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Job Interviews

by Debra Wolf

The Actual Interview

You’re there! Some last minute pointers on the process:

Sequence of Events

You will:

• Meet and greet
• Answer questions, possibly some tough ones
• Ask questions
• Get what you need from the interview
• Wind up professionally
• Follow up.

Throughout the Interview, whether it is the first interview, or the close, remember:

• Be confident
• Firm handshake
• Be appropriate
• Be yourself
• Speak clearly
• Know your goals
• Keep in mind the likely goals of the interviewer, in terms of which interview this is, and her role
• Remember body language - don’t slouch, fiddle, or mumble
• Relax, and show your stuff.

A Note on Discussing Salary History

When asked about salary history, there are different schools of thought. Many say that giving a ballpark early in the career is fine.  Prospective employers cannot get actual salary information from former employers.

When changing careers, you may need to start over in terms of salary. Many employers will be leery of this situation, and worry that you are going to jump ship as soon as something with higher pay comes along.

If this is your situation, it’s best to hedge the question. A tactic like “salary is negotiable” or “I anticipate being paid what is market value for this job” are diplomatic, without pinning yourself down.

Winding up the Interview

When you are done with the interview for the day, be sure you know what the next steps are. Experienced interviewers will clearly say what’s next – “we’ll call you next Monday,” or “I’d like to schedule you now to see the Department Manager sometime next week.”

If the interviewer doesn’t specify, make sure you nail it down. Ask:

• What is the next step?
• When may I expect to hear from you?
• Is there any other information I can send to help you in your determination?

Express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time, and continued interest. Shake hands, and say your goodbyes.

Follow-up

Once your first interview is over, or your third for that matter, are you done? No. Follow-up is key. Recruiters, hiring managers, and key executives are busy. They’re seeing a lot of people for a lot of jobs, and doing their own job as well. You need to take the initiative for proper follow-up.

That means:

• A thank you note or email to each participant following the interview. Reiterate your interest in the position. 
• Send your thank you’s within 24 hours of the meeting.
• If you went through a series of interviews in the same day, it will be sufficient to email the recruiter (or HR representative), and the Hiring Manager.
• You needn’t email team members you may have met with.

Advice on Getting What You Want, and Getting What Makes Sense

There’s nothing wrong with setting your sights high. But make sure you’re going for a job, a club, a university, or a project that makes sense for you.

If, for example, you are pursuing a sales job, and you’re introverted by nature and don’t like to travel, think twice! Great preparation and a stellar performance at the interview may land you the job. But is it a job you can be successful at? Is it one you really want to do?

Every interview is an opportunity. For you to show your stuff. But also for you to assess if this is a good fit for you. Not only is the person on the other side of the desk interviewing you, but you should be subtly interviewing them as well, and the job, the school, and the environment, as presented during the interview process.

One of the key ingredients to a successful interview is careful listening. Use it not only to make sure you answer what you’re asked, but to be certain you hear the subtleties of what’s involved so you know you’re taking on the next challenge in an environment that makes sense for you.

Good luck!