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Interview Tips

What not to be asked

Interviewers are supposed to stick to questions relevant a person's ability to do a job. Many do. Many are looking to get around discrimination laws. Some questions not legal during the interview are fine once you're in.


Classic job interview footage on YouTube from the first episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," aired originally September 19, 1970. See Lou Grant ask all the "wrong" questions and how Mary fields them.

Ed Asner as Lou Grant and Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

Handling the interview

So you landed that elusive interview! Try these tips to succeed

Jan Northup, president of Glendale, Ariz.-based Management Training Systems, Inc., offered these tips. 


 Resume is keyword:
“Think about what job you’re applying for.” 


While resumes can be the luck of the draw, you can swing the odds in your favor. Resumes often are uploaded into large organizations’ computers where software screens for keywords. If the right keywords are there, then your general information will be put into a category for review and a possible interview opportunity. 

 

“Pick words out of job descriptions.”

Dress the part:
“Personal appearance is the No. 1 reason people didn’t get a job.”


Dress one level above the job you are seeking. Even though the company may have a casual-dress policy, it doesn’t mean you go to a job interview in jeans. For men, shirt, slacks, and even a tie and jacket would be appropriate; for women, slacks are always good, as are nice dresses or skirts.


“If you don’t look professional, interviewers won’t think you can perform professionally.”


Talk the talk:

“Jump right into your skills, talents and expertise.”


At your initial interview, this will be the likely first question: ‘Tell me something about yourself and your background.’ It’s not the time to unload personal baggage. So don’t say, ‘I was born and raised in LA, went to college in Arizona, I’ve always been interested in sports…’ Try this: ‘For the past six years, I’ve been working in electronics communications. I got promoted to lead a tech department where I supervise six team members. I enjoy a fast-paced environment that offers challenges and is goal-oriented.’


“They don’t care anything about you personally, they want to know if you can do the job.”


Know thyself:

“Many people cannot state what their skills and talents are.”


Don’t say, ‘I work pretty well with most people.’ Instead, say it in a positive way: ‘I have highly honed interpersonal skills.’ If that sounds too much like corporate lingo, try, ‘I’ve had the opportunity to work with many different teams and with people at all levels, I’m comfortable working with all those people.’ Develop a 30-second elevator talk about yourself and your background; rehearse it aloud and in front of other people so you’re comfortable.


“Practice, practice, practice.”


Neither Eeeyore nor Tigger be:

“People want to work around positive people, not work around those who are always negative.”


If you start bad-mouthing your previous employer – ‘the management stinks,’ or ‘the company was not good with finances’ – interviewers will worry that you’ll talk negatively about their companies. They also want to know that you take responsibility seriously. So, the Winnie the Pooh analogy.


“If you start talking about problems, you’ll be seen as an Eeyore; but people don’t want Tiggers either, airheads with lots of energy; there’s a fine line between being positive but not looking at responsibilities.”


Wrapping it up:

“Be prepared for the end of the interview.”


Interviewers will ask if you have questions. Be prepared to follow up on points raised without being redundant and without raising personal issues. Generally, save questions about pay, holidays, vacations, stock options and other policies for a second interview. You should be able to find out most of those answers before you go anyway. Good questions that may draw out more details: ‘When will the job be available?’ ‘Is there a more-complete job description,’ ‘Is travel involved?’ – then interviewers may ask if you’re willing. Then you might bring up child- or adult-care responsibilities.


“We’re not asking anyone to be dishonest, but too many people give too much information.”

Jan Northup

Jan Northup 

What job interviewers ask; What they really want to know

Do you have a driver's license? Are you legally permitted to work in the United States?

Where were you born? Are you an undocumented immigrant? You're a citizen of Albania? When were you naturalized?

Please describe your work experience and history?

You're how old? Were you born before moveable type was invented?  Conversely, are you too young for this job? Do you have any experience?

Job requires long hours, time commitments, or travel. Anything that would prevent you from those?

  • Are you married?
  • Do you have a significant other?
  • Do you have kids at home? Who takes care of them? Do you have to pick them up at daycare at a fixed time?

This job requires working on (Friday/Saturday/Sunday). Can you meet that requirement?

 What religion are you? Which church do you belong to? You need to take off Christmas/Yom Kippur/Ramadan? 

Are you able to perform the essential tasks and duties of the position as they have been explained?

Are you mentally stable? Are you on any medications that keep you stable? (Do you have any extra you can share?) Are there restrictions on your driver's license? Do you get tired in the afternoon (see also: You're how old?)? Has Alzheimer's set in yet or are you just sundowning at this point? Did your previous job give you a heart attack?

Measuring your abilities, skills, management potential

Behavioral questions

  •  What is your strong point? How do you demonstrate that?
  • Describe your method for influencing people.
  • Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
  • If I asked former co-workers to describe you, what would they say?


(Do you play well with others? Or will you open us up to sexual-harassment and hostile-workplace complaints?)

Workplace environment questions

  • Describe a time when your supervisor talked to you about your performance? How did you handle it?
  • How do you react when computers go down on deadline?
  • Describe a time when you faced a problem that tested your coping skills?
  • Describe how you handled your toughest ad sale or news interview.
  • How do you react when equipment malfunctions on deadline?


(Can you take criticism? Would you go postal? Do you smash computer keyboards? Kick copiers?)

Goal orientation

  •  What are your standards for success in your job and what have you done to meet them?
  • What factors in your career, education and outside activities will contribute to your success?
  • What problems have you faced on the job and what procedures did you take to resolve them?
  • Give me an example of times you did more than you were required to do.
  • What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?


(Can you toe the company line? Or are you a union organizer? Do you Tweet nasty things about your boss?)

Real questions from real interviews

Additional Information

 For editor/writer of an in-house publication: 

1. We rely heavily on AP style here.  Give an example of common miss-use of AP style.

2. Why would someone with your background be interested in this job?

3. Walk us through your editing process.

4. Name an example of a large project you have been in charge of.

5. How would you feel about sources reading the stories ahead of publication.

6. What did you like best about your most recent job and what did you like least.


For government/community-relations job:

(Compiled from several interviews)

  • What is your experience with social media?
  • What is your philosophy on building relationships with key influentials, community organizations, etc.?
  • What is your community relations background? Please provide examples.
  • What have/did you enjoy most about your Government Relations experience?
  • What are you looking for in this role?
  • How would you approach the first week, month and quarter in this role?
  • What results do you see of the relationships that you build?  What would you do to leverage those relationships?
  • What is your experience communicating complex technical issues?
  • Describe your writing/communications background.
  • What are your computer/graphics skills?
  • Describe your experience handling difficult issues.
  • Give an example of how you handled a crisis situation.
  • Do you think you have enough experience for this job?



Resume tips

 

Cover letter

  • Don't skip it.
  • Make it unique for each job.
  • Point out skills/qualities you have that match job description.
  • Refer to your resume.
  • Don't make errors.


Resume

  • Be concise.
  • Be truthful about employment history, achievements and education.
  • Point out how past performance is indicative of a good return on the employer's investment in you.
  • Don't make errors.

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