ll be able to provide real examples of similar work or similar situations.”
Something like this will allow you to describe a related project you’ve worked on. Managers generally
like candidates who are more assertive and those who ask good questions. Make sure you have a list of
other insightful questions to ask, such as:
- What does the person in this job need to do to be considered successful?
- What’s the biggest challenge that needs to be addressed right away?
- What kinds of resources are budgeted already?
- Why is the position open, and how have you developed your team members?
Develop thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer related to both, the position and the organization.
Don’t ask generic questions. The YELLOW DOG Recruiting Team can help create a list of appropriate
questions to ask during the interview.
Closing
Toward the end of the interview, the interviewer will probably ask if you have any additional questions.
This is the time to ask any of your unanswered questions. It is also the appropriate time to draw an
alignment between your skills and experience with those sought for the position. Ask what the next steps
are in the interview process, as well as when you can expect to hear from the interviewer. Finally, thank
the interviewer for his or her time and re-convey your interest.
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