DAY OF THE INTERVIEW
details, details, details!
Be well rested and alert. For early
morning interviews be sure to have a good breakfast beforehand.
Mental Preparation. As you arrive
early for the interview (at least 15 minutes), and you are waiting to be called in,
mentally prepare for your interview. Picture the interview going smoothly, the interviewer
asking questions, and your answering them perfectly. Imagine the interviewer telling you
that you seem perfect for the job as you leave even more excited about the position. These
are some of the things that should be going through your mind. If you are nervous, start
your mental preparation by taking deep breaths and thinking "You are" as you
inhale and "relaxed" as you exhale. Repeat this procedure until you are relaxed.
Avoid thinking, "What if they don’t like me?" or "What if I get
stumped?" and focus instead on relaxing and it will work for you.
- Remember your
appearance says a lot about you.
If you carry anything into the
meeting (e.g., briefcase or purse), place it on the floor by your chair.
THE INTERVIEW
Getting through the basics of the interview
If someone offers coffee, water,
etc., accept or decline gracefully.
GIVE A FIRM HANDSHAKE, but
don’t go overboard.
Wait until a seat is offered before
sifting down.
Maintain good posture, lean slightly
forward in your chair. Remember that body language says as much about you as your
appearance and presentation.
MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT!
SMILE
NO gum chewing or smoking (even if
the interviewer is).
Here come the questions…
Let the interviewer ask their
questions! Do not interrupt or "step on" the end of an interviewer's statements
or questions. Let the interviewer complete their question or statement before issuing your
response.
Use action words to describe your
accomplishments, such as: I planned, created, originated, initiated, developed,
implemented, formulated, organized, directed, led, supervised, guided, managed, was
responsible for, contributed to, demonstrated, saved, reduced, collected, achieved,
provided for, increased, or evaluated.
Following is a list
of some of the questions that might be asked:
Past work experience. How did
you get your last job? What are/were your responsibilities? why did you leave
your past position? Why are you considering leaving your current position?
What have you liked the best/least about your past & most current positions?
Shrink questions relating to current
or most recent position . What is your shrink? Is shrink based on gross or
retail? What three steps do you take to control shrink?
How do you manage your time?
What is your level of proficiency in
Excel? Provide examples of spreadsheets that you have created.
What is your management style?
What is your current labor
percentage?
How do you control the cost of
labor?
Are you willing to relocate?
How would your employees describe
you?
How do you control cash losses?
What is your average cash variance?
Give me an example of a bad cash
control situation and how you turned it around.
What three skills or attributes
would you bring to the table?
What is the biggest challenge you
have faced in your career? How did you overcome it?
How would you (have you) handle a
situation that required the termination or discipline of a long term employee?
What are your greatest strengths?
What are your opportunities for
improvement?
What is the greatest lesson that
life has taught you thus far?
Tell me one word that best describes
you?
Who are your hero’s, people who
have had the most influence in your life?
Tell me 2 things that you want to
avoid in this position.
If a person cannot address shrink
and their numbers they will not be moving forward.
Clients look as much at character as
they do at job ability - they will want to hear someone talk about their personal
integrity.
MOST IMPORTANT
RESPECT - You
need to show respect for the person who is interviewing you, but you also need to show
respect for yourself. Thinking of yourself as having no power or no worth is not showing
respect for yourself. Neither of you have the "upper hand", what is true is that
both of you are on an equal footing - you need a job - they need someone to fill an open
position.
Remember
- be enthusiastic about the opportunity
QUESTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO
ASK
Be prepared to ask good questions.
Good questions reflect that you have an understanding of the company, the position and/or
the industry.
Can you describe a typical day for
someone in this position?
What is the top priority of the
person who accepts this job?
What are the day-to-day expectations
and responsibilities of this job?
How will my leadership
responsibilities and performance be measured? And by whom? How often?
Can you describe the company’s
management style?
Can you discuss your take on the
company’s corporate culture?
What are the company’s values?
How would you characterize the
management philosophy of this organization? Of your department?
What is the organization’s
policy on transfers to other divisions or other offices?
Are lateral or rotational job moves
available?
Does the organization support
ongoing training and education for employees to stay current in their fields?
What do you think is the greatest
opportunity facing the organization in the near future?
How is this department perceived
within the organization?
Is there a formal process for
advancement within the organization?
What are the traits and skills of
people who are the most successful within the organization?
How I should proceed from here.
Should I contact you or will you be in contact?
How soon will I hear from you?
What is the process from here?
What would distinguish one potential
candidate joining your company from another?
How do I prove my commitment to the
organization?
Follow-up. You leave the interview and
feel good about the position. Now go to your car and write down what just happened. Write
the topics discussed, the characteristics the interviewer described for the position, and
other details. This will help you write a thank you letter that shows both your interest
and that you are a perfect match for the position.
There are, of course, as many ways to succeed in an interview as there are Olympic gold
medal winners. The best advice is to relax and be yourself. Remember that your interviewer
once interviewed for his/her job and understands the intensity of the interview process.
By being as prepared as possible for your interview, you will enhance the qualities that
have already made you a great candidate. Just remember that it takes preparation and
knowing how to play the game with strategy and excellence to win.
Employment Testing
The tests
given to job applicants fall into four categories: General aptitude tests, practical
tests, tests of physical agility, and medical examinations. You can practice for the first
three. If the fourth is required, learn as soon as possible what the disqualifying
conditions are, then have your physician examine you for them so that you do not spend
years training for a job that you will not be allowed to hold.
To practice for a test, you must learn what the test is. Once again, you must know what
job you want to apply for and for whom you want to work in order to find out what tests,
if any, are required. Government agencies, which frequently rely on tests, will often
provide a sample of the test they use. These samples can be helpful even if an employer
uses a different test. Copies of standard government tests are usually available at the
library.
Test Taking Tips
Make a list of what
you will need at the test center, including a pencil; check it before leaving the house.
Get a good night's
sleep.
Be at the test
center early--at least 15 minutes early.
Read the
instructions carefully; make sure they do not differ from the samples you practiced with.
Generally, speed
counts; do not linger over difficult questions.
Learn if guessing
is penalized. Most tests are scored by counting up the right answers; guessing is all to
the good. Some tests are scored by counting the right answers and deducting partial credit
for wrong answers; blind guessing will lose you points--but if you can eliminate two wrong
choices, a guess might still pay off.
National
Executive Personnel
and Marketing Group, L.C.
12734 Kenwood Lane, Suite 73
Fort Myers, FL 33907-5638
(239) 931-0200 Voice
(239) 931-0204 Fax
Email: search@NationalExecutivePersonnel.com
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