• Establish a rapport
• Be yourself. Don't become someone in an interview that you're not. Be honest and truthful in the material covered and always be yourself, then you don't have to backstroke if ever questioned on anything. Don't hold back, let the true you shine.
• Demonstrate integrity. Never divulge confidential information about your previous employers, even if pressed to do so. Some interviewers will test you by showing annoyance if you don't. Hold your ground.
• Never be negative.
• Never get into an argument with your interviewer. Even if you strongly disagree. You can state your viewpoint enthusiastically and positively, without bickering. Just remember that if you get into an argument, you cannot win either the argument OR THE JOB!!
• Always show loyalty to former employers.
• Never be a beggar, look upon your interview as a meeting between equals. Being subservient is as damaging to your chances as being arrogant. The person who is interviewing you was impressed enough with your résumé and cover letter to invite you for an interview. This is a positive start and should be the basis for optimism.
• Be on your toes at all times, with every person you meet.
• Never give too much information in the first phone meeting. Gain an in-person interview, not a telephone interview.
• (If you are prompted for a phone interview, "Managing the Phone Interview," by Peter Vogt follows.)
• Don't let untalented, insecure or insensitive interviewers get you down.
• Don't ask the employer about salary until you are offered the position. Make sure they want you first, then negotiate from strength.
• Be sure you are thoroughly prepared for the interview.
• Make sure you have some way to receive incoming calls at all times at home, even if it's an answer matching. Be sure there is no static or music playing in the background when taping the outgoing message. If you or your family are sharing the phone.
  
  You want to make sure your caller is able to get through to you in the shortest amount of time or that he/she knows you will receive their message, don't count on your Caller ID, if you don't have a recorder or service, the interviewer might perceive you as not interested, the interviewer's true phone number may not come up on Caller ID, nor will their name appear on your Caller ID in order to ask for the correct person when returning a call, and most interviewers don't have the time to call back.
  
• Research the company, find enough information to be able to rely on when going in for the interview.
• Be confident not nervous. Don't allow yourself to want any position too much, even if you're out of work, desperate for money and your "dream job" is riding on the outcome of your interview.

• Arrogance, cockiness
• Poor communication, presentation skills
• Lack of interest
• Lack of knowledge about the company and industry
• Early discussion or questions about salary and benefits
• Being unprepared for the interview and making excuses
• Egotism, over-confidence
• Tardiness, not showing up for an interview
• Poor eye contact
• Abrasive, rude, demanding
• Dishonesty, fabricated answers in an interview or resume
• Poor language usage, slang, poor grammar
• No career direction, not knowing yourself
• Shallow, inappropriate questions or answers
• Lack of experience, education, skills
• Lack of professional appearance
• "Know-it-all" attitude
• Inappropriate attire
• Unrealistic goals, career and job expectations
• Overly aggressive, hostile, manipulative behavior
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Poor grooming, hygiene
• Smelling of cigarette smoke
• Does not communicate qualifications effectively, no elaboration or examples
• Lack of professionalism and poise

• Be prepared for tough interview questions, or not so thought out ones from inexperienced interviewers
• Go on as many interviews from sun-up to sun- down as possible.
• Visualize your success
• Do your homework

• Before the day of the interview, get a good night's sleep so you can be well rested.
• Remember to bring address and phone number of interviewer, in case of an emergency.
• Review the directions to the interview to make sure you're not going to get lost.
• Listen to the weather forecast in advance to see if you'll need an umbrella or boots.
• Have change for phone calls, tolls, parking meters, etc.
• Never wear wrinkled clothes to an interview.
• Polish your shoes. Never wear shoes with worn-down heels. Especially if you're walking on nails, ladies. Your shoes may have the last impression you leave on your way out of the interviewer's office. Have your neighborhood
• shoe cobbler replace your nails with heels.
• Dress conservatively and tastefully. When in doubt, go without, dress more formally rather than less.
• Go lightly on cologne, perfume, makeup and jewelry.
• Use breath freshener, mints, cologne or perfume before the interview, if you are a smoker.
• Try and arrange your most important interviews for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Mondays and Fridays are the busiest days in an interviewer's week....and the days least likely to result in a job offer.
• Throughout your job campaign, and for the rest of your life, bear in mind that two of the best ways to project a strong, relaxed, confident image in all situations is to exercise every day and get a good night's sleep, going to bed before 10:00 pm.

• Don't insist on making your appointment at a time that your interviewer indicates may be inconvenient
• If you are offered reimbursement for travel, hotel and food, it's best to be frugal with your potential employer's
• money
• If you're sick, reschedule the interview for another time
• Dress conservatively
• Go light on jewelry, cologne, perfume and cosmetics.
• Never wear sunglasses
• Never chew gum
• If your glasses are broken, fix them before the interview
• Don't take up the time of an important executive by asking for directions, call back and ask the receptionist
• Always confirm your appointment
• Always be on time
• Always treat receptionists and secretaries with utmost respect
• If you come into the office wearing a coat, hat or other outdoor clothing, take them off in the reception area
• Never invite your spouse or friend along to the interview
• Begin and end every interview with a firm handshake and direct eye contact
• Be gracious and enthusiastic in your greeting
• Never address the interviewer by his or her first name
• If your interviewer is a female, wait until she offers her hand before you offer to shake hands
• If your interviewer is female and you do not know her marital status, address her as "Ms."
• Don't be seated, until the interviewer is seated or invites you to be seated
• Try to choose a chair that's adjacent to the interviewer's desk and move it slightly so that you will face the interviewer; if the sun is in your eyes, there's no harm in asking if the blinds can be adjusted
• Sit with good posture
• Remember that the most important three minutes of the interview are the first three minutes

• Smile easily and warmly
• Use correct grammar
• Never smoke
• Avoid nervous habits
• Don't read documents on the interviewer's desk
• Never pick-up objects in the interviewer's office
• Never talk while the interviewer is reading
• Always hold your temper in check
• Keep your ego under control
• Don't mask your nervousness by talking too much.
  

• According to a poll conducted by executive search consultant and author, Allan Cox, two-thirds of employers frown on
• having dirty footwear. The only thing that will turn them off more is a woman who comes to an interview dressed in a see-through blouse.
  Other interesting findings:
• 40% if hiring executives researched were negative toward a bracelet or neck chain worn by a man.
• While 17% of middle managers frowned upon anyone wearing a beard, 22% of top executives took a dislike to those with beards. Mustaches turned off 7% of the top executives and 6% of middle managers.
• Being five minutes late for the interview upset about 60% of executives. Being 15 minutes early annoyed 12% but favorably impressed 45%.
• Drinking alcohol during lunch was frowned on by 25% of executives, but was viewed positively by 21%.
• Asking reflective questions about the company impressed more than 80% of all executives surveyed.

• Pay the interviewer the ultimate compliment by listening to his/her questions.
• The more the interviewer talks, the more he/she is telling you what you should say in order to get yourself hired.
• So, have a sincere interest in what the other person is saying.
• After the interviewer makes an important statement, feedback your understanding of it in your own words, to be
• sure you understand and to show the interviewer how well you were listening.
• Be on your toes if your interview is interrupted. If the telephone rings, take notes where you left off so as to jog his/her memory when they ask, "Now, where were we?"

• Use your body language to show your interviewer that you are listening by occasionally nodding your head in agreement.
• Maintain good but not unnatural eye contact. Keep your eye movements relaxed and steady.
• Sit up straight in your chair.
• Never yawn. If you must, do it through your nose!
• Never tap your foot, twirl a pencil or show anxiety through your legs, feet or hands.
• Never drum your fingers or crack your knuckles.
• Remember that closed postures such as crossed arms and/or crossed legs, convey dislike and distrust.
• Use this fascinating (and very powerful) body language technique of master salespeople: Subtly mimic the body language of your interviewer. If he/she leans towards you, you lean toward him/her slightly. If he/she holds his/her hands in a certain way, you should hold them in a similar fashion.

• Never discuss controversial subjects, including race, religion or politics.
• Never discuss personal problems you may have.
• Don't reveal to your perspective employer the other positions you may have been turned down for.
• If you are physically challenged, talk only about your abilities, not your disabilities.
• Never disparage former bosses, former companies or former employees.
• Never bring up the subject of money, if your interviewer brings it up, try your hardest not to give salary information, either past, present or future. You may answer, "Well, I am somewhat flexible on salary. What is the range for this position?" Always answer with a range if asked as well as in a cover letter.

• Remember, follow-up each interview with a letter.
• Thank the interviewer for the meeting. Always take his/her business card before leaving.
• Emphasize your interest in the position.
• Review your background and briefly explain how your experience will compliment the requirements of the position. Stress accomplishments.
• Indicate that you intend to follow-up the letter with a telephone call to determine if and when the interviewer wishes to see you again.
• Should you receive a letter or phone call of rejection, hand write or type another thank you note. This is one of the hardest thing you will do, but believe me, it is very effective. You never know what may happen to the person who was offered the position. He/she might back out within three hours or a family member may become ill, or within that period of time they may have had another job offer that was substantially better than that one.
• The employer would have to find the next candidate in line and you would be the freshest one on his/her mind.

• Increased sales. This is the most obvious route to better profits, so it's a hot button to push with most companies.
• Decreased costs. This is another direct path to better profits.
• Special expertise. These are skills that the company may need and which indirectly contribute to increased profits

MASTERING THE PHONE INTERVIEW

-- by Peter Vogt

You just got word that you landed a job interview with a company that really interests you -- only there’s a slight catch.

You won’t be meeting with your interviewer(s) face to face. Instead, you’ll be taking part in a phone interview, the results of which will determine whether you’re invited to meet with company representatives in person.

Many companies use phone interviews as an initial employment screening technique for a variety of reasons. Because they’re generally brief, phone interviews save companies time. They also serve as a more realistic screening alternative for cases in which companies are considering out-of-town (or out-of-state and foreign) candidates.
So the chances are pretty good that, at some point in your job hunt, you’ll be asked to participate in a 20- to 30-minute phone interview with either one person or several people on the other end of the line. In many ways, the way you prepare for a phone interview isn’t all that different from the way you’d get ready for a face-to-face interview -- save for a few slight additions to and modifications of your list of preparation tasks.

Here’s what to do:

1. Treat the phone interview seriously, just as you would a face-to-face interview.
A phone interview seems so informal on the surface that it can be easy to fall into the trap of "phoning it in" -- i.e., not preparing for it as well as you would for an in-person interview.

Don’t get caught with your guard down. Be sure to research the company, study the job description, and practice your responses to anticipated questions, just as you would for any other interview.

2. Have your résumé and cover letter in front of you.
You’ll almost certainly be asked about some of the information that appears on these documents. You might also want to have in front of you any supporting materials that relate to information in your résumé and cover letter, like documents you’ve designed or written, a portfolio of your various projects, or the written position description from your key internship.

3. Make a cheat sheet.
Jot down a few notes about the most critical points you want to make with your interviewer(s). Are there certain skills and experiences you want to emphasize?

Do you have certain interests or passions you want your interviewer(s) to know about and understand? Be sure these pieces of information appear on your crib sheet.

Then touch on them during the interview, even if your only chance to do so is at the end of the session when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions or anything to add.

4. Get a high-quality phone.
This isn’t the time to use a cell phone that cuts in and out, or a cheaply made phone that makes it difficult for you and your interviewer(s) to hear and understand each other.

5. Shower, groom and dress up (at least a little).
Odd advice? Perhaps. But focusing on your appearance, just as you would for a normal interview, it will put you in the right frame of mind from a psychological standpoint.

You won’t do as well in your phone interview if you’re lying in bed, for example, of if you’re draped over your couch in your pajamas.

6. Posture - Stand up, or at least sit-up straight at a table or desk.
Again, there’s a psychological, frame of mind aspect to consider here. But on a more tangible level, research has shown that you project yourself better when you’re standing up, and you'll feel more knowledgeable and confident.

Phone interviews can be tricky, especially since you aren’t able to read your interviewers’ nonverbal expressions and body language during the session -- a big difference from the typical interview.

If you prepare well for your phone interview, you won’t need to read anyone’s nonverbals to gauge your performance. You’ll know for sure how you’ve done because you’ll be invited to a face-to-face interview, where you’ll have yet another opportunity to the best person for the job.

If you would like to make any comments or add additional information to the above excerpt, please feel free to contact us.

The information is "In My Opinion" and other reference journals I've researched for the past several years, and may not reflect your opinions, judgment or assist you. Please use them if you will and I wish you the best on your interviewing process.

Jennifer Cunningham

Call 1-888-804-0664 or (512) 708-9900.
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