RESEARCHING A POSSIBLE NEW EMPLOYER
Copyright Kay duPont, CSP, CPDT

Since you only get one chance to make a favourable impression, it's important that you take time to do your homework and learn all you can about the position before going on the interview. Call the manager to obtain a written job description, and thoroughly review these materials in preparing for your interview. Research will also help you identify questions you need answered to help you decide if the position fulfils your work values and goals. If there is no written job description available, get a verbal one ahead of time. Try to locate people you know who either work for the manager or have some close connection to find out as much as you can about the position.

It is not always the candidate who is most qualified that gets the job, but the candidate who is most skilled in interviewing. Too often applicants drift into interviews unprepared, lacking clarity about their qualifications and career goals, with little or no knowledge about what the employer does or needs. When this happens, the employer's impression is that the applicant Doesn't know what they are doing.

Some applicants create an impression of indifference by behaving too casually, arriving in sloppy attire, slouching in the chair, and/or showing a lack of enthusiasm. At the other extreme, some applicants get so worried about the interview that when they arrive, they are in the last stages of nervous fright and are unable to speak except in one-syllable words or a weak whisper. Everyone gets nervous about interviews, and interviewers expect and accept that. But with serious thought, planning, and preparation, you will be able to avoid some of the pitfalls and approach the interview with confidence.

Organize your thoughts and questions. Remember, in a limited amount of time (generally 30-60 minutes), you must convey as much information as possible to convince the interviewer that your qualifications and personality meet their needs. Employers use interviews to predict performance, so your interview should be a positive demonstration of who you are. Being unprepared on an interview indicates to the employer that you would probably be unprepared with your work assignments as well. Develop your interviewing skills through practice in front of a mirror, video camera, friend, or career counsellor.

Before the interview, practice how you would address the following issues:

* Reason For Interest In The Position: Be sure when you answer this question that you demonstrate you have acquainted yourself with pertinent facts about the position. Define your ideal work environment (physical environment, types of people you want to work with, level of supervision, variety, amount of public contact, level of responsibility, etc.), and determine how the position you are considering fulfils these work values, motivations, and career goals.

* Previous Education and Employment Responsibilities: Be prepared to address how your education and work experience are relevant to the job for which you're applying. Give specific, concrete examples which clearly demonstrate your skills, responsibilities and accomplishments that can best "sell" you to the employer.

* Reason for Leaving Your Last Job: Talk about past experiences in positive terms. Don't give the impression of being a victim by referring to personality clashes or condemning past employers. If you left for greater challenge and potential, say so.

* Salary Expectations: Find out if the employer has a set salary schedule. Before making a decision about salary, be sure you understand the job responsibilities. Try to give a range or refer a question about salary back to the employer, i.e., "What do you normally offer someone with my experience and education?" If you indicate a specific figure, you risk stating one too high (and pricing yourself out of a job) or too low (and shortchanging yourself.) Remember, when analyzing starting salary, evaluate the long-range potential and fringe benefits of the job.

* Reasons Employer Should Hire You: Convey what you can do for the employer and back up your statements with positive, tangible experience that supports your claims. Before the interview, practice discussing how previous education, work and life experiences clearly demonstrate the relevant skills you have developed. Be prepared to identify several accomplishments that would best sell you to the employer (academic honours; work, education or personal experience accomplishments; extracurricular activities, etc.) Too often applicants tend to undersell themselves by speaking about their qualifications in vague generalities. Instead of saying, "I am qualified because I am a hard worker and communicate well with people," you might say, "I worked twenty hours a week in the Career Planning Office at my university while enrolled in a rigorous full-time academic course load. This was an extremely busy office with heavy contact with students, alumni, faculty, staff and employers. I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of responsibilities, meeting continual deadlines and dealing with so many different people. It seems to me that the responsibilities of your position would offer me a similar fast-paced environment with the variety, challenge, and contact with the public that I thrive on."

* Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Analyze the position you are applying for and mention strengths that are relevant to the position. If you are asked a question about your weaknesses, clarify if the interviewer is asking about personal or job-related weaknesses. Never mention a weakness that would be a weakness for the job (for example, an accountant probably wouldn't want to indicate being poor with details). Choose a weakness that might also be seen as a strength (for example, being a perfectionist). While being too picky can certainly cause problems, it is also a desirable trait in many situations. Also mention what you are doing to overcome the weakness (i.e., "I tend to be a little shy in front of large groups of people. So I took a public speaking course in college. Through lots of practice, I have significantly increased my self-confidence and ability to make effective presentations over the semester. I was proud of my hard-earned B+.") When identifying strengths and weaknesses, give specific concrete examples from your education and work experience and avoid talking in generalities. Be positive, and, above all, be honest.

At the end of your interview, ask two or three pertinent questions to clarify the job responsibilities. You may also want to ask questions to learn more about training programs, philosophy and conditions of employment, the organizational structure, amount of authority, nature of supervision you will receive, opportunity for advancement, benefits, salary, and how your performance will be evaluated. Be able to readily answer the question of why you are interested in working for this particular manager. To refresh your memory, you might jot down the things you want to remember and a list of questions on a 3 x 5 card to bring with you to the interview. However, don't just ask a question to ask a question - employers can read through that ploy. Make sure every question is meaningful and listen carefully to the answer.

In summary, the key to your interview success is preparation, practice, and salesmanship. Expect to spend whatever amount of time it takes to be thoroughly knowledgeable about yourself, the employer, and the specific job. Clear self-awareness, focused career goals, and employer research will make it easier for you to demonstrate your knowledge, interest, and enthusiasm and to highlight how your goals, qualifications, and personality match the employer's needs. Be on your toes and mentally alert as research has shown that interviewers frequently make their evaluations within the first four minutes of the interview. You are your own best salesperson, so be positive!

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