ABOUT US

CANDIDATE SERVICES

OUR SERVICES
For Companies
For Candidates

     • View Our Jobs
     • Join Us!

INDUSTRY FOCUS
     • Plastics
     • Specialty Chemicals
     • Packaging
     • Pressure-Sensitive
          Materials
     • Aerospace
     • Supply Chain

Interview for Success!

Everything you need to know.

You must establish chemistry first thing in the interview. People hire people they like, and who are like them. Find areas of common interest early.

Before getting into the interview, qualify the hiring authority by asking, "What characteristics are you looking for in the candidate you want to hire?" Then, go through your own background and show them how you match up. Write down what they are looking for; you will refer to it later (see concerns' below).

Be prepared to ask a series of intelligent questions. Find out how they will measure success for the position, so you can determine their expectations. Find out how your experience and accomplishments show that you will meet or exceed those expectations. Ask where the position will take you in the company, so you know your career path. In the interview, if one of your questions has already been answered, say "You have already answered this, but I wanted to ask...". Often, you will be judged by the questions you ask; don't skip over any of them, or they won't know what you were thinking. Click here to review Interview Questions you can ask during an interview.

Be prepared to tell stories that explain how you work, what results you obtained, how those results changed your current company, who you have managed, how they responded to your style, and so on. Remember PAR when relating stories describing your experience. Provide a succinct summary to generate interest, which will be indicated by a follow-up question. Don't tell a story all at once; instead, present a concise, high impact description in three sentences, and save the detail for the discussion.

Problem: set up a real life situation you faced
Action: discuss the actions you decided to take
Result: show the positive, business results of your actions

In every interview, the hiring authority will have concerns. (If they don't, you should be concerned!) You must find out what their concerns are so that you can address them yourself. Before the interview ends, qualify the hiring authority by saying, "You told me you were looking for x, y, and z (which you wrote down earlier). It appears I match up well. Do you have any concerns that I can be successful in this position?" Listen carefully, and decide how to reply:

• If the concern is not a real concern, then explain why it should not be a concern, and get agreement that it is no longer a concern.

• If the concern is a real concern, then minimize it and stress your strengths and compensating factors.

• If they insist that they do not have any concerns, then ask for the job by saying, "Ok, when can I start?" This doesn't mean you will accept an offer, but it could accelerate the process because you have made it clear that you want to work for them.

You must close for the next step before leaving the interview. The next step is to get agreement that you will go to the next step. If you cannot get agreement that you will go to the next step, then probe for more concerns. You must set the next step before leaving the interview.

What about money? Money should not come up in a first interview, but be prepared nonetheless. You should have decided already what is the minimum you will accept, and what will make you happy. Minimize the difference; it is your "reasonableness index". Make it easy to hire you!

You must follow up with a thank you letter. The Beneva Group prefers a handwritten note posted the day of the interview, before you return home. E-mail cannot compare to the goodwill of a handwritten Thank You letter.

Beware the Counterofffer - This is worth thinking about ahead of time. Read the 10 Reasons to Reject a Counteroffer.

A few other important points:

• It is ok to have notes and to take notes during an interview.

• Don't forget to express your interest in the position! Let there be no doubt about what you think.

• Be prepared to have references and proof sources available for yourself. Take a copy of any diplomas, transcripts, awards, certificates, articles, and other documentation of accomplishments. Take copies of your publications so you can offer them before being asked.

• Call your recruiter at 941-953-3500 immediately after the interview!