Investing the time and energy to prepare for your interview will help you stand out as the best person for the position. The following tips will help you prepare for your next interview.

 Twelve Worst Job Interview Mistakes (click here)

Interviewing Skills Presentation

 

Resumes, Interviewing, Networking

Effective Interviewing Guide (click here)

 

Commonly Asked Interview Questions (click here)

Common Telephone Interview Mistakes...

First and most importantly, make sure you are in a place that is quiet and will not be interrupted. Driving in the car while trying to phone interview is a huge mistake. Also, if you have to use a cell phone make sure you have a full battery charge and a strong cell signal. The worst thing to happen would be to get cut off or run out of charge on your battery.

Common other mistakes include not taking the telephone interview as serious as they would an in-person interview. This would include such behaviors as chewing while speaking on the telephone, loud background noises, such as screaming or crying children, etc. You must be prepared for the telephone interview by having a quiet place to talk that is free of distractions. Have your resume handy. If the interviewer calls at an inconvenient time, simply let them know when you can be reached back or offer to call the interviewer back within a timely fashion.

Applicants often overlook their voicemail greeting that is on their phone line. They should have a calm, easy to listen to message, even if they have roommates. Loud music, strange greetings, and odd jokes give an impression that sometimes is less than inviting to a potential employer. Similar to this is when strange email addresses are listed on resumes. Both of these send out messages of questionable professionalism. When doing a phone interview, make sure background noise is off so that there is opportunity for clear and thorough conversation. From the applicant's point of view they also should want to be less distracted and more focused, because on the phone you are only relying on the voice, and you are missing all those crucial non-verbal cues from body language and setting. As always, with phone manners, watch tone, inflection, and volume of your voice as they carry messages as well as the content of your speech. It's OK to say "Let me think about that for a while" if there is a pause and therefore not dead space. Since nerves can affect memory, I would recommend having paper and pen handy to make notes and if called in for an in-person interview can have some more to reflect on in between.

Candidates often leave unprofessional voice messages or music greetings, which initially doesn't create the right impression. When actually speaking to the candidate, an employer may ask if it's a convenient time to talk. Many candidates say Yes even though they are in a shopping center or on the roadside and you can't hear them very well. They may even be at work and they're answering their phone, which again is not a good sign to a prospective employer. Prospective employers are usually offended in any way if the candidate says it isn’t’ a good time. They are happy to call back. I think sometimes on the phone candidates can come across a little more casual than they would in traditional interviews. Over the telephone we don't normally discuss competency-based questions and the candidate may not take the interview as seriously as he or she should. Telephone screening interviews should be considered just as important as in-person interviews because based on that conversation we then decide whether or not to call the candidate in for their first interview.

Some telephone interview tips I would provide to candidates would be to make sure you're in the right surroundings when you're on the phone, don't panic, stay calm, listen to the questions and answer them thoroughly and provide as much information as possible; the deciding factor as to whether or not you are invited in for the first interview is based on that initial contact.

 

Research the Company

What you know about the company will demonstrate that you have interest in the company and the position. Research the website and the annual report. Review the core competencies of the position you are interviewing for. How will your knowledge, skills, and abilities bring value to the position and the organization?

Make a Positive First Impression

You never get a second chance to make a positive first impression. Punctuality is important, but arriving too early can be negative as well. Arriving on time means to be there 5-10 minutes early. Being late to an interview is unacceptable. You should be well-groomed. A sloppy or unprofessional appearance leaves a negative impression and could result in not getting a job offer. As a professional, make sure that your clothes are clean and pressed; you are well rested and alert; and you are confident and positive.

Bring Resume Copies

Always bring several copies of your resume to the interview. Make certain your contact information is easily identifiable and always use a professional e-mail address on your resume. You may have the opportunity to meet with the hiring manager or other team members and should offer a resume to each person interviewing you. Bring a portfolio with a notepad and a list of references should they be requested.

Know Your Skills and Accomplishments

Be prepared for the question, “Tell me about yourself.” You should have a succinct answer that summarizes your career (1-2 sentences), a key accomplishment (1-2 sentences), and what you are looking for in your next position (1-2 sentences). Your answer should be about 1-minute in length. During the interview, keep your answers succinct and to the point. Your answers should focus on the skills you have, an example of how you have used the skills in previous positions, and how this skill will be beneficial to the position you are interviewing for.

During the Interview

The interview is intended to be a conversation and not an interrogation. By taking notes during the interview, you capture key details and may help in formulating questions to ask the interviewer. Be prepared with some questions for the interviewer ahead of time. It shows that you are interested in the position and want to understand the expectations of the position and the organization. Do not interrupt the interviewer. Most importantly, do not dominate the conversation. Do not talk too much or you will talk yourself out of a job. Listen first, then talk. Allow the hiring manager or interviewer to lead.

Follow Up

Always send a thank you note or e-mail to each interviewer within 24 hours of the interview. Be certain that names are spelled correctly. Thank the interviewer for taking time out of their busy schedule to meet with you. Mention some of the key points made during the interview. Express your feelings about the organization, people, and position. This is not intended to sell your qualifications, keep it short (a few sentences). Stay in touch with your recruiter for feedback to determine your status.