How to Prepare for an Interview

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Do you possess the attributes of a high performing employee?

Companies want to hire people they feel will outperform the average worker. The candidates who can position themselves as someone who can over deliver will greatly increase the probability of a job offer. A tip for interview success is to understand what the attributes of a high performing employee are. Once you understand these attributes you can devise a strategy for exhibiting them in an interview.

We will examine 12 important attributes. The discussion will be broken into two parts, each looking at six attributes.  

Today’s 6 success attributes are:

1. Great Communication Skills - The top performers are not just good communicators, they are great communicators. They communicate in a way that causes others to take notice and take action. They are clear and concise and their communications carry energy and enthusiasm. In the interview process you will be demonstrating your communication skill set.

2.  Intelligence – The overachievers are smart enough to make decisions on the spot as situations arise. Their intelligence allows them to handle most situations they are thrown into. The top performer understands that they don’t know everything. During your interview preparation you can create success stories that demonstrate your ability to think intelligently.

3. Self-motivated - The boss doesn’t need to tell the A performer what to do. The great performers know what to do and they take action all day long. These performers do more than their job description, that’s why they are so valuable to an organization. During the interview you need to describe situations from your past that demonstrates your self motivation.

4. A Constant learner - In order to stay on top the outstanding performer understands the importance on continued learning. They are always looking for ways to improve themselves. When a new opportunity presents itself they are ready for it. There is a great difference between the person who thinks he/she knows it all and the person dedicated to lifelong learning. Reinforce what you’ve done in the past that will position you as a constant learner.

5. Computer Knowledgeable - In today’s business world one cannot be successful without knowing how to leverage the power of the Internet. Those that do not understand this will be left behind. If you are not above average in this area you should create a plan to improve your computer literacy. Do this now!

6. Track Record of Success - The top performer has a proven history of success. It is these successes that are the building blocks to future achievements. Success comes not only from prior jobs, but also from academic, community and outside organizational achievements.

How do you measure up in relation to these six attributes of success? After your analysis you need to take two action steps. The first is to prepare how you will convey these attributes in the interview process. And the second is to put a self improvement plan in place to improve in each of these areas. After all you are a constant learner, aren’t you?

In the next blog post will will discuss six more success attributes.

Technorati Tags: How to Prepare for an Interview, interview, interview success stories, interview success tips, Tips for Job Interview Success

Technorati Tags: How to Prepare for an Interview, interview success stories, interview success tips

As we near the end of spring 2010 it remains a very tough job market. In tight job markets, hiring companies hold the upper hand as there are more individuals seeking employment than there are jobs available. With more candidates after the same job, it takes more interviews to get an offer than it does in a normal job market. So the challenge is to learn how to set yourself apart from the competition. Remember, the most qualified person does not necessarily get the job. It is the candidate who best convinces the hiring manager of their capabilities to make an impact in the organization. Learning how to prepare for an interview is a critical skill in today’s job market.

One way to set yourself apart from the competition is to create and relate success stories in an impactful manner. The key is that your story must evoke emotion and interest from the hiring manager. A success story told without enthusiasm, using passive words will not register with the listener. Inject energy into your voice as you relate your successes using action oriented words.

Some examples:

    Passive – My responsibilities include communication between marketing and sales.
    Active – I re-energized communication between marketing and sales.

    Passive – I received the employee of the month award.
    Active – My superior performance earned me the employee of the month award.

    Passive – I am the call center manager.
    Active – As the manager, I orchestrate the activities of the call center.

The action oriented statements will catch the attention of the interviewer. You would then explain, again using words of action, how you re-energized communication, earned the employee of the month award, and orchestrated call center activities. This strategy ties your actions to the accomplishment, further building your credentials in the eye of the hiring manager. To get you started, here is a small list of action oriented words:

    Solve(d)
    Create(d)
    Design(ed)
    Led
    Close(d)
    Author(ed)
    Resolve(d)
    Implement(ed)

Brainstorm some of your own. You will be surprised how they make your success stories come alive. You will be perceived as a doer and someone who gets the job done. Most candidates talk in generalities about their previous job responsibilities and skills. You can set yourself apart by relating the specific results that you have achieved. If you do this effectively your job offers will come more frequently.

Technorati Tags: How to Prepare for an Interview, interview success stories, interview success tips

Attention Job Seekers

“Gain the confidence to perform well in any type of interview situation by discovering and implementing proven job interview preparation techniques!”

“With your permission, I’ll share proven methods that will help set you apart from your competition and get the job offers that you want”

When you activate your free subscription to the How to prepare for an Interview SuccessGram you will receive:

• An instant download of the How to Prepare for an Interview SuccessMap
• Simple action steps that you can take to increase your confidence
• Tips on how to perform company research
• Suggested approaches to answering difficult interview questions
• Strategies on how to manage the interview flow to your advantage
• Actions you can take to set yourself apart from other candidates
• Time saving techniques to get more done in less time

Most people understand the importance of building and maintaining a network. Yet the art of networking is one of the most misunderstood business skills, often met with resistance and fear. But those that master the art of networking find that they are helped (and help others) to grow, learn and prosper in their lives, careers and businesses.

To become a more proficient networker, join me on March 16 (details below) as I interview Vickie Austin. The topic of our discussion is: The Networking Game – Tips & Techniques for Effective Connections.

Vickie Austin is the author of Your Golden Rolodex: How to Network for Results! Vickie is a business and career coach who has been helping individuals, executives and entrepernuers for more than 10 years. She is also a professional speaker, sharing her wisdom on topics that support her mission to “Create a World In Which Everyone Loves What They Do and Does What They Love”.

Don’t miss this exciting event!

The Networking Game: Tips and Techniques for Effective Connections
Date: March 16
Time: 10 – 11 AM CST
Format: Teleseminar/Webinar

To access the replay register below.

When you sit down with an interviewer they are trying to ascertain whether you are a good fit for the position they are trying to fill. A skilled interviewer will know what criteria they are looking for and be able, through their questioning, to gather the information that they need to determine if the candidate meets their desired profile. Your job is to anticipate what criteria the interviewer is looking for and position yourself as the best available candidate. To accomplish this you must learn how to prepare for an interview.

Let’s look at the key areas an interviewer will look at and how you can prepare for them:

1. Your professional experience. Or, are you who you say you are? The experience, skills and accomplishments presented on your resume have identified you as a viable candidate for the position. The interviewer will try to validate if the candidate is indeed the person who the resume has profiled. A skilled interviewer will probe with multiple questions, often at different times in the interview, to determine to what extent the candidate meets the criteria they have identified. You need to prepare in a number of ways. First, you must know your resume inside and out. There should be nothing on your resume that you can’t explain in detail and back up with success stories. Also you must be prepared to relate significant experience and accomplishments that are not on your resume. You do this by preparing success stories and anticipating questions that you may receive.
2. Proficiency in a job’s “technical” skills. All jobs have certain skills requirements that are essential for that job to be performed at a high level. So whether you are a software engineer, accountant, salesperson, administrative person, etc, you need to know what “technical” skills are required and prepare to demonstrate that you possess these skills at the highest level possible. The interviewer will ask how to questions in order to gauge your level of expertise. For example, if the use of Microsoft Powerpoint is important for the job you are applying for you may be asked a how to question around its use. How well you answer this will determine the skill level that the interviewer believes you possess. In certain cases, you may want to have a sample of your work that you can show if appropriate during the interview.
3. Creativity in job performance. The hiring manager will attempt to determine the extent a candidate will bring creative and individual skills that will add to the expertise of the team. You don’t want to be perceived as someone who will only bring supportive skills and not be able to contribute new ideas. If you are prepared with success stories that highlight your creative talents you can relate them as the opportunity arises. Just by being prepared for the interview will demonstrate your leadership abilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to shine.
4. Are you a fine person? A hiring manager wants to find someone who is 1) a fine person, and 2) capable of performing the job. The important tip for job interview success is to understand that unless you pass the fine person test your capabilities on job performance will be greatly diminished. Most job applicants understand that they must present their capabilities and skills, but many do no interview preparation on how to present the image of a fine person. Briefly a fine person is someone who; is optimistic, a good communicator, honest, has compassion for others but is not egotistical, and appears healthy, attractive and tasteful in dress. This is about your image, and a poor image can overshadow your real abilities to get the job done.
5. Does the attitude you convey fit in? The interviewer will try to determine your attitude in regards to important issues such as team work, communication style, how you handle stressful situations and interpersonal relationships. They want to know if you will fit in with the team. Your interview preparation should include trying to understand the dynamics of the current team and how you might fit in. This can be learned through talking with existing and former employees, clients and or suppliers.

By being prepared to address these key criteria you will be perceived as head and shoulders above your competition. It is not always the best candidate in terms of capabilities that gets the offer, it is usually the candidate who best presents their overall combination of experience, skills and attitude that wins.

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According to the U.S. Department of Labor we are in the worst job market in over 25 years. The unemployment figure rose to 10.2% in October of 2009, the highest since April of 1983. Looking for a job in this market can be a long drawn out frustrating and demoralizing endeavor. So in offering tips for interview success, it may seem trite to recommend that you stay enthusiastic and keep a positive attitude. But that’s exactly what you must do!

Here’s why; If you are down and carrying around a negative attitude, this negative energy will be felt by those you interact with. You may not intentionally be trying to exude this negative energy but it will come through. Just think of your own interactions with others and how you can feel someone’s positive or negative enthusiasm come through. Hiring managers want to add employees who will bring enthusiasm and a results oriented approach to the job. Those candidates who can come across with unstoppable energy will have a clear edge in the interview process.

Try these practices to increase your level of enthusiasm and energy.

• Focus on those activities that you can control, such as networking or interview follow up.
• If something doesn’t go your way, like not getting chosen for the next round of interviews, let it go. Keep moving forward, because in this tight market it is natural for your job search to be slower.
• Get involved with an outside activity. Volunteer, coach your kid’s sports teams, or help someone else in need.
• Hang out with others who generate enthusiasm and have a can do approach to life. Their energy will be imparted to you.
• Get some exercise as this will increase your energy and help burn out some frustrations.
• Ignore the talking heads on TV who highlight the doom and gloom.

Approach every opportunity with enthusiasm, not just the ones that interest you the most. This positive energy will be seen and felt by all you interact with. The positive aura that you transmit will give you an edge versus your competition. It might just be what gets you that job offer.

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Anticipating interview questions and preparing answers for these questions is an important success step if you want to come out on top in the interview process. Many if not most job candidates are under prepared when they sit down for an interview. Those that take the time to prepare interview questions and answers have a decided advantage over their competition.

For example, many job candidates are caught off guard by the question “Tell me about yourself?”

In reality this is a question you want to be asked. It is an invitation for you to deliver an unedited commercial about yourself, one that you have prepared and practiced in advance. What could be more beneficial to the impression you are trying to make than to deliver a precise message about the value you can bring to an organization. In constructing your answer it is important to adhere to the following points;

1. Reinforce the value you will bring to the organization. Deliver new information that is not already in your resume or cover letter. Or present your value in a new context so that the hiring manager gains further insight into your substantial abilities. You want to stress that you are results oriented, so give an example.
2. Relate something interesting about yourself that is not work related. You want the hiring manager to understand that you are a fine and interesting person. So describe a non controversial activity that you like to participate in outside of work.
3. Give your answer with energy and enthusiasm. By delivering your message with conviction you will convey that you are passionate about what you do and what type of person you are. This energy will insure that your answer is not perceived as “canned”.
4. Practice your delivery. Your answer should be no longer than one minute. You do not want to ramble. Make your point and let the interview continue. It is important that you practice your delivery out loud, either to another person or a mirror. Get some feedback as to the content and delivery of your message. Is it memorable? This practice will also help you add the enthusiasm to your answer.

Preparing and rehearsing answers to common interview questions will allow you to approach each interview with the confidence needed to convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job.

Technorati Tags: How to Prepare for an Interview, Interview Questions and Answers

John Lucht, in his bestselling book Rites of Passage, discusses how that when on an interview you must prove yourself on two levels. You must be perceived as someone who is 1) a fine person, and 2) capable of performing the job. The important tip for job interview success is to understand that unless you pass the fine person test your capabilities on job performance will be greatly diminished. Most job applicants understand that they must present their capabilities and skills, but many do no interview preparation on how they will convey the image of a fine person. Let’s look more closely at what “makes” someone a fine person.

The hiring manager wants to hire a fine person because that someone will be working closely with him/her. How the new hire is perceived by others in the organization will also reflect on the hiring manager. So the interviewer is wanting to identify someone who:

1. Has good communication skills, especially listening.
2. Is optimistic and believes that he/she can make a difference.
3. Coveys honesty and openness.
4. Is a logical intelligent person who doesn’t “shoot from the hip”.
5. Can make a commitment and take responsibility.
6. Appears healthy, attractive and tasteful in dress.
7. Has compassion for others and is not egocentric.
8. On the whole is an interesting enthusiastic person who people want to associate with.

The above points may seem to be more about image than substance, but they should not be overlooked. If you come across as someone who hasn’t mastered common social graces than your ability to do the job will often be overlooked. So when preparing for an interview take an assessment of how you are presenting yourself on the traits that help define a fine person. Make any necessary modifications that will help position you as the most desirable candidate.

Technorati Tags: How to Prepare for an Interview, Tips for Job Interview Success