Yahoo lists 10 questions in an attempt to help you determine your job IQ. The questions are pretty straight-forward for any successful, experienced interviewer, but serve as useful information for newbies as well as good reminders for the rest of us. The questions can basically be turned into pieces of advice as follows:
1. Prepare in advance for an interview.
2. Address the employer's needs in the interview.
3. Practice for the interview.
4. Don't lie, but answer each question to your advantage.
5. An interview is a two-way discussion.
6. If you're afraid, interviewers will sense it.
7. You need to dress appropriately.
8. Send a thank you note.
9. Making demands in an interview is risky.
10. Be on time.
My thoughts on these:
1. Yep, preparation is key.
2. Both your resume and your interview must tell the employer why hiring you is in their best interest.
3. Practice potential interview questions over and over until your answers are smooth (use a recorder if need be). If you need to, take practice interviews to get yourself in top form.
4. Of course you shouldn't lie, but there are ways you can "enhance" your accomplishments.
5. Here are some questions you may want to ask when the roles reverse. Oh, and don't talk too much.
6. Practice/rehearsing usually helps to combat fear and nervousness.
7. A couple dress-related thoughts for women and men.
8. Here's a real-life example of the power of a simple thank you.
9. An interview is for selling, not demanding. Get them hooked on you in the interview -- you can negotiate later.
10. Plan to get there a bit early even. Yes, sometimes emergencies happen, but sleeping in, failing to plan for travel time, and so on are not emergencies.
Funny Story,
As a 2nd year law student I had a mid day interview with "big law" I was staying at my brother's house because I didn't live where the job and interview was. His house is about 75 years old. Well, my brother and his wife left the house and locked the doors. The problem was the they have the dead bolts that require keys on both sides and I had no key!. So, I was late to my interview (only a few minutes, but late nonetheless) BECAUSE I WAS LOCKED IN THE HOUSE!
Posted by: Seth | January 29, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Oh - I forgot to mention all of the old windows in the house had been sealed, except one. So, I didn't actually get out until I searched all the windows and found one to crawl out of in my suit....
Not a good interview. I guess an example of Murphy's law
Posted by: Seth | January 29, 2009 at 11:17 AM
> Not a good interview. I guess an example of Murphy's law
Agree.
Posted by: metatrader indicator | January 30, 2009 at 05:20 AM
> Not a good interview. I guess an example of Murphy's law
Agree.
Posted by: metatrader indicator | January 30, 2009 at 05:24 AM