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Prime for the interview

It doesn’t matter how educated, qualified or talented a candidate is; if he or she does not know what to say or how to act during the personal interview, he or she won’t get the job. After researching the prospective employer and perfecting the résumé, the candidate now needs to take that last important step: prepare for the interview.

Basically, any interviewer wants to establish 3 key things:

  1. Do you have the skills, expertise and experience to perform the job?
  2. Are you enthusiastic and interested in the job and the company?
  3. Will you fit with the team, culture and company?

Employers look for candidates with expertise, enthusiasm, potential, the ability to think on their feet, and the ability to get along well with others. The candidate’s job is to effectively communicate this during the interview. To prepare, candidates must recognize their strengths, weaknesses, and knowledge prior to the interview. Then they should examine the responsibilities of the job to determine how their skills match those needs. Last, they should determine how they will be an organizational fit within the company. This kind of forethought will prepare them for the interview but they should also be prepared to field tough questions (see sidebar below). The executives and recruiters surveyed listed some components of winning interviews, the kind that result in job offers. The following characteristics came up over and over again.

  • They LISTEN!
  • They arrive early to the interview.
  • Winning candidates dress professionally, leaning toward the conservative.
  • They smile and maintain eye contact and poise throughout the interview, covering nervousness and insecurity. Be aware of body language.
  • They convey energy, enthusiasm and a “can-do” attitude, along with flexibility and willingness to be a team player.
  • They answer questions directly and have the self-confidence to say, “I don’t know,” if necessary.
  • They do not make derogatory comments about present or former employers.
  • They ask questions that convey intelligence, sincerity and honesty.
  • They LISTEN! This is the most important skill of all.

Other, less obvious information is exchanged during the interview: communication skills, an orientation to customer service, high energy, a sense of dedication and open-mindedness to new ideas, a sense of humor, a positive attitude towards themselves and their lives, and enjoyment of and enthusiasm for joining the company’s team.

Regardless of how well or how often a candidate interviews, the process always presents challenges. The big challenges are to establish a level of trust in the short time of a job interview, assess what is important to the interviewer, and accurately read the interviewer’s reactions and body language, especially when meeting them for the first time.