You’ve probably heard them one hundred times before but it
never hurts to hear them again. As we begin a new year, here are some pre-interview
ideas for Candidates who are seriously interested in improving their career
growth opportunities in 2014.
To “Fly with the Eagles, one must think and act as a
Superior Achiever.” Remember, a
Candidate is evaluated by:
How
they present themselves in the initial 30 seconds
Their
appearance: Looking and acting in a professional manner.
Their
initial attitude
Their
charisma
Their
attention to pre-planning
Their
“homework” on the company
Their
desire to get the job offer
Enthusiasm,
eye sparkle
Eye
contact
Firm
hand shake
How
they sit in the chair (sit forward don’t slouch, palms open – yes, Body
Language counts!
How
they listen
How
they present themselves with more than a resume
Portfolio
of accomplishments
Letters
of recommendation
List
of references (confirmed, updated, work related)
Also, never underestimate the power of doing your ‘homework’
on the company to understand the product, markets, company revenues, the company’s
weaknesses and strengths or opportunities. (Please, view the web site of the company). You will also be judged by the questions asked
of the potential employer’s representative. Be prepared.
YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK. Rehearse in
advance.
Here are some examples of questions you could ask:
- Do you
have a written job description? Or I’ve reviewed the job description and
have some questions about ________ and _________. What do you envision as the job function’s
most important goal? - What
are you looking for in a candidate? (Explain at this point what makes you
the perfect candidate). - Where
are the Firm’s strengths? - Who is
the Firm’s strongest competitors? - Research
and do your homework. - What
percentage of market share do they manage? (Homework) - Does
the company have a 3-5 year plan and how do you envision my position would
grow or develop? - If you
were to offer, and I accepted the position, what do you envision as a new
employee’s greatest immediate challenge; what would you expect from me for
the first 60, 90, 180 days on the job? - What
do I have to do at this point to obtain the opportunity? Great closing
question; this would be a great point in the interview where you close
them and ask for the job.
Hands down, preparation is key to a successful interview.
These may be simple, common sense ideas but it never hurts to be reminded. The
more things change, the more they remain the same. It’s a new year and a fresh
start. As you begin a new fresh job search in 2014, keep these tips in mind and
hopefully you will find the new position of your dreams in no time.
Cathy L. Sage is President of Robert Sage Careers, LLC.; a
Residential and Commercial Modular Executive Search Firm and a Job Board
Publisher who specializes in the Factory-Built Structures Industries. She can
be reached at [email protected]
and/or [email protected];
phone: 727.504.5350. For your Commercial Modular inquiries, please contact
Cindy Newberry, RSC’s Commercial Division Manager at [email protected]
and/or [email protected];
phone: 863.662.4185. For more information about the company or to visit the Job
Board, access http://www.robertsagecareers.com.
