INTERVIEW SUCCESS
Stand Out From the Crowd!
The Interview Gets The Job!
One key element is to research - the career field, the particular job, and the employer. Research will go a long way in helping you tailor your resume and interview responses, and will demonstrate to the company you are serious about the position.
What to Research
- The company website - Understand their values, mission, challenges, competition
- Conduct an Internet search - What do others say about the company?
- Use employer research sites - glassdoor.com, onetonline.org, careeronestop.org, bls.gov, wetfeet.com, careerbuilder.com - and many more!
- What is the typical salary, benefits, work environment, company culture?
- Ask people in your network what they know about the company and the people who work there
Preparing Your Interview Responses
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
Be sure to take time to work with someone (a career coach, friend, family member, colleague) and practice answering interview questions. When you only rehearse in your mind or try to "wing it", you may not succeed in giving stellar responses to interview questions.
Prepare Your Interview Attire
Prepare Your Interview Responses - Remember, You're a STAR
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Use this acronym to help you craft responses to interview questions, where you can remember to highlight your skills and accomplishments. All too often, applicants fail to give specific information during an interview. Hiring managers hear, "I'm a people-person" too many times. After a while, that response just blends in with the multitude of applicants, and you are quickly forgotten.
You can stand out from the crowd by giving well thought out answers that focus on your past accomplishments and how you can bring those skills to your future employer.
How Do I Use STAR?
S = Explain the situation, where you were working or the job title.
T = Describe the issue, what was the problem?
A = What actions did you take?
Be specific.
R = What was the result of those actions? What happened?
Avoid These Mistakes
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
Thomas A. Edison
Your persistence and hard work will pay off!
Change Your Attitude, Change Your Life
Lori Cleymans
CPRW, JCTC, CPCC, GCDF, CEA
@loricleymans