Acing the Job Interview by
HRD Research & Consulting

1. Be Prepared

You should not wait until the day of your interview to begin preparation. Instead, you should invest the time necessary to research the company and the position for which you are applying. In addition, you should prepare sample answers to the most common interviewing questions and spend time rehearsing your answers. Lastly, though you may have previously forwarded your credentials to the employer, they may not have reached the person conducting the interview. Just to be safe, carry a few extra copies of your resume with you and have them readily available in case they are needed.

Though no one likes to be interviewed, you must make sure that you project a self-assured image. In order to do so, it is vital that your clothes be well-fitted, clean, and pressed. In addition, your shoes should be comfortable and polished, and your hair should be neat and well groomed. It is only once these things are in place that you will radiate confidence and professionalism in your interview.

Often, in stressful situations, it is easy to rush to answer a question. During an interview, however, it is important that you take you time to listen carefully to the questions being asked. Don't feel pressured to respond quickly. If you do not hear the entire question or need clarification, ask the interviewer to repeat it. Also, if you need a few moments to gather you thoughts, simply pause for a few seconds before responding. Two or three seconds may seem like a long time to be silent during an interview, but it will give you the time you need to formulate a good answer. Also, taking a short pause is always better than fumbling through a response.

Keep in mind, an interview is the time for you to showcase your talents to a prospective employer. You want to accentuate your strengths instead of highlighting your weaknesses. For instance, suppose the interviewer says, "I noticed that you work in the Benefits department for only three months. Could you tell me about your experience there?" You would want to think carefully before responding. Instead of focusing on the fact that you only worked in the department for three months, you should stress the skills that you utilized or acquired during that time. A defensive response to the interviewer's question would be, "Things just didn't work out. Shortly after taking the job, I realized that I didn't want to deal with insurance. I thought it best that I leave." A much better answer would be, "Though I did not remain in that department, I learned a great deal during a short period of time. In addition to working with PeopleSoft applications, and becoming familiar with State and Federal Insurance Regulations, I was able to interact with a diverse group of people and made several lasting friendships."

During an interview, it is very easy to overlook the main focus of a question and to instead respond to something that was not asked. This should definitely be avoided. For example, if you are asked to expound on your experience in Law Enforcement, there is no need to comment on your past history as a cashier or retail store manager. The interviewer is looking for you to concisely address the topic asked and will not be receptive to extraneous information which does not focus on the subject at hand.

Though you may want to appear as friendly as possible and answer every question asked of you, there are some topics that are off limits during an interview. For instance, with the exception of some governmental agencies (CIA and FBI) and religious entities, you cannot be asked about age, race, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, health conditions, childcare arrangements, arrest record, date of high school or college attendance or graduation, or homeownership. You can, however, be questioned as to whether or not you graduated high school or college, were ever convicted as an adult of a felony or misdemeanor, or have a physical or mental disability that would prevent you from performing the responsibilities of the job.

Most medium and large-sized employers know what they can and cannot ask during an interview and will not cross the line. If you are asked a question that you feel is inappropriate, try to respond in a firm but receptive way. For example, if you are asked whether you were ever arrested (not convicted) for petty theft, you could answer with, "I understand that you are trying to determine whether or not I would be an asset to your corporation. I believe I would be a valuable employee and am more than willing to discuss my qualifications and skills without addressing that specific question." If the interviewer then rephrases the question so it is a legal one, you should respond in an honest but proactive way. For instance, if you had been convicted of shoplifting and were asked, "Have you ever been convicted of petty theft?", you could answer, "Yes, I was convicted three years ago. Since that time, I have completed my probation, have received no other convictions, and have remained an upstanding citizen."

Lastly, if the interviewer insists that you respond to illegal or unethical questioning, you should be prepared to respond in a way that is comfortable to you. If you decide to end the interview and walk out, that is your right. You are in no way obligated to complete the interview. On the other hand, if you decide to answer the questions, you may set yourself up for more harassment in the future. In either case, you should ask yourself if you really want to work in such an environment and be prepared to act accordingly.

Unless the employer hires you on the spot, you should not ask specific compensation questions during your first interview. In many cases, the salary range will have already been stated in the original job announcement or advertisement. If not, it is considered proper etiquette to let the interviewer broach the subject before you do. Most often than not, most employers choose to wait to see if you are a strong candidate before they discuss compensation. Since an initial interview is usually only the beginning of the selection process, it is normal for an employer to wait until the second or third interview to mention salary and benefits. If you instead choose to discuss such matters during your first interview, you may appear desperate and give the impression that money and benefits are the only things of interest to you.

Though it may seem otherwise, an interview is not designed to be a one-way exchange of information. Just as the interviewer asks questions of you, you are allowed to ask questions of him or her. After you have responded to all of the questions during the interview, be prepared to ask a few of your own. At the end of your first interview, it might be helpful to know how many people are currently in the same position, why the employer is looking to hire another employee, whether you would be part of a team or work independently, and what is the employer's overall employment strategy for the next few years. The answers to such questions will help you determine if your employment would be long-term or short-lived, and whether or not the corporate environment would be acceptable to you.

If you are still interested in the job after your interview, be sure you clearly understand the next steps in the selection process before you leave. Will you have to take a test, go through more interviews or agree to a background check? How soon is the employer looking to fill the position and how long will it take for an offer to be made? Instead of guessing at the answers, simply say, "I enjoyed meeting with you today and am very interested in pursuing this position. What are the next steps in the process?" This will invite the interviewer to explain the hiring procedure and will give you a much better understanding of what to expect.

Read the next article, "The Job Offer"