Interviewing Tips
Be ready for group, task-oriented, telephone and teleconference
interviews. In an effort to increase job retention and build a team-oriented
workplace, high-tech employers are revolutionizing the way they screen
candidates to find workers who are savvy, determined, and can remain calm
and focused under stressful deadlines. Here is a sampling of some of the
latest trends, along with some helpful tips.
Group Interviews
Also known as panel or board interviews, these are sessions in which several people interview you at the same time. Historically, these interviews were used to screen executive candidates, but an increasing number of companies are using this technique for all but their lower-level hiring.Tip: Make eye contact with all interviewers, no matter who asked the question. It's important to establish rapport with every individual on the interviewing team.
Task-Oriented Interviews
Also known as testing and problem-solving interviews. Some corporations, include problem-solving exercises as part of their interviewing process. Candidates are asked to solve problems to demonstrate their analytical, creative and problem-solving abilities.Tip: Try to relax as much as possible. Be confident in your abilities. Your technical recruiter at smart-tek has already spoken to the employer and they have agreed that you have the skills and knowledge for this job.
Structured Interviews
All candidates are asked the same series of carefully constructed questions, which are designed to test your creativity, leadership and ability to work in a team.Tip: Don't give short answers. Let your response go beyond the question to give the interviewer a full view of your abilities. Your elaboration may trigger questions beyond the script, making the interview more personal and you more memorable.
Telephone and Teleconference Interviews
Telephone and teleconferencing are quickly replacing interviews that require
either an interviewer or a candidate to travel.
The Interview
First, hone your speaking skills and be aware of your vocal patterns.
Next, enunciate your words so you speak very clearly.
For a teleconference interview:
Relax and enjoy the experience. Act as though you are interacting with your television set or computer! Be prepared. If you have something to show during the interview or a task to perform, you will usually be able to use a camera that is positioned to show visuals. (It's similar to using an overhead projector.)Tip: You can drastically improve your presentation over the telephone by practicing for the interview beforehand.
Preparing for the Interview:
Research the organization/firm/company and the position that is open. One of the nice things about working with a technical recruiter from smart-tek is that some of this research is done for you. Your recruiter can tell you about the company, the project on which you will be working, what they seek, and sometimes the working conditions, especially if there are other contract technical professionals already working there.Even though you will receive a lot of information and support from your technical recruiter, it is a good idea to do research on the company yourself. You may begin by reading the company's annual report, visiting the company's Website, and familiarizing yourself with any company products. If you can, find out who will be interviewing you and what kind of interview it will be. We covered the types of interviews earlier in this section. If there will be more than one person interviewing, try to get their names and titles so you can prepare your answers and gear them toward both the job requirements and their particular focus.
Be Prepared and Rehearse answers to commonly asked questions such as (1) Tell me about yourself? and (2) Why do you want to work for us?
Present yourself like you already work there. When preparing for an interview, part of your organizational investigation should be to identify the culture of the firm or company. One hint to this is the way employees dress. One way to discern a company's culture is to visit its main office and obtain its annual report or literature.
Plan Ahead to be on Time for the interview.
After Your Interview:
Call your technical recruiter and tell him or her how you felt it went. If you have any feedback, let your recruiter know. If you think you would like the job, your recruiter will take it from there, and the job offer will come through him or her. If this is not the project or company that you want to work for, be sure your recruiter knows that so he or she can continue to look for a position you will like. A simple, e-mail thank-you note sent the day after an interview will keep your name in front of the interviewer and can often set you apart from other interviewees.
A Few More Tips!
- Believe in yourself! If you believe you can do the
job, then others will too! Remain confident in your abilities and experience,
even if they are not directly related to the position. Employers are
often seeking people with transferable skills; i.e., if you are a team
player in your leisure activities, that ability could transfer to working
as an effective team player with your professional colleagues.
- Don't Be Nervous! Sometimes, taking a few deep breaths
before the interview or pausing to collect yourself before answering
a question will be enough to renew your self control. Try to gain control
over the situation. Most job candidates sit, waiting for the interviewer
to start the action. Don't wait for the employer to ask you the first
question; make a comment to break the ice. This will allow you to relax
before the interview begins.
- If you are good at your work, you can be good at interviewing.
An interview is a showcase for your most powerful skills. Focus on demonstrating
them in the interview. You will be in familiar waters. After all, an
interview is all about what you are very good at: your work.
- Show Your Energy While Interviewing
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Additional
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