| Maybe you have decided that you deserve more | | | | interviews are becoming more and more |
| money than you are currently being paid or | | | | complex. |
| maybe you have decided that not having a job | | | | |
| and not being paid anything must come to an | | | | It is best to find out the appropriate way to |
| end. You may be looking for a new position | | | | apply for the job, not all of us are |
| in the company you are in or you may be | | | | fortunate enough to be drinking a cup of Joe |
| looking to jump companies and possibly even | | | | in a run down cafe next to a successful movie |
| industries all together. Whatever you | | | | producer like in the movie "Sullivan's |
| situation is, you must face the | | | | Travels." If dad owns the company, you can |
| inevitable…The Job Interview. | | | | promise to wash his car and mow the lawn, but |
| | | | chances are good that someone in human |
| Why so many people have given this process a | | | | resources or the hiring manager will give you |
| negative connotation, is because they do not | | | | their companies' process of landing that |
| know the proper steps to take to interview | | | | dream job. |
| like a champion. Being a champion | | | | |
| interviewer like any other skill takes | | | | I believe in The Top Down Theory, where you |
| practice. When you were a kid and first | | | | go right to the top of the company and they |
| learned how to ride a bike, chances are you | | | | refer you to the person responsible for the |
| fell off a few times before you were burning | | | | hiring decision. How does a referral from |
| rubber on your first two wheeler. The same | | | | Bill Gates sound to you, that is if you can |
| goes for interviewing like a champion, your | | | | get a hold of the person at the top. If not |
| first interview ever may have a few flaws, | | | | a simple phone call, personal letter, fax or |
| but after going on a couple of interviews and | | | | e-mail should do. When setting up the |
| reading the remainder of this article, you | | | | interview do not sell them on hiring you on |
| will be an interviewing powerhouse. | | | | the phone, your main concern should be |
| | | | booking the interview, who knows who or what |
| First you must establish what kind of job you | | | | is on the other end of the phone. The in |
| want. In order to do this I like to say, | | | | person interview is where the true champion |
| what do you love to do? If money was not an | | | | thrives past the unprepared person. |
| object, what would you do for a living? | | | | |
| Maybe you would help out in a hospital, teach | | | | You have the interview booked, now what? |
| children, or maybe you enjoy the roller | | | | What are you strengths and weaknesses, define |
| coaster ride of a salesperson, manager or | | | | them, yes on paper, and ask others who know |
| work in human resources. What ever it is | | | | you to define them for you as well. This |
| that you enjoy, you can increase your chances | | | | will really give you an opportunity see if |
| of being happy on the job is you are working | | | | you see yourself the way that others see you. |
| in a job that you enjoy. In addition to the | | | | Get to know what kind of questions will be |
| kind of job, you must enjoy the atmosphere of | | | | asked in the interview and role play with |
| your working environment and industry. | | | | people, remember sloppy practice equals |
| | | | sloppy play and outstanding practice equals |
| So you know what you like, now are you really | | | | outstanding play. What questions would you |
| able to perform this type of job? If you are | | | | ask someone hiring for the positions. Know |
| five foot two and weigh 250 pounds, you | | | | the questions, know and believe your answers |
| probably shouldn't expect a job in the NBA. | | | | because you can see trepidation when someone |
| Finding what you love and what you are | | | | does not believe in what they are saying. |
| qualified for really takes some soul | | | | |
| searching and should not be rushed. Take a | | | | Interview day, this is where the champion |
| look at what you do in your free time, are | | | | shines. I will not get into appearance in |
| you doing something you love? If money | | | | this article (if you would like to know more |
| wasn't an object what would you be doing? Is | | | | about appearance, check out my article Dress |
| it possible to take these two and find a job | | | | For Success), but needless to say you should |
| in this area? If you enjoy traveling, would | | | | look the part of a successful employee in the |
| a job in travel interest you? If you enjoy | | | | position you are interviewing for whatever |
| building things, would a job in construction | | | | the attire calls for wear it, and groom |
| interest you? | | | | yourself accordingly. Review you notes about |
| | | | the company, yourself and why you are their |
| Once you have figured out what you enjoy, it | | | | best choice. Visualize the interview and |
| is time decide what job you believe you | | | | imagine any questions that may be asked of |
| qualify for that is in your area of interest. | | | | you and have answers for them. |
| It is best to choose at least three | | | | |
| different companies in this industry that | | | | Unless you are applying for a job as a mafia |
| suit your needs. You don't have to | | | | hit man, I would suggest smiling at everyone. |
| necessarily choose an industry if it is just | | | | Nothing is more becoming than someone who |
| the position that you enjoy, but why not | | | | brightens a room with a beautiful smile. Not |
| obtain a position in an industry that you | | | | only is it contagious, but people will want |
| really enjoy. Working in an industry that | | | | to be around you because you must be smiling |
| you enjoy as well as having the position that | | | | about something good about yourself. This |
| you enjoy will add to your day to day | | | | may even have the interviewer wondering what |
| happiness on the job. If you believe you | | | | is so great about you that you are smiling |
| have found the company and are working in it | | | | and you may even be offered the job. In |
| already, you have one foot in the door and | | | | addition to your smile, please be friendly to |
| are a step ahead of those coming in from the | | | | everyone, yes everyone. You never know who |
| outside. Do not get to comfortable though, | | | | is who in the office. The CEO may have just |
| because the prize always goes to the person | | | | decided to take a seat for a moment in the |
| who wants it the most…this is true for | | | | lobby, wouldn't that be great if you were |
| everything in life, not just interviewing. | | | | smiling and acting friendly. |
| | | | |
| You have picked the industry and narrowed | | | | Here comes the interviewer. With a friendly |
| your choices down to your top three companies | | | | warm smile shake hands and let them lead you |
| in that industry. Hopefully you have done | | | | to where the interview will take place. |
| this by looking at many things such as the | | | | Please shake hands like you want the job, the |
| size of the company, the location of the | | | | dead fish handshake really is a turn off (for |
| company (how long is the commute from home), | | | | more on handshakes, check out my article (Who |
| the companies reputation in the industry and | | | | You Are Is Speaking So Loud That I Can't Hear |
| many other things that you can imagine you | | | | What You Are Saying). The person giving the |
| would need to look at in working for this | | | | interview will probably take the lead and let |
| company. | | | | you know that the interview will probably |
| | | | look something like this (This is how the |
| Next you must look at the position available | | | | most common interview is structured, for more |
| in that company. Is the position available | | | | on unique interviews check out my article Now |
| (if it is not today, it does not mean that | | | | That's An Interview). First they will ask you |
| you can't earn that position, it just may | | | | questions about yourself, they will tell you |
| take some real champion interviewing), what | | | | about the company and position, and then ask |
| are the requirements for that position, who | | | | why you are a fit. You will master that |
| would you be reporting to, what is the | | | | question because of all your outstanding |
| working environment like and of course how | | | | practice. Finally they will ask if you have |
| much can you make at this position. These | | | | any questions. You should have at least one |
| are just some of the many things you will | | | | if not several. The one you should have is |
| want to consider when deciding on a job. | | | | if you can have the job. This will show |
| | | | confidence and that you mean business, if you |
| You have narrowed down you choices and have | | | | are this powerful in the interview, the |
| your top 3 companies in mind that are aligned | | | | interviewer will think that you will be just |
| with your values and are ready for the | | | | as powerful in the job. Confidence is the |
| interview…or are you? Sure if you | | | | most important thing to have on an interview, |
| believe you are, but like the master | | | | if you are not confident about yourself, why |
| craftsman - measure twice…cut once. | | | | should the person conducting the interview be |
| Why have you picked these three companies to | | | | confident about you? (For more on confidence, |
| work for? List as many reasons as you can | | | | check out my article Confidence…Fake It |
| possibly list for each company on | | | | Till You Make It.) |
| paper…yes on paper. This will allow | | | | |
| you to go back to this list before your | | | | In regards to questions, you should also ask |
| interview to study so you can have an answer | | | | them to clear up anything that you did not |
| when asked the question "Why do you want to | | | | understand when they were giving you |
| work here?" | | | | information about the company and position. |
| | | | You should also ask anything else that you |
| Get ready because the follow up question to | | | | want to know about anything. It is said that |
| the preceding question is "Why should we | | | | the quality of your performance is judged by |
| choose you for this position? What do you | | | | the quality of your questions. Outstanding |
| have to offer to us that someone else | | | | questions get outstanding answers…and |
| doesn't?" Am I suggesting that you have | | | | people who ask outstanding questions, must be |
| answers to these questions already scripted | | | | outstanding…wouldn't you agree? |
| out before the interview…yes! In fact, | | | | |
| you should know the answers to these | | | | If you are not offered the job on the spot, |
| questions even before you make your first | | | | kindly thank the interviewer for their time |
| contact to set up the interview. | | | | and when you get home, send a thank you |
| | | | letter or e-mail for their time. This shows |
| Now it is time to set up the interview. | | | | that you respect them and their time. What |
| Hopefully when you were contacting the | | | | if they had to decide to hire you or someone |
| companies to ask questions about the | | | | else and you were both even for the job, but |
| positions available and about the company | | | | the other person didn't send a thank you |
| itself, you were friendly and built rapport | | | | card, who do you think they would hire? |
| with everyone you talked to (for more on | | | | |
| rapport, please read my articles on building | | | | You should be contacted in a week or two and |
| rapport). As you are setting up the | | | | if not, follow up with a phone call inquiring |
| interview it is a great idea to befriend some | | | | about the job. If you got the job great |
| workers in the company to get the "inside | | | | (check out my article First Day On The Job), |
| scoop" on the job, the company and the | | | | if not you should have two other employers |
| person(s) interviewing you. These will be | | | | getting back to you if not at least two more |
| good contact to have to prep you for the | | | | interviews to go on. |
| interview, especially because today | | | | |