WINNING THE INTERVIEW GAME

An interview is a tool designed to determine if your skills and personality meet or exceed a company’s
expectations. The fact that you are going on an interview with our client means you appear to be very
suitable for an opportunity. However, in order to get the job, you must convince the interviewers at the
client site that you are indeed the right person.

The following suggestions have proven invaluable at helping candidates win the interviewing game for
many years. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of reviewing and applying these suggestions.

1. Check the company’s location well in advance. If possible, drive by before the day of the
interview. Calculate for rush hour traffic.
2. Research the company by looking up their web site. Educate yourself about who they are and
what they do, their size, sales volume and so on.
3. Be very aware of your appearance and hygiene. Even if the working environment is casual,
always dress in proper business attire.
4. Always have copies of your resume available, ideally in soft and hard copies. Do not refer to a
copy yourself; you should know the dates and companies you have worked for by heart.
5. If possible, bring examples of work that you are proud of.
6. Be sure to arrive five to ten minutes early. Tardiness will likely take you out of the running before
the interview starts.
7. If there are forms to fill out, do so. Never write “see resume”. By fully filling out an application
form, you are not only providing the employer additional information but also demonstrating a good
attitude.
8. Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Think in terms of short and long term
goals, perhaps one and five years.
9. Shake the interviewer’s hand confidently, but don’t break any bones. Too strong or too limp
handshakes are not in your best interest.
10. Maintain a friendly, positive attitude and good eye contact.
11. Be honest and truthful about your experience and knowledge.
12. Conduct your questions and answers in a manner that defines what you can do for the
company…not what the company can do for you.
13. Ask “open ended questions”, those that don’t elicit a simple yes or no answer.
14. If you are uncertain of, or didn’t understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat it.
15. NEVER discuss money! If prompted, tell the interviewer your current income, then emphasize that
you are interested in a career opportunity and that money may be discussed with your
representative at Hays Specialist Recruitment.
16. If you want the job, ASK FOR IT!
17. Call your contact at Hays immediately after your interview…while things are still fresh in your mind.

ATTITUDE

Just as you prepare a statement of skills, you can also prepare an attitude statement. With it you can
clearly show an employer that you have what he or she needs. Some valuable attitude statements
include:

1. “I really enjoy working.” (Not “I really need a job” – everyone needs a job. Employers want people
who really want to work).
2. “I’m always on time, or early, because I know time is money”.
3. “I can be trusted to do my best to get the job done right”.
4. “I want to work for a company I can grow and advance”.
5. “I believe I have a lot to offer an employer.”. (Be ready to back this up with skills).

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 QUESTIONS THAT YOU SHOULD PREPARE FOR

• What do you know about our company?

• Why did you apply for this position? What do you know about this position?
• Why do you feel qualified to do this job?
• What are your short and long term goals? How are you preparing yourself to achieve these goals?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
• Describe yourself, your personality and so on.
• What do you consider to be your technical strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you consider to be your personal strengths and weaknesses?
• What have you learned from your mistakes? Give me an example of learning from one of your
mistakes.
• How well do you work under pressure? Give me an example of such a situation.
• Tell me about one or two professional accomplishments that have given you the most satisfaction.
Why?
• In which ways do you feel that you can make a contribution to our company?
• Describe the ideal next step in your career. Why do you feel that way?
• What criteria are you using to evaluate your next employer?
• What compensation are you seeking?

SOME SAMPLE “SITUATIONAL” INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Tell me about a time when you …

• Worked effectively under pressure.
• Handled a difficult situation with a co-worker.
• Were creative in solving a problem.
• Missed an obvious solution to a problem.
• Were unable to complete a project on time.
• Persuaded team members to do things your way.
• Wrote a report that was well received
• Anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
• Had to make an important decision with limited facts.
• Were forced to make an unpopular decision.
• Had to adapt to a different situation
• Were tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours.
• Were disappointed in your behavior.
• Had to deal with an irritated customer.
• Delegated a project effectively.
• Surmounted a major obstacle.
• Set your sights too high (or too low).
• Prioritized the elements of a complicated project.
• Got bogged down in the details of a project.
• Lost (or won) an important project.
• Made a bad decision.
• Had to fire a friend.
• Hired (or fired) the wrong person.
• Turned down a good job.

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 WHAT NOT TO DO IN AN INTERVIEW

Extensive experience in our industry has taught us that the difference between winning and losing the
interviewing game may depend on avoiding the following caveats.

DO NOT…

• Be late for the interview.

• Overlook your appearance and hygiene.
• Give a limp, wet or overpowering handshake.
• Appear ill at ease or lacking confidence.
• Leave application form unfilled or sloppily filled in.
• Avoid eye contact.
• Appear overbearing or conceited.
• Appear overly aggressive or ambitious.
• Condemn co-workers or employers, present and past.
• Appear unenthusiastic about the job or the company.
• Appear un-energetic or lacking in vitality.
• Demonstrate a lack of career goals or poor planning.
• Appear unable to take constructive criticism.
• Display poor diction or bad grammar.
• Cuss or swear
• Appear cynical, uncaring or selfish.
• Appear untactful or discourteous.
• Appear to be shopping or wanting the job for a short time.
• Seem unsure or indecisive.
• Fail to ask relevant questions about the job or the company.
• Expect advancement at an unrealistic rate.
• Give poor reasons for changing jobs.
• Demonstrate narrow interests.
• Demonstrate low moral standards.
• Give vague or unclear responses to questions.
• Discuss or otherwise emphasize money.
• Avoid discussing or lie about unfavourable situations in your past.
• Avoid discussing or lie about technical or personal weaknesses.
• Fail or hesitate to provide references when asked.
• Hesitate or appear unwilling to arrange further interviews.
• Fail to ask for the job.

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS

In some cases you may have to go through a phone screening process. Here are some suggestions:
• Practice, if possible. Have a friend call you to do a mock phone interview so you get the feel of
being interviewed over the phone.
• Make sure you are in a place where you can read notes, take notes, and concentrate.
• Consider keeping some note cards or an outline in front of you to remind yourself of key points you
want to cover with the interviewer. You don’t want your responses to sound scripted, but you don’t
want to fumble for important points either.
• Have your resume in front of you so you can remember highlights of your experience and
accomplishments.
• Ensure that you can hear and are being clearly heard.
• Consider standing when being interviewed on the phone. Some experts say you’ll sound more
professional than if you’re slouching in an easy chair.

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• Don't feel you have to fill in the silences. If you’ve completed a response, but the interviewer hasn’t
asked his or her next question, don’t start babbling just to fill in airtime. Instead, ask a question of
your own related to your last response.
• Create a strong finish to your phone interview with thoughtful questions.
• Don't snuffle, sneeze or cough. If you can’t avoid these behaviors, say “excuse me.”
• Don't chew gum or food, or drink anything noisy.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER

• What skills or experience do superior performers exhibit in your organization?
• What results will be measured, and how?
• What attitudes or personal qualities do you think an employee needs to fit in here?
• What are the next steps in your hiring process?
• What would a perfect candidate for this position look like?
• How long have you worked here? Why do you stay?
• What would you like to see change about your job or your company?
• How are employees valued at this company?

REFERENCE CHECKLIST

Include your past supervisors

Ask permission before you use someone as a reference

Give a copy of your resume to references. Ask for feedback.

Review and remind them of projects you worked with them on.

Confirm with them the reason you left the company.

Let them know when someone may be calling them.

Give them the name of the company so they will be sure to return the phone call.

Ask them to let you know when they have been called.

Follow up with them after the call to check information and get feedback.

Let them know when you get a job.

Keep in contact with people on your reference list.

IN CONCLUSION

Obviously, common sense goes a long, long way in successful interviewing. What may appear
inconsequential, inappropriate or silly in this article is not! The interviewing process is a series of
steps, each of which is dependent upon numerous pieces. Take away any of these or add the wrong
pieces and you may not get the job!

Remember that most people are hired based on first impressions. In fact, most hires take
place within the first fifteen minutes, the rest of the time being attributable to “the way things
are done”. If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to call.

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