I recently got an interview for a position that could be best described as a ‘dream job’ for me (started a thread in MPSIMS about it).
For any of you out there who have been involved in the interviewing process from the hiring side, what makes a good interviewee?
What are successful things people do to stand out and be favorably looked upon by interviewers?
Also, they want a writing sample. I think my writing communication skills are good, but what kind of things will they be looking for?
Your link to the other thread is a little screwy. This is the one you meant, yes?
Oh fooey. It seems an extra pair of quote marks got in there. Sorry about that, folks!
A good interviewee is easy to talk to. They’re confident and pleasant. They don’t trip over their words and look at me in fear like I’m the Grand Inquisitor. Even if they’re introverted, we have a good two way conversation. It sucks if you clam up when you’re nervous, so get some practice. Have friends practice interviewing you. Get dressed up and have them fire questions at you. It won’t be the same as having a stranger interview you, but you’ll be surprised how much it helps settle your nerves and prepare you.
They can bring up examples when I ask if they have a particular skill. In other words, nothing is worse than asking “do you think you’re a strong leader” and hearing “yes” with nothing given to back that up. Do an inventory of your strong points and think of examples that show them at their best. Write them down (in case you get nervous and your mind empties) so you can refer to them during the interview.
They know something about the job and the company. If you’re interviewing in my department, it will be in marketing. So bring up skills and strengths that will help in that field. I once asked a candidate what types of challenges she enjoyed the most and she answered “physical challenges” then went on to describe her college gymnastics experiences. Uh, you sit behind a desk all day in the job she was interviewing for. It would have been fine to bring up her gymnastics experiences and work as an answer to another question like “tell me about when you really had to push yourself to work to reach a goal” (since she was a soon to graduate college student and we don’t expect them to have a lot of in office experience). But it was a horrible answer to the question asked.
They know something about the company. They don’t have to quote our last earnings announcement, but they have looked us up online and know about what we do and our place in the industry. The best candidates expect me to do a bit of selling to them. They know they’re good, so we need to show ourselves to be good too.
Finally, be prepared to take control of the interview if your interviewer sucks. It may be that someone interviewing you has no clue what they’re doing. I got thrown into interviews the first few times because I was the only one who had time on her calendar. I had no idea what to ask. I kind of fumbled through the first few with question I grabbed out of an old interviewing skill book. The questions were years old and probably didn’t give the candidates their best chance to shine.
If you haven’t had a question that lets you bring up what you think is one of your strongest points, then bring it up yourself. Say something like “I’ve always had strong analytical skills as evidenced by {insert example}. I enjoy doing those kinds of things and hope this position would allow me to do so. Is that the case?” You’re not just looking to answer the questions “right.” You also need to separate yourself from the other candidates. So don’t just stop when you think you’ve answered all their questions. If you have other things you think would help you land the job, bring them up.
Ok, so what if you’re NOT a leader?
Would I lose the job if I admitted it (let’s assume that the position doesn’t really require leadership).
I have always been a right hand kinda gal. I suck at being the head honcho, but I am well suited to take a lot of pressure off of the head honcho.
So is that bad if you’re trying to get a job?
Being a good leader is a requirement of the jobs I interview candidates for. It may not be for other positions. It was just an example of how I’ve asked a question and got a response that tells me nothing.
However, how do you know you’re not a good leader? I’m not head honcho and anyone who interviews with me isn’t likely to be head honcho either (though the thought makes me laugh). We’re all in middle management. We want people who can lead a project but they won’t get a high falutin’ title. The reason we want people with leadership skills is because they’ll have to head up projects with a bunch of people who don’t work for them and sometimes are higher up the ladder than they are.
It’s interesting you brought this up because I was recently wondering if our candidates don’t understand what I and interviewers in my office mean by “leadership.” We all ask about it (in fact it’s on the interview evaluation form we complete). However, the candidates are coming in at entry level or close to it. We’re not looking for the big wigs! I’ve had candidates answer “do you have leadership skills?” with something like “yes, I was president of XYZ club.” That only tells me they got elected. A better answer would be “yes, I headed up a project with XYZ club to do ABC; initially I got resistance from some members and here’s how I dealt with it…”
These days, I’d probe more if I got the “president” answer to my question. When I started interviewing (and was, frankly, very bad at it) I may have let it drop without finding out more about whether the person had any good leadership examples coming out of that presidency.
If someone is asking if I’m a leader, I hear:
“Do you like to be in charge of stuff and are you good at it?”
I don’t want to be in charge, and I’m not good at it. I know I’m not good at it because I was once President of an organization, and I totally sucked. I don’t want the responsibility of a project on my head, I’d rather be behind the scenes making the project work.
Theoretically, if it were a work project I could be the leader because I have no ego when it comes to stuff like this so I’d likely be pretty laid back. But I’d be miserable and stressed out the whole time, knowing that ultimately if the project fails it’s my ass.
I hate to work in groups, always did. If I can’t work alone, I definitely don’t want to be the one to have to try to get people to do their part of the work.
I’d second knowing something about the company, plus the industry in general. Also, if you have a list of accomplishments relative to the job, that’s definitely helpful. Many interviewers look for specifics.
For example, I’m going to be working for a large company soon who needs a good writer with a legal background. I worked in marketing at a large law firm. While I had that job, I helped on a national ad campaign, re-wrote marketing materials, did corporate research and wrote e-newsletters on various changes in law. The last accomplishment was the most relevant to the position, since the company I’ll be working with needs someone who can read legalese and turn it into understandable English. Also important were my skills interviewing the attorneys and asking the right questions to get the information I needed to write the newsletter. Extracting information told the interviewer that I’m personable, have good oral communication skills, understand what people tell me and can turn that into good writing.
Even if an accomplishment doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, a lot of different things go in to making a project successful. Highlight those things you think were integral to your accomplishments.
Also, be prepared for questions like, “What do you think is your biggest strength?” and “What’s your biggest weakness?” You might also be asked stuff like, “What was your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?” Most companies want to ensure that you can work autonomously, but will ask for help and work well in a team when necessary.
And another thing - I know most of the above have been examples about me, but when I used to interview people, I absolutely hated it when they used words such as “like” and “yeah.” In other words - “Like, so I was was, like, working with this guy and…” Or “Yeah, I know how to do that.” The former sounds really unprofessional and like you’re still in high school and the latter sounds under-confident and wishy-washy. But that’s just me.
This depends on what sort of job you’re interviewing for. For example, if you’re looking for a marketing position at a publishing company, I’d bring in a couple of samples, such as a press release about an upcoming book or a new author or event, plus maybe a piece of marketing collateral I wrote about a company’s publishing services.
When I got this contract I’m going to be starting on, the company was looking for someone who had magazine or journalism experience but could read legalese, so I brought in a copy of a legal newsletter I had written, plus a copy of an article I wrote for a magazine.
It’s also good to be able to explain the significance of your writing samples. Like, “I wrote this press release to market a new author who just signed on with our publishing company. When I wrote the relase, I interviewed the author - she was really easy to talk to - and put everything into a concise, friendly format, then distributed it through the appropriate channels, such as local and regional magazines and newspapers.”
Finally, don’t panic if you don’t already have an extensive portfolio of writing samples. If you need to make one up, do so. If it’s a sounce piece, this will tell the interviewer that you’re not only an excellent writer, you’re flexible and can write anything, too.
Sorry for the dissertation - I have a fair amount of recent experience (meaning last three weeks) interviewing people for others and getting interviewed by people who are considering me for consulting gigs.
I’ll throw in bit of basic advice, since I’ve seen too many people who didn’t follow it.
[ul][li]Show up on time. You’d be surprised how many people don’t. If you can’t show up on time, call as soon as you know you can’t and let the person interviewing you know when you will show up. You might be able to salvage things, but don’t bet on it. [/li][li]Leave extra time to find the place. This complements the first point. Even if you think you know where the place you’re going is, leave an extra few minutes just in case parking’s tight or it isn’t exactly where you thought it was. If you get lost, call and ask for directions. There’s no shame in it, or there shouldn’t be, and it makes it clear you’re not above asking for help when you need it. I’ll think much better of someone who calls for directions and arrives 5 minutes early than someone who doesn’t and arrives 5 minutes late.[/li][li]Treat the person who greets you with respect. She may not be what she appears to be. A few years ago, I was covering the front desk out of courtesy to my employer because our regular receptionist had been sent out to a client. A man came in to be interviewed for a job as a developer. He arrived with a drink in a can cooler, asked if he could stash it somewhere, asked for a tissue and handed it back to me dispose of after he’d wiped the can, and, more importantly, treated me with a generally condescending air. A few months later at a company meeting I asked the recruiter who interviewed him what had happened to him. I was told we’d decided not to hire him. I told him I was mildly disappointed. You see, I was looking forward to the look on his face when he learned I was the company’s senior developer. :eek: On the other hand, it’s probably a good thing we didn’t hire him. [/ul][/li]
I’ve never been the person who makes the final decision. I have been the assistant to the person who makes the final decision. As I said, I know these three things seem basic, but there are some who simply don’t get them.
CJ
Almost everyone asks these questions. Another popular question is “Where do you see yourself in five years?” This one used to drive me nuts when on the interviewee side of the desk. “Retired” is not a good answer. “In your job.” is a smartass reply that isn’t usually appreciated. Also, try to come up with an answer to the ‘weakness’ question that makes it sound like an attribute, i.e., “When I’m distracted, I can only type 300 wpm.”
Basics: Dress for the interview. Respect the interviewer’s space, i.e., don’t bring coffee and a danish to the interview. I would discourage accepting coffee; if you somehow knock it over, it’s going to make a huge mess. Limit yourself to a cup of water if you’re prone to dry mouth. Be attentive and focused, and confine your answers to the question. Stay away from pity parties (‘my last boss didn’t like me’ Really? Why not?). This sounds dumb, but if the interviewer is a woman, and you are a man, do NOT glance at her chest. If there are two or more interviewers in the room, do NOT focus only on those of same sex as you.
Yeah, I hate questions like these, especially the “Where do you see yourself in five years?” I particularly despise this question because it’s often asked by people offering a really crappy job with few prospects or a poor work environment. You know, like an administrative position in a very hierarchical work place with virtually no hopes of moving up in the ranks. At least that has been my experience - I’m sure that’s not true for everyone who asks that. Still, it’s like telling someone, “I hope you don’t have any ambition or don’t expect us to promote you.”
As you suggest, it’s a very good idea to have a weakness in mind that can also be an asset. For example, I’m a writer and editor. I usually mention that I’m very particular about certain things and can be sort of compulsive about editing. It can be very annoying to others, and it does occasionally slow me down; however, it’s also an excellent trait in an editor.
In the most exhaustive and challenging interview I ever went through, this is the question I was completely unprepared for:
John, let’s say hypothetically you were employed at our firm and a year or so down the road, you won the Mega Lotto jackpot. What would you do?
As the rusted wheels in my head spun frantically for the right answer, I quickly came to the conclusion there wasn’t one.If I’d said I stay on with the firm, I’d look like a patronizing and dishonest asshole
If I told the interviewer the last they’d see of me was a white streak making a beeline toward the exit, I’d sound like someone who was only out for themselves.
I could have said I don’t play the lottery because the odds are astronomical (which is true), but that wasn’t the question and would come off as far too evasive.I opted to answer with the first thought that truly entered my head. If I was to win the lottery, I think I’d probably leave the firm and invest a portion of my winnings toward going into business for myself in the same field…a field I’ve always enjoyed and have succeeded in.
Sidenote to the HR wonk who came up with the Lottery query: It is a cruel question, kudos.
I haven’t interviewed a whole lot of people, but when I did the big turnoff was when they would tell me about their plans for the near future that didn’t include the job they were interviewing for. Sometimes people are up front about this and sometimes it has to be teased out.
I appreciate the honesty and good luck to them but I’m not going to recommend that someone be hired if they’re going to go back to school full time at the point where they’re finally able to stand on their own two feet. Then we have to start all over.
If someone starts using jargon and acronyms that you don’t understand, don’t just stare blankly and nod your head. You probably know these terms but you just know them by different names and acronyms. Their ABC might simply be your BCA. So don’t be afraid to ask questions.
So what’s a good answer to that question that doesn’t scare someone off?
My honest answer would be this: “In 5 years I hope to be in the process of earning a Master’s Degree.”
Is this going to scare the person interviewing me if they only have a Bachelor’s? I’ll mostly be doing it for the money, but also because I simply love to learn.
Another answer would be: “hopefully I’ll still be working here if all goes well.” This is because I am ready for stability in my career – I am looking for somewhere to settle down and lay down some roots now that I’m finally out of college. I am more about stability than I am trying to get a promotion. In short, if I am happy where I am and my job is stable, it is going to take a LOT to make me leave that job.
So are those bad answers? The Master’s degree answer makes me look like I’m eventually going to leave them. The second answer makes me look like I have no ambition.
Can you give examples of a good answer for this one – for those of us who don’t have any “good” weaknesses?
My weaknesses are that I’m (generally) terrified of authority and I take most criticism personally. Plus I’m easily frustrated. I also have trouble discerning what the boss wants if they don’t flat out tell me – I can’t read minds. I’m also hypercritical of my work (also myself) – I’m never satisfied with the job I’ve done, even after it’s finished I can look at it and see ways it could have been improved --and I’m extremely hard on myself when I screw up.
Of course, I can’t tell a potential employer all of that, so what to do?
An employer will see this weakness as an asset. It may be hard on you, but it to your employers advantage to have people who are not satified with good enough.
[QUOTE=Abbie Carmichael]
So what’s a good answer to that question that doesn’t scare someone off?
My honest answer would be this: “In 5 years I hope to be in the process of earning a Master’s Degree.”/QUOTE]
How about something along the lines of “working here, if all goes well, having expanded my skills and responsibilities”.
That’s cool; while I know a little about the company (it’s a non-profit actually), I probably know a lot more about the industry than some of the interviewers. The non-profit has a number of aspects, and I’m being looked at for the educational end. My conversations with a couple other educators in the field who have first-hand experience with some of the interviewing committee say they don’t have that much experience with education. I suppose this could actually also be a really bad thing for me too since they might not understand what I’m talking about.
Well, it’s an educational position, so I might bring in some curriculum I’ve written. I’ll probably want to reformat it since its not exactly formatted like prose…
Sounce piece? 
No need to be sorry about anything! Thanks for being so thorough and helpful! 
And thanks to everyone who has replied! It’s pretty nerve-wracking from this end, and all the replies have been really helpful! 
I’ve sat as an interviewee with more than one interwiewer who has said, at the beginning of the hour interview, “I’ve looked over your CV and other information, and I’ve really got no further questions for you. So what questions do you have for me?” And so the entire interview was spent with me interviewing the interviewer. Which might sound kind of cool, but it’s also nerve-wracking attempting to frame a string of questions that demonstrate that you know your background material, and are eagerly anticipating jumping into work feet-first, and are a self-starter, etc, etc. So be prepared ahead of time with a list of questions you might want to ask.
What I’ve done in the past (I’m not sure if this is clever or not, so perhaps someone on the other side of the table can comment, but it works for me) is bring along a little 3X5 spiral-bound notebook tucked in my jacket pocket. I’ll write a list of questions in it that I can refer to during the interview, and I’ll jot things down during the interview that I find interesting. I’m hoping that that leaves an “I’m here to learn all I can about your organization, and plus I did my homework” impression. And it gives me something to do with my hands, since I tend to fidget when nervous.
Mmmm… seems like I recall advice from earlier threads stating that interviewers, as a whole, recognize that kind of thing as a cop-out, and are apt to press for a real weakness rather than a strength gussied up to look like a weakness. Far better to mention a real weakness, followed up by a plan for overcoming that weakness. (For example, “I realize that I lack experience in subject X, but I’m teaching myself about subject X at home on my own time.”) Makes you sound more self-aware and willing to improve.
I agree with zut on how to handle that particular type of question.
-Relax. If you are uncomfortible on an interview, how will you act in front of an irrate client?
-Don’t swear or use offensive language. If your statement starts “no offense but…” or “excuse the expression but…”, maybe you shouldn’t finish it.
-Know your shit. Know about the job, the company, everything.
-If you don’t know something don’t fake it because I WILL know and you’ll sound twice as stupid. Just say “I’m not familiar with that, could you explain what you are talking about?”.
-Have questions ready to ask me.
-Do not make critical comments regarding other people you meet today. We do talk to each other (idiot).