Interview_Preparation面试准备.doc

Interview PreparationPreparationAdvance preparation will increase your confidence, help overcome interviewing inexperience, and enable you to sell yourself and your qualifications.Todays employers are committing considerable time and resources to recruiting and interviewing. They need to quickly identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities candidates have to help them be successful on the job. As a candidate, your goal is to demonstrate how your knowledge and experience can benefit the employer. Your primary objective is to convince the interviewer that you are the most qualified candidate. You need to sell your experience, qualifications, and abilities. If you make your living in a field other than sales, you may feel that you dont have a sales personality. But consider this: all of us are selling all the time. Every day of your life you are selling your views and ideas to your family, friends, and business associates. Every time you persuade your colleagues to use your solution to a business problem you use your selling skills. All you need is a basic sales strategy that anyone can use: Find out what the prospect (the interviewer) really needs; then package your product (your experience, qualifications, ability) to meet those needs. This sales approach involves more than simply listing the virtues of your product (which you really do when you prepare your resume). It means that you must evaluate all of your past responsibilities and accomplishments in terms of the position to be filled. Just as an actor learns his or her lines and attends rehearsals before a performance, a candidate should prepare for his or her very important performance - the job interview. Though this may seem like common sense, interviewers are continually surprised by the lack of preparation on the part of most candidates. You can make yourself stand out from the rest by following a few simple tips.Review Your ResumePrepare a thorough resume (5 pages at most) showing your work experience chronologically, highlighting at least one major accomplishment for each position held in the past 10 years, and include specific technical details (i.e. versions, hardware, software, O/S, database, # people on your team, #users, etc.). If at all possible, choose examples that show experience that could be of special value to your prospective employer. Proofread your resume carefully for misspellings and grammar, and be sure it is printed with a laser printer. Get the Facts StraightKnow who, what, where, when, and why. Know the place and time of the interview, full name and title of interviewer, title of position you are applying for, and (if possible) why the position is open. Research the CompanyYou should know about the companys products or services, markets, sales volume and growth. Check out its plant locations, website, recent stock market activity, and its standing in its particular field. Gather information pertaining to the annual sales revenue, principal lines of business, and technology they employ. Corporate profiles and financials are available from a variety of sources including databases of corporate sites on the World Wide Web and reference materials in local libraries such as Dunn & Bradstreet, Thomas Registers, and Moodys Directories. Once youve found out as much as possible about the company and the job, youre ready for the next step in your pre-interview strategy. Qualifications NeededTry to get a sense of why the employer is interested in your qualifications and how your qualifications solve the needs of the company. Review your experience and qualifications in terms of the specific job. Try to get a sense of why the employer is interested in your qualifications and how your qualifications solve the needs of the company. For example, suppose that your ability to solve marketing problems or reduce production costs is a significant feature of your experience and would be a valuable benefit to your prospective employer. Be prepared to offer specifics about the savings or profits that resulted from your efforts or about other contributions youve made to the success of the companies youve worked for. Goals of the Interview The goals of an interview differ depending on the type and level of interview. However, the purpose of each is to move to the next level in the hiring process. Phone Interview:The phone interview is a process in which a representative of a company will initially screen the applicant to see if he or she has the basic skills needed for the position. The goal of the applicant is to get a second face to face interview. Initial Face to Face Interview:This interview allows the company to probe in depth the applicants professional appearance, communication skills, problem solving abilities, and personality traits. During this interview the company will decide whether or not the applicant will be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position. They will also be able to evaluate whether or not the applicant will fit with the company culture. Second Face to Face Interview:At this point the company has determined that the applicant has the ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position. However, they need to either (a) bring senior executives into the picture for their approval, (b) compare the applicant with other possible applicants, or (c) to finalize the compensation package with the applicant. The InterviewYour Professional Appearance and Demeanor Visual first impressions are important. Consider your personal grooming. Your own personal taste in clothes may not always be the most appropriate for a job interview. You are safer to err on the side of conservative attire. Try to appear as businesslike as possible. Ask your recruiter about appropriate dress code on an interview by interview basis.Positive Body Language Greet the interviewer politely and with confidence Look him/her in the eye and smile Be sure to have a firm handshake Show how glad you are to meet the interviewer Sit upright and lean forward to show interest Be an attentive and patient listener (never interrupt the interviewer) Speak clearly and confidently Smile as you talk and try to convey your enthusiasm for your working experiences Never sit down before the interviewerInterview Negatives The interviewer will be evaluating your negative as well as your positive characteristics during the interview. Following are some negative factors that can lead to the rejection of an applicant: Unprofessional appearance Aggressive, overbearing, or egotistical behavior Lack of affirmative purpose Passive or indifferent behavior, indicating lack of enthusiasm and interest in the position Nervousness or lack of poise and confidence. Excessive focus on compensation Not forthcoming or seemingly evasive Making excuses for questionable factors in work history Unprofessional bearing, lacking tact, courtesy, immaturity Criticism of present or past employers, colleagues, technology, projects Failure to maintain and actively participate in a conversation Insignificant demonstrated commitment to the position Lack of questions about the position Pervasive what can you do for me attitude Poor preparation for the interview, lack of info about the company, failure to ask informed questions. Common Interview Pitfalls Dont respond to questions with yes or no answers Explain and expand answers into compelling reasons to hire you when possible Dont exaggerate your accomplishments - be positive but honest Dont provide too much information or go off into tangents Answer questions fully and frankly, but to the point Dont make opinionated statements unless the employer invites you to do so. Communication Tips and Techniques Have a clear beginning and ending. Dont let your sentences run together or trail off. Avoid using vocal pauses and slang words (um, uh, like, you know .). Its ok to have moments of silence to collect your thoughts and formulate an answer. Plan what you want to communicate to the interviewer (practice answering questions in previous pages). Answer the question asked and volunteer only relevant information. Dont ramble. Dont use slang, curse words, or other forms of poor English. Critical Questions Asked By EmployerQ: What salary are you looking for?A: Well, I am currently at $_ , but my main concern is an opportunity with a company that will allow me to develop my skill sets and grow as an individual. You should avoid discussing compensation on the first interview unless youre actually offered the job and want to accept it. If the interviewer asks specifically what your salary requirements are, your answer should be, My primary concern is not the compensation, but rather the opportunity. To be honest, I cant really tell you what I would be looking for exactly because it depends on so many factors, and again I dont want to place emphasis on this issue right now because it is not my primary motivation. If you are pressed, defer the issue to your GuruLink Consultant and let the client know that he/she is aware of your past compensation and general expectations and you would prefer they discuss that issue with that person.Q: Why are you leaving your present position?A: Although I enjoy my work, and _ is a great company, my current situation does not allow me to grow. When I heard about this opportunity, it seemed to be more in line with my career goals. (Always be positive, but give a reason for leaving). Be sure you have a good answer to this question before going on an interview. Your reason for leaving might be because of corporate changes, lack of opportunity or recognition, insufficient authority, or unsatisfactory earnings. If appropriate, you might say, I wasnt thinking of changing jobs. Im not unhappy where I am, but I was told this was an opportunity worth discussing. If you were terminated, or are leaving because of a personality conflict, be very careful not to make negative statements about former employers or colleagues. Explain the situation as factually and briefly as possible. Then to turn what might be a negative into a positive you might add, Despite that problem, I really feel I learned a great deal in that job and from that company, and Im sure I could put that experience to work for you effectively. Q: What is your weakness?A: Unfortunately, I am a perfectionist and set high expectations for myself and I always expect my peers to demand as much of themselves. (Always answer with a positive rather than a negative attribute) . This is a loaded question because negatives usually wont score pluses for you on the interviewers evaluation sheet. Offer a job related minor shortcoming or a positive-negative such as, Ive been accused of being a workaholic. Or, Ive been kidded about being a perfectionist. Q: Tell me about yourself.A: Pre-plan a five to ten minute answer describing your education and then each job in terms of accomplishments or performance indicators. With what youve learned about the company and the position, plan an answer that emphasizes your experience and accomplishments in terms of the position to be filled. Dont be modest and DO take credit for your successes. You can use this same question to get the interviewer talking about his own needs, by answering him, Ill be happy to tell you about my qualifications, but theres so much to cover that Id like to know more about the position and your company so I can answer more specifically. Then, depending upon what the interviewer says, you can modify your planned response to put even greater emphasis on relating your experience and qualifications to his requirements. Questions Typically Asked By Employers What do you consider to be your greatest strength? Where do you see yourself five to ten years from now? Describe your most rewarding accomplishment. What qualifications do you have that will make you successful in this position? Describe a challenge you encountered and how you dealt with it. Why are you interested in working for our company or organization? What do you know about our company? How would you describe yourself? What two or three things are most important to you in your job? Why should I hire you? In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable? If you were hiring somebody for this position, what qualities would you look for? What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why? That qualities should a successful manager possess? In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company? How do you evaluate or determine success? What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? How do you think a friend, teacher, or former employer would describe you? Which is more important to you, money or type of job? What are your long range/short range goals and objectives? How do you plan to achieve your career goals? When and why did you establish these goals? How are you preparing yourself to achieve them? Describe your ideal job. Would you like to work for a large or small company? What did you like most/least about your previous job?Behavior Based Approach to Answering Interview QuestionsThis approach to interviewing focuses on examples of how the candidate has applied his or her skills. Behavior based interviewing is built on the premise that past behavior predicts future behavior. To be successful using a behavior based approach, you must have analyzed your experiences and know how to relate them to the current position the company is seeking to fill. Example: State a problem you were given, describe the action you took, and explain the results of that action. StorytellingThink about how you can describe your experiences and skill sets to an employer in the form of a story. Explain the situation you were in (or the problem you were responsible for), tell what action you took and list the results. Successful candidates can demonstrate hands on action with results. Prepare three or four stories including how you used each of the key skills you have identified. Questions to Ask EmployerNever go to an interview without preparing questions beforehand. Your knowledge of the profession and the information you gather through research will help you formulate questions of high quality. Questions about the job duties, the company, and its services show your interest. Questions about people who held the position previously and where they are today illustrate your interest in the companys future and can keep you from making a wrong decision. Questions about the importance of the job, your responsibilities and authority, and the career potential indicate that you are goal-oriented and motivated to succeed. Questions that boost the interviewers ego and give you an insight into general company morale are: Why do you like working here? Or, Are there any major company problems that might affect your decision to stay here or my decision to work here? After all, Im looking for a long-term relationship. Until the job is offered AVOID questions about benefits, vacations, retirement or (of course) salary. The following are some possible questions you may ask in an interview: What is the philosophy of the company or organization? What do you consider to be the companys strengths and weaknesses? What are the companys plans and goals? Describe the work environment and company culture. What attracted you to this organization? Why do you enjoy working for this company? Describe the typical responsibilities of the position. What are the challenging facets of the position? Describe the opportunity for training and professional development. Are there opportunities for advancement within the organization? Why is the position open? Who previously held this position? What was their performance and where are they today? What type of responsibilities and authorities does the position hold? Does the company see this position as important for its growth? When I have succeeded in accomplishing the tasks of this position, where would by next step be? Is there a defined career path? Closing the Interview When you sense the interview is coming to an end, try to summarize a few of your key credentials, and stress your interest in working for the company.Close the interview with enthusiasm. If you are really interested in the position, this is the time to say so and to ask about the next step. If the position is offered to you and you want it, accept it on the spot. However, if you are not prepared to accept, tell the interviewer youll need one day to think it over. If no offer is made, ask for a second interview date. Dont be discouraged if the offer is not made at the first interview, or if an appointment for a second interview is not set at this time. Before you leave, get a commitment from the employer regarding what the next step will be and when it will occur. Closing Questions That the Applicant Must Ask Do you have any other questions regarding my background? Is there anything else that yo