The Interview ProcessThe Interview Process

AppearanceAppearanceAttire - Hair - Makeup

AttireAttireYou will be immediately judged by your choice in clothing

Dress conservatively a pantsuit or a skirt/jacket

Don't dress in a trendy manner - think timeless

Business Professional DressBusiness Professional Dress

Conservative

Neutral colors

Tailored

Timeless

Power Suite

Business Casual DressBusiness Casual Dress

Professional, but a bit more trendy and creative

More casual, sweaters, jackets, accessories

RulesRulesNo capri pants

Must wear neutral hose (have a spare pair)

No low cut (revealing) blouses

Low heel shoes- not flats and not high heels and no ope toe or ope back shoes.

Skirts should be knee length or just slightly above or below the knee. 2" above the knee is too revealing

Conservative jewelry. 1 ring per hand, 1 pair of conservative earrings, conservative necklace and bracelet. No more than 7 items total.

HairHairNo hair in face

Pull hair back away from face

Don't play with your hair

MakeupMakeupLess is more

No lip gloss

Neutral eye shadow

Tweeze or wax eyebrows

Small amount of blush

Get a manicure

Not appropriateNot appropriate

AppropriateAppropriate

The InterviewThe Interview

Virtual and Phone InterviewsVirtual and Phone Interviews

Skype, Goto Meeting, Live MessengerSaves moneySame rules apply as an in-person interviewSMILE!Avoid speakerphoneProfessional answering machine and personal greetingProvide specific times to call in your letterCreate a job-log; keep your resume by the phone, and a list of al the companies you've sent resume's Make sure phone battery is charged, backup chargerQuiet environmentAsk pertinent questions at the endSend a thank-you at the end

Tips for Virtual InterviewsTips for Virtual Interviews

Try out the software in advance - do test calls with your friends

Arrive early to make sure equipment is working - may need to download software in advance

Dress professionally and smile

Make direct eye contact - look into the camera

TipsTips

Be willing to change your schedule to meet Call the day before to confirm - test drive to the locationBe 10 - 15 minutes earlyBring extra copies of your resumeFirst 10 seconds to 4 minutes is all you have to make a good first impressionMake eye contact and smile a lotFirm handshake and confident voiceDon't fake an answerDon't use a lot of slang - "like", "uh", "yep", "um", etc.Remember, this meeting is simply a conversationSend a thank you letter/note within 24 hours.

Sample QuestionsSample Questions

Behavioral : (describe the situation, describe the action you took and then describe the results and what you might have learned)

Questions you should ask: How do you see the future of this industry? How do you support professional development of yoru staff? Do you have any concerns about my qualifications or ability to do the job?

Salary Negotiation Salary Negotiation

Don't discuss unless a firm offer is on the table.Know what you need to earn to survive - figure this out in advance ie: $15 x 2080 = $31,200Be fair for an entry-level positionResearch the salary range for the areaDon't exaggerate past earningsBracket your salary (mid to high 30's)Consider the entire package - benefitsDon't discuss personal reasons why you need a certain salaryTake time to review an offer before accepting or rejecting (2 - 3 days)

After the InterviewAfter the Interview

Don't harass

Ask them before you leave the interview when you should hear from them

Don't contact them until a few days AFTER that date.

Writing EmailsWriting EmailsSummarize in the subject heading - Capitalize the first letter of important words, like a title.Be concise and to the pointCover only one topicWrite in a positive tone and be polite - it protects your reputation should the email be forwarded.Never write in all CAPS. That is the same thing as yelling.Use 12 point font - nothing too large or too small.Single space paragraphs and one space between paragraphsKeep the message short and focussed. Remove unnecessary words.Proofread and use spell checkCC (carbon copy) people that need to be includedUse BCC when sending to a large group of people. Never share email addresses of people that don't know each other.Don't shoot off an email when angry. Save the draft, cool off and read it later before deciding to send. Emails are permanent. Send as if the whole world will read it.Reply to emails within 24 to 48 hours.