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| The cover letter and resume are made with the sole
purpose of getting to the interview. Now it is you that must show the
interviewer that you are the best person for the job. So before the interview
here are some suggestions.
First of all research the company you are interviewing for. This is the easiest way to show a hiring manager that you are interested in the job. I use every available resource to find out everything I can about the company. The internet can make this fairly easy. For example, if you are interested in a particular power plant, there is a wealth of information about each of them through the Department of Energy web site. Before I spoke with a hiring manager from one utilities company I went on line and researched the plant I was interested in. I looked over all the system drawings and specifications for the plant, I also looked at Federal and State regulations that govern the plants operations. I then looked back at reports of the last few years inspections and what trends had developed. This way when I got in the interview I could discuss things I like and the questions I had. Next drive to where you are going to be interviewed the day before. This will prevent any mix ups in directions and will give you an idea of the time it will take. You can't tell from a map if road construction or something is going to make your 15 min drive into an hour and 15 min. The first impression you make carries a lot of weight. So for the interview you want to be your best. That means a good nights sleep, a good breakfast, etc. It also means being appropriately dressed. I don't think I need to go into this portion too much. I believe most of us just because of our backgrounds know what is expected. The other thing I have heard a lot of hiring people say is that sometimes a Navy applicant will slip in the language department. Try to be as articulate as you can and for some of you it takes an effort not to slip a swear word in there. Remember, it’s at the second (and subsequent) interviews that you will attempt to “close” the sale. It’s at that time that questions will be more specific, you will have the opportunity to speak with numerous individuals throughout the company, and you will be given the chance to ask your questions. Let the interview process proceed at the normal pace. Don’t rush it along. Being overly anxious does not work. Essential to any successful job interview are the following characteristics: Substitute strengths for weaknesses. Don’t tell your interviewer you have no experience with a specific accounting software program. Instead, tell them that your experience with accounting software includes AccPac, Lotus and One Write, each of which you were easily able to learn and attained quick proficiency. Transition the negative into a positive. Attitude and demeanor matter as much as your response to questions. Be professional and focused, yet friendly and personable. Remember, you need to fit into the workplace. No one wants to hire an individual with no personality, no matter the qualifications. Be brief, but thorough in your communication style. Long-winded, endless responses to questions are not the answer. You’ll lose the interest of the interviewer and you may get “lost” in your response. Be enthusiastic. People love to hire individuals excited about their company. Be professional, yet demonstrate your interest and energy. In each and every interview situation, there are common questions that will be asked. Don’t wait until the interview to decide your response. Be prepared and think through your answers before you arrive. Some of these questions include:
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