Interview help?

[Firefly32]

I am currently going to school and I found a part-time customer service position taking phone orders for a company and their background is in computer chips. I really want this position just to have some sort of income and plus I haven't worked in a year while I have been going to school, but now my course load is less so now I am ready to start getting back to work.

Any tips or suggestions to help me land this job please :-)

[redney]

Can you provide more information so we can help you?

--have you applied? Have you heard back from the company? Do you have an interview scheduled yet?
--do you know anyone who currently works at the company, who can pass your resume to the right HR people and can tell you the ins and outs of the job/company? Employee referrals are a key sourcing channel for filling jobs in this incredibly competitive economy.
--have you searched for that job title on LinkedIn? Interesting tidbit: my friend's SIL did this when applying for a F/T job at a large company. She found the person currently in that job and contacted her. Turns out, the person in the job had been promoted and was instrumental internally to helping my friend's SIL get that job!

[Firefly32]

My interview is on Monday, no I don't know anyone who works there.

[redney]

great! Congratulations on your interview! There are tons of interview tips on the Internet (Google for them) and a bunch of threads with interview hints on the PF. Do a search and you will find them. Here is one to get you started:

Advice For a Job Interview!

A few key hints I think are key are:

1. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE aloud your answers to "standard" interview questions (Google them or read the threads here). Taking the time to formulate your answers and practice saying the words aloud to yourself or while looking in a mirror will help you get the "kinks" out of your delivery and reduce the chances that you will have "forgotten" to say something you wanted to during the actual interview. Know what and how you're going to reply to standard interview questions such as
--"Tell me about yourself"
--"What are your strengths?"
--What are your weaknesses?"
--"What skills/experience do you bring to this job?"
--"How do your skills/experience/education make you a good candidate for this job?"
--"What about this job interests you?"
--"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
--"What questions do you have for me about this job? About this company?"
-------Make sure you have some! Ask about the job responsibilities, working environment/company culture, pluses & minuses about the job. Think of the interview as a 2-way street: the interviewer wants to get to know you and your skills/experience to make an informed decision; likewise, you should want to ask detailed questions about the job, company, etc. You are evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you!
--"What is your expected salary range?" (sometimes this is asked, but not always. It's good to err on the side of anticipating it, though).

2. Dress professionally and neatly. This does not mean you need fancy designer duds; instead, it means you should show you took the effort for the interview. This means: suit or nice jacket and pants or skirt, conservative blouse or shell, conservative jewelry and accessories (NO obvious labels usually), groomed hair. All clothing should be neatly pressed.

3. Watch your verbal and nonverbal communication. Speak clearly and slowly. Avoid using too much slang. Smile. Make good eye contact with the interviewer. Listen carefully. Ask for clarification if you did not hear or do not understand what the interviewer is asking. Sit up straight and try not to do things like bounce your knee up and down or fidget in your seat.

4. Always ask at the end of the interview: "When may I expect to hear back regarding my status?" and "Who will be contacting me?" This is key because you can get a date from the person. If you don't hear back from them by that date, IMO it is fair game to call him/her or whomever is appropriate (the HR person, for example) to get your status.

5. Handwrite and mail a thank you note to your interviewer that day. Include something that you two discussed in your conversation so it's personalized and will help the interviewer remember you and your discussion.

6. Remember your interviewer is a person too and s/he has been in your position as a candidate probably many times before. S/he knows you may be nervous.


Good luck and keep us posted!

[flashy.stems]

wow, redney, you give great advice

good luck, OP:)

[Firefly32]

Thank you! How do people actually answer what are your weaknesses question?

[redney]

Originally Posted by Firefly32

Thank you! How do people actually answer what are your weaknesses question?

There's a great thread on this already: Interview Question- "What are your weaknesses?"

(and thanks, flashy.stems! )