This Domain For Sale. Contact us for more information.

The Top Ten Strategies of A Great Interview

You've just received a call to interview with your dream company. Do you know how to prepare for the interview so that you'll feel confident, have a good experience and set yourself apart from others? Try following the steps below and you'll not only be well prepared, you'll present yourself as a true professional.

1. Research the company.

Do your homework, e.g. go to the company's website and read about the employers vision, strategy, competitive advantages, products, finances, departments, etc. If the company doesn't have a web presence look them up at the library, call the Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce, find out who they are, what products they sell, and something about their competitors.

2. Prepare your elevator speech.

This is your two-minute opportunity to enlighten the interviewer about your chief accomplishments. Please note, this is not the same as your responsibilities. Employers want to know what you did, not what you were charged with doing.

3. Prepare your talking points.

Craft a list of your 4 greatest strengths and the 4 things you're currently working on for professional growth. Be prepared to give examples of each.

4. Identify innovations / process improvements you made in your most recent employment.

Employers want to know how hiring you will make their organization better and contribute to the execution of their strategy. (Assuming you did your homework in step # 1 you can offer examples of innovations or revenue saving ideas that will be of interest to the potential employer.)

5. Dress for success.

The way you dress makes a statement about yourself. Regardless of the job that you're applying for, it's a good idea to wear a freshly laundered suit?even in a casual business environment.

6. Arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment.

Besides ensuring you aren't rushed, you can learn a lot by utilizing this strategy. Observe the company's employees as you sit in the lobby. Do they greet one another and say hello to you? Are they smiling and happy or frazzled and frustrated?


7. Engage in a dialogue.

A conversation is a two-way exchange. Be curious and ask lots of questions to get a good understanding of how the company, department, and management operates. Ask about the job responsibilities and company culture, e.g. employee recognition programs, opportunities for personal and professional development, current and future challenges of the position, etc.

8. Tell the truth.

When responding to the employer's questions, tell the truth! If you made a mistake, say it in a positive way, accept responsibility for it, what you learned, and how you have benefited from the experience.

9. Don't talk salary or benefits.

The goal is to get as many options going as possible so don't talk about compensation too early in the game, it can be a knockout factor. Sell the employer on all that you can do for them. If they're interested they'll make an offer and then you can start negotiating both issues.

10. 50 % of the responsibility for the right job match is yours.

Remember, you're interviewing the employer just as they are interviewing you.

Pam N. Woods is co-author of a bestselling book, Create the Business Breakthrough You Want: Secrets and Strategies from the World's Greatest Mentors; endorsed by Ken Blanchard and Dr. Stephen Covey. She is a Coach U graduate and President of Smart WorkLife Solutions, a coaching and consulting company devoted to co-creating customized solutions to fit clients business and personal organizing needs. Prior to founding her own firm she had a successful 20+ year career as an insurance executive and Vice President of Human Resources. For more free how-to articles and advice, or to contact Woods, visit http://www.worklifecoach.com.Copyright 2002 - Pam Woods


More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Careers & Employment Information:


Related Articles

Job Search Secret #1
The job search secret that is so powerful it will blow your socks off is simple - if you think you want or need a Career Change all you have to do is understand this Job Search Secret:It's simple - Change your Thinking.When you're looking for the new job or career move it's easy to think that 'they' hold all the cards.
Old Hiring Foxes vs. The Hedgehogs
You are about to compete for the best people again. The recovery is happening.
Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For
When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you.
Career Development - When Its Time for a Change
There's a certain courage required to hear your gut. To really be true to how you are feeling.
3 Cover Letter Secrets Revealed
Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage -- you don't know where to start ..
The Springtime of Your Career
Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced many of us to the notion of career seasons. When we're struggling with a career, we're most likely to think of winter.
Tips For Successful Job Hunting: How To Get A Job Without A Resume
I am in my mid-thirties, and, as you can imagine, I have changed and looked for jobs many times in my life. No matter how successful was in my job hunting research, I realized that there are certain ground "rules" that need to be respected; otherwise, we will not get what we want from our careers.
Working From Home - Could You Cope?
It is a well-known fact that more and more people are choosing to work from home rather than face the daily agony that is otherwise known as commuting. There are many companies that are even encouraging this practise amongst their permanent staff as a viable alternative to travelling to work.
Three Tips for Successful Networking
I generally shy away from using the word "networking" when it comes to our business. As professional "headhunters", we are constantly practicing and performing the art of networking in our daily operations.
Do You Have What it Takes to be a Successful Petite Model?
Want to break into the petite modeling industry but wondering if you have what it takes to succeed? There are lots of magazine and commercial modeling opportunities for good modeling jobs. Take this quiz to find out if you qualify to be the next top face in the petite modeling industry.
My Career is in the Doldrums - Do I Need a Coach or a Therapist?
Is Monday the worst day of your week? Can you hardly remember when you enjoyed going to work? Do friends ask why you seem so down? Maybe this has been going on awhile, and you're realizing it's time to do something. But where do you turn? At one moment you tell yourself "It's just my career?Change that, and everything will be OK".
Personal Contacts: The Key to Successful Networking
When the word "networking" is used, we tend to think of upwardly mobile college graduates with a bursting day timer in hand chatting up the competition at business meetings, conventions, or workshops. The average blue/pink/white collar worker disconnects, feeling that they could never be that pushy, don't know enough people to even start the attempt, and that the method only works in competitive business environments.
Business Dress for Women: Making Impact
Buying a suit can be an important investment when you are trying to improve your look for business or career advancement. Wearing a standard off-the rack suit for business or a job interview does not always mean success.
Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?
Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why do I want to make a career change" and you decide that what you actually want is not so much a career change as to stop what you've been doing altogether.This may be a good choice for some - those who can afford it - but not necessarily the right choice for all.
7 Steps To A Job-Winning Resume
A new resume can jump-start your career. Your network contacts may ask for a resume and some industries absolutely, positively demand a resume as the price of admission.
How To Win the Job-Hunting Game
When I got over the initial shock of being urged to "seek alternative employment" I found myself, like so many others, out beating the bushes looking for a job. I found that I was just another one of the sheep following the same traditional job-hunting procedures as everyone else.
What is My Calling?
"What is my calling?" Do any of us really have complete clarity about our life calling? Even those of us with the knowingness we must teach, write or sing may often ask, "What direction am I to go, now?" How do we answer these soulful questions?Richard Bolles, author of "What Color is My Parachute?" and the granddaddy of the employment industry says, when people are asked what they would like to do they often respond with "I don't know." Bolles maintains this is because people interpret the question to be "What am I going to do with the rest of my life?"This question is too big, too daunting, immobilizing people.
Does Your Resume Lack Vision?
You're just getting over the shock of having become unemployed. You know you need to begin a job search, but you may not know the best way to proceed, or where to start.
How To Establish Trust, Credibility and Enthusiasm To Your Interviewer
If you use your voice to get attention, you use your eyes to hold attention. People tend to believe you, trust you, and listen to what you say if you are looking at them.
How To Conduct A Successful Job Search Campaign
1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most enjoy and perform the best.



/html>