NBR: Job Interview Advice

Re: NBR: Job Interview Advice

• RMLandy member

  December 2015

  The best advice I can give would be to not discuss salary in the first interview unless asked. Also, research the company/job/interviewer and have a few questions prepared because without fail people always ask "do you have any questions?" and is awkward not having any prepared. Good luck!!

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• Bluejay3030 member

  December 2015

  First of all, thanks for your service! Second, I'll leave specifics of that field to others with more experience, but I'll give my advice regarding salary.
  
  If possible, try to ask the recruiter (if there is one) before the interview for details about salary or benefits. If that's not possible, I would wait till the end of the interview, leaving the interviewer as much time as possible to bring up the subject first. I conduct interviews regularly for my department, and it's kind of a turn-off when the interviewee is chomping at the bit about salary. It's important, but it shouldn't seem like the only thing you care about, so if you need to bring it up, ask other questions first about work culture, operations, etc.
  
  One other thought: come prepared with a portfolio or something to take notes with (even if you don't really need to) as well as hard copies of your resume to offer (hopefully also not necessary, but it's good to be prepared).
  
  Good luck!!

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• josie12367 member

  December 2015

  I definitely wasn't going to bring up salary as I knew it can be deemed inappropriate. I'll let them bring it up first for sure...thanks @RMLandy
  
  Some have told me to ask questions as if I was already offered the job....such as: uniform requirements, when they would like you to start, next steps in hiring process. Are these good questions to ask?
  
  Good tips on things to bring @Bluejay3030!

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• jenbrinson07 member

  December 2015

  Also, Google interview questions and go through a practice run. Show up at least 10 minutes early. Bring a copy of your resume. Look up info on the company. Ask how many long term employees they have. At the end I ask what the hiring process is and when I may hear back. Ask what their favorite things are about the company.

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• missnc77 member

  December 2015 edited December 2015

  I help with recruiting at my job, and we don't usually bring up salary until after we want to extend an offer. That said, do your research. How much do people typically make in that position in your metro/local area? How much does your experience match the job posting? Have a ballpark in your mind so you aren't blindsided if it comes up.
  
  Make sure you go through the job ad/posting that you're interviewing for and brainstorm specific examples or experiences you've had to demonstrate you have the KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) identified. It's one thing to say, "Yes, I have experience with x." Okay, cool, but what did you do with x? If it's a skill they want, then you want to prove that you know what you're talking about/can do it.
  
  I also get a lot of feedback from the hiring managers when they hate ramblers/people who go off topic. I think people do this when they're nervous or don't understand a question. Don't be afraid to ask for more clarification on a question if you don't understand it. Better that then just spitting out a bunch of random stuff hoping to hit at their question in some way.
  
  Be personable and friendly. Be enthusiastic to learn and take on new challenges. For our entry to a couple of years of experience positions, I see managers say that the candidate may lack experience in a certain area, but their enthusiasm and examples of being able to pick up things quickly makes them feel like skills can be learned. If you're asked if you know how to do something, and you don't, I'd always give a couple of complex examples from my previous job that I didn't know how to do at first but caught on very quickly to the point where I was helping others. "No, I don't have experience with that computer program. But in my last position, I had to learn an entirely new computer program in order to do my job, and after a couple of training sessions, I was able to pick it right up and eventually helped other new people that came on board."
  
  My greatest interview moment was when I was asked point blank at the end of the interview why they should hire me. It was my birthday, and after the interview, I was hitting the road to go to the beach for the weekend, so I was in a really great mood, and the interview had been going well. Like an idiot, I word vomited without thinking my answer through (but really, that's such a loaded question). My response? "Because I'm awesome, and it's my birthday." Thank god they had a sense of humor - I was offered the job. They told me they thought it was hilarious and was as good of an answer as someone could give for that question after an hour long interview. I don't recommend that response for anyone though. Ha!
  
  
  

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• RMLandy member

  December 2015

  I think questions along those lines are great ideas! In my last interview I asked someone who is in the same position I was applying for what a day/week is like for them in that position. The older partner who was also in the room said "great question!"

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• nerdymama15 member

  December 2015 edited December 2015

  Oh wow where to start.
  Lots of stuff pps said.  Research research research the company and if possible incorporate some of what you have researched into your answers and/or form a question or two to ask them that references what you have previously read.
  Practice, practice, practice! I cannot stress this point enough.  Google practice interview questions and practice.  Role play an interview situation.  Have someone ask you questions.  When you are Googling the questions, write some questions down and write down your answers so you can collect your thoughts.  It helps to write your answers down so you can have a chance to get your thoughts together and be aware of things you want to include in your answers.
  Try to relate your work experience (specific items) to the position description/requirements>
  Be prepared for situational interview questions.  The interviewer might give you a what would you do in a certain situation.
  Try to find out if you can if the interview is going to be one person asking you questions or if it is a panel type of interview.  Panel interviews can be a bit unnerving if you are unprepared to be in that type of situation.
  Visit glassdoor  (google it for the address) and you can type in the name of the company and find valuable information about the company  that was provided by other people - people that work there, former employees, and people that interviewed there and didn't get the job but could give you insight into the interview process. 
  As other pps have said, bring a few extra copies of your resumes. 
  Salary is a tricky topic.  It is a double edged sword.  Bringing up salary can either go against you or for you.  You have to make that judgement call. 
  Dress professionally. 
  Drive to the place before hand so you can see where you would park, etc.  That way you know where you are going and have an idea of where to park and aren't blindsided the day of.
  Ask them the proper address to send them a follow-up letter.
  As soon as you get home, write the follow-up letter and mail it!
  

  
  
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