Email | Print

The purpose of a resume is to get an interview, so if you're called in, the employer feels you have the background or skills he's looking for. Just remember, the meeting with your prospective boss is a two-way street: you're also interviewing him to see if it would be a good fit.

As I've been in the workforce for 15 years, I'd like to share information about what goes on in interviews and how you can increase your chances of being offered the job. First, bring a few resumes in case you're introduced to more than one person. Make sure you have a list of three references and their phone numbers on hand, as well as the dates, titles, and functions of any jobs you may have had in the past. The phone number for your past employers' human resources department could be helpful. Arrive ten to fifteen minutes early in case you have to fill out an application.

It's best to wear professional clothes because it conveys trust and that you're willing to do what it takes to fit in. Even if the job you're interviewing for is in a casual environment, dress more formally for the first impression. Remember to shake the interviewer's hand before and after the interview. Grasp his hand firmly, not like a limp fish. And use his last name, not his first name. You don't know this person yet, so it's best to be formal as a means of respect.

When the interviewer asks you to describe yourself, give one or two job-related traits, not personal information. You are of course a likable and lovable person; however, the boss wants to know if you'll be able to do the job they need to fill.

At the end of the interview, if you're asked if you have any questions, do ask one or two that relate to the job, not to the availability of benefits or about salary. It's perfectly fine if the interviewer asks about your salary requirement, to say, "I feel it's premature to discuss this until an offer is made." That's the exact answer I gave on my first-ever interview, and when I was given the job, I started at $20,500 instead of the $19,500 originally offered.

A good question to ask is about any new projects the department has taken on. Maybe you found out through your research or by talking with the interviewer that the company expanded into a new market or won accolades in the industry. Just asking a question shows your interest, and makes you stand out. End the interview by stating your interest in the job.

Send a thank-you letter individually to everyone who interviewed you. Get the correct spelling of their names and their titles right. You're to send this via postal mail. A typical letter has three parts: in the first paragraph, you state it was a pleasure to interview with him and thank him for his time. In the second paragraph, you refer to something he said, and link this to one of your selling points. In the last paragraph, you thank him once again.

A neat, handwritten note is fine. I've sent handwritten letters and typed letters and this has been the tipping point in my favor that got me the job or at least, a second interview to wrap things up.

Let's talk about disclosure. It is illegal on an interview for the employer to ask if you have a mental illness. Other questions such as country of origin, marital status, and ethnicity are also off-limits. It is also illegal for the job application to ask about mental illness.

You're not required to disclose before you're made a job offer. If you need to invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act, do so after the employer has offered you the job. The employer cannot then refuse to give you the job.

Employers are always looking for bright, dedicated people who have the desire to work. Show your enthusiasm for the job and strive to be confident in your capabilities. Above all, take things in stride. You probably won't be made a job offer on the first interview you go on. It could take awhile.

The more interviews you go on, the more practice you get. Never give up hope. Interviewing is a numbers game, just like dating. You wouldn't marry the first person you met, and that's what it's like when you're going on the interview dance: you may even decide to turn down the employer if he asks you to join the firm.

A job is like a home-away-from home; indeed, co-workers are like family. You're going to spend eight hours a day, five days a week, with them, so it's best if you can get a sense, on the interview, about the corporate culture.

So keep up your spirits as you go on job interviews and you'll undoubtedly find, with a combination of persistence, talent, and luck, the job you've been looking for. Good luck!