How To Ace An Interview - The Checklist

Posted By: Deborah Brown-Volkman In: Job Seeker - Interview
A job interview is a screening tool. For you, it's an opportunity to assess whether or not you want to work for a company. For the employer, it's an opportunity to decide whether or not they want to hire you. Both sides are looking for a match.

A job interview is a screening tool. For you, it's an opportunity to assess whether or not you want to work for a company. For the employer, it's an opportunity to decide whether or not they want to hire you. Both sides are looking for a match.

You can ace an interview and win the job you want even in this economy; even with the competition that wants the same job as you. You will have to work hard, but it can be done. Know that the work you do upfront and afterwards will make the "during" (while you are interviewing) much easier for you.

Here's a checklist to help you:

I. PREPARE BEFOREHAND

- Do your homework and find out who you will be interviewing with. You are looking for job title, responsibilities, accomplishments, as well as anything else that impresses you about this person.

- Know as much about the company as possible. Get on their web site and memorize their products and services. Look at their press release section for news. Talk to a few people about what they know. Look online for comments, discussions, blogs, forums, and additional insights. Don't just look for good news. Look for challenges that the company is facing, and think about how you might contribute to their success.

- Write out the top 3 points you want to make sure you get across.

- Write down what makes you different or unique.

- Have a story/example for each bullet on the job description and each bullet in you resume. Include the challenges you were up against, the action you took to solve these challenges, and the results you achieved.

- Write down answers to questions such as your strengths, weaknesses, where you want to be in the future, etc. The questions that employers don't always feel comfortable asking. The same questions you don't always feel comfortable answering. Nevertheless, expect to be asked these questions anyway.

- Write down the answers to the questions you don't want to be asked. If you have a gap in your resume, have a good response for when you are asked about it. If you were fired, be prepared to tell the employer why with a positive spin. Don't shy away from these questions and hope they won't be asked. Expect them to be posed to you and have your answers mapped out and ready to go.

- Write down questions to ask the interviewer; three to five should do. Questions like, "What are you looking for in a candidate?" OR "What's the biggest challenge you are facing right now?" These questions may be answered during the interview, and other questions may come up as the discussion progresses, but these questions will give you a place to start.

- Write down an introduction; an opener that says who you are and what you do. Include your past title, the type of work you have been doing, why you are excited to be interviewing with this company.

II. DURING THE INTERVIEW.

- Be upbeat, passionate, and excited to be there.

- Use your prepared introduction and introduce yourself.

- Right after your introduction; say something flattering to the interviewer. Reveal what you like about the person or the company. Include what impresses you the most. Sincere flattery starts the interview off in a positive way.

- Answer questions and ask them. Remember, it's a two way conversation, and an opportunity for both parties to see if there is a match. Don't forget to listen and let the interviewer talk.

- Make sure you cover anything that was not discussed in the interview before you leave. For example, did you cover your 3 points? Did you tell the interviewer what makes you different? Did you handle all objections properly? Did you ask the questions you wanted to ask? Cover this now; afterwards may be too late.

- Tell the interviewer again why you want the job.

- Ask what the hiring process is, and when you can follow up with them again.

III. AFTER THE INTERVIEW.

- Send a thank-you note. Email one version and also send a handwritten version. Thank you cards work well here.

- Include in your email anything you left out during the interview. Add credibility to your email by mentioning something specific the interviewer said that impressed you.

- If you promised to follow up on a specific day and time, keep that promise.

- Continue interviewing. No matter how great an interview went, no matter how many people told you that you are "the one," you do not have the job until you have formally been given a job offer in writing. Don't let everything ride on one job. Keep going until you are officially employed.

What do you think?

Please complete the form below to submit a comment on this article. A valid email address is required to submit a comment though it will not be displayed on the site.

Name (required):
E-Mail (required):
Website:
Comments:
Enter Code:

Comments

Posted by: Sankalp A very good article

Posted by: Sutarto What are common questions during an interview and can you give the answers them?

Posted by: Ellie Excellent article. I had an interview last week, and if I had followed your advice, I might have been hired. Luckily, I have another interview next week. I'm sure I'll have a much better chance of getting the job this time, after reading your article and putting it into practice. Thank you, thank you, thank you! If I get the job, I'll let you know!

Posted by: Tennille A. Very Good Article! It reinforced many of the points I heard about during my job placement training. I did all of the above but was sabotaged when my interviewer droppped out at last minute, negating all of this good advice! But I will keep forging ahead!

Posted by: Jacqueline Prior to this article I conducted interviews a different way. Now that I have read this article I realize that I've been leaving out vital details. This article changed my interview method and gives me the confidence for the next interview I have. Thank you

Posted by: Manuel Vera Very good article. Came just in time since I have an interview in two days. I've have preped but this will help me improve. Thanks.

Posted by: LaDonna Shirley Thank you so much for this information! I have been unemployed for over 6 months and have had several interviews. I have an interview tomorrow and I am definitely going to use some of your pointers to assist me in obtaining this position. I am really excited to show off what I have read..

Posted by: Wenda Zonnefeld Excellent article. I work freelance and now realize that when I interviewed well, I had been doing just what this article said. Now that there is a "checklist", I'll make sure all interviews go well.

Posted by: Abdul Rasheed Nice tips

Posted by: Deb Shapiro Thank you for this very well written piece - probably the most relavent and consise I've seen; and just in time to prepare for another first interview tomorrow. Your advice here really helps to bring the focus needed in preparation for, during and as follow up in the interview process - a real sales tool to help me sell my skills and determine a right fit.

Posted by: Sandi Wow! This is one of the best online articles pertaining to the interview process that I have read. Really great stuff here and it help provoke a few ideas for my next interview. Thank you so much....

Posted by: Melinda McAnnally This is valuable information for interviews, something I do not always do well. Could have used it last year! Right now, I can not work, but I will keep this article for the future. Thank you to whomever wrote this.

Posted by: Marco Rodriguez Good, precise and most importantly concise advice here. I will try to apply any or all, as appropriate, in future interviews. Thank you, Marco.

Posted by: LindaE Great suggestions. Unfortunately, I have done all these things and more over the past 18 months of unemployment, to no avail. My one question is: how do you overcome age discrimination? As someone over 50, I have lost jobs I was supremely qualified for to people in their 20s with almost no experience. How do you overcome this bias, which is business as usual these days.

Posted by: mivchael pollard Retiring in June of 2011 after 44 years as a high school teacher; now seeking a 2nd career either in education on the collegiate level or in industry. Your info is valuable, thanks

Posted by: Deborah M. Thank you so much! I have been unemployed for some time and have read a lot of suggestions for interviewing. This is the very best I have read! Wish I had read in about a week ago. I'm sure my interview would have gone much better. I will definitely use this advice going forward. Thanks again. Debbie

Posted by: lee williams this was information that was right on time I have a very important interview coming up on Wed. I did do some prep work however your post gave me some more prep work to do. Thanks again

Posted by: shannon veneri Extremely helpful! I just wish I had seen this article a couple of days ago! I just had an interview and they asked the same questions that was covered in the article!

Posted by: Patricia Miceli Very helpful exercise to do for developing great interviewing skills which will help me, the person being interviewed, be more in control of the process. Thank you so much for this invaluable tool.

Posted by: Ruth Nicolosi Great advice. I had an interview last Friday at 2:00 in the afternoon, after my husband and I had been running around all day.The questions were kind of hard, I had a hard time focusing, but I felt like the interview went okay, but could have been better. when I got home, I e-mailed the interviewer to thank her and wrote some things I wanted to say, but didn't. Last week she called back and next week I am "job shadowing" someone.

Posted by: radgie malveda The last time i have been interviewed for a job was 15 years ago. i just recently lost my job, now i don't really have an idea how the jobs interview goes nowadays, this is really a big help for me for my up coming interview, Thanks.

Posted by: Delores Perkins I had a interview the other day and was asked: If under a serious time constraint and all of a sudden you were out of time and had no resources ,What would you do? How would you answer that question?

Posted by: Sandra Thanks for this helpfll information, I will use them for my next interview. I have been looking for a dental hygienist job position for 6 months now, no luck. I am awful on interview.

Posted by: Marie Rosen Great info that I have used and am successful ...but NOW I need to see the same for "phone" interviews....I tend to talk "over" the interviewer ( a very bad thing to do! ) but without 'seeing' them it is difficult. Need pointers for phone interviews please. Thanks

Posted by: sonya Good article

Posted by: sandra diaz Great advice!

Posted by: Angellynne I thought the article was very informative, helpful, and accurate. I agree that you must research the company prior to meeting with them, and having your thoughts organized and well thought out is the best way to reall be prepared! I especially liked the part about having your introduction, and I have first hand experience about when my personal introduction was a very important part of the success of the interview! Thanks a lot for the reminder on things I believe we really already know, we just need to follow thru, and take time to complete all these important ideas!

Posted by: Bauri Raula Very good Article. Yes it is fantastic tips for any interview, even having so much experience. Please send us more tips for who are looking for Senior Most level Jobs.

Posted by: Donna Burtch Excellent!

Posted by: marcus Good article - but a little to much. I've been on a few job interviews and all have been succesful, hired right on the spot. Just be yourself, be confident, and remember the reason you got the interview is most likely because of your resume, so they clearly think you are qualified from the start. All this write a thank you, prepare an intro, etc. is a bit to much for me.

Posted by: Chris Crawley This is very useful information. I should be more prepared with these helpful easy and to the point suggestions. Thanks.

Posted by: Craig Davidson Thank you for the encouraging words. I have been unemployed for quite a while now. When more interviews come I should be more prepared with these helpfull sugestions.It was to the point without a lot of useless words.Thanks Craig

Posted by: Bill Geils This is great information. I have two interviews today and your information most definitely is the help I need.

Posted by: Nasim Saleh Excellent information.

Posted by: Avery Fisher This is hilarious, this happened to me 3 weeks ago...I did all three steps, NO CALL YET! But it felt good though.I still do not believe jobs are not out here lol

Posted by: Ryan Williams This might be one of the best career prep articles I've read and I will use this to my advantage. Fantastic reading & good advice tips, Deborah!

Posted by: Patrick Conti Good article. Basic info, but easily overlooked in the job search. I've gotten other input about understanding that this is just one job in the target zone of getting a job. That is also good advice.

Posted by: Paulina Casar Thank you so much for sharing with us this article.

Posted by: iris ginnever Interesting job-seeker interview article I will use for my next interview. Would be good to understand the subsequent steps and timelines that follow the first interview.If not heard anything after two weeks does one assume thats it.Thanks.

Posted by: ritesh hi....Stumbled across this site and this article. It might be one of the best articles that I've read on the internet. You have skills but unless you know how to communicate them, you will struggle in interviews. This article has communicated a very good beginning.

Email | Add Comment | Read Comments

Are you looking for an opportunity to get your ideas and articles published?
Post an Article

How To Ace An Interview - The Checklist

One Career Network as focused as you are.™

One Career Network
as focused as you are.™