Interview Tips and Etiquette

[NutBrnHair]

As a former teacher, I'm a freak about grammar and spelling. After my teaching career, I went into another line of work and over the years have probably hired close to 100 people.

My tips:

1. Make sure your resume, cover letter & thank you notes are error free! I heard the top HR person from Procter & Gamble speak at a Chi Omega Convention. She said she used to make her first stack of rejects from those who spelled it "Proctor" & Gamble.

2. Dress well for the interview. As an employer -- I knew that how the candidtae looked on the day of the interview was the best it was ever going to be!

3. I often took candidates to lunch to check out their table manners.

4. Last, but not least, have a strong handshake & direct eye contact.

[honeychile]

Ditto on the spelling & grammer.

I interview people as part of my job. You could be the most talented person in your field, but if your breath is bad, you're done. Same thing goes for the limp and/or wet handshake. Discreetly wipe your hand prior to shaking someone's hand, because if it's wet, I will assume you know nothing about basic hygiene and are trying to get me sick!

A lot of what you hear about interviews is going to vary greatly from job to job, but bad breath is a constant!

Basically, you need to convey that you are a team player who is quite capable of taking the lead when necessary. I've yet to hear of a position for which that does not apply. If you cannot honestly say that, you need to figure out why, and how you can change that about yourself.

Just my 2¢

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by honeychile
Ditto on the spelling & grammer.

::::::getting out my RED pen:::::: It's "grammar!"

[mullet81]

ok - I have a phone interview today for an internship I REALLY want for this summer. I know the company inside and out - so I'm not worried about being able to work that into the conversation.

This goe sout especially to the people who do a lot of interviewing - Does anyone have any "typical" interview questions they can share with us? I'm trying to prepare myself and I want to cover as many bases as possible!

Thanks

[Eclipse]

I interview at my company and just finished designing an interview class for our interviewers. I am up to my eyeballs in this stuff!

Interviewers want to know what you have done that will make you successful in the position. Rather than quote a lot of interview questions for you, I will give you this advice. Take a look at the job description or the information that you received on the job. Determine what they are looking for. Look for experiences you have had in the past that demonstrate those qualities.

For instance, if the internship is for a "Program Coordinator" and you are required to organize events, then think about situations where you have had to organize events (even for school or your sorority or something) in the past. When you answer questions, organize your answers this way:

S.T.A.R

S/T = The situation or the task that you are talking about

A = Action. What specific things YOU did. Don't speak in generalities or talk about "we"

R = Results. What were the results of the action you took? Was the event successful. What made it successful? How did you know.

Another method of interviewing that is gaining popularity again is what I called "brain teaser/fantasy" questions. For a sales position, for instance, an interviewer may push a pen towards you and say "Sell me this pen." Your job is to persuade him/her to buy the pen.

Other companies use brain teasers like "How many quarters would it take to reach the top of the Empire State Building if you stacked them on top of each other." Some one else told me that for an interview in a bank he wa asked "How would you rob this bank?" With questions like that they are typically looking for creativity and thought process. The "correct" answer for the Empire State buidling one would be something like "A quarter is X inches thick and the ESB is XX feet tall, so....."

What kind of job is the internetship? I could tell you what they SHOULD ask, but I can guarantee it!! LOL