Job interview today at 4pm...HELP!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

I need prayer, good thoughts, vibes, anything you guys can spare...
I NEED to get a job...today.
Oh, and ADVICE...give me advice, please!? I keep getting turned down for jobs after interviews. Please give me advice on them, ok?

Thanks,
Duckie

[ladjf]

1. Look your best. As the interview begins be very observant

of the makeup of the committee. When asked questions, don't be either too effusive or too brief with your answers. Don't assume that the questions have some trick and hidden motive. Just answer the question directly and simply. If you don't have a clue about the answer, just say that you don't know that answer.

On balance, if you are being interviewed by several people and the interview lasts say 45 minutes, you should have been talking a little less than half the time.

Lastly, you should always learn as much as possible about the employer company prior to the interview. You are likely to be asked specific questions along those lines, i.e. "why do you want a job with our company"? At the end of the interview you will likely be asked if you have any questions. Most definitely have one or two ready.

Don't be too friendly or too aloof. Keep a few things to yourself. Don't lie about your qualifications. Good luck. If this interview doesn't work out, consider it to be preparation for the next. Be on time but not too early. (about 10 minutes early).

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. Thanks, that helps so much...

I've only been interviewing with one person at a time. I think that a whole committee would be a little intimidating.
Duckie

[ladjf]

9. Not necessarily. Sometimes one on one is more tense

as there is no one to divert attention. Try to put interviewer at ease with you. Keep you body language rather quiet. Don't gesture too much.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. Oh my god. I have no train of thought when I can't move my hands.

I'm a compulsive gesturer. Skip's dad makes fun of me and loves to get me animated and talking about something I'm passionate about. My hands go crazy, and he says I'm so fun to talk to when I'm like that. LOL
Duckie

[ladjf]

29. well, it might be best to calm down a bit.

[bigwillq]

2. Best of luck!

Let us know how it turns out.:hug:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

15. Thanks.

and :hug: back at'cha.
Duckie

[HEyHEY]

3. Go in there with the attitude that you're interviewing them

"Do I want to work for you?" Is the best way to approach it, then you'll be confident which will come across to the interviewer.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. Thanks.

He said on the phone I sounded enthusiastic, and when I said that I was bored, he said he could take care of that. I'm really excited.
Duckie

[notadmblnd]

4. get on your knees and beg

cry a little too.. it worked for me once.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. Are you serious?

[notadmblnd]

16. I didn't actually get on my knees...

but I cried and begged. I got the job too.

[peekaloo]

5. Good thoughts for you. RELAX.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

12. I'm relaxed and hyper...

Is that possible? lol
Duckie

[AlCzervik]

8. Have at least 2 copies of your resume, go easy on the perfume

don't say anything negative about your current or former employer and don't fidget. Sending out the good vibes to you, they'll be lucky to have you.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. Thanks...

:hi:

[bif]

13. Do some homework on the company

And ask questions about it. Be upbeat and positive. Best of luck!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

26. Thanks.

I appreciate the well-wishes.
Duckie

[Deep13]

17. For what job?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

18. A new place here called Northwest Promotions...

I'd be doing something for them. Not exactly sure what. I'll find that out in the first interview. The ad said something about Rock and Roll, and I know good music. I'm a huge music enthusiast.
Duckie

[Deep13]

30. Okay, a bit of a curveball.

Two rules for your mindset going into the interview.
1. You are absolutely qualified for this job, no doubt, no question, absolutely.
2. If you are not qualified, see rule #1.


For this kind of company you want to look professional, but not too conservative like I would suggest for an established, main-line company. Unfortunately, I am no guru when it comes to women's fashion, except there does not seem to be a specific uniform like there is for men. Pants suit or suit that extends below the knees, white blouse. Wear a watch, nothing too kitchy. Keep the heels very modest. Interviewers notice details. When I have interviewed, I always wore cufflinks, a tie tack and polished shoes. If you sometimes wear glasses, wear them to the interview. It creates the illusion of being smart. (I'm sure you are, but it is good to look it.) Don't smoke even if invited to do so.

Handshake: Get this right! Come down from the top and give a good firm grip and a solid pump. This is especially true of a woman interviewer who has got to where she is by being strong and will expect the same of you.

I am going to assume that this is similar to a sales position. Talk about how you want to get in on the ground floor and grow with the company. Use lots of action verbs. Maintain eye contact. Keep a few inches between your back and the back of the chair. Draw on past achievements as examples. The important thing is to show how you have solved problems in the past, not necessarily that you have similar experience. Listen to the question asked rather than try to anticipate the next one. Take notes about company information. Ask questions about the company. Convey the sense that you are goal oriented rather than task oriented. That means you are concern with getting it done and not just putting in your hours. How to convey it: just tell 'em.

The purpose of the interview is to get a second interview. If somehow they make you an offer, don't try to negotiate it. Take it or leave it.

"What is your weakest personality trait (or biggest flaw)."
Don't take the bait and don't try to spin a negative into a positive (I work too hard.) Answer that everyone has flaws but that you have learned to grow and improve with experience. Tell them you are a quick study.

After today, go get a copy of "Knock 'Em Dead" by Martin Yakes and read it.

PS: It's Martin Yates, not Yakes.

[Deep13]

32. one more thing

Send a follow-up letter thanking the interviewer for his/her time and address any specific concern the interviewer had. Use the word "team" somewhere.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

35. You're very insightful...

And this might sound weird, but I'd like to pick your brain sometime. I love bright people, and you sounds as bright as the come.
Duckie

[Deep13]

38. Thanks

Pick away. Happy to help Team Blue.

Oh, and good luck.:toast:

[Patiod]

40. greatadvice

my only (purely personal) complaint is that sometime men shake women's hands too hard. We don't do that hard-grip/sizing-up thing.

Perhaps because this is and issue with me because I i]look like an Amazon but occassionally suffer just the slightes tinge of arthritis in my knuckles!

Agree about telling how you solved problems/met major challenges in the past - that's the image you want to leave them with

[VOX]

19. Relax, smile, look sharp, ask questions, and no defeating body language...

Other than all that, just be yourself.

Sending you many good thoughts, YRD. :thumbsup:

[LynneSin]

20. Best advice: DON'T FORGET THE DEODERANT!!!!!!

And don't overdo it on perfume/aftershave.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

23. LOL, you know I'm a girl, Lynne.

[LynneSin]

28. Even still - wear deoderant

That was actually listed in a handout I helped put together for a temp service I worked for a long time ago. Folks get so frantic getting prepared for an interview that they'll forget some of the basic stuff like deoderant. And then all that sweat from the interview and P-U!!!

[Patiod]

21. Bring a notebook, and have questions prepared

I second whoever said to have questions ready.

Sadly, the most important questions to me (how much vacation do I get? how many personal days? what's the latest I can get to work? how often can I get away with working from home? how obsessive are you about getting in when the weather is bad? can I stay in nicer hotels, or are you strict about per diems? ) are not the ones to ask until you're sure you're going to get hired.

Good questions:
- what are your criteria for success in this position? (or alternatives, like "what are you looking for in a candidate? or how are we evaluated?)
- are those who work late seen as "go-getters" or as inefficient users of time?
- why did the last person in the position leave?
- what's the mix of team work and work-on-your-own?
- what kind of support staff will I have available to work with? (in my line of work, it helps to have good admins to make our reports look nice, or plan our travel, for example)
- who do I report to? how does that relationship work (strict supervision vs. help vs. simply hands out assignments)
- tell me about a typical day for someone in this position - I'd like to get a feel for the proportion of challenges, crises, paperwork, routine tasks, etc.

Good luck!!! Let us know how it went!!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

24. Those are great!

Thanks for those questions. Those questions are very helpful. I wrote a few down.
Duckie

[Modem Butterfly]

22. Okay, I used to be a headhunter. Here's what I think:

Without knowing anything about your field or the position you're going for, here's my semi-professional advice:

1) Make sure your clothes are neat as a pin and ironed. Make sure that they are work-appropriate (i.e., don't wear a suit to an interview with a land-scaping company, don't wear pants to a very conservative bank). You want them to visualize you in the job.

2) Make double-sure your teeth and fingernails are clean. Clean also your glasses (if you wear them) and be sure your hair and make-up are neat (if you wear them).

3) TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE/PAGER/COURT-ORDERE MONITORING DEVICE. Whatever you have on you that can make noise, TURN IT OFF.

4) Fill out the application completely. Do NOT write in the experience section "See resume". That's an instant trip to the round-file for most interviewers; they see it as someone being too arrogant to fill out the app.

5) Take notes in the interview. Ask relevant questions. Nothing makes you look less engaged than not asking any questions. Always ask at least one or two.

6) Never, never, never say anything negative about a previous employer or supervisor. Ever. Even if s/he was a racist prick who gambled with company funds and ran everyone off by shaking his/her genitals at the copier. Instead, say, "My supervisor had an intense personality that resulted in a great deal of work-place divisions," The interviewer will take you more seriously instead of wondering what the other side of the story is and won't worry that you'll slander them when you leave their company.

7) Be sure to ask for the job, but don't be too aggressive when you do (unless you're going for a sales job).

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. Those are fabulously helpful.

Thanks so much. What do you wear to a place who's ad headline says Rock and Roll? It's called Northwest Promotions. I want to dress in the middle. Not too dressy, not too casual. I have no idea. I'm not great at this. I mean, i've been out of college for four months and I don't have a job yet. You can see how bad at this I am. And I've been on 10 interviews.
Duckie

[Modem Butterfly]

27. I'd wear separates

Nice pants and maybe a neat sweater set or a blouse with a contrasting jacket.

What was your college major? Does your school have any job placement help? I got my BA at U of O ten years ago and, assuming I still lived in Oregon, I would be able to use the college's job placement services and alumni organization.

[RedCloud]

31. possible answers to obvious questions:

1. Where do you envision yourself five years from now?
Hopefully somewhere else having concluded this interminable inquisition...
2. What are you strengths and weaknesses?
My strengths are that the more I learn, the less I know for sure.
My weaknesses are that I don't know what my real strengths are.
3. What would your former employer say about you if contacted?
First you would have to dig him up out of my back yard...
4. Why do you want to work for us?
I have been waiting all my life to work for you!

Be sure to ask about coffee breaks and to be unsupervised except once a month for a minute as I am!!

[Deep13]

34. Uh- huh, that's just great!

Answers:
1. I envision working actively in a new company and seeing my effort become actual business growth.
2. Everyone has weaknesses, but I believe my result driven thinking will help me meet challenges and help me learn from the experience. I'm a very quick study and understand that a company is about team work and not personalities.
3. Here are my references.
4. This company offers the challege of starting in a new firm on the ground floor and growing with the company.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

36. LOL I want to GET the job.

I'd like for them to think I'm funny, but I don't want them to go, "She's too sarcastic and silly." I admit, I am blonde and giggly, but I'm not dumb. Those were great for a laugh though. Thanks!
Duckie

[GOPBasher]

33. Praying for you. Wish I had advice for you, too, but I also suck at

interviews. :shrug:

[Maestro]

37. If it has do with Rockin' and Rollin'

I'd bring a dime bag and a bong and share with the interviewer or at the very least, bring a Fender Strat with a nice rack (of amps) with you. And it wouldn't hurt if during the guitar solo, you stopped, turned off the lights, lit up a lighter and flashed your bosom at the interviewer.

Or perhaps just follow the advice of everybody else here. ;)

Seriously, all I can add is humor. Good luck and calm down. Confidence in yourself is the best trait you can bring to the interview.

[Deep13]

39. If you borrow an instrument ...

... DON'T smash it like Pete Townsend.