[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Job interview tips (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/25/2015 12:55:13 AM EDT
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I've got an upcoming internal interview for a position with my employer. I haven't had an interview in a few years. Need some tips and advice. |
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Relax. Eye contact but don't try to mad dog me yo'. Firm handshake but don't get weird.
Some questions are easy - answer those quickly with confidence. I put them there to relax you and make you comfortable. Some questions are difficult - I wrote them that way to see how you think/react - take your time and answer them as the thought process comes. Sometimes there's going to be a silence, that's OK unless it lasts 20 minutes. I'm only wanting to see if you're as smart as your resume says you are and that your personality fits with my team. I therefore need to see some of your personality and the questions are designed to draw that out. Always have a couple of good questions about the place ready to ask - shows that you actually took the time to do the research. It also might give you a chance to shine a bit. And I hate interviews as much as you do. 
Edited to add - smile and good luck! |
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Whew - been a while, but:
-research, research, research. You want to answer every question as if you KNOW the answer. The best answer to "What would you do if . . . " is of course: "WHEN i held a position as XXX, I dealt with a similar scenario by . . . . - forward body lean. -NO cologne!!!! Deordarant ONLY. -dress like a professional. NO, white socks are NOT professional. -SEND the "thank you letter the DAY OF the interview. Yes- a letter. A real letter. A thank you letter. Add: "I look forward to . . . "'' Most of all, be pro active. Most wont bother. You need to stand out. Bother. Good luck. |
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How big of a company are we talking? For a big company, an internal interview should be treated like any other interview. For a small company, they are more likely to know you or know your supervisor, so they've probably already made up their mind about you either way. The interview is unlikely to change anything.
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Quoted:
PS: don't use the word awesome 27 times in the interview even if the questions are totally tubal rad and awesome and it was the most awesome interview like evar. Struck us as cray cray. (seriously some guy from Virginia talked like that for a mid-level IT job) lolololololololol!!!! |
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Quoted:
Whew - been a while, but: -research, research, research. You want to answer every question as if you KNOW the answer. The best answer to "What would you do if . . . " is of course: "WHEN i held a position as XXX, I dealt with a similar scenario by . . . . - forward body lean. -NO cologne!!!! Deordarant ONLY. -dress like a professional. NO, white socks are NOT professional. -SEND the "thank you letter the DAY OF the interview. Yes- a letter. A real letter. A thank you letter. Add: "I look forward to . . . "'' Most of all, be pro active. Most wont bother. You need to stand out. Bother. Good luck. So I shouldn't be spraying myself with a can of Axe in each hand while I spin in a circle? |
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Quoted:
Relax. Eye contact but don't try to mad dog me yo'. Firm handshake but don't get weird. Some questions are easy - answer those quickly with confidence. I put them there to relax you and make you comfortable. Some questions are difficult - I wrote them that way to see how you think/react - take your time and answer them as the thought process comes. Sometimes there's going to be a silence, that's OK unless it lasts 20 minutes. I'm only wanting to see if you're as smart as your resume says you are and that your personality fits with my team. I therefore need to see some of your personality and the questions are designed to draw that out. Always have a couple of good questions about the place ready to ask - shows that you actually took the time to do the research. It also might give you a chance to shine a bit. And I hate interviews as much as you do.
Edited to add - smile and good luck! |
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Quoted:
So I shouldn't be spraying myself with a can of Axe in each hand while I spin in a circle? Quoted:
Quoted:
Whew - been a while, but: -research, research, research. You want to answer every question as if you KNOW the answer. The best answer to "What would you do if . . . " is of course: "WHEN i held a position as XXX, I dealt with a similar scenario by . . . . - forward body lean. -NO cologne!!!! Deordarant ONLY. -dress like a professional. NO, white socks are NOT professional. -SEND the "thank you letter the DAY OF the interview. Yes- a letter. A real letter. A thank you letter. Add: "I look forward to . . . "'' Most of all, be pro active. Most wont bother. You need to stand out. Bother. Good luck. So I shouldn't be spraying myself with a can of Axe in each hand while I spin in a circle? we have a policy about this now . ho li fuk 
edit- ask questions, show interest, don't name drop |
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Video yourself answering questions. It may be uncomfortable, but really helps you polish up your game.
Be prepared for the,"What questions do you have for me?" question. "Nothing" or "When will you make a decision?" are unacceptable answers. This is the time to show you are thoughtful and anxiously engaged in the position. |
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Ask them questions. Give them the impression that you are making sure the position is right for you, just like they are making sure you are right for the position. Makes you seem more genuine, and not like someone who is just saying whatever they think will get them the job.
One thing I asked at my interview (got the job)... I said "let's assume that I am selected for the position, and we are a year into the future dong a yearly performance review for me. What sort of results would you expect from me in the first year?" Their answer didn't even matter. The whole question was basically manipulative.. the whole point was just to get them to visualize them selecting me, visualizing me working for them, and me getting the results they wanted. |
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Quoted:
Relax. Eye contact but don't try to mad dog me yo'. Firm handshake but don't get weird. Some questions are easy - answer those quickly with confidence. I put them there to relax you and make you comfortable. Some questions are difficult - I wrote them that way to see how you think/react - take your time and answer them as the thought process comes. Sometimes there's going to be a silence, that's OK unless it lasts 20 minutes. I'm only wanting to see if you're as smart as your resume says you are and that your personality fits with my team. I therefore need to see some of your personality and the questions are designed to draw that out. Always have a couple of good questions about the place ready to ask - shows that you actually took the time to do the research. It also might give you a chance to shine a bit. And I hate interviews as much as you do.
Edited to add - smile and good luck! This is good. Remember the names of those interviewing you and call them by name when addressing them and thanking at end of interview. Most don't pay attention/remember the names of those interviewing them. And I like to end by asking them "is there anything in this interview or on my resume that would make you think I would not excel in this position" if you misspoke or they misinterpreted one of your answers you might get a chance to redeem yourself. If you didn't it comes as confident and leaves them with a memory different from the others they listened drone on and don't remember their names. |
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Total and complete honesty during an internal interview.
Don't say anything or put on your resume you can't defend. I nailed two guys during interviews recently. One guy said he had an excellent and proactive safety record. A throwaway line, for sure. "OK, can you give me an example of your proactiveness?" The supervisor told us to not follow [a huge safety rule basic to the industry]. "What did you do about it?" I told him. They did it again the next day. "What did you do about it then? I told the manager and he said to blow it off. "What did you do about it then?" Um, I told the General Manager. "What did he do about it?" By then the hole was dug and he cound't see the top. Another guy said during an internal interview he wanted to work in that job his entire adult life. "OK, how have you prepared for it? Have you taken any courses in this field, or talked to the people in the department during slack time?" That question led to the wipeout... This guy was a known dirtbag slacker with an impressive personal appearance, and the general manager who hated him and used to do his job hammered him hard on every question. I've never heard of anyone getting fired during an interview, but it have happened here if it were possible. It was a brutal interview. This guy was totally oblivious to the brutality of that interview, and saved us a lot of time later by giving us his two week "Notice of Termination." |
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I'm seeing a lot of good suggestions here.
One question I got when I was being interviewed for my current job was "how long do you plan on working here?" Moving from shop to shop is fairly common in the machining industry, so that question caught me a little off guard. I was a little insulted and I'm sure it showed. I told them them that I'm looking for a place to retire from. It caught my (current, but future at the time) supervisors off guard. The younger guys are your typical shop hoppers. Learn enough to get a pay raise at a new shop and run off for better benefits. The old employer just funded your training and mistakes. I guess they weren't expecting a 23 year old (at the time) guy to be willing to settle down? I doubt this wil help OP very much, but it helps if you think in terms of what the employer wants. Then do what it takes to be the kind of person that they are willing to take the risk of hiring. Those guys really threw me for a loop. They were doing the good cop bad cop interview technique. They were switching roles throughout the interview. It was odd. I thought they were off their medication, or some shit like that. They asked me a few strange situation based technical questions and did their best to trip me up on my knowledge and experience. I guess they were hunting for bull shitters. I put up with this shit for over an hour before they brought in a high level manager to talk to me for a minute. I figured I was hired at that point. Oddly enough, they never asked to see any paperwork to back up any claim I made. One said "The fact that you offered to show us diplomas and certifications shows me that you're being honest with us."  I guess they made up their mind when I answered their questions? It was truly odd. What I am trying to say here is beware of strange, backwards ass interview "techniques." You may find yourself thinking that you are talking to two mental cases, but I landed the best job I have ever had. When I was going through the interview I thought I fucked up by scheduling an interview. After a few years there, it would take a miracle or a disaster to make me leave by my own choice.
I doubt I am of any help here, but just be aware of their shit tests. If they scrutinize the shit out of you it could potentially be a sign of a great working environment that is loyal and protective of their money makers (employees). Be aware of what they expect in terms of a potential employee. Be that person. Please, for the love of god, avoid the temptation to go full retard. You'll do fine. |
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Quoted: Don't do and say stupid shit to get put on people's ignore lists. Quoted: Quoted: I've got an upcoming internal interview for a position with my employer. I haven't had an interview in a few years. Need some tips and advice. Don't do and say stupid shit to get put on people's ignore lists. click |
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Quoted:
I'm interviewing Monday (internal) Firm handshake at the start Eye contact Resume--one page Honesty No trash talking previous employers or bosses At the close of your interview, if interested, reaffirm your interest in the position by asking for the job. A thank you note following the interview, while somewhat old fashioned, can't hurt. Quoted:
Quoted:
I've got an upcoming internal interview for a position with my employer. I haven't had an interview in a few years. Need some tips and advice. I'm interviewing Monday (internal) Firm handshake at the start Eye contact Resume--one page Honesty No trash talking previous employers or bosses At the close of your interview, if interested, reaffirm your interest in the position by asking for the job. A thank you note following the interview, while somewhat old fashioned, can't hurt. Added a few things to make it better. |
| Don't share all your personal problems in the interview. I interviewed a poor soul last week and he just kept on going about his personal problems. I want to know about job related skills. People who can't manage their home life probably can handle the stress of working added to that. |
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I had a weird guy come in for an interview who had a creepy no blink stare that wouldn't quite make eye contact. It was like he was looking at our ears while answering questions. He also finished every response with..."and that's how I would answer that question". He had a weak, sweaty handshake. He sent a creepy thank you card. Don't do that stuff. |
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Just thought of one other thing. When interviewing generally they will ask "Do you have any questions for us?". Do not decline. Ask at least something. At best I like to hear something along the lines of "What would make someone successful in this job" or "What skill set are you trying to fill with this position?". This is your chance to sell yourself and opens up the interview a bit. At some companies it is not unusual for the interviewer to have some fairly tight constraints on what they can and can't say or ask. The bigger the company (or government) the more likely this is. Some companies will only ask interviewees the exact same questions all pulled directly from the job description. That may or may not be what I really need. And so help me God, if you are interviewing for a Network position don't respond to "How are you qualified" with "I went to ITT Technical Institute". I will hire you just so I can fire you on the spot and put a black mark on your record.  |
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I've interviewed and hired quite a few people over the years for my industry and currently for a company that ranked 48 in the Fortune 500 in 2014. You can look it up if your interested. I'm not HR, though.
My biggest turn offs
My biggest turn ons
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Quoted: I had a weird guy come in for an interview who had a creepy no blink stare that wouldn't quite make eye contact. It was like he was looking at our ears while answering questions. He also finished every response with..."and that's how I would answer that question". He had a weak, sweaty handshake. He sent a creepy thank you card. Don't do that stuff. Your ears are weird. And that's how I would answer that question. |
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Quoted:
Whew - been a while, but: -research, research, research. You want to answer every question as if you KNOW the answer. The best answer to "What would you do if . . . " is of course: "WHEN i held a position as XXX, I dealt with a similar scenario by . . . . - forward body lean. -NO cologne!!!! Deordarant ONLY. -dress like a professional. NO, white socks are NOT professional. -SEND the "thank you letter the DAY OF the interview. Yes- a letter. A real letter. A thank you letter. Add: "I look forward to . . . "'' Most of all, be pro active. Most wont bother. You need to stand out. Bother. Good luck. So colored socks with sandals? |
| Depending on the position bring hard data and if you networked properly references from people very high up the food chain. Memorize a list of questions if the person who will be your boss is doing the interview to get to know their position on things to see if they are looking for a helper, a slave, a robot, or a change agent. Good interviewees know the process is a two way street. |
