For the past couple months I've been rolling through a rigorous amount of job interviews. They are for higher end positions with solid middle class wages involved. It surely required a new approach that I wish I'd studied for. I've applied for many jobs and scored about a 10-20% interview rate my whole life, so it got me thinking about the things I did right, and the things I didn't. Below are some of the things I learned along the way:
1. Jobs requiring a low skill level don't need a heavy amount of preparation. There were times when I was hired right on the spot; others only had one interview. A couple didn't even ask questions. One in particular didn't even interview (FedEx); I was simply hired after a background check. Higher end jobs, however, will require you to prepare for your interviews. Even entry level jobs in high profile careers can have a rigorous screening process.
2. Most jobs have an initial recruiter or HR screening interview that only lasts 15-30 minutes and are usually easy to pass. Beware: in one instance the interview was recorded for the hiring manager without my knowledge, and I did not pass it. An interview with a hiring manager is far more challenging.
3. Try not to talk about personal stuff like your family too much, unless they bring up their own family. If you think it will help your chances, that is your only green light. I'd assumed talking about my kids would help my chances by showing how responsible I've become, but that is not always the case. Employers want to know how dedicated you will be to the job, not your other obligations. Answer questions about motivation or things off the resume, including hobbies, with something relevant to your career or the position. These are not always casual questions like they would seem.
4. If you aren't sure of the company dress code, overdress. It's better to look over-prepared than under-prepared.
5. Don't ask about schedules or flexibility until you are given an offer. Same with salary and benefits. It gives the impression you are only interested in yourself. Many times this information is in the ad anyway, so the employer shouldn't need to restate what's already been provided.
6. Type out your answers to hard questions, print them off for review, memorize your stories. Interviewers want to hear stories that show your qualifications. Go through the most common questions (search online) and prepare your answers. Below are the most common questions I've had:
Tell me about yourself.
Why do you want to work for this company?
Why did you leave your last job?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Describe a time when you had a difficult customer or co-worker and how you solved it?
7. Sound confident, honest, and enthusiastic. Saying "uh" or "like" a lot will make you sound dishonest. Employers want to see you really want the job and are confident in learning unfamiliar tasks. Always state your flexibility to learn.
8. Some questions involving specific aptitude have no right or wrong answer. They simply want to see how graceful you are when challenged. Never give a blind guess if you don't have answer (i.e. a tough math problem). Tell them you would research the answer or ask someone with more experience.
