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Interview Tips
| Accounting Temporary Staffing / ATS Search Group is dedicated to serving its clients with superior customer service based on honesty, reliability and confidentiality. |
Contact us:
602-263-7400
602-263-7400
Congratulations! Spending days, weeks, or possibly months of looking for
the right job has finally paid off and you've been asked to come in for an
interview. Then comes the biggest question of all, "now what?" You will only
have 15 to 20 minutes to "sell" your experiences, attitude, and skills to the
employer - most likely without knowing what the employer wants to hear from
you. There are articles upon articles of advice on interviewing, from how to
answer certain questions to how to dress - right down to the color of your
socks! It can seem overwhelming, but remembering a few key points can
help make your interview successful.
1. Research
Find out a little bit about the company you want to work for. Visit the location
in person if it is a store or building open to the general public. Visit the
company’s Website and talk to anyone you might know who works there.
What kinds of products or services does the company make or sell? What
types of people work there? What are the typical hours this position
requires? What are some of the day-to-day tasks that the job involves?
Make notes of things you want more information about and ask the
employer about them at the end of your interview (it’s always a good idea to
have a few questions to ask the employer, anyway!). Researching a
company and the position make you stand out in an interview. It shows that
you are really interested in working there.
2. Practice
It sounds funny – and it looks even funnier – but practicing out loud for your
interview will help you sound more polished and concise and less nervous in
the actual interview. List a few key things you want the employer to know
about you, and review common interview questions. Formulate answers to
those questions and answer them out loud while looking at yourself in the
mirror. This exercise prevents you from rambling in the interview and
sounding unpolished and unsure. It also helps you discover what really does
make you the best candidate for the job!
3.Dress to Make a Good First Impression.
In an interview, first impressions do matter. The best way to ensure a good
first impression is to dress smart. If you are interviewing for a job in an
office, it is usually best to wear a dark-colored, conservative suit (for both
men and women). If you are interviewing for a job where the dress code is
more casual (at a factory or a construction site, for example), nice slacks
and a collared button-down shirt with a tie for men and a nice dress or
blouse and slacks or skirt for women are usually appropriate. You should
avoid wearing excessive jewelry, perfume, and flamboyant clothes. Good
personal hygiene is also important.
If you are unsure what to wear, you should always go with the most
conservative, professional option. Most experts agree it is better to be
overdressed than dressed too casually. What you are wearing tells
employers a lot about how serious you are about getting the job.
4. Be Conscious of Good Interview Etiquette.
This list could go on forever – there is literally an endless array of “dos” and
“don’ts” for an interview – and not everyone agrees on every aspect of that
list. There are, however, some basic “interview etiquette” tips that are
important to remember.
Be on time for your interview. This is, perhaps, the most important.
Employers expect employees to arrive on time to work. They may see a
person who is late to an interview, when he or she is supposed to be
showing his or her best side, as someone who will have difficulty arriving on
time to work or meeting deadlines if hired.
Be aware of your body language. When shaking hands, make sure your grip
is firm and confident. Have good posture, but avoid appearing like you’re as
stiff as a cardboard cutout. Even the most experienced professionals get
nervous in an interview – it’s normal. However, if you appear too nervous,
the interviewer might draw the wrong conclusions about your ability to do the
job – especially if it involves interacting with people! Conversely, make sure
you don’t slouch – this could give the impression that you are lazy or
uninterested in the position. Maintain eye contact with your interviewer to
convey confidence. When speaking, be polite and professional and avoid
using slang and profanities. The more confident and polished you appear
the more likely you are to leave the interviewer with a positive impression of
you.
Keep the interview positive. Avoid making negative remarks about any
previous jobs or employers. Also, refrain from complaining about any job-
related tasks or responsibilities you were given in a previous position.
Employers want to hire someone who is positive, enthusiastic, and able to
meet and deal with challenges.
5. Be Prepared to Ask the Interviewer Questions.
This is where your research comes in. Employers want to know if you’re truly
interested in the position. They also want to know that you have all the
information you need to make a decision, if offered the job. It isn’t a good
idea to turn the tables and “interview” the interviewer, but it is a good idea to
go into the interview with a few questions in mind. This is your chance to ask
additional questions about the business, the position, the requirements, and
the expectations of the person who will fill the position.
Remember to ask questions that are relevant to the company and position
for which you are interviewing.
6. Follow up with a Thank-You Note/Email.
Make sure you let the interviewer know how pleased you were to have the
chance to interview with him or her. Immediately after the interview, send the
interviewer a thank-you note/email, thanking him or her for taking time to
interview you. This is not only proper etiquette and a common display of
appreciation, but it also allows you to reaffirm one or two key points of the
interview. It also lets the interviewer know how interested you are in working
for the company. Being polite and professional always makes a good
impression.
All of this advice comes down to three important things to remember when
you're interviewing: being prepared, professional, and polite is the best way
to make the right impression!
the right job has finally paid off and you've been asked to come in for an
interview. Then comes the biggest question of all, "now what?" You will only
have 15 to 20 minutes to "sell" your experiences, attitude, and skills to the
employer - most likely without knowing what the employer wants to hear from
you. There are articles upon articles of advice on interviewing, from how to
answer certain questions to how to dress - right down to the color of your
socks! It can seem overwhelming, but remembering a few key points can
help make your interview successful.
1. Research
Find out a little bit about the company you want to work for. Visit the location
in person if it is a store or building open to the general public. Visit the
company’s Website and talk to anyone you might know who works there.
What kinds of products or services does the company make or sell? What
types of people work there? What are the typical hours this position
requires? What are some of the day-to-day tasks that the job involves?
Make notes of things you want more information about and ask the
employer about them at the end of your interview (it’s always a good idea to
have a few questions to ask the employer, anyway!). Researching a
company and the position make you stand out in an interview. It shows that
you are really interested in working there.
2. Practice
It sounds funny – and it looks even funnier – but practicing out loud for your
interview will help you sound more polished and concise and less nervous in
the actual interview. List a few key things you want the employer to know
about you, and review common interview questions. Formulate answers to
those questions and answer them out loud while looking at yourself in the
mirror. This exercise prevents you from rambling in the interview and
sounding unpolished and unsure. It also helps you discover what really does
make you the best candidate for the job!
3.Dress to Make a Good First Impression.
In an interview, first impressions do matter. The best way to ensure a good
first impression is to dress smart. If you are interviewing for a job in an
office, it is usually best to wear a dark-colored, conservative suit (for both
men and women). If you are interviewing for a job where the dress code is
more casual (at a factory or a construction site, for example), nice slacks
and a collared button-down shirt with a tie for men and a nice dress or
blouse and slacks or skirt for women are usually appropriate. You should
avoid wearing excessive jewelry, perfume, and flamboyant clothes. Good
personal hygiene is also important.
If you are unsure what to wear, you should always go with the most
conservative, professional option. Most experts agree it is better to be
overdressed than dressed too casually. What you are wearing tells
employers a lot about how serious you are about getting the job.
4. Be Conscious of Good Interview Etiquette.
This list could go on forever – there is literally an endless array of “dos” and
“don’ts” for an interview – and not everyone agrees on every aspect of that
list. There are, however, some basic “interview etiquette” tips that are
important to remember.
Be on time for your interview. This is, perhaps, the most important.
Employers expect employees to arrive on time to work. They may see a
person who is late to an interview, when he or she is supposed to be
showing his or her best side, as someone who will have difficulty arriving on
time to work or meeting deadlines if hired.
Be aware of your body language. When shaking hands, make sure your grip
is firm and confident. Have good posture, but avoid appearing like you’re as
stiff as a cardboard cutout. Even the most experienced professionals get
nervous in an interview – it’s normal. However, if you appear too nervous,
the interviewer might draw the wrong conclusions about your ability to do the
job – especially if it involves interacting with people! Conversely, make sure
you don’t slouch – this could give the impression that you are lazy or
uninterested in the position. Maintain eye contact with your interviewer to
convey confidence. When speaking, be polite and professional and avoid
using slang and profanities. The more confident and polished you appear
the more likely you are to leave the interviewer with a positive impression of
you.
Keep the interview positive. Avoid making negative remarks about any
previous jobs or employers. Also, refrain from complaining about any job-
related tasks or responsibilities you were given in a previous position.
Employers want to hire someone who is positive, enthusiastic, and able to
meet and deal with challenges.
5. Be Prepared to Ask the Interviewer Questions.
This is where your research comes in. Employers want to know if you’re truly
interested in the position. They also want to know that you have all the
information you need to make a decision, if offered the job. It isn’t a good
idea to turn the tables and “interview” the interviewer, but it is a good idea to
go into the interview with a few questions in mind. This is your chance to ask
additional questions about the business, the position, the requirements, and
the expectations of the person who will fill the position.
Remember to ask questions that are relevant to the company and position
for which you are interviewing.
6. Follow up with a Thank-You Note/Email.
Make sure you let the interviewer know how pleased you were to have the
chance to interview with him or her. Immediately after the interview, send the
interviewer a thank-you note/email, thanking him or her for taking time to
interview you. This is not only proper etiquette and a common display of
appreciation, but it also allows you to reaffirm one or two key points of the
interview. It also lets the interviewer know how interested you are in working
for the company. Being polite and professional always makes a good
impression.
All of this advice comes down to three important things to remember when
you're interviewing: being prepared, professional, and polite is the best way
to make the right impression!
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