Preparing for Your Personal Interview

  • First and foremost, try to relax and be yourself.  You have spent years developing the skills you have.  Those skills, along with your inherent personality traits,  comprise the “package” that is uniquely you.
  • Be confident about yourself, you’ve earned this interview!
  • Show interest in the interviewer and  for the company for which you are interviewing.

Here are some basic rules, before we start:

  1. If you can’t see yourself making a company change, please let your recruiter know before the personal interview process begins.
  2. If you are going through this interview process purely to better your position at your present company in hope of getting a counter offer, please withdraw.
  3. Our goal is help you improve your employment situation and to bring to our client companies candidates that match their prescribed set of requirements, skills and background. In our opinion, you closely fit those requirements and our client has determined that you may be the right person for their position.
  4. We’ve done our job in getting you to this point and the rest is up to you!

The following are tips to help you prepare for your personal interview:

  1. Dress appropriately. Don’t be afraid to over dress, but never under dress. Power colors of navy and red are always a good choice with a white or light blue shirt/blouse.
  2. A firm handshake and direct eye contact are very important. It is said that the interviewer actually makes the decision within the first two minutes of the interview if they will hire you.
  3. Please DO NOT bring up topics of salary, compensation, benefits or bonus during the interview. Not only are these topics a huge turn off for the client, it’s bad manners… and, unless the company brings it up first……… don’t go there!
  4. The client already has a copy of your resume, but take one with you, as well as a list of your references and their phone numbers so that if you are asked to complete an application you are prepared.
  5. If given an application, fill it out completely and be sure to sign and date it. Do not skip any question even if you know your resume contains the same information. This may be an exercise evaluating your “attention to detail”.
  6. When asked about your present compensation, be honest. Our client may ask for a verify of your compensation. If you have a raise coming or an unpaid bonus……..lay it out clearly and precisely.
  7. If asked on the application about being convicted of any criminal act …..be honest. A DUI is a criminal act, and “if” you were convicted………… acknowledge it. If not, then it’s not an issue.
  8. Be prepared to tell the interviewer about your background and what you bring to the table.  SELL YOURSELF!  Be sure to answer each question completely, but do not wander or “chat” too much. Answers should be honest and to the point.  You could tell the interviewer you’ll give them the short answer to their question and if they want to hear more they should ask.
  9. Research the company. Go online. Have a few questions in mind to ask the interviewer. Questions might include those about the interviewer’s background, why they like working for the client? etc.
  10. Practice questions a prospective employer may ask:
    1. Tell me about yourself?
    2. Where do you see yourself in five years?
    3. Why are you interested in making a job change?
    4. What are your long-range goals?
  11. No matter how bad things are at your present situation, DO NOT say anything bad! Be  honest, but don’t bad-mouth. No one wants to hear “poor me” stories.
  12. Never imply that you are over worked……..as this issue may never be resolved.  Prospective clients like to know they are looking at a person they can count on.
  13. When asked about your salary expectations……..NEVER give a figure. Your  response should simply be that you’re looking for ”a fair offer, one which is consistent with the marketplace, your background and the responsibilities of the position for which you are  interviewing.”
  14. Do not smoke at the interview, over lunch or dinner and please turn off your cell phone.
  15. If you know you won’t pass a drug screening test, you may consider withdrawing now. Most companies do require a pre-employment urine test.
  16. If you want this job we expect you to ask for it! We recommend that at the end of the interview you stand up and shake the hand of the interviewer and, looking straight in their eyes…..tell them you can do this job and you want this job!
  17. Regardless of how you think the interview went, be sure to thank the          interviewer for taking time to visit with you and be sure to send an e-mail thanking the interviewer for their time. Ask for their business cards.
  18. Be sure to follow up with your Ed Lipinski @ 847 842 9727 or 708 431 0128 immediately after the interview while things are fresh in your mind.

And finally, GOOD LUCK!!

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