Topic: Interview Tips & Tools - Pre & Post the Interview

Preparation (before the interview)

Preparation will make or break your interview. This may sound obvious, but
it's not. Ive interviewed many applicants that walked into an interview
without knowing about the industry and the company. Below are some simple
steps to prepare for the interview.
Personal - Know your own qualifications and how they relate to the
position. Review your skills and the character traits you have that will
help the company's bottom line. Mentally review your past achievements and
be prepared to describe your work experience in detail.

Almost every interviewer will ask you: "Tell me about yourself." When
answering, put yourself in the employer's shoes. If you were hiring
someone for the position, what would you want to know?

Industry - Know everything you can about the industry. Find out as much as
you can about the position, the company and its needs.

Knowing these facts will enable you to prove how your background meets
those needs. Research the company on the Internet and at your local
library. Employers are as interested in your questions as they are in your
answers. It is a huge plus if you ask intelligent questions about the
position, the company and the industry.

First Impression (at the interview)

The first few minutes are critical, and will set the tone for the
interview. To succeed, you must project enthusiasm about the position,
show confidence and competence. Your goal is to convince the interviewer
that you would be an asset to the company.

Visual Image - Dress appropriate for the position you're seeking. Your
attire must fit well within the office and be immaculate. If you don't
know what the typical attire at the company is, ask when setting up the
interview. Your shoes should be polished; pants/skirts and shirts pressed.
Clean hair and fingernails are essential. Avoid excessive cologne, jewelry
or make-up.

Be Prompt - Be on time! Allow extra time for traffic, parking and slow
elevators. Do whatever it takes to arrive a few minutes early. If
necessary, drive to the company the night before and time yourself. Late
arrival for a job interview is never excusable.

The Interview (at the interview)

Do not rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you.
Interviewers will want you to speak for yourself. Your resume was most
likely pre-screened by the HR department, and your interviewer hasnt
even seen your resume. Sell yourself! When you are answering the
interviewers questions, look the prospective employer in the eye while
speaking. Show enthusiasm; if you are interested in the opportunity,
enthusiastic feedback can enhance your chances of being considered. The
bottom line is that you want appear confident with yourself and your
background. Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement,
etc., on the initial interview unless you are sure the employer is
interested in hiring you. If the interviewer asks what salary you want,
indicate what you've earned but that you're more interested in opportunity
than in a specific salary.

Follow-up (after the interview)

Often overlooked, the follow-up is the final step in the interviewing
process. It's essential that you send a thank-you note to every person you
met at the company (remember to ask for business cards). In your letter,
summarize your conversation and re-emphasize the skills you would bring to
the position. If you are interested in the position, avoid sending a
generic thank you letter; besides the general thank you for your time,
instead note some reasons why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
Chances are that 100s of people are interviewing for the same position
that you did; you want to note something that will make you stand out and
be remembered.

Letter of Recommendation (after the interview)

A letter of recommendation may be requested by an employer during the
application process. The letter of recommendation is written by an
employer, coworker or friend, and basically serves as a written reference
for your past accomplishments and on the job performance. To review more
information on letters of recommendation and how to compose a letter of
recommendation, please review our letter of recommendation examples and
definition section within the FAQs.

Personal References (after the interview)

Personal references are fairly self explanatory. These are people that
will speak to your personal attributes, as well as your on the job
performance. Usually, you would include current or former coworkers and
bosses as references. Before providing names and phone numbers, touch
base with each of your references to insure they are willing to serve as
your reference. Not doing this could cost you a job, as you need to
insure the people that you are offering as references will speak
positively of you. Bottom line, a common question for your references
will be, if given the chance, would you hire this person. Usually
potential employers will ask for 3 personal references, however some
companies will require more during the selection process.

thanks a million