You’ve probably filled out job applications so many times, you consider it the one thing about the job hunt that’s basically a no-brainer.
But employers use job applications for a variety of reasons. Some use them as a way to get the same information from all applicants, including information you wouldn’t normally put on a resume. Some use them as a screening tool to decide whom to call for an interview. Some use it as a human resources tool for collecting information, in which case they will ask you to complete it after you’ve been asked to come in for an interview.
Finish what your resume and/or application starts
A sharp resume or a screened application may get you the interview, but it can’t get you the job. Your primary objective in the interview is to show the employer how your capabilities will match his or her needs.
The interview is your chance to show who you are beyond what’s on your resume or your application. The employer has a need to fill a position. You may have the qualifications to fill it. A meeting between you and a potential employer allows you both to assess your “fit” with the position and company. Keep in mind that an interviewer has a very short amount of time to assess job applicants. Will the new employee fit into the company culture? Will he/she perform in the future? Likewise, you have the same amount of time to determine if the company environment is a fit for you.
Recruiters and hiring managers are frequently surprised by how unprepared interviewees are when they come to the interview. You only get one chance to make a great impression, so you have to let the interviewer see you at your best. Remember, it is at the interview that jobs are won or lost, so use the following 10 steps as a guide to make a great first impression.
10 Steps to Ace the Interview
1. Know your target
2. Know yourself
3. Practice
4. Be yourself
5. Dress the part
6. Arrive early
7. Make a good impression
8. Answer with confidence
9. Ask questions
10. Follow-up
After the interview, evaluate how it went. What questions did you ask? What answers did you give? Consider the information you obtained. What did you learn about the company, its needs and expectations? Recall your performance. What did you do well? What do you need to
improve for the next interview?
Send a follow-up letter within 24 hours of the interview. Express your appreciation and interest in the job. Mention anything else that you may have forgotten to say during the interview.
As with everything else, there are some crucial details about interviewing that you’re best able to discuss in our seminars and in direct conversation with experts. View our upcoming Job Search Seminars schedule on the Workforce Solutions website for the next local job search seminar close to you.
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