5 reminders about interviews

5 REMINDERS ABOUT INTERVIEWS

When does the interview start?

How do you prepare?

What should you bring?

How do I leave it?

How should I follow up?

In looking up the definition of "Interview" I found it means: discuss formally with someone for the purpose of an evaluation.

When you're called to come in for an interview, I believe it is a TWO WAY evaluation. They have questions and so should you!

So when does the interview start? The evaluation begins before you walk in the door, even before you get the call for the interview. They're checking you out. They are studying your resume. They are looking at your online profiles. They are Googling you. While your preparation begins even before you submit an application, the interview, with the traditional understanding of them evaluating you starts as you pull in the parking lot and walk in their office. How you treat the receptionist matters. How you dress matters. What you bring with you matters. Everything factors in. There's an old addage about first impressions...I forget how it goes.

How do you prepare? What if they ask you as the first question, "What did you do to prepare for this interview?" If you tell them you looked at their website, could you tell them three things about it you liked, or three things you didn't like? That is a pretty common question because it shows how detail oriented you are. It shows how interested you are in the position. Beyond that, you can talk to people who work at the company - call up the sales department, tell them you are coming in for an interview and ask them for a few minutes to describe the product or service, features and benefits, challenges and competitive landscape. Sales people talk too much. Use that to your benefit.

Google them. Go check out their website. Go to competitor's websites. Look them up at Hoovers.com, Manta.com, Jigsaw.com, LinkedIn.com, check Google for news articles, check them out on Twitter and facebook too. See if they have a Wikipedia entry. The internet ruins any excuse you might have had for not knowing about their industry, their business and the competitive landscape.

Create a list of questions to ask during the interview. Some questions I suggest you have ready include:

* What obstacles will I need to overcome to be successful in this role?

* Could I schedule a time to speak to someone who is in a similar role?

* What are the key vendors that I will interact with?

* I found lots of information about competitors in this industry (list a few), but who are the ones we most often run into? (notice I said "we" painting a picture of me on this team. It might be presumptuous to lead with that but if you feel good about the conversation, consider it.)

* If they ask you to clarify an answer or go into more detail, feel free to ask them to clarify or add detail to something they answered.

Here are a two questions that you could ask to end the interview immediately. They might be polite, but if you ask these, the interview is over and you're toast:

1. So, what do you guys do here?

2. Tell me about your industry?

There are lots of websites dedicated to helping you come up with the questions you want to ask. Feel free to either print out your list or write them in the margins of your notepad. Some questions will get answered through the course of the interview without you asking. Cross it off your list and don't ask it if they already gave you the answer.

Right before you go in, have someone cued up to speak on the phone to remind you of how awesome you are. If you go in hat-in-hand begging for A JOB, any job! you aren't putting your best foot forward. Nothing stinks like a desperate salesman (and you are in sales selling YOU!)

Bring:

* At least a notepad, preferably a padfolio or something that you can keep everything in.

* A printed list of your references so you can be prepared. Even if they ask for it, you should only give those out if you are serious about going to work for that company. Feel free to say no if you have decided the company isn't a good fit.

* Two pens (at least) in case one quits or explodes on you.

* Several copies of your resume, in case you meet with more than one person.

How do you leave it?

Always thank them for their time and the opportunity to speak about the job. Ask them about how you should follow up. They will tell you they will get back to you and might even say they will get back to you by next Monday at the latest. If they say that or something even more vague, you should ask them if it would be OK to call if you don't hear from them by X - pick the day, I suggest three days after when they said they'd get back to you. This way you maintain some control and have gotten their permission for you to follow up.

How should you follow up?

Always send a hand written thank you note. If every job seeker sent thank you notes the way they SAY they send them, the USPS would be profitable. (rimshot!) You will differentiate yourself by sending a thank you note. Some say it's OK to send a typed out letter if your handwriting looks doctorish. Mention something that came up during the interview. Remind them of the kind of results you deliver . Make it specific to the job you want. Remind them that you are interested in this position.

I hope this is helpful. Live the Boy Scout motto and "Be Prepared"!