A Professional Essay to Consider

How to Do Well on a Job Interview

by Glenda Davis

Ask a random selection of people for a listing of their least favorite activities, and right up there with "getting my teeth drilled" is likely to be "going to a job interview." The job interview is often regarded as a confusing, humiliating, and nerve-racking experience. First of all, you have to wait for your appointment in an outer room, often trapped there with other people applying for the same job. You sit nervously, trying not to think about the fact that only one of you may be hired. Then you are called into the interviewer's office. Faced with a complete stranger, you have to try to act both cool and friendly as you are asked all sorts of questions. Some questions are personal: "What is your greatest weakness?" Others are confusing: "Why should we hire you?" The interview probably takes about twenty minutes but seems like two hours. Finally, you go home and wait for days and even weeks. If you get the job, great. But if you don't, you're rarely given any reason why.

The job-interview "game" may not be much fun, but it is a game you can win if you play it right. The name of the game is standing out of the crowd—in a positive way. If you go to the interview in a Bozo the Clown suit, you'll stand out of the crowd, all right, but not in a way that is likely to get you hired.

Here are guidelines to help you play the interview game to win:

Present yourself as a winner. Instantly, the way you dress, speak, and move gives the interviewer more information about you than you would think possible. You doubt that this is true? Consider this: a professional job recruiter, meeting a series of job applicants, was asked to signal the moment he decide not to hire each applicant. The thumbs-down decision was often made in less than forty-five seconds--even before the applicant thought the interview had begun.

How can you keep from becoming a victim of an instant "no" decision? Dress appropriately. This means business clothing: usually a suit and tie

or a conservative dress or skirt suit. Don't wear casual student clothing. On the other hand, don't overdress: you're going to a job interview, not a party. If you're not sure what's considered appropriate business attire, do some spying before the interview. Walk past your prospective place of employment at lunch or quitting time and check out how the employees are dressed. Your goal is to look as though you would fit in with that

group of people.

Pay attention to your grooming. Untidy hair, body color,

dandruff, unshined shoes, a hanging hem, stains on your tie, excessive makeup or cologne, a sloppy job of shaving--if the interviewer notices any of these, your prospect of being hired takes a probably fatal hit.

Look alert, poised, and friendly. When that interviewer looks into

the waiting room and calls your name, he or she is getting a first impression of your behavior. If you're slouched in your chair, dozing or lost in the pages of a magazine; if you look up with an annoyed "Huh?"; if you get up slowly and wander over with your hands in your pockets, he or she will not be favorably impressed. What will earn you points is rising promptly and walking brisky toward the interviewer. Smiling and looking directly at that person, extend your hand to shake his or hers, saying, "I'm Lesley Brown. Thank you for seeing me today."

Expect to make a little small talk. This is not a waste of time; it is the

interviewer's way of checking your ability to be politely sociable, and it is your opportunity to cement the good impression you've already made. The key is to follow the interviewers lead. If he or she wants to chat about the weather for a few minutes, do so. But don't drag it out; as soon as you get a signal that its time to talk about the job, be ready to get down to business.

Be ready for the interviewer's questions. The same questions come up again and again in many job interviews. You should plan ahead for all these questions? Think carefully about each question, outline your answer, and memorize each outline. The practice reciting the answers to yourself. Only in this way are you going to be prepared. Here are common questions, what they really mean, and how to answer them:

"Tell me about yourself." This question is raised to see how

organized you are. The wrong way to answer it is to launch into a wandering, disjointed response or--worse yet--to demand defensively, "What do you want to know?" or "What do you mean?" When this question comes up, you should be prepared to give a brief summary of your life and work experience--where you grew up, where your family lives now, where you went to school, what jobs you've had, and how you happen to be here now looking for the challenge of a new job.

"What are your strengths and weaknesses? In talking about your

strong points, mention traits that will serve you well in this particular

job. If you are well-organized, a creative problem-solver, a good team member, or a quick learner, be ready to describe specific ways those strengths have served you in the past. Don't make the mistake of saying, "I don't have any real weaknesses." You'll come across as more believable if you admit a flaw--but make it one that an employer might actually like. For instance, admit that you are a workaholic or a perfectionist.

"Why should we hire you?" Remember that it is up to you to convince

the interviewer that you're the man or woman for this job. If you just sit there and hope that the interviewer will magically discern your good qualities, you are likely to be disappointed. Don't be afraid to sell yourself. Tell the recruiter that from your research you have learned that the interviewer's company is one you would like to work for, and that you believe the company's needs and your skills are a great match.

"Why did you leave your last job?" This may seem like a

great opportunity to cry on the interviewer's shoulder about what a jerk your last boss was or how unappreciated you were. It is not. The experts agree: never bad-mouth anyone when you are asked this question. Say that you left in order to seek greater responsibilities or challenges. Be positive, not negative. No matter how justified you may feel about hating your last job or boss, if you give voice to those feelings in an interview, you're going to make the interviewer suspect that you're a whiner and hard to work with.

"Do you have any questions?" This is the time to stress one last

time how interested you are in this particular job. Ask a question or two about specific aspects of the job, pointing out again how well your talents and the company's needs are matched. Even if you're dying to know how much the job pays and how much vacation you get, don't ask. There will be time enough to cover those questions after you've offered the job. Today, your task is to demonstrate what a good employee you would be.

Send a thank-you note. Once you've gotten past the interview, there is one more chance for you to make a fine impression. As soon as you can—certainly no more than one or two days after the interview—write a note of thanks to your interviewer. In it, briefly remind him or her of when you came in and what job you applied for. As well as thanking the interviewer for seeing you, reaffirm your interest in the job and mention again why you think you are the best candidate for it. Make the note courteous, businesslike, and brief—just a paragraph or two. If

the interviewer is wavering between several equally

candidates, such a note could tip the scales in your favor. qualified

No amount of preparation is going to make interviewing for a job favorite activity. But if you go in well-prepared and with a positive attitude, your potential employer can't help thinking highly of you. And the day will come when you are the one who wins the job.

Questions

About unity

1. Either of two sentences in “How to Do Well on a Job Interview” might

serve as the thesis. Write the opening words of either of these sentences:

Which statement would make the best topic sentence for paragraph 4? Beauty is only skin-deep.

Interviewers care only about how applicants dress.

Professional job recruiters meet many applicants for a single job.

You should present yourself as a winner because first impressions count a lot. 2. a) b) c) d)

3. In paragraph 6, which statement would best serve as a topic sentence for

the list item about strengths and weaknesses?

a) A quality such as perfectionism or workaholism can be seen as both a

strength and a weakness?

b) As you talk about your strengths and weaknesses, tailor what you say to

the job you’re applying for.

c) Claiming to be a “creative problem-solver” is a good idea as you apply

for almost any position.

d) The interviewer is not likely to be impressed if you claim to have no

major weaknesses.

About Support

4. In paragraph 5, the supporting details for the list item “dress

appropriately” are

a) reasons for dressing appropriately.

b) quotations of experts on how to dress for job interviews.

c) ideas on how to dress appropriately.

d) statistics on how people who are interviewed dress and how well they

succeed.

5. Which sentence from paragraph 7 best provides a reason for the author’s

suggestion about “sending a thank-you note”?

a) “As soon as you can—certainly no more than one or two days after the

interview—write a note of thanks to your interviewer.”

b) “In it, briefly remind him or her of when you came in and what job you

applied for.”

c) “Make the note courteous, businesslike, and brief—just a paragraph or

two.”

d) “If the interviewer is wavering between several equally qualified

candidates, such a note could tip the scales in your favor.”

About Coherence

6. In paragraph 1, what three transitional words or phrases are used to

begin sentences as the author describes the process of interviewing?

7. The main method of organization of paragraph 1 is

a) time order.

b) emphatic order.

8. In paragraph 5, find the “change of direction” signal that begins a

sentence in the first list item. Write the opening words of that sentence here.

About the Introduction and Conclusion

9. Which statement best describes the introductory paragraph of “How to

Do Well on a Job Interview”?

a) It begins with a broad, general statement about job interviews and

narrows it down to the thesis statement.

b) It describes a typical job interview and its aftermath.

c) It explains the importance of doing well on a job interview.

d) It asks a series of questions that encourage readers to think about how

they prepare for a job interview.

10. Which statement best describes the concluding paragraph of “How to

Do Well on a Job Interview”?

a) It ends with a summary of the article.

b) It ends with a prediction of what will happen if advice in the article is

followed.

c) It ends with a series of questions that prompt the reader to think further

about what’s been written.