Interview Tips from Digital Staffing

Preparing For the Interview

· Always know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer’s full name, the correct pronunciation, and his or her title.

· An interview is a two-way street. Know what questions to ask during the interview. Your questions allow the hiring manager to evaluate your professional and personal needs.

· Learn pertinent facts about the company, such as annual sales revenue, principle lines of business, and technologies they use. The Account Representative can provide such sources as the company’s annual report for this background.

· Bring several copies of your resume to the interview (make sure that it is the same as the version originally presented to the client by Digital Staffing).

· Find out why the hiring manager is interested in your qualifications. Your Recruiting Representative can assist you in identifying your most marketable skills and attributes relevant to the assignment.

· Determine how the opportunity will affect your immediate and long-term career development.

Interview Questions

Questions you may be required to answer. . .

· Tell me about yourself.

· Tell me about your background, accomplishments.

· What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

· How would you describe your most recent job performance?

· What interests you about our opportunity?

· How do you stay professionally current?

· What outside activities are most significant to your personal development?

· Tell me about a specific time when you felt you made a personal sacrifice for your job.

· Give me an example of a time when a co-worker, employee, supervisor or client tried your patience and you became angry and/or frustrated. How did you handle the situation?

· Give me an example of some of the things you have done in the past to ensure deadlines and standards of quality and accuracy have been met.

· Tell me about a recurring problem in your area of responsibility. How did you identify the cause and ultimately solve the problem? What did you do to prevent this problem from continuing?

· In your current position, have you found more success working as a part of a team or alone? Why?

· What do you consider your greatest career accomplishment? Why?

· Where do you see your career in 3 years?

Be prepared to ask questions, such as. . .

· What would I be expected to accomplish in this assignment (position)?

· How do you think I fit the assignment (position)?

· What is the current status of the project?

· What are the greatest challenges in this position?

*Remember that a lack of questions may be mistaken as a lack of interest.

Interview Do’s & Don’ts

· DO dress professionally. The interviewer should be thinking about what you say, not what you’re wearing.

· DO plan to arrive on time or a few minutes (no more than ten) early. Late arrival for an interview is never excusable.

· DO fill out the application completely, if the interviewer gives you one.

· DO conduct yourself as if you are determined to get a job you are discussing. Never close the door on the opportunity. Enthusiastic feedback can enhance your chances of being considered further.

· DO attempt to structure all of your comments in a POSITIVE manner.

· DO greet the interviewer by last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. If not, ask him or her to repeat it. Smile! Shake hands firmly.

· DO wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, look alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Relax!

· DO speak firmly, clearly and loudly enough to be easily understood.

· DO speak with tact, maturity, and courtesy.

· DO look each interviewer in the eye while speaking.

· DO follow the interviewer’s leads, but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview. That way you can apply your background, skills, and accomplishments to the position.

· DO make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Stress achievements.

· DON’T chew gum or smoke even if the interviewer does and offers you gum or a cigarette.

· DON’T answer with a simple “yes” or “no”, but don’t over-answer question either. Describe the attributes and experience that relate to the situation honestly and succinctly.

· DON’T make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers, management, or co-workers.

· DON’T bring up compensation or benefits (your recruiter will negotiate the best compensation for you). The first time an employer asks about compensation, say “I’m here because I’m interested in the opportunity. I’m making x now (or was making x at my last position), and I’ll consider your best offer.” If the employer persists, make sure you cite the same range that your Recruiter cited when he/she presented you to the client.

· DON’T offer opinions unless your opinion is requested.

· DON’T act or speak in any way that might be construed as overbearing, overaggressive, or egotistical, and don’t use foul language.

· DON’T convey a persistent attitude of “what can you do for me?”

Closing the Interview

· If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don’t let your discouragement show. Your perception of how well the interview is going may be different from reality.

· If you are interested in the position, let the interviewer know. The interviewer will be impressed with your enthusiasm

· Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration.

· Call your Recruiter immediately after the interview.

· Be sure to send a thank-you email or letter to the interviewer within 24 hours.

· Don’t be too discouraged if no immediate commitment is made. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with other people in the company or possibly interview more candidates before making a decision.