6 STEPS FOR BEING A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

FOR INTERVIEW

1. PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW

• Preparation is the first step toward a successful interview. Company interviewers are continually
amazed by the number of applicants who drift into their offices without any apparent preparation
and only the vague idea of what they are going to say. Your Staffing Manager understands the
benefits of being prepared and will ensure that you:
• Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name, the correct
pronunciation.
• Purchase correspondence paper stock (stationary and matching envelopes).
• Keep enough paper stock on hand to print your resumes, cover letters and other correspondence
on matching stationary and envelopes.
• Know the standards for writing cover letters, thank you letters, and when to phone.
• Keep stamps on hand at all times!
• Keep track of all career related written and verbal correspondence.
• Identify your basic interview wardrobe: select one or two outfits or suits that are considered
fairly conservative for your field.
• Locate your local overnight or one-hour dry cleaner.
• Polish your business shoes.
• Always have extra, clean copies of your resume with you.
• Keep on file an interview folder to bring with you on interviews. It should contain: a few resumes
in a plastic sleeve, some reminders for yourself about your skills and your goals, and a pen and
some paper to make notes before and after the interview.
• Bring to the interview: your interview folder, the names of the people you are meeting and the
address with directions. You may also want: a comb, tissues, breath mints.
• Know where you're going in advance.
• Leave yourself plenty of time to get there.
• You want to arrive a little bit early, not just on time and never late.
• Follow up with thank you letters immediately.
• Make sure you can be reached, whether by phone, fax or email.
• Know pertinent facts about the firm or company such as practice areas, number of attorneys,
years in practice and number of offices.
• Know why the hiring manager and/or client representative is interested in your qualifications.
Your Staffing Manager will assist you in identifying your most marketable skills and attributes.

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 • Determine how the opportunity will impact your immediate and long-term career development.
• Know what questions to ask during the interview. Your questions will allow the hiring manager to
evaluate your professional and personal needs.
• Lastly, the better you understand the opportunity, the more you will be able to communicate
your interest in the position
• Know how to present yourself in the interview. Your Staffing Manager will give you insights into
the personalities of the decision-makers, guidance in responding to specific questions and
suggestions for proper attire.
• Ensure that you fully understand the job description of the position for which you are
interviewing.
• Plan to be 15 minutes early in anticipation of traffic problems or other unanticipated delays. Also,
know where you're going. If possible acquaint yourself with the route. Late arrival for a job
interview is never excusable.
• Dress professionally (i.e. proper business attire like Black Trousers, White Shirt & A Tie).
• If presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely.
• Ensure to shake the interviewer's hand firmly.
• Speak slowly and clearly. Don't rush your answers.
• Stress accomplishments.
• Ensure to answer every question fully and honestly.
• Don't jump ahead or give more information than is required. Pay attention to "cutoff" cues.
• Ensure you are consistent in your answers throughout all interviews.
• Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no". Explain answers where possible.
• Avoid saying anything negative about present or previous employers or co-workers.
• Ask questions to show interest in the Company and the position.
• Ensure they know you are interested in the position; never close the door on an opportunity.
• Look alert and interested at all times and look the interviewer in the eye.
• Relax, smile and have a positive attitude. Give the appearance of energy as you walk.

Research, Rehearse and Relax

No matter how well qualified you are for a job or how articulate you are about your strengths and
experience, there is nothing that can replace preparation. Once you have practiced asking and
answering questions, the next step is to relax and remind yourself that:
1) There is no question you cannot answer,
2) You are well suited to the position, and
3) You would be an asset to the company.
Visualize yourself sitting in the interview feeling serene and confident. Get a good night's sleep before
the interview, arrive a few minutes early, take a few deep breaths and seize the day.

THE INTERVIEW
The interview is the mechanism used to determine whether you have the qualifications necessary to do
the job and whether a mutually rewarding professional relationship can be formed.
Similarly, you must determine whether you can be successful in the available position and whether the
firm will give you the opportunity for growth and development.

Present yourself in the best possible light. However, be yourself, everyone (applicant, hiring manager,
consultant) has the same goal-the "right match".

BE PREPARED TO ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS AS...

• Why are you leaving your present employer?
• How have you tried to remedy your dissatisfaction with your present employer?
• Have you ever accepted a counteroffer? If so, why?
• How would you describe your most recent job performance evaluation?
• What is your next logical career opportunity with your present employer?
• If you were to stay with your present employer, what would your career track be over the next
two or three years?
• How many of your salary increases have been the result of promotions or merit?

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 • What is your most recent salary history? When is your next salary review?
• Can you obtain recommendations from previous employers?
• What interests you about our company or firm?
• Why would you be attracted to our opportunity?
• Do you have any noteworthy outside interests?
• How do you stay professionally current?
• What outside activities are most significant to your personal development?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why are you looking to change positions?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do like most and least about your current position (or supervisor)?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• What are the best and worst things your boss would say about you?
• Name 5 adjectives that would best describe you.
• What are your concerns in your current situation and what would you improve?
• How have you changed or improved the nature of your job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What can you do for us that someone else can't?
• Why did you choose this particular vocation?
• What contributions to profits have you made in your present or former positions to justify your
salary level there?
• What do you think determines a person's progress in a good company?
• Tell me about the time that you were most successful in dealing with a difficult client? or Give
me an example of a time when you had to get something accomplished with someone whom is a
bit more difficult to get along with.

ANSWERS TO SOME DIFFICULT QUESTIONS:

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU WANT?

Only indicate what you are presently earning and that salary is one of several factors you are
considering. Emphasize that the opportunity is the most important consideration.
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.
Emphasis on your recent experience is most important; however, brief coverage of previous
experiences and education can also be useful.
WHAT ARE SOME SITUATIONS IN WHICH YOUR WORK WAS CRITICIZED?
Give only one or two examples and emphasize how you addressed the criticism and how it is now not a
problem. Ensure that you show you are open to constructive criticism.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BOSS?
Create a positive image, even if this is not the case.
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMPANY?
Realistically speaking, experience and requirements of the job will influence your making a meaningful
contribution.
WHY HAVEN'T YOU FOUND A NEW POSITION BEFORE NOW?
Explain that finding the right job is more important than just finding a job. This can be a difficult task as
the current economy may be a factor.
ADDRESSING WEAKNESSES
Don't start a discussion in an area where you aren't too hot. But be prepared to tackle it if the
interviewer brings it up. Remember, the interviewer is not out to GET you in the weak spot - all he wants
to know if you've made any effort to do something about it, that's all.
In stating your weaknesses, please be specific and factual (the interviewer will come to know them
anyway). You must understand, knowing the weakness is a strength. Indicate the lack of a skill, and
your attempts to learn it.

SOME "DOS" AND "DON'TS"

• Plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.
• If presented with an application, do fill it out neatly and completely.
• Interviewers will want you to speak for yourself.

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 • Greet the interviewer by last name if you are sure of the pronunciation.
• Give the appearance of energy as you walk.
• Smile! Shake hands firmly.
• Be genuinely glad to meet the interviewer.
• Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting.
• Sit upright, look alert and interested at all times.
• Be a good listener as well as a good communicator.
• Look a prospective employer in the eye while speaking.
• Follow the interviewer's leads, but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the
duties to you early in the interview so that you can apply your background, skills and
accomplishments to the position.
• Make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.
• Always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing.
• Never close the door on opportunity.
• Show enthusiasm.
• If you are interested in the opportunity, enthusiastic feedback can enhance your chances of
being further considered.
• If you are not interested, your responsiveness still demonstrate your professionalism.
• Don't forget to bring a copy of your resume! Keep several copies on hand.
• Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible.
• Describe those things about yourself which relate to the situation.
• Don't lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.
• Don't make unnecessary derogatory remarks about your present or former employers.
• Don't over-answer questions. And if the interviewer steers the conversation into politics or
controversial issues, try to do more listening than speaking since this could be a sensitive
situation.
• Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, etc. on the initial interview unless
you are sure the employer is interested in hiring you.
• If the interviewer asks what salary you want, indicate what you've earned but that you're more
interested in opportunity than specific salary.

NEGATIVE FACTORS EVALUATED BY AN INTERVIEWER

During the course of the interview, the interviewer will be assessing all aspects of your presentation.
Listed below are negative factors frequently identified during the course of interviews which most often
lead to rejection of a candidate.

• Personal appearance that is less than • Condemnation of past employers.

professional. • Inability to maintain a conversation.
• Overbearing, overaggressive or • Lack of commitment to fill the position
egotistical behavior. at hand.
• No positive purpose. • Failure to ask questions about the
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm - a position.
passive and indifferent attitude. • Persistent attitude of "What can you do
• Lack of confidence and poise; for me?"
nervousness. Overemphasis on • Lack of preparation for the interview --
compensation. failure to get information about the
• Evasiveness; making excuses for firm, resulting in inability to ask
unfavorable factors in work history. intelligent questions.
• Lack of tact, maturity and courtesy.
Questions To Ask the Interviewer
Even if you don't ask any questions during an interview, many employers will ask you if you have any.
How you respond will affect their evaluation of you. So be prepared to ask insightful questions about the
organization.
1. What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position?
2. How does the company expect these objectives to be met?
3. What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives?
4. What is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives?

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 5. What resources are available from the company and what must be found elsewhere to reach the
objectives?
6. What do you find most frustrating about your position? (Ask this if the job interviewer is in the IT
department.)
7. Why is this position open?
8. Can you describe a typical day in this role?
9. Where do you see this position in three to five years?
10. What is the company's policy regarding training?
11. Would the job description assigned to me be based on my interest areas?
12. What are the company’s financial stability and future growth possibilities?
13. Could you describe the work culture (do people work overtime, etc.)?
14. What are the personal growth opportunities (such as leadership training, company-supported
15. community work, mentoring, and so on)?
16. What is the training budget for the IT staff?
17. How many IT employees do you have?
18. How many people are supported by the IT staff?
19. What technologies have you implemented?
20. What are your major IT initiatives for the year?

CLOSING THE INTERVIEW

If you are interested in the position, let the interviewer know. If you feel the position is attractive
and you want it, be a good salesperson and say something like: "I'm very impressed with what I've
seen here today; your firm, its practice and the people I've met. I am confident I could do an
excellent job in the position you've described to me." The interviewer will be impressed with your
enthusiasm.
Don't be too discouraged if no immediate commitment is made.
The interviewer will probably want to communicate with other people in the company or possibly
interview more candidates before making a decision.
Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration. If you have answered the two
questions-- "Why are you interested in this position?" and "What can you offer?"-- you have done
all you can.

If you are interested enough in the position to want an offer, immediately after the
interview write a letter thanking the employer for the interview, expressing interest in the
company and restating briefly why you think you can make an exceptionally strong contribution.

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