Employment Agency Jobs Interview Tips
To give you that inside job interview edge.
RESUME
Your resume is your sales brochure. In many cases it is the only
opportunity you
will have to present yourself to a potential employer. It must be
neat and easy to
read. Spelling and punctuation errors are fatal. Have someone you
trust proofread
and correct your resume. Remember that potential employers receive many
resumes
The person screening them is usually not a technical specialist. If they
do
not
find what they are looking for or think your resume is sloppy, that will be the
end
of the line for you. Using an objective statement limits the scope of
opportunities
you will be considered for. Do not use one. A summary of skills is
more
appropriate, do not use 'I' in your resume, do not include hobbies,
interests or
personal
information. A resume should never exceed 2 pages. The chronological
format
is preferred, it starts with your current position and travels back. It
lists
dates,
job titles, employer and employer's location for each job. Many employers
prefer
this format because of its familiarity.
JOB RESEARCH
What does the employer do? What is the corporate culture like? What
are the
challenges facing the industry? These are clues as to what the employer is
looking
for in a candidate. Research the company. Go to the library for reference
books.
Search the internet for company home pages, these are treasure troves of
background
information. Use search engines. Use every possible resource to
gather
information that prepares you thoroughly to understand what the company
does. Use
these resources and mention some of the things you learned when you
interview.
APPEARANCE
DEALING WITH THE RECEPTIONIST OR SECRETARY
You are talking to an important person. Do not act rude or superior. Be
pleasant
and
it may pay off. Be aware that how you treat these gate keepers will affect
the
net
result of your visit with other important people in the company. It will
also be
communicated to those who make final decisions.
JOB INTERVIEW
KEEP JOB EXPERIENCE POSITIVE
FOLLOW-UP
Follow-up with a thank you note (see below). If you are interested in the
position,
say so. The employer is looking for your interest and enthusiasm.
They want
people
who want the job.
THANK YOU LETTERS
Now that you have written a resume and done everything right during an
interview,
there is still one important thing to do (no one said this was going to be
easy). You
need to write a Thank You Letter.
Sending a Thank You Letter is an important step in the process. It shows
that you
understand and practice good business etiquette. The letter gives you a
chance to
reinforce some of the positive things you said in the interview. You can
also add
anything that you forget to mention in the interview. Keep it brief!
Here are some things to consider when putting your Thank you letter
together:
Thank the employer for his or her time during the interview; this is, after all,
a
thank
you letter.
Mention some of the things you learned during the interview, specifically those
things you feel you are qualified to do. For example, 'I was especially excited
to
learn that you are looking for someone with ProE design experience. As you may
recall my mentioning, I have over five years of experience designing components
in
3D.' Invite the employer to contact you for more information if necessary.
Mention that you are looking forward to the employer's positive decision.
How
To Survive Interview Day
From
http://www.1employmentfinder.com/interview.html
Be early
Make a winning impression by showing you are reliable and organized. Get
directions in advance and take a test drive if you are unfamiliar with the
area. Also, check out the parking situation or public transportation
schedules. Allow enough time for traffic and unexpected delays.
It's all about you
Review your resume thoroughly, but don't memorize it word for word. When
talking, focus on your skills and accomplishments and how they correlate to
the position you want. Hone in on how your experience has prepared you for
this job and what you can bring to the table.
Dress to impress
Follow this simple rule of thumb: "It's better to be over-dressed than
under-dressed." Even if the work environment is casual, your appearance
still must be neat, clean and professional. Unless the interviewer
specifically tells you to dress casually, a classic suit is always your best
bet. Also, limit your use of jewelry, makeup and cologne or perfume.
The name game
Make sure you know the correct name and pronunciation of the interviewer.
Listen carefully when the interviewer states his or her name and repeat it
back when you say hello. Before you leave, ask for a business card from each
person you met. This gives you the necessary information to write thank-you
letters.
Hand it over
A firm handshake is a sign of confidence, but avoid the bone crushing vice
grip. Weak and clammy handshakes typically make a bad impression. Don't forget
to look the interviewer directly in the eye when initiating contact.
Body language
Appear confident by sitting up straight and maintaining good eye contact
throughout the interview. Poor posture may translate to low self-esteem.
Refrain from fidgeting or chewing gum or candy.
Be nice
You never know who you'll meet in the parking lot, elevator or lobby, so be
polite to everyone from the receptionist to the CEO. After all, they could
have an influence in the hiring process.
Short and sweet
Avoid long-winded answers. Practice in advance and you will sound more focused
and polished.
The sounds of silence
While it may be golden, silence can be uncomfortable. However, jumping in with
irrelevant comments just to fill up airtime will only make you look nervous.
If you are experiencing trouble forming an answer to a question, wait a few
seconds before responding. The use of "um, uh, like, well, err ..."
sounds well, um ... stupid. Take your time and think before you speak.
Cold hard cash
Although salary is an important factor in your job search, don't let it be the
driving force behind your choice. In interviews, it's more important to talk
about why you're the right person for the job. Do not bring up salary unless
the interviewer asks.
Practice makes perfect
Rehearsing is not just for actors. Take time to review what you want to say by
asking a friend to play "the interviewer." By practicing your
responses to typical interviewing questions, you will significantly reduce
your stress level and improve your chances of making a winning impression on
the interviewer.
From: http://jobs.asiaco.com/resources/
Top 10 Interview Tips
Great
interviews arise from careful groundwork. You can ace your next interview if
you:
- Enter into a state of
relaxed concentration. This is the state from which great basketball
players or Olympic skaters operate. You'll need to quiet the negative self
chatter in your head through meditation or visualization prior to sitting
down in the meeting. You'll focus on the present moment and will be less
apt to experience lapses in concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and
self-condemnation.
- Act spontaneous, but
be well prepared. Be your authentic self, professional yet real. Engage in
true conversation with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you
did prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs with
another person simulating the interview before it actually occurs. It's
the same as anticipating the questions you'll be asked on a final exam.
- Set goals for the
interview. It is your job to leave the meeting feeling secure that the
interviewer knows as much as he or she possibly can about your skills,
abilities, experience and achievements. If you sense there are
misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the interviewer doesn't
get around to asking you important questions, pose them yourself
(diplomatically) and answer them. Don't leave the meeting without getting
your own questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you
would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get further
interviews, especially with other key players.
- Know the question
behind the question. Ultimately, every question boils down to, "Why
should we hire you?" Be sure you answer that completely. If there is
a question about your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer
is probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to ask you
whether your family responsibilities will interfere with your work. Find
away to address fears if you sense they are present.
- Follow up with an
effective "thank you" letter. Don't write this letter lightly.
It is another opportunity to market yourself. Find some areas discussed in
the meeting and expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a
meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the other candidates will
occur if you thoughtfully consider this follow up letter as an additional
interview in which you get to do all the talking. Propose useful ideas
that demonstrate your added value to the team.
- Consider the
interviewer's agenda. Much is on the shoulders of the interviewer. He or
she has the responsibility of hiring the right candidate. Your ability to
do the job will need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses
here?" "Will this person fit the culture of this
organization?" These as well as other questions will be heavily on
the interviewer's mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities above and
beyond just doing the job.
- Expect to answer the
question, "Tell me about yourself." This is a pet question of
prepared and even unprepared interviewers. Everything you include should
answer the question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare
your answer to include examples of achievements from your work life that
closely match the elements of the job before you. Obviously, you'll want
to know as much about the job description as you can before you respond to
the question.
- Watch those nonverbal
clues. Experts estimate that words express only 30% to 35% of what people
actually communicate; facial expressions and body movements and actions
convey the rest. Make and keep eye contact. Walk and sit with a confident
air. Lean toward an interviewer to show interest and enthusiasm. Speak
with a well-modulated voice that supports appropriate excitement for the
opportunity before you.
- Be smart about money
questions. Don't fall into the trap of telling the interviewer your
financial expectations. You may be asking for too little or too much money
and in each case ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask
what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a money discussion
until you have a better understanding of the scope of responsibilities of
the job.
- Don't hang out your
dirty laundry. Be careful not to bare your soul and tell tales that are
inappropriate or beyond the scope of the interview. State your previous
experience in the most positive terms. Even if you disagreed with a former
employer, express your enthusiasm for earlier situations as much as you
can. Whenever you speak negatively about another person or situation in
which you were directly involved, you run the risk (early in the
relationship) of appearing like a troubled person who may have difficulty
working with others.
Some links:
http://www.job-interview.net/
http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/html/intview.html
http://www.howtointerview.com/
http://www.usinterns.com/articlesinterviews.asp
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