In addition to interview strategies, there are also some interview rules to follow. Keep in mind, every employer interviews differently. Each hiring individual either follows strict or informal hiring guidelines. You may receive an interview with a “tough as nails” hiring manager or you may be interviewed by a soothing, soft-spoken assistant who utilizes no structured interview questions at all. No matter which one you receive, be prepared for the worse. Below you will find a list of interview tips which will help guide you through both types of interviews.

1) Be confident, but not arrogant. A common mistake people make is attempting to make themselves sound like superwoman or superman. A company wants to know you can help them but not by taking them to the “Arrogance Super Bowl.”

2) Answer positively. From time to time, an interviewer will touch on a sensitive portion of your past, i.e., reasons for leaving, short-term employment, or lack of skills. These are the times when you should say to yourself, “turn a frown, upside down.” Try answers like these:

Reason for leaving: “I felt I needed to take my career into a more     positive direction,  which is why I am here with you today.”

Short-term employment: “Shortly after I began, I discovered that position was not going to challenge my abilities or allow the room to grow I require.”

Lack of skills: “I am sure that at first glance it appears I do not have the necessary skills to fill the position, however, I am can assure you I have the drive to conquer any challenges you set forth. I can definitely handle this position.”

3) Laugh a little. The interview will go more smoothly if you are relaxed and comfortable. Caution: Don’t become too relaxed; a lax conversation can bring forth certain conversation topics that you aren’t prepared to talk about.

4) Don’t be afraid to answer a question with a question if you do not understand the question. Get it? For example, ask questions so that you may better answer the interviewer, i.e., “What area of the business are you referring to?” or “Can you elaborate further?” I am sure I speak for most interviewers when I say, “I would rather you ask a question to get further details than answer the wrong question.”

5) If you are relaxed, be cautious. A relaxed person tends to “rattle” off more information than necessary. Scenario: You are relaxed, drinking the coffee they offered you, and you just completed the story about the funny thing your daughter did that morning before you left. You feel this person is your friend and there isn’t anything you can’t tell them, right? But, just as you think you have landed the job, the interviewer asks why you intend to leave your current position. At first you may laugh, with the hopes you can compose yourself before you answer, but with no avail. The dirt starts pouring out like a gossip session and BAM. You just committed a big interview NO, NO. Beware of the nice interviewer.

A company is interested in hiring you for a new opening in the company. You feel as if you are in high demand because you are in a skilled-labor or professional position that requires skills that you possess. If you are considering any new position and you currently are already employed, you should be seeking higher wages, a better working atmosphere, and an overall improvement in your career.

Not asking about your wages up front is a mistake. During most every interview the employer is going to ask you that one question, which is: ”What wages are you asking for if you were to come to work for us?” While this can be a difficult question to answer point-blank when you don’t know the current rate of pay in the company, you can come prepared for the question and negotiate a higher rate of pay.

Never act surprised when that big question is asked

Come to your interview prepared! Make a list of questions that are always asked during interviews, such as: Are you new to the area? Do you have a degree in this industry? What did you like best about your last job? What did you like least about your last job? Can you name three strengths you have, and that would apply to this position? What are your weaknesses?

Being prepared is going to help you get through the interview; then as it comes time to negotiate your salary you are better prepared, not only with good conversation, but also in selling yourself to this company, which is essentially what you are doing! You want to start out with a base-level salary, but you are expecting a review of your performance in 60 days, or 6 months. In stating you are asking for a base salary and then expect a raise as you show you can perform and be beneficial for the company, you will show the potential employer you are confident in what you do and in how you complete your job.

Along with asking for a higher salary right from the start, you can also have a conversation with the employer that you are prepared to accept a set dollar amount per week, but you also would require additional benefits. Many times, the benefits are going to be easier for the company to provide, but even with a base salary, overall you are getting paid a higher rate. Examples of benefits include a laptop computer so you can work from anywhere, a cellular phone, a gas card for traveling, and perhaps an expense account for dining with customers or dealing with marketing needs.

You may be permitted a clothing allowance, a tool allowance, or perhaps you could start out with two weeks of vacation per year instead of one. But you need to remember that the perfect salary is going to be one that you are happy with and one with which you feel you can support yourself and / or your family. You don’t want to give up too much of your salary to get the benefits that will not be cash in your pocket.

Preparing your answers up front before the questions about salary are asked during your interview will show you are confident in your abilities, and that you know what you are worth. Never be afraid to ask for another $25.00 or more per week, when you know what the salaries are in the industry you are working, and you have the experience to back up the negotiations for additional salary! If the employer states that your price is a little out of their range, remind the employer they are going to save money by hiring you because you are trained, you are bringing years or months of experience, and you have ideas for the position that will boost your overall levels of input and productivity that will benefit the company almost immediately. Never be afraid to state what you know, and what you can do for the company.

Negotiate with the employer before the first day of employment

It is important that if wages were not discussed during your interview, that you make an appointment and discuss your salary before you start working anywhere for anyone. While you may have a set wage in your mind and what you know you should be paid, the employer may have a scale, stating you are paid X dollars per week, and raises are given yearly. If you are not sure what your salary will be, then nine times out of ten you are not going to get the wages you expected.

Negotiate with confidence

When you are negotiating your wages, you need to be confident in your answers, and in what you are asking. If the question never comes up during the interview, then you need to initiate the topic. Look the employer in the eye, showing you are not afraid of any topic, any time. Ask what the salary is. If the answer is not high enough for you, add additional questions.

Looking the person in the eye, with a strong voice, ask what the benefits are, and when reviews for raises are considered. If you are not happy with the answer, make a statement along the lines of: “I was expecting the position to pay $X.” If you are not satisfied with the beginning salary, set expectations about when you expect reviews, or find out what the company has in their policy for reviews and raises in compensation.

Things you can do if you find the employer is not going to budge on the salary being offered

• State that you will have to think about it, and then don’t call the employer for a week. If you are not calling the employer and they need to fill this position right away, there is a chance they will call you and offer you a higher wage.
• You can ask for additional benefits, such as the gas card, expense account, cellular phone, or extended vacation time.
• Your compensation also includes a combination of sick time, personal time, and medical benefits. If you are not able to get the higher salary you want or need, inquire about the company paying full medical benefits, more sick time, more personal days, and similar types of benefits. These are benefits that hourly employees may not be offered but ones that you can negotiate into your salary package.

If you are interviewing at more than one location, for more than one job, don’t be afraid to bring up the fact that another company is interested in you and is, in fact, offering you a much more competitive salary (if it is true, of course). This will reveal to the employer that you are valuable and perhaps they should rethink the salary offer they put on the table.

Linda Matias is a nationally certified resume writer, interview, job and career transition coach.

She is a contributing writer to over 15 career-related books.

Visit www.job-interview-advice.net for free resources, articles, and advice on how to answer top interview questions, write a compelling resume, embark on a successful job search and find a satisfying career.

GREAT INTERVIEWS GET THE JOB

It can be easy to convince ourselves that the job interview doesn’t matter so much, as long as our resume is outstanding, our dress is impeccably professional, and that we are nice people. After all, nice people do win in the end, don’t they? Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Even though the resume, attire, and likeability factor all play a part in an employer’s decision to hire someone, the answers that you provide to the questions during the interview will demonstrate what the employer is most interested in: your confidence, skills, and knowledge of the job.

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Your best weapon to mastering the job interview is to practice, practice, practice your answers to the most commonly asked questions by employers. The most certain way to sabotage your chances to win over a potential employer is to try and wing the interview. Your answers can appear aimless and without direction, making you look unprepared or worse, unqualified.

Don’t risk the future of your career by flying by the seat of your pants. Prepare yourself by developing answers to the most commonly asked questions:

1. Tell Me a Little Something About Yourself.

This is probably one of the most dreaded questions of all time. We quiver and sweat in our seats wondering what the employer really wants to know. Hey, relax! For starters, this is a great opportunity for you to sell yourself to the employer. Talk about your key accomplishments and strengths and how these factors will benefit the employer in the desired position. Write down ahead of time what you plan to say; perfect it; then practice it every chance you get.

2. Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job?

This question is basically a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It appears harmless enough, but it can damage your potential in a heartbeat if you’re not careful. By all means, keep your answers to this question as positive as possible. Above all, do not dwell on how much you hate your current boss! The interviewer wants to hire a team player to the position, not a negative and vindictive hater.

3. Are You Still Employed and If Not, Why Not?

If you are, great, but if you aren’t, you can still use your answer to this question to shine a light on your positive features. For example, if you were laid off or terminated, focus less on the actual termination and more on what you learned from the whole process. You’ll look mature and wise in the employer’s eyes!

4. Do You Have Any Budgeting Experience?

If you haven’t, be honest; but you can answer in a way that shows that you have had some exposure to adhering to a budget—on a project, for example. If you do have budgeting experience, discuss your fiscal responsibility.

5. Have You Ever Managed Anyone?

This question is most important to those who are seeking a supervisory type of position. If you have managerial experience, elaborate on how many people you have supervised and what their positions were in the spectrum of the organizational chart. However, if you haven’t had direct managerial practice, talk up how much you were a part of the decision process of a team project, or how you organized volunteers for a fundraiser.

6. What Are Your Strengths as an Employee?

To adequately answer this question, you need to be aware of the strengths you possess in the following areas: personality, experience, and skills. Once that information is known, match your strengths to the requirements of the position for which you are interviewing.

7. What Are Your Weaknesses?

Obviously, no one likes to admit that they have any weaknesses, especially in front of a potential employer. So what do you do? You can provide ONE trait about yourself that is the least important to the position. Refrain from canned responses such as you are a perfectionist or a workaholic.

8. Discuss How You Make Important Decisions.

If you are interviewing for a supervisory role, you definitely want to come across as someone who is able to ask for input from others, yet is comfortable making the final decisions. Also, consider the type of position and company. For example, is it a budgetary role at a financial institution? In that case, you probably will want to emphasize that you exercise great care and caution when making big decisions.

9. Where Do You Want to Be Five Years From Now?

Suffice it to say, do not answer this question with, “Retired.” Keep your answers positive and simple, with just a tinge of ambition. Think along the lines of a “motivated” versus “rat race” mentality.

10. What Have Been the Biggest Accomplishments of Your Career so Far?

Focus on accomplishments that directly relate to the open position. Discuss the challenge you were presented with, your actions, and the end result. Did you streamline processes? Devise a way to increase customer satisfaction? Were you recognized by management for your efforts? The way you answer this question will distinguish you from other applicants since your answer will require you to go beyond the basic job responsibilities.

A FINAL NOTE

As you can see, the interview is more than just showing up on time in the right clothes. It is your best and only opportunity to convince an employer that he or she should hire you. If you were selected for an interview, consider yourself lucky because you are halfway to the finish line. Make sure you are prepared with relevant and well-thought-out answers to bring in a home run interview.

Knowing the technical aspects of your job isn’t enough to convince an interviewer you are the best person for the job. Interviewers evaluate your candidacy in a broader sense. They assess who you are as a person and whether you are manageable—that is, whether you have the traits that make you an easygoing and effective team member.

To make this determination, interviewers ask questions geared to your manageability.

Below are a few questions that may be asked of you during an interview, along with a sample response for each.

Q. Give me a recent example of when you needed the assistance of your manager.

The interviewer wants to know if you handle issues that arise on your own and whether you exhaust every alternative before informing your manager of a potential problem. Most managers look for employees who manage problems on their own or at the very least, brainstorm possible solutions before bringing the problem to the manager’s attention. To prepare for this type of question, take note of your problem-solving skills and mention the steps you take when resolving issues.

Sample Response: “Since I have comprehensive experience in this industry, it is rare that I approach my supervisor to solve a problem for me. I usually draw upon past experiences to determine the best course of action. This method works 99% of the time. If I’m presented with a scenario I’ve never encountered, I come up with several options and present each to my manager. Together, we discuss the pros and cons of all the possible scenarios and come up with a workable solution.”

Q. How would your current/previous employer describe your work ethic?

An excellent way to gauge your manageability is by gaining insight on how others perceive your performance. When answering this question keep your response focused on the good qualities your manager sees in you.

Sample Response: “My performance reviews always have been outstanding. In my most recent evaluation, my manager indicated that my dependability and loyalty as an employee is evident by the fact that I always show up to work on time, and when needed, make myself available for overtime, making me an asset to the department.”

Q. What kind of manager do you find most difficult to work for?

Instead of providing a laundry list of qualities you dislike in a manager, focus your response on the management style that brings out the best in you.

Sample Response: “Since I am a self-starter, I work best in a situation where the supervisor provides instructions and then allows me to carry them out. I’m not one that needs to be micro-managed. In fact, my previous managers can attest that I always go above and beyond what is expected and can be depended upon to keep my commitments.”

The way you answer interview questions will be the determining factor on whether or not you are extended a job offer. Be prepared to answer interview questions that focus on your ability to be managed.

About the Author – Linda Matias is certified in all three areas of the job search—Certified Interview Coach ™ (CIC), Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW. She is also the author of the book, How to Say It: Job Interviews (Prentice Hall Press). You can contact Linda Matias at linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website www.careerstrides.com

Most job seekers wait to polish up their interview skills until they are looking for a new position. Important interview opportunities, however, can present themselves at any time in your own Company.

Those who continually grow in their careers are always prepared for these situations. Their interview skills are sharp at all times. To know if your skills are sharp enough to handle a surprise interview, see if you can answer the following four questions:

1. Can you concisely state your value to the Company in 60 seconds or less?

A value proposition is meant to intrigue your listener with a quick overview of your skills, expertise, and industry know-how. If you can offer a precise summary of why you are the perfect candidate for that job, you are more likely to get to the second or third interview. A concise value proposition can make a critical difference in winning you a new position.

2. Do you know your top five accomplishments, and can you communicate their impact to your employer’s bottom-line initiatives?

A list of your top accomplishments will allow a potential employer to imagine what you can do for him or her. Accomplishments give employers a way to associate your skills with their needs-and a reason to remember you. Be prepared to list your top skills and show how they can help meet corporate needs.

3. Are you prepared to answer your own toughest interview questions, or do you hope they just won’t come up?

Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to questions like “If you’re doing so well in your job, why do you want to leave?” If you stutter and squirm; you’ll lose their confidence and destroy a chance to get the promotion. Think about the questions that will be your biggest pitfalls-and be prepared to answer them.

4. Do you know how to find out your interviewer’s motivations to understand how best to answer their questions?

This is a very important question. Without knowing your interviewer’s motivations, how will you know if your answers hit the mark of what he or she is looking for in a perfect candidate?

To determine what skills/expertise the employer is seeking for the position, you should be able to assess the areas in which that particular job can be improved, (efficiency, customer service, accuracy, etc.). Once you have those answers in hand, you can target your interview answers accordingly.

Reprinted with permission from Communication Briefings (Briefings)

Reprinted with permission from Communication Briefings (http://www.briefings.com)