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Hey guys! I am looking to go to an interview tomorrow. This isn't just any interview. This is the "may be the last interview in your life" interview. So in looming pressure that is on my head, and the stress that I am putting myself in, I ask you family....What is some advice that we can give each other? What are some key points that generally speaking help with any job you're interviewing for? What are some common questions that you hear as an employee, and what are some common questions that you ask as an employer?
I know we've all been in extreme conditions of stress, but the truth is that MOST of the time we aren't "expecting" the stress. It just happens and we adapt and overcome. Most of the time not thinking about it until afterward.
So what are some of the things we can do to help eacchother out? We have a unique opportunity here on Rally Point! Not every day can people from the tippy top of executive ladders, and hard working joe smoe sit down at the same table and hash things out and help eachother understand what it takes to be in both positions!
I know we've all been in extreme conditions of stress, but the truth is that MOST of the time we aren't "expecting" the stress. It just happens and we adapt and overcome. Most of the time not thinking about it until afterward.
So what are some of the things we can do to help eacchother out? We have a unique opportunity here on Rally Point! Not every day can people from the tippy top of executive ladders, and hard working joe smoe sit down at the same table and hash things out and help eachother understand what it takes to be in both positions!
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Interview
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Interview types vary with the position that you are trying to get. I am a computer geek so if I am going for an extremely skilled engineering position I need to be able to respond to extremely detailed questions like: What are the OSI Layers and what is the function of each of them, and my personal favorite that I always ask when I conduct interviews for Network Engineering questions is what is the 13th byte of a TCP packet and what is the function of each bit. If they can answer that correctly I know that I do not need to ask any other technical questions. In over 100 interviews that I have conducted only one person answered the question exactly right and he wasn't hired because my next questions where about his work ethic and his ability to work with other people and he was an epic failure in that regard. My reason for asking such a detailed question was not to get the "correct" answer. I was testing how they acted and responded to what I knew was an unfair question. I could not have cared less if they knew they answer or not. It was meant to observe their body language, the deer in the headlights look with their jaw dropping open was the normal response, and then how they recovered from the initial shock and responded was very important. Way to many tried to BS their way through it and that ended the interview on the spot. The best answer I was looking for was "I don't know but I know where to lookup it up if and when I need to know. Never BS your way through an interview unless BS happens to be a primary asset for the job you are trying to get. ;-)
My general rules when I go in to an interview are:
- Unless they are shooting at you or trying to kill you, this is not truly a stressful situation.
- Know your resume inside and out. Chances are pretty high that they have it right in front of them and when they ask you a question that the answer to is right there in your resume your response had better be pretty close to what is on the paper in front of them. Way to many people pad or just outright lie on their resumes. Those type of questions are tests to see if your resume is real.
- Always be on time for your interview. It speaks to your reliability and respect for others. When I was in the Navy "on time" meant at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule. My experience in the strictly Corporate world has been that showing up too early can be a detractor because the interviewers are on a tight schedule a lot of the time and they can view your early arrival as inconveniencing them. My general rule of thumb is to be there 5 minutes ahead of schedule even though I have probably been sitting in the parking lot for an hour because I didn't want any surprise traffic to make me late.
- Memorize the job description. That should tell you the requirements they are looking for. Emphasize your strong points and be completely honest about where you feel you are weak while also pointing out that you are willing to do whatever you can to improve. If you do not meet some of the requirements and either can not or will not ever meet them you better be prepared to justify how your strengths are more valuable your lack of some of the things they are looking for. You should also have considered why you are trying to get that job in the first place.
- Recon/scout out the company or organization that you are trying to work for. What is their business and what do you bring to the table that will help them. Know where they place in relation to their competitors. Know their history. Learn the news about them both good and bad. I would advise being very careful about airing their dirty laundry but you can sometimes use it to your advantage by pointing out what you offer to help them recover.
- Be well groomed and dress at least one step above, if you can, the clothing standards that you be wearing if you got the job. It is a show of respect. If you are a welder and would normally work in jeans I am not saying to show up in a three piece suit but at least wear clean and wrinkle free slacks and a collared shirt. Again it is a show of respect.
- Gather your thoughts before you open your mouth. Umms and ahhhs at when you are speaking tend to be detractors if the job you are going for requires "excellent" oral and written communication skills.
- Finally, treat the interview as a two-way interview. You should be interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. You will probably be working for and with the people sitting across the table from you. This is not the miltary. Do you really want to be around them and working with them all the time? Does it look like a comfortable work environment? Are they just going to Manage you like a tool or asset that is disposable? If they are, then is the job really worth it? Can you take a mercenary attitude and work there as long as it meets whatever needs you have or want? You have the opportunity to choose hopefully. Wouln't it be nice to wake up and look forward to going to work?
Good luck in your interview!
Cheers,
CJ
My general rules when I go in to an interview are:
- Unless they are shooting at you or trying to kill you, this is not truly a stressful situation.
- Know your resume inside and out. Chances are pretty high that they have it right in front of them and when they ask you a question that the answer to is right there in your resume your response had better be pretty close to what is on the paper in front of them. Way to many people pad or just outright lie on their resumes. Those type of questions are tests to see if your resume is real.
- Always be on time for your interview. It speaks to your reliability and respect for others. When I was in the Navy "on time" meant at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule. My experience in the strictly Corporate world has been that showing up too early can be a detractor because the interviewers are on a tight schedule a lot of the time and they can view your early arrival as inconveniencing them. My general rule of thumb is to be there 5 minutes ahead of schedule even though I have probably been sitting in the parking lot for an hour because I didn't want any surprise traffic to make me late.
- Memorize the job description. That should tell you the requirements they are looking for. Emphasize your strong points and be completely honest about where you feel you are weak while also pointing out that you are willing to do whatever you can to improve. If you do not meet some of the requirements and either can not or will not ever meet them you better be prepared to justify how your strengths are more valuable your lack of some of the things they are looking for. You should also have considered why you are trying to get that job in the first place.
- Recon/scout out the company or organization that you are trying to work for. What is their business and what do you bring to the table that will help them. Know where they place in relation to their competitors. Know their history. Learn the news about them both good and bad. I would advise being very careful about airing their dirty laundry but you can sometimes use it to your advantage by pointing out what you offer to help them recover.
- Be well groomed and dress at least one step above, if you can, the clothing standards that you be wearing if you got the job. It is a show of respect. If you are a welder and would normally work in jeans I am not saying to show up in a three piece suit but at least wear clean and wrinkle free slacks and a collared shirt. Again it is a show of respect.
- Gather your thoughts before you open your mouth. Umms and ahhhs at when you are speaking tend to be detractors if the job you are going for requires "excellent" oral and written communication skills.
- Finally, treat the interview as a two-way interview. You should be interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. You will probably be working for and with the people sitting across the table from you. This is not the miltary. Do you really want to be around them and working with them all the time? Does it look like a comfortable work environment? Are they just going to Manage you like a tool or asset that is disposable? If they are, then is the job really worth it? Can you take a mercenary attitude and work there as long as it meets whatever needs you have or want? You have the opportunity to choose hopefully. Wouln't it be nice to wake up and look forward to going to work?
Good luck in your interview!
Cheers,
CJ
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