Be the #1 draft pick!

Slam dunk the next interview and make an amazing first impression by using these valuable techniques designed for today’s enthusiastic job seeker.

Don’t get thrown a curve ball during your next job interview!

Without a game plan clearly in place it is common for the majority of job seekers to be filled with apprehension. During an interview many of us get tongue tied and once coherent thoughts turn into a jumbled mess in our heads. No matter how nervous you are, this interview guide is designed to help you appear calm and confident on your interview.

Set concrete interview goals

Pivotal to the interview process is goal setting; developing clear cut objectives reinforces what it is you are trying to accomplish during an interview. Here are examples of items to add to a goal list.

• Obtain a job offer
• Learn all you can about the job and the organization
• Determine whether or not the job is suitable for you
• Effectively communicate relevant information about yourself
• Impress your potential employer

What does game day look like?

Set yourself up for success by studying the game day schedule. Generally an interview lasts about an hour and is similar to the following outline.

• 5 Minutes: Introductions
• 20 Minutes: Discover all job prerequisites
• 20 Minutes: Match your experiences/skills/qualifications to their requirements
• 10 Minutes: Conquer any questions or oppositions

60 seconds to an amazing first impression

First impressions do matter! People make assumptions about you right off the bat based solely on appearance. That is why it is particularly important to wear appropriate business attire and present yourself in the utmost professional manner.

Match your attire to company protocol; you can achieve this by becoming familiar with the company’s individual culture and environment; ask the person who scheduled the interview what the culture is like.

Golden Rule: Dress it up. When in doubt wear a suit!

Men and Women

• Conservative two-piece business suit
  (solid dark blue or grey is best)
• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse
  (white is best, pastel is next best)
• Clean, polished conservative shoes
• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Clean, trimmed fingernails
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• Empty pockets—no bulges or tinkling coins
• No gum, candy, or cigarettes
• Light briefcase or portfolio case
• No visible body piercing
  (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.) or tattoos

Remember:

• Show up on time
• Smile
• Give a firm handshake
• Show enthusiasm
• Be attentive to the interviewer: actively listen
• Talk slowly: when nervous we tend to speed up our speaking
• Stay positive
• Put your best foot forward
• Be prepared

Follow these tips and you will stand out among the competition.

Line of attack: preparing for game day

COUNTDOWN: Days Prior:

1. Develop an “A and B” list on a piece of paper.
• Side A: List what the employer is looking for based on the job posting
• Side B: List the qualities you possess that fit those requirements
2. Research:
• Company
• Industry
• Competition
• Salary for position: determine your worth
3. Prepare:
• Create a 30 second speech to answer the question; “Tell me about yourself”
• List 10 questions to ask the interviewer about the job, company, and industry
4. Write:
• Success stories; personal anecdotes demonstrate your unique ability to solve problems. When you tell success stories to an employer, you illustrate how you went about handling a difficult situation at work. This gives them an in-depth look at how you would fit within their company
• Name a situation facing you or a task you had to complete, describe what action you took and tell the results of your action
5. Review:
• Make sure your reference sheet is up to date and notify all your contacts to let them know they are on your list.

Hours Prior

1. Size yourself up! Do you look professional? When you look confident you will feel more confident.
2. Get it together! Make sure you have several copies of your resume on quality paper, reference sheets, a pad of paper to take notes on, and directions to the company.
3. Review and prepare answers to the most common interview questions.

Minutes Prior

1. Arrive early! 10-15 minutes before the actual interview is ideal. Allow adequate time for traffic, parking, and a last minute appearance check.
2. Review your notes:
   (30 second speech & answers to interview questions)
3. Check your appearance one last time in the restroom.
4. Meet and greet the receptionist in a warm and professional manner – first impressions mean a lot.
5. Shake hands firmly and maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Maintain a high-level of energy and remember to show those pearly whites.

Let the Games Begin…During the Interview:

1. Focus…stay on topic with the points you have already prepared without sounding too rehearsed. It is time to sell yourself!
2. Relax…even though you are nervous try and enjoy the conversation.
3. Learn…take in as much knowledge as you can about the company.
4. Ask…intelligent questions about the company, your responsibilities and what you can expect in the future. Use your active listening skills and never interrupt the interviewer.
5. Thank you…at the conclusion of your interview, take a moment to genuinely thank the interviewer and ask what the next steps are. Ask for their business card so you can send a follow up thank you letter.

Post Interview:

Right away: while the interview is still fresh in your mind, write down as many details as you can assess. This will help you when it comes time to craft a thank you note.

Evaluate your interview as if you were the observer. How well did you do? What areas of the interview need to be improved upon?

Take a moment to emphasize your interest in the position by follow up via a phone call or thank you letter. This is your last opportunity to provide the interviewer with any additional information that you may have missed during the interview. For example, if there was discussion of your organizational skills and you forget to mention a specific example in a previous role, put this in your letter NOW.

Say thank you! Show your appreciation to the interviewer. It is extremely IMPORTANT to always follow up your interview with a thank you letter.

This process will do three things:

1. Impress the employer with your professional attitude as well as re-emphasize the fact that you want the job
2. Going that extra mile will help you stay on the forefront of the interviewers mind
3. Sets yourself above the competition

Interview violations

• NEVER bring up salary, vacation, bonuses, retirement or benefit. When the time comes your interviewer will bring it up.
• Leave your cell phone at home or turn it off during the interview.
• Avoid smoking or wearing perfume.
• Late? Don’t make excuses just apologize and move on.
• If you don’t like your current boss, employer or co-worker…keep it to yourself.
• Leave your personal problems or financial issues at home
• Filler words such as "so", "like", "ya know", "ummm", do not impress your interviewer; stop and think of how you really want to answer.
• Don’t use jargon or slang! Keep the conversation professional as if you were speaking to a business associate or superior.
• Leave the "bleeps" out of it. If you feel like using profanity wait until you are in your car to get it out.
• Interrupting is rude; wait until the interviewer is done asking a question before you answer.

Answering the tough interview questions

How would you describe yourself?

Use your resume summary or highlight section as a starting point. Start with…My entire professional background has prepared myself to become the very best _____ I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I've prepared myself...

What do you know about our company?

Do your investigative homework before the interview! Research their web site along with their competitors. Gather 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. In addition, let the interviewer tell you about the company from their perspective.

Why do you want to work for our company?

Start your answer with addressing their needs and how you will assist them by: solving complex problems, contributing to company goals, and showing interest in projects that you could likely be part of.

Then stroke the ego by mentioning how this company caught your eye over other prospects…

1. Reputation in the community, sponsorships etc.
2. Awards won
3. Benefits & employee incentives
4. If you know someone who works for the company explain here

Why should we hire you?

Simply answered; because you are the very best person for the job…CORRECT? Believe in yourself and the interviewer will believe in you also.

Explain that you realize that there are other candidates, but how you will give them something extra; you are dedicated, will go the extra mile, and put everything you have into being successful in this role.

"I have consistently strived for excellence by doing..."

What is your long-range objective? Where do you want to be 10 or 15 years?

Within five years, I would like to become the very best _____ your company has. I would be fulfilled by becoming the expert in my field that others can rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be presented in the long term.

What is your greatest weakness?

One of the most uncomfortable moments in an interview can come shortly after this question has been asked. So let’s prepare by turning a weakness into a professional strength.

Example answer: My greatest weakness has been my people pleasing personality. I would often over commit myself by taking on too many tasks at one time. This made it impossible to accomplish each task to the best of my abilities. Since then, I've come to recognize this weakness; taking the necessary steps to correct it. For example, now first thing in the morning I update my online calendar so that I can fully plan all of my appointments, activities, and "to do" list items.
I do not over book myself and can commit myself 100% to everything I do.

Management style

What is your management style and your coaching technique?

Now days it is quite trendy for companies to hire managers who utilize the open door style of management. Impress the interviewer by telling them that you get things done by empowering and motivating your team while delegating responsibility.

Do you feel you are a successful manager?

First explore your contributions; then explain how you personally developed team consensus, your style, and your accomplishments.

Why do you feel you are qualified for a top managerial position?

Companies are seeking managers who are committed to the success of their team and are task-oriented. Focus on your achievements within the framework of the team.

Example: Each week I conduct one on ones and group meetings where I take the time to listen to my employees concerns and/or ideas. I ask what their challenges were from the previous week and successes.

Another characteristic that will put you above the competition is to voice the importance of structure in a supervisor role; make clear that you would not let the structure impinge upon the process or the project.

What qualities do you look for in the people you hire?

Organized, adaptable, takes the initiative, motivated, flexible, team-player etc…

Have you had to fire anyone? If so, what were the reasons and how did you handle it?

Don’t spend a lot of time going into grave detail about this event. Briefly chat about the event and stress that it worked out well.

Do you think you are overqualified?

Sell your qualifications in the following way…

You: "Highly successful companies need capable, skilled people working for them"!

Growing company should bite on the idea that they can utilize all of your talents and expertise. Communicate that you are interested in longevity within their company and that they will get a faster return on investment since you have more experience than required for this position.

What is the most difficult aspect of being a manager?

This depends on the individual. You may want to focus on planning (getting things done on time)
or budgeting.

What would your employees say about you?

Stay positive and be honest! Remember it is easy for them to check your answer. In the meantime make sure that you maintain an excellent working relationship with your employees, associates, and superiors.

What is your weakness as a manager?

Use integrity when answering this tough question. Start brainstorming occasions when you felt uncomfortable in a management role. Have you ever had to reprimand an employee and did not enjoy doing so? If so, explain that you developed strategies to make this process easier on yourself.

Leaving your current job?

This is an important question to answer correctly during an interview.

The interviewer never wants to hear a negative answer. They are looking for someone who is leaving their current company to pursue their dreams, or for career growth, or to develop their skills. They want to know that this position and company is the perfect fit for your skill set. Explain in detail how you can achieve great success for their company as you have at your current company by increasing sales, profits (cite figures or give specific examples), and saving the company money. Now you are excited to bring your expertise to grow their company.

Put on your game face

What’s your professional personality?

Do you generally speak to people before they speak to you?

This is a question that is leading the candidate to uncover whether they are introverted or extraverted. The best answer is; "it depends on the circumstances."

How creative are you?

Creativity is useful in any position. Always say YES and cite examples when you had to use this right brain activity.

Are You A Leader?

Reference specific occurrences when you were in a leadership role. Maybe you trained co-workers on a new system, or took the initiative on a project.

What is your favorite movie…last book read…sporting event you attended?

Take the time to find the answer to these questions ahead of time. Even if it has been awhile since you read a book or attended a sporting event; come up with an answer. This gives the interviewer insight into whether or not you have a balanced life.

If I were to ask a co-worker about your strengths and weaknesses, what would he or she say?

Give three strengths and weaknesses; relate them back to the company and job you
are applying to.

Turn the negatives into positives. Provide them with your minor weakness and how you have overcome it or are currently working on.

Can you work well under pressure and deadlines?

Say yes and that you thrive in pressure filled situations. Give an example of when you had a deadline and how you successfully met all your obligations to the deadline.

If we asked your previous boss, what would he or she say are your strengths or weaknesses?

Play down your weaknesses and emphasize your skills. Say that you believe your boss would confirm whatever you have claimed as your strengths or your accomplishments.

How do approach resolving conflict?

Communication is key to resolving conflict; explain that you would like to discuss issues on a one-on-one basis. Tell the interviewer that you confront the conflict as soon as it arises.

Free-throw shot

Time to question the interviewer!

• What attributes are most needed to succeed in this job?
• Can you describe a typical day for a person in this job?
• What is your management style?
• What type of training is provided for this position?
• Can you describe the expectations you would have for a person in this job?
• Why is the position now open? How long has it been open?
• What are your top three reasons why you think this company is great?
• What is your communication style?
• Is there a person who is currently in this job, that I could interview with or job shadow?