Job Interviews

When it comes to any aspect of life, sometimes what you don't say will carry more influence than what you do say. This is such an important concept when interviewing for a job. There are so many different ways that people are observing you and most of them have little to do with what you have to say. Here are some non-verbal assessments that people make in an interview.

1. When it comes to interviews, there are a few things that are absolute musts. The first is to arrive 10-15 minutes early. This sends the message that you are punctual and dependable.

2. Be kind and courteous to everyone. This may seem like a no brainer but many people think they only have to impress the interviewer. I've known employers to ask the receptionist about their impressions of a candidate.

3. When you meet the interviewer, firmly shake their hand, look them in the eye, and smile. These nonverbal cues tell the interviewer that you are confident and approachable.

4. Make sure you walk and sit straight. Slouching will send cues that you don't feel good about yourself and fidgeting will distract the interviewer.

5. When you leave, stand up straight and tall, look the interviewer in the eye and shake their hand again.

When it comes to interviews, practice is the key. If you are intimidated by the process, ask someone to help you by pretending to interview you. Set up a video camera and watch yourself once your practice session is over. This is important because the video never lies. It will show you areas that you may need to work on. For example, you may be a foot tapper or you may say, "ummm" before answering. Your friend, pretending to interview you, may not notice but the camera will.

How you answer questions tells the interviewer a lot about you. Always try to put a positive spin on everything. Becoming familiar with different types of questions will help you feel more comfortable when you are in the interview. For example, hypothetical questions can determine how well you think on your feet. Closed questions are used to test factual or technical knowledge. Behavior questions are questions that use past behaviors to infer about future behavioral outcomes. Make sure you understand the question before you answer. It is completely appropriate to take a few seconds to gather your thoughts and then to proceed.

There are many sample interview questions floating around the internet. I have selected 11 favorites that seem to always come up when I have interviewed for a job.

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
2. What are your short- and long-range goals and how do you expect to achieve them?
3. What motivates you?
4. Do you plan to further your education? If so, to what extent?
5. Why did you leave your last job?
6. Tell me about the best and worst bosses you've ever had.
7. How do you determine or evaluate success?
8. How do you handle stress?
9. In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
10. Everybody has pet peeves. What are yours?
11. What else do you think I should know about you?

After every interview, it's important to send the interviewer a thank you letter. In this letter, you will thank the interviewer for considering you for the position, reiterate your interest in the position, and demonstrate that you have good manners.

Here is an example of a post interview thank you letter:

Dear Ms. Wright:

I enjoyed interviewing with you at Qualcomm on September 3. The Instructional Design position you outlined sounds both challenging and rewarding.

As mentioned during the interview, my experiences as a junior Instructional Designer at 3M have helped me develop my skills in storyboarding and programming. After speaking with you, I believe that my skills will be a perfect match for your position.

I have enclosed a copy of my college transcript and a list of references that you requested.

Thank you again for the opportunity to interview Qualcomm. The interview served to reinforce my strong interest in becoming a part of your Instructional Design team. I can be reached at (619) 555-1111 or by email at pcd@aol.com should you need additional information.

Sincerely,

xxx