On October 11 2011 03:34 Condor Hero wrote: what kind of job you looking for ? i just went through a job search/interview process this past year.
Not quite sure yet honestly. I've got like 4-5 interviews lined up in all different fields and industries for the next week, so I'm kind of just trying to get a generic sense of what to do/what not to do/etc. General pointers that can work for any type of interview, which I can then use to divulge into field-based specifics.
Another question I have is what do I do if the interviewer asks me to describe a situation I've never encountered. Do I just tell them I've never been in that situation or should I attempt to make up something on the fly?
You kind of have to make your own judgments when they ask questions like that (in my opinion, interviewers who follow that format are retarded). Generally, its better to provide an answer, even if you have to make it up, than to say it never happened to you. Remember, when they ask questions like that they are trying to get to know your character better, and if you don't give an answer then you're not telling them anything.
You should also make a point of emphasizing how hard it to for them to make good judgments about who to hire based off an hour or two of questioning. Mention how everyone they've met probably has said that they are hard working, career focused, outgoing (everything good basically) but you are different because __________.
For me personally, I mentioned how my parents were immigrants to the US and how hard they worked to provide me better opportunities has influenced me to work hard in my life etc.
Speak slowly, & with authority (not quiet, but not trying to blow their ears out). Make sense. Have positive body language. that's about it. You don't want to rush through responses as if you only have limited time to say everything (or their time is far more important than yours).
It helps if you remind yourself why it would be a really good idea for them to hire you and really internalize that.
Have you ever heard of the STAR approach when answering behavioral/situation questions? I'm sure you can find a ton of stuff on the internet about it, but here's the jist of it when they ask you something like "tell me about a time where you demonstrated leadership blah blah blah"
S - situation: just a bit of background of the operating environment and what was going on. eg. you worked at a small tech company and you had to work on some project
T - task: what you had to do specifically, what was the goal? eg. your boss gave you a project to test out a new product and write a report to him about the findings
A - action: what you actually did to accomplish the task. be specific here and be sure to tie in the overall trait they want you to talk about (eg. leadership)
R - result: what was the outcome from your action? list your accomplishments, swing your dick out here that's what they want. be quantifiable. eg. finished project 2 weeks ahead of time and discovered 3 faults regarding product previously undiscovered. MAKE SURE to tie in HOW your actions lead to this result.
Remember not to talk too much about the situation and task as a lot of people do that. The action and result part is usually the most important. And be quantifiable with your result, eg. increased sales by $50,000.
Remember that for the most part, they want to see if you're someone they're happy to work with. Since you already have an interview, you've already shown you have at least the minimum technical skills they need unless their HR Department isn't screening properly. Go in there with the view of showing you're someone the other guy would be happy to have to sit next to and work with every day. Show you can clearly get to the point and give them what is necessary.
Also, showing you can uphold commitments and promises is important too.
It's cliché but true, first impressions are everything. If they don't like you in the first 15 seconds, you might as well punch them in the face and leave.
I would say never bullshit, we can see straight through it and as soon as you walk out the door we'll say 'what the fuck was he on about?' and move along. If you are presented with something you've not done or experienced it's fine to say that, but try and make an intelligent comment on it (don't say 'I dunno' or something just as useless).
I would say the most important thing you can do was mentioned last page; take a moment and think about your responses. That doesn't mean sit like a lemon for two minutes in silence while you ponder it just means try and end ensure you're not going to realise halfway in to a monologue you have no idea what your point was. If you need to stall for a second repeat the question back.
Don't ramble, make the salient points you want to make and back them up with an example whenever you can. The advice above about action and outcome was good.
Try and think about slowing yourself down, you will be rushing due to the nerves. Slowing down will allow you to consider questions and respond thoughtfully and intelligently and help the interviewer to make his or her notes and fully understand you.
Prepare a few solid questions about the company or role you are applying for. Try to find out a little more about the company than what is written on the first paragraph of their website (we have to listen to this from pretty much everyone, if you can avoid the same lines as everyone else you will help yourself no end). Good questions show you've thought about what you are interviewing for before you arrived.
Oh and clichés to avoid - the greatest has to be "My weakness is that I can be a perfectionist" or anything to that effect. Give that question thought, answering it well is an art.
Anyway I hope that helps. Got me away from this pile of CVs for a bit
Edit: For the love of god be ten minutes early and smartly dressed. If you're not sure where you're going go the day before and check.
EPT
