| The interview process is a very important phase of | | | | of a major marketing firm. The rule of thumb is never |
| your career search. Due to the current layoff trend | | | | wear less than a pair of slacks and loafers and |
| and projections of a recessed economy, both recent | | | | always be well-groomed with minimal jewelry (you can |
| graduates and seasoned professionals are competing | | | | pull out a few piercings for a day) and without |
| for the most menial of entry-level positions. Possessing | | | | excessive makeup. Times are changing fast but old |
| sharp interview skills is necessary if you want to | | | | traditions still hold true to form. Unless it is an |
| maintain an advantage in today's highly competitive job | | | | acceptable practice to the company at which you |
| market.Proper preparation is key. When accepting an | | | | seek to be hired, cover up tattoos and save another |
| invitation to interview, make sure you obtain as much | | | | day to try out that new green and purple hair dye.This |
| information from the appointment setter as possible. | | | | really should go without saying but be on time. You |
| Learn the name and title of the interviewer and/or the | | | | should arrive approximately ten to fifteen minutes early |
| department head, the full title of the position being | | | | for your interview. You don't want to be too early as |
| recruited for and the department in which the position | | | | this tends to just confuse your interviewer and you |
| will be held. If you did not retain a copy of the job | | | | don't want to be late at all. Tardiness is not an attribute |
| announcement or if the advertisement was too vague, | | | | you want to give your potential employer as a first |
| try to secure a complete job description as well. Visit | | | | impression. Now this may come as a shock to you but |
| the office prior to your interview, identify yourself as a | | | | your interviewer should not be late either. Remember, |
| potential candidate to the receptionist and let him/her | | | | you are there to interview the company just as the |
| know that you just wanted to make sure of the exact | | | | company is interviewing you so your time must also be |
| location of the company so he/she won't be alarmed | | | | respected. An appropriate wait time for an interview is |
| by your impromptu arrival. You can also request | | | | no more than thirty minutes. Most employers allow ten |
| company literature and a job description if you had not | | | | to fifteen minutes for your arrival and an additional |
| previously obtained one. Usually, the receptionist will be | | | | fifteen minutes for any paperwork you might need to |
| willing to oblige. You can then use the information you | | | | complete. Anything in excess of an half hour is an |
| have gathered to learn more about the company and | | | | abuse of your time and grounds for you to reconsider |
| what your expected role will be. Browse through the | | | | your candidacy at the company.During the interview, |
| company website and locate your interviewer's (or the | | | | be energetic and upbeat. Be articulate and self-aware. |
| department head's) bio if there is one available. Take | | | | Use good attentive body language and refrain from |
| special notice of the company's mission and think of a | | | | chewing gum, cracking knuckles, twiddling thumbs and |
| statement that would allow you to speak sincerely of | | | | any other annoying habits. Turn off cell phones or |
| how your own values align with the company's | | | | pagers. Wear an authentic smile and maintain good |
| objectives.Don't just leave it at company-specific | | | | eye contact. Ask the interviewer if you may take |
| research. Check out similar positions and other | | | | notes and actually do so, marking off any of your |
| companies that operate in the same industry. Read the | | | | prepared questions that get answered. Take your time |
| business section of local newspapers and trade | | | | so you don't rush responses. This will be especially |
| magazines paying close attention to the status of | | | | helpful if you are asked a difficult or unpredicted |
| public holdings. Look at current developments in the | | | | question like "if you were a fruit, what type of fruit |
| industry and the projected outlook of the field. Talk | | | | would you be and why?" Many interviewers like to |
| with people you know who hold comparable positions. | | | | throw these types of questions at you to see how |
| Perform a salary comparison so you will know what | | | | you might handle stress or the unexpected. Taking |
| type of compensation to expect and be in a better | | | | your time will allow your senses to get over the initial |
| position for negotiation when the topic is broached. The | | | | shock so you can think of a creative response to the |
| information you obtain will prove valuable in letting the | | | | question. Ask the remaining questions from your |
| interviewer know you are truly interested in the position | | | | prepared list. Stay away from salary and benefits talk. |
| and will give you more ammunition during the inevitable | | | | Most interviewers will bring it up themselves but if they |
| small talk that occurs at the beginning and end of an | | | | don't, make sure it is not among your first questions. |
| interview.Give yourself a mock interview. Think of | | | | End the interview with a firm handshake and request a |
| answers to some of the most commonly asked | | | | business card. Make sure you ask how soon it will be |
| interview questions such as "tell me about yourself?," | | | | before you can expect a response.Follow up the |
| "what are your strengths...weaknesses?" and "where | | | | interview with a thank you card or letter. In the letter, |
| do you see yourself in five years?" Make sure your | | | | you should tie in any information you may have left out |
| responses are positive. Turn negative experiences and | | | | during the interview that might enhance your |
| weaknesses into strengths. For example, "I am very | | | | qualifications and recap significant points of discussion |
| focused which is both a strength and a weakness | | | | to demonstrate that you were listening. It helps to |
| because it prevents me from moving on to another | | | | throw in a personal tidbit using any small talk that may |
| task until I have completed the one I am currently | | | | have been offered up by the interviewer. For instance, |
| working on" or "I am a really good listener which often | | | | the interviewer may have mentioned that his wife is |
| allows for people to take advantage of my time with | | | | expecting. You could say something like, |
| unnecessary chatter." Jot down three to five facts | | | | "Congratulations on joining the ranks of fatherhood." |
| from your research that can be developed into a | | | | The interviewer will be flattered by the sentiment and |
| great answer to the popular question, "why do you | | | | more apt to remember your name.Interviews can be |
| want to work for this company?" Also, create a list of | | | | difficult but with the proper preparation, you can set |
| questions to ask the interviewer. This is just as much | | | | yourself ahead of the competition. Be as sincere, |
| an interview for the company as it is for | | | | courteous and professional as possible. Remember, |
| you.Knowledge is just half the battle. You must also | | | | skills and qualifications are only a fraction of the |
| look the part. The popular advice is to dress business | | | | screening process. Most companies hire based on |
| professional. While this is not bad advice, it is not | | | | who it was they liked the most rather than who was |
| always practical to follow it. During your fact-gathering | | | | the most qualified.Niquenya Fulbright is a professional |
| visit to the company, you should have also taken a | | | | life coach with over 10 years experience specializing in |
| good look at how the employees were dressed and | | | | career, sex, love and relationship coaching. As founder |
| keep in mind what is the industry standard. You don't | | | | of Niquenya helps her clients to improve the quality of |
| want to show up for an interview in four-inch heeled | | | | their personal relationships and sex lives through |
| pumps to discover that you have to walk across a | | | | positive goal-setting, self-assessment, time |
| slippery factory floor nor should you be in jeans and | | | | management skills building, image consulting and |
| sneakers to sit down with the Chief Financial Officer | | | | exciting singles events. |