Interests

Interviews

Try to find out as much as you can about the place where you are interviewing. Learning about the company and what products they make, who the customers are, and how big the company is, are some examples of things you can research before the interview. Knowing more about a company will help you decide if you want to work for them and to also impress the interviewer with you interest in their company. Try looking on-line for this information, in the library or by talking with people who are already working at the company.

Making a Good First Impression

	Be neat, clean and conservative
	Dress a step above what the best employee for that job would wear
	Avoid a lot of jewelry, perfume or cologne
	Stay away from clothes that are really trendy
	Get a good night's sleep
	Wear clean and pressed clothes
	Avoid smoking before the interview
Your personal appearance makes an immediate statement. Dressing properly and having good hygiene - you are saying to the employee that care about the job and want the job!

Going for the Interview

When you enter the place of business, introduce your self and say that you are there for an interview. If you know who it is that will be interviewing you, ask for that person by name.

When the interviewer approaches you:
	Smile and make eye contact
	Introduce yourself and what position you are applying for
	Shake hands firmly
	Wait for an invitation to follow them and to sit down

Interviewing Checklist

	Bring a pen and notebook
	Arrive at the interview a few minutes early
	Bring a list of questions to ask the interviewer
	Know what hours you are available for work
	Bring any letters of recommendation
	Bring a few copies of your resume, if you have one
	Bring a completed application, unless you have already returned it
	Bring a list of references
	Get directions and a telephone number in case you get lost
	Be sure to be dressed appropriately
	Have a great attitude!

Questions

All interview questions are really asking the same question: Why are you the best person for the job? There are so many different interview questions and it would be impossible to memorize each one. The following is a list of potential questions for you to look over and think about.

	Tell me about yourself.

	When are you available for work?

	What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?

	What are your weaknesses?

	What are your plans for the future?

	What did you like about your previous job?

	What didn't you like about your previous job?

	What qualities do you feel make a good supervisor?

	How do you take criticism? Give me an example.

	How do you handle disagreements with others? Give me an example.

	How do you handle stress?

	Why do you want to work for this company?

	When can you start?

	Do you have any questions for me?

Tell me about yourself.

This is a great opportunity for you to sell your strengths. Start off by saying a little about you, your interests, and your activities in school. Next you should mention your job history if you have one and a little about your skills and abilities. Close this response by telling the interviewer what your long term goals are – maybe going to college or owning your own business.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

In each case you want to present yourself as someone who can do the job. Name a strength that applies directly to the job and name a weakness that you can show has hurt your performance but that you are aware of and have taken steps to correct.

Describe your most and least favorite bosses or supervisors.

What you really want to describe here is your REACTION to different management styles. The interviewer doesn't really want a personality profile of your old boss; he wants a personality profile of you and your performance in different environments. Resist at all costs the temptation to criticize a former supervisor. Resist, too, the temptation to praise too highly an old boss. You don’t want your next employer to worry that he might not measure up to Ms. /Mr. Wonderful.

What is your biggest accomplishment?

People who can answer this one too easily have a tendency to dwell in the past. Still, you should be prepared with a brief description of a major work-related accomplishment, or even a series of related accomplishments. Stress, however, that your finest work is yet to come, that this job will bring out your best.

What is the biggest problem you've ever faced and how did you handle it?

What you want to relate here is not necessarily the BIGGEST problem but any big work-related problem you faced and handled well. Emphasize factors that you feel will play well with the interviewer; stress skills gained and lessons learned that will have a direct bearing on the job you are seeking.

The behavioral question

Increasingly popular is the behavioral question. Usually these begin with the words "Tell me about a time when you…" In these instances the employer believes that past behavior is the best predictor of future performance. If you prepared success stories, you should have no trouble weaving them into your answers.

Questions for the Interviewer

The last question an interviewer will probably ask is "Do you have any questions for me?" Although jobs have been won by candidates who do NOT ask questions, you would be wise to have a few questions prepared ahead of time. During the course of the interview it will become clear which questions are most appropriate to ask. You can ask things like:
	When will you be making a decision?
	When can I expect to hear from you?
	What kind of training will be available?
	What is a typical day like?