By Barbara Lee, Employment Specialist, Resource Partnership
You have won them over with your resume and cover letter, and landed an interview. Now, how are you going to stand out from the rest of the interviewees and get the job offer? This article will provide you with some tips and common do’s and don’ts to prepare you for that winning interview.
The first point to remember about interviewing is that it is the best opportunity for you to sell yourself. Whether in person or over the phone, you will be asked questions about your education and training, work experience, and strengths and weaknesses. You will need to know how to effectively discuss your capabilities and limitations. You will also need to impress upon the interviewer that you understand the job requirements and you will make a significant contribution to the organization when they hire you. Make sure you present yourself in a positive way and discuss all of your abilities (not your disabilities) since it is your skills and qualifications a future employer needs to know about in order to identify you as “the” candidate. So, how can you do all of that and do it well? By being prepared!
Review your resume and the job description or job posting and have them both fresh in your mind. Be prepared to answer questions about your work experience, skills and achievements. Practice your responses ahead of time. If you can, arrange a practice interview with a friend or career counselor to become comfortable with your answers.
Equally as important as knowing your resume is researching the prospective employer or organization. When you set up the interview, ask for information about the company and the job, study the company’s website, learn about the corporate culture and develop some thoughtful questions that you can, in turn, ask during the interview. Employers will be impressed by your interest and enthusiasm.
If you need an accommodation for the interview, bring it up at the time the interview is scheduled. For example, if you use a wheelchair it would be appropriate to ask if the building or office is wheelchair accessible. This gives the employer a chance to select the best meeting location.
Initially you may be asked to take a phone interview, instead of a face-to-face interview. Human resource representatives find a phone interview to be a great way to save time and select the top candidates for the in person interview. Prepare for a phone interview the same way you would prepare for a face-to-face one. Remember this is their first meeting with you; therefore, you need to give it the same careful and professional consideration as you would when you prepare for a meeting in person. Be sure to have all the important information in front of you: your resume, cover letter, company literature and other information you find important to present at the meeting. Make sure that you are in a quiet area, with a good phone (we recommend a land line vs. a cell phone) and no interruptions. If you are hearing impaired and use TTY or the relay, let the interviewer know this ahead of time. The employer can then prepare accordingly. Dress as if you were going to a regular interview to help you get into the right mood. Most importantly be prepared for a type of conversation that you may have never had on the phone before!
Keep in mind that whether it is a phone or a traditional face-to-face interview, it can be stressful, so here are some common do’s and don’ts to follow when you are preparing for an interview:
Finally, thank the interviewer for their time and always follow-up with a thank you letter. This can be pivotal in getting the job offer. The most common way of sending thank you letters is via email, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, write a handwritten one. The word from human resource representatives is that they like that personal touch and they will definitely not forget it.
If you don’t get a job immediately don’t give up! Each interview is a learning experience that can help lead you to the job that is right for you. After each interview, think about how you may be able to respond differently in future interviews. One day soon you will win them over and get that job offer!
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