CPT Employment Center

25 things to avoid in an Interview

2008-12-15T17:17:00.001-07:00

1. Poor personal appearance
2. Lack of interest and enthusiasm; passive and indifferent
3. Over-emphasis on money
4. Criticism of past employer
5. Poor eye contact with interviewer
6. Late to interview
7. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer’s time
8. Asks no questions about the job
9. Unwillingness to relocate
10. Indefinite answer to question
11. Overbearing, aggressive, conceited with ‘know-it-all’ complex
12. Inability to express self clearly; poor voice, poor diction, poor grammar
13. Lack of planning for career, no purpose or goals
14. Lack of confidence and poise, nervous, ill at ease
15. Failure to participate in activities
16. Expects too much too soon
17. Makes excuses, evasive, hedges on unfavourable factors on record
18. Lack of tact
19. Lack of courtesy, ill-mannered
20. Lack of vitality
21. Lack of maturity
22. Sloppy application form
23. No interest in company or industry
24. Cynical
25. Intolerant, strong prejudices

Before the Interview

2008-12-15T17:09:00.003-07:00

Before your interview find out everything you can about the company (read their annual report which can be obtained by telephoning them). Re-read your application, thinking through your own career and the questions they might ask you. You should try to anticipate the general questions which they will ask and also prepare some questions to ask them.
To do well at the interview you will need to convince the interviewer you are technically qualified to do the job. You will also need to show that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company's organizational structure and the team in which you will work.
You should dress smartly for the interview and should leave home earlier than you need to on the day of the interview - you may be delayed by traffic or for other reasons. Be courteous to all employees of the company.
At the interview itself you must be positive about yourself and your abilities - but do not waffle. Here are some tips:
1. Assemble all necessary papers
Resume or personal data sheet
Know your resume well enough that you can discuss every line if necessary
Licenses, Social Security card and/or military records
Samples of work, if relevant List of questions you want to ask the interviewer about the job
Many employers will use your resume as a source of questions during the interview.
Review your resume prior to the interview and be able to develop answers to questions that relate to your employment and educational experience listed on your resume.
Be prepared to discuss gaps in employment.
If called upon, you must be able to demonstrate the skills you stated on your resume.
Focus your answers on the skills and experience that will be most useful to the position you are interviewing for.
2. Learn all you can about the prospective employer
What are the products and services?
What is its reputation?
What types of jobs are available?
What are the hiring policies and practices?
What are their salary ranges?
What are their goals?
Researching the company you are interviewing with and the position you are pursuing demonstrates genuine interest and initiative.
It will be obvious to the interviewer whether you did your research or not.
Many interviewers will focus questions on finding out how much preparation you did for the interview. One can research a company utilizing many different sources: The Internet Company brochures and year end statements The area Chamber of Commerce Networking – ask friends, relatives, teachers, social and business contacts
You do not need to know everything possible about the company. The information most helpful for the interviewing process includes knowing the product manufactured or service offered.
You should find out the size of the company and if they have multiple locations.
Who are their competitors?
Did they recently merge with another company?
What is their sales volume and is that down or up from previous years?
3. Identify what you have to offer.
Your education, training and experience—what you have done, know how to do and can do. Remember all the skills, abilities and talents you possess that will make you an excellent employee.
4. Consider your potentials as an employee
Why do you feel you can do the job?
What makes you qualified for the job?
What do you have to offer the company or organization?
Why do you want to work for the employer in question?
Pre- Interview Checklist
Before you leave home for your interview, check the following:
Have you researched the organization you are interviewing with?
Do you know the interviewer’s name? If not, get it from the receptionist before the interview. Have you formulated answers for usual interview questions?
Do you have all necessary information for the interview?
This includes items such as resume or personal data sheet, names and addresses of references, pen and note pad.
Is there someone you could do a practice interview with?
You will benefit from suggestions for improvement.
Do not forget the most obvious research, simply knowing where you are going BEFORE the interview.
What is the company address? How long should you plan for travel time? Drive by the company to be sure that you know how to get there and how long it will take.
Also, remember to give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes in case they ask you to complete their job application.
Other tips on preparing for your interview:
Consider how the position relates to your talents and goals, such as specialty area and opportunities for advancement.
Schedule the interview at a time that will not conflict with your working hours.
Most interviewers will understand you not wanting to take off work at your current position to interview for other jobs.
Find out the name and position of the person you will meet with and get his/ her telephone number in case an emergency arises.
Be prepared with answers to why you want to work at that particular organization, and how you would be the best candidate for this position.
Understanding the company, their mission and their environment will help you with these questions.
Dress properly for the interview. Dress slacks, dress shirt, a tie and possibly a sport coat for men. Women should wear a knee length (or longer) skirt or pants, and blouse. If a skirt is your choice, be sure to wear nylons. Don’t forget the dress shoes.

Interview Self Evaluation

2008-12-15T17:07:00.002-07:00

Think about an important interview you have had. Evaluating your performance in that interview will help you to prepare for a future one:
1. List 3 things which made the interview a success.
2. a) List 3 things about the interview that you would changeb) For each of these three items, explain what you are going to do to improve for your next interview.
3. Were some of the interviewer’s questions difficult to answer? What were they? How would you respond if asked again?
4. What skills/qualities was the employer looking for? How could you better present these skills next time?
5. What further information do you need in order to determine if you would accept an offer?
6. What do you like/dislike about this company? (Consider a graph or other way to rate and compare the companies with which you have interviewed).

What Employers tell us

2008-12-15T17:05:00.001-07:00

When asked what they look for in potential employees, many employers respond by mentioning all or most of the following traits: A well-written resume and cover letter Demonstrated initiative and uniqueness in approaching the employer Following up with the employer to schedule interview
Employers look for more than technical or specific job-related skills when hiring new employees. Certain characteristics have been found to be essential in developing an effective team. Employers look for these characteristics during the hiring process. Knowing these characteristics and being able to identify them in yourself will enhance your success at interviews and increase your chances of getting the job that you desire. Certain characteristics that are highly desirable to employers are: Excellent listening skills Strong written and verbal communication skills Problem-solving skills Proven ability to get along well with co-workers Dedication, reliability and good attendance record For an interviewer to identify your strengths in these areas, they need to ask behavior-based or situational questions such as “Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker, and how you resolved it.” This type of question is becoming more and more common in interviews. Make sure to offer examples when asked open-ended questions. Answering with just a “yes” or “no” leaves the employer wondering if you truly stand behind your answer.

5 Web Tips for Landing Your First Job

2008-10-27T10:40:00.002-06:00

5 Web Tips for Landing Your First Job

Here are five ways to make the Web work for you:
1. Search Yourself
It's been said there's no such thing as bad publicity. That's not necessarily the case for job seekers hoping to nail that first impression. You've got to do some research on your cyber identity. And do it often, as many employers use search engines and social-networking sites to research job candidates. Does a simple search of your name turn up offensive writing, less than professional photos, or activities that could turn off a potential boss? If so, you need to clean up your image, fast.

2. Be Your Own Publicist
Use the Web to promote yourself as the best candidate for the job. First, take down anything on Facebook or MySpace or any other social networking sites and/or blog posts that could be construed as immature or unprofessional. Adjust your privacy settings so that you control what the world reads about you.
Heidi Hanisko, director of client services for CollegeGrad.com, says it's a good idea to reach out to friends who might have posted questionable photos, rants, etc. that could reflect poorly on you. If you run into trouble cleaning up your image, you may want to consult with identity scrubbing companies, including Naymz.com, ReputationDefender.com and DefendMyName.com. It can be expensive, but potentially worth it if there is something truly defamatory getting in the way of your job hunt.
Once your online identity is squeaky clean, showcase your portfolio or other samples of your work. Highlight your accomplishments and experience. Resist the temptation to embellish the truth.

3. Network It
Get yourself on LinkedIn or other professional networks. Robert Half International, a leading staffing services firm specializing in accounting and finance, advises job seekers to make the most of these sites by building contacts and asking mentors or former employers to recommend them.
A recent survey by the Robert Half found that 62 percent of executives believe networks, including LinkedIn, will prove useful in the search for job candidates in the next three years. One in three respondents said they plan to tap Facebook or MySpace for recruiting -- yet another reason to take a second look at your profiles.

4. Strategize Before You Hit Send
The Internet makes it easy to send out resumes en masse. But CollegeGrad.com's Hanisko says you've got to consider quality over quantity. She advises job hopefuls to research each opportunity and to tailor resumes and cover letters to each employer and position. Adding key words to your resume that are industry-specific will show you are "in the know" and will also help employers find your resume more easily when they search for candidates on job sites.

5. Don't Forget To Say Thank You
Even when the Web helps you land the interview, remember to send an old-fashioned thank-you note as soon as possible. Handwritten notes make the best impression, according to both Robert Half International and CollegeGrad.com.