Looking for a job? Well, one of the most terrifying experiences about looking for a job is interviewing. But I have been on the other side of that. I mean I have interviewed over 25,000 people on my recruiting career. Many of them on the telephone, many of them in person, many of them ranging from 15 minutes so can you imagine this, three-hour interviews with spells.
So I have learned a few things that I like to pass on to you that I hope that you’re going to be, that you will find helpful. The very first thing is do your homework. How many people have showed up they did not really know what my company did, they did not know anything about the job even though we had it posted online or they knew somebody who worked there. But do your homework.
In fact, you can even prove that you have done your homework. Go to the website, print out the about us page or let me just rewind. You go to Google, put in the name of the company, go to their website, go to the about us page, print that page out, read it, mark it up, then go to the jobs and career page. Find the things that are interesting to you, print it out, mark it up, read it through, and be ready and put that on a folder, have the name of the company on the folder. So when you walk in, you are not only are prepared, you look prepared.
Now, speaking of going in. First of all, show up early. Second of all show up early. Thirdly, show up early. You want to be there at least 15 minutes ahead because if you are late for whatever reason, it does not matter what the reason is. That says to the interviewer, I do not care, not good work ethic, just you know, it is what it is. And one of the principles is, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So you really want to show up early. Obviously you have checked yourself out in the restroom before you go in to the interview so that your hair is in place and your shoes are dusted and you look put together. You want to be smiling. You want to be standing when they come out to get you. It just makes a whole another impression if you are coming out of some stuff each year versus standing there ready to go.
So now, you are actually sitting in front of somebody and you are talking to him about the job that they have. Do not be timid about asking questions about what is the job and what are you trying to accomplish to the job. In fact that is probably the most important question that you will have of them, is what do they want to get accomplished to the job. Because if you gain picture of that, if you can get an understanding of what results they want, they you can immediately go to you inventory of experience, and stories and education and skills, and line that up with what it is they want done.
And so, let us say you had a great interchange and you have done that thing were you have two ears, and only mouth so you are listening as much if not more than talking. And of course, never negative an interview even if they ask you tell me about your last job. Whether you were used, abused, and refused and you say, wow, that was just really a tough time and it has brought to a place where I can interview in a great place like this. So turn it all from negative to positive.
And then, if you really like what they have to say, and you can see yourself contributing ask for the order. Tell them, “I love what have heard, I would really be interested and possibly working here. What is the next step? When will I hear back from you? Can I follow up with an email? I really appreciate your time, thank you. I am interested in working at.” Whatever the name the company is, and then after you leave, it is not over. Send an email that day, and then also that day send a hand written note. Okay, so maybe you are going to have to type it out because your handwriting is as bad as mine is but send them a personal note saying, “Thank you, I look forward to the next step.” And then after a week or two, or whatever time frame they give you follow up.
So that is the interview and interviewing just a few tips. Good luck, I look forward to seeing you possibly in an interview one day.
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