Ace your job interviews with these tips

Published 8:44 am Monday, May 8, 2006

Dalton State College’s Business Networking Club has had a number of great speakers this semester who’ve talked about the interview and the job search process.

A number of their suggestions for our DSC students may also help you as you plan for your next promotion or career change.

Interestingly, some firms interview even when they don’t have an immediate opening. They may periodically review their existing employee resources, particularly their management team, and determine what upgrading of their individual skills bank is needed. In some cases, they may notice a gap in the current team and work to find new employees to “back-fill” these gaps. This planning in often done in advance and employers may keep your resume on file for up to three years.

It is your resume that gets you to the interview. Once you get the call for an on-site interview, your resume has fulfilled its obligation. If you send out five resumes for a job in your field and you get no response at all, this is normally a sign you need to make some changes to your resume. Check spelling, formatting, dates and be sure you are using current industry terms and technology and that your bullet points match the job skills mentioned in the advertisement or position announcement.

Before the interview, make sure you have researched the employer. Learn the company structure. Check the Internet and if possible, talk to someone who works in the organization.

When you get the call for an interview, this means you are qualified on paper. Now you are being screened to see if you will fit the part, and particularly fit into the organization’s culture. Because first impressions are the lasting impressions, you’ll want to be prepared as well as act and dress the part. Everyone in the organization on the day of your meeting will be interviewing you. Use your best manners with the receptionist, secretary and those you meet in the hall.

In the interview you’ll be asked a number of typical interview questions — be prepared for five to 12 questions. You’ll probably be asked to discuss a situation you’ve experienced and how you handled the problem. Be prepared with a response. If you need time to formulate your answer, a bit of silence after you are asked the question is okay.

In your response, you’ll want to discuss the situation, your actions, the process you took, how you developed a solution and the outcomes you’ve experienced. In these questions, work to be concise and confident and follow a logical order from start to finish as you describes the situation and your resolution.

At all times, maintain direct eye contact with the person asking the questions. This is particularly important when you are being interviewed by a team. Always ask questions. You won’t be their

number one pick if you don’t ask at least one question. It is even acceptable, at the end of the interview, to ask the salary range for the position and the promotion path. Following the interview, don’t forget to send a short, handwritten thank you card on good cardstock.

You may just want to say, “Thank you for taking the time to talk with me today about the position at your company. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Remember the employer may be considering you not just for the current job but for future promotions you’ll be assessed for your “upside potential.” The number one recruiting source for new jobs is employee referrals.

You may want to visit a company you might be interested in working for. Some firms even schedule information interviews at a local hotel so you can learn about the company. Call the company’s human resources department and visit the office and set up a tour of the facility.

You’ll likely learn if the company has an opening and you can learn about the various jobs. In particular, you should learn as much as you can about both the job you are applying for and about the company.

If you haven’t heard from the company in five to seven days after the interview, it is acceptable to call them.

Remember some firms are interviewing for the future or for upcoming expansions and may keep your resume on file.

If your resume changes, you may want to send them an updated copy after six months.

If you want to change your resume with the addition of a college degree, summer school classes at DSC begin Tuesday, May 16.



Marilyn Helms is business professor at Dalton State College.