Recently, I consulted with a job seeker who had completed an interview, and was informed by the company that they were interested in a second interview. The good news: the company was now considering her for a management position rather than the initial technician position. The bad news: she was unsure what to expect during the second interview. She didn’t think she was prepared for an interview that would focus on a different set of skills. However, if you learn the STAR method of interviewing, you’ll realize that most job interviews are pretty much the same…and you can be successful each and every time.

What I will share with you are the five key steps to being a STAR in the interview. These five steps are appropriate for behavioral interviews, group interviews, phone interviews, second interviews – - it doesn’t matter. Most interviewers want to hear the results of your actions. If you understand this, then you’re one step ahead of the rest.

If it’s difficult for you to explain your work-related results and tie them to the reasons why you’re the right person for the job, then the interviewer will mark your candidacy as “not a good fit.” The STAR method of interviewing provides a way to respond to all interview questions and it’s outlined below:

STAR = Situation or Task – Action taken – Results achieved

I recommend an additional step to the STAR method so you can explain how the results you’ve achieved in one company will transfer easily to another company. You want the interviewer to think, “yes, I can see how her management skills will work in our company.”

Here are the five steps to help you achieve STAR status during the job interview:

1) Describe a Situation or Task you had to solve: “One of my customers was unhappy with our XYZ widgets.”

2) Add some detail to describe your direct involvement: “I was responsible for dealing directly with our department’s major clients and so, I was charged with turning the situation around for this unhappy customer.”

3) Explain your key Action steps: “I contacted the customer directly and requested feedback. I authorized a refund or future discounts to this particular customer.”

4) As a Result of your action steps, what happened? “As a result of the refund and discount, the customer increased their orders by 25%.”

5) Then explain how you will be able to achieve similar results within the interviewer’s company: “I understand that your company values customer satisfaction, and I believe that I have the necessary skills to succeed in your company. The situation that I just described provides a good picture of my customer service capabilities.”

The five steps can be switched around, if necessary; however, the key is to be able to list specific results that were gained. Most importantly, the results have to be tied directly to your action steps. If you’re prepared and focused, you’re more likely to be a STAR in the interview…and get the job.

By: Pamela Watson

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Common sense tells most of us the bare minimum for attending a job interview. You should always be on time, you should look neat and tidy, you should speak clearly and make your point, and you should make eye contact. However, there are times when things get out of your control. In this article, we will look at suggestions to help you when things start to go wrong. We will look at ways to get your momentum back and turn tragedy into triumph.

Something to avoid at all costs is arriving late to an interview. This sets the wrong tone and puts you in a negative light. However, sometimes things happen that are beyond your control. If you fear that being late is inevitable the first thing you should do is inform the company. Let them know why and when you are likely to arrive. If your lateness clearly isn’t your fault then it shouldn’t count against you in the interview. Everyone has been stuck in traffic because of an accident or had some other mishap causing them to be late, the interviewers should sympathize.

Something you should also avoid is going off on tangents that have nothing to do with the question asked or the position. People tend to do this when they are nervous. If you feel like this is likely to happen or has already started, stop, take a deep breathe and try to relax. Interviews are not designed to be fun but they shouldn’t be torture. Take sometime to gather your thoughts so you can express them clearly.

Finally, don’t ever be afraid to ask questions. Many candidates fear this because they think it will make them look incompetent. However, better to understand the question and give a good answer then pretend you understand it and look like a fool. There is no harm in asking the interviewer to restate something if you are unsure. This shows you are listening and take pride in your answer.

Interviews can be stressful. It is easy to say, relax and concentrate but much harder to actually do. Things can happen that are beyond your control to set things off on the wrong foot. However, your damage control skills can help get your through. Through careful explanation and taking the time to stop and think, you can quickly regain your momentum and make that interview a success.

By: Wildfire Marketing Group

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Once you graduate college, it’s time to enter the work force (unless of course you plan to go directly to grad school). When you transition from university life to the real world, their will be a period of adjustment. You will have to find new ways to challenge yourself outside of the comfortable classroom structure. You will most likely have to relocate and secure new housing arrangements. You’ll also have to go out and get a job.

Here are five tips to help you excel in your interview, and score the job you want.

1. Make and maintain eye contact

From the moment the interview starts, make eye contact. Look directly your interviewer’s eyes. Look at it like a staring contest that you can’t lose. No mater what goes down in the interview, your gaze will remain steadfast and self-assured. Read the eyes of the person who’s interviewing you, so that you can gauge the overall atmosphere and respond to questions accordingly.

2. Speak clearly, confidently and in a reasonable volume

Before you speak, clear your throat. Organize your thoughts before you open your mouth. Be confident in your responses. Speak with poise, but keep your voices volume reasonable. Too quiet, you can sound too timid. Too loud, and you sound distracting. Just speak in a reasonable tone and answer every question completely.

3. Ask questions

Job interviews are supposed to be exchanges. You have to interact with your interviewer. Ask for clarification every now and then. Show that you understand the information that’s being presented to you. Ask for more details. You are shopping around just as much as your interviewer. Play hard to get within reason.

4. Find a way to make a connection

Look for common ground. Make a comment about something and build from it. Pick up on details of interest, and refer back to them. Express understanding. Do whatever it takes to leave a good impression. You want to make your interviewer remember who you are, and how easy you were to get along with.

5. Stay positive

Don’t talk smack about anything. Did you absolutely hate your old boss? Well keep that little tidbit of info to yourself. Stay positive and optimistic and all times. You want to leave a lasting impression, but you also want to be certain that the imprint is positive.

Balance the need to promote your abilities with the realization that you have to be humble. Appear willing to help, but make it known that you are a strong-willed individual. Just be yourself. Make eye contact, speak clearly, ask questions, make a connection and always stay positive. Channel your confidence and if something doesn’t feel right to you, then don’t take the job. Always trust your instincts.

By: Chris Stout

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The interview process is a very important phase of your career search. Due to the current layoff trend and projections of a recessed economy, both recent graduates and seasoned professionals are competing for the most menial of entry-level positions. Possessing sharp interview skills is necessary if you want to maintain an advantage in today’s highly competitive job market.

Proper preparation is key. When accepting an invitation to interview, make sure you obtain as much information from the appointment setter as possible. Learn the name and title of the interviewer and/or the department head, the full title of the position being recruited for and the department in which the position will be held. If you did not retain a copy of the job announcement or if the advertisement was too vague, try to secure a complete job description as well. Visit the office prior to your interview, identify yourself as a potential candidate to the receptionist and let him/her know that you just wanted to make sure of the exact location of the company so he/she won’t be alarmed by your impromptu arrival. You can also request company literature and a job description if you had not previously obtained one. Usually, the receptionist will be willing to oblige. You can then use the information you have gathered to learn more about the company and what your expected role will be. Browse through the company website and locate your interviewer’s (or the department head’s) bio if there is one available. Take special notice of the company’s mission and think of a statement that would allow you to speak sincerely of how your own values align with the company’s objectives.

Don’t just leave it at company-specific research. Check out similar positions and other companies that operate in the same industry. Read the business section of local newspapers and trade magazines paying close attention to the status of public holdings. Look at current developments in the industry and the projected outlook of the field. Talk with people you know who hold comparable positions. Perform a salary comparison so you will know what type of compensation to expect and be in a better position for negotiation when the topic is broached. The information you obtain will prove valuable in letting the interviewer know you are truly interested in the position and will give you more ammunition during the inevitable small talk that occurs at the beginning and end of an interview.

Give yourself a mock interview. Think of answers to some of the most commonly asked interview questions such as “tell me about yourself?,” “what are your strengths…weaknesses?” and “where do you see yourself in five years?” Make sure your responses are positive. Turn negative experiences and weaknesses into strengths. For example, “I am very focused which is both a strength and a weakness because it prevents me from moving on to another task until I have completed the one I am currently working on” or “I am a really good listener which often allows for people to take advantage of my time with unnecessary chatter.” Jot down three to five facts from your research that can be developed into a great answer to the popular question, “why do you want to work for this company?” Also, create a list of questions to ask the interviewer. This is just as much an interview for the company as it is for you.

Knowledge is just half the battle. You must also look the part. The popular advice is to dress business professional. While this is not bad advice, it is not always practical to follow it. During your fact-gathering visit to the company, you should have also taken a good look at how the employees were dressed and keep in mind what is the industry standard. You don’t want to show up for an interview in four-inch heeled pumps to discover that you have to walk across a slippery factory floor nor should you be in jeans and sneakers to sit down with the Chief Financial Officer of a major marketing firm. The rule of thumb is never wear less than a pair of slacks and loafers and always be well-groomed with minimal jewelry (you can pull out a few piercings for a day) and without excessive makeup. Times are changing fast but old traditions still hold true to form. Unless it is an acceptable practice to the company at which you seek to be hired, cover up tattoos and save another day to try out that new green and purple hair dye.

This really should go without saying but be on time. You should arrive approximately ten to fifteen minutes early for your interview. You don’t want to be too early as this tends to just confuse your interviewer and you don’t want to be late at all. Tardiness is not an attribute you want to give your potential employer as a first impression. Now this may come as a shock to you but your interviewer should not be late either. Remember, you are there to interview the company just as the company is interviewing you so your time must also be respected. An appropriate wait time for an interview is no more than thirty minutes. Most employers allow ten to fifteen minutes for your arrival and an additional fifteen minutes for any paperwork you might need to complete. Anything in excess of an half hour is an abuse of your time and grounds for you to reconsider your candidacy at the company.

During the interview, be energetic and upbeat. Be articulate and self-aware. Use good attentive body language and refrain from chewing gum, cracking knuckles, twiddling thumbs and any other annoying habits. Turn off cell phones or pagers. Wear an authentic smile and maintain good eye contact. Ask the interviewer if you may take notes and actually do so, marking off any of your prepared questions that get answered. Take your time so you don’t rush responses. This will be especially helpful if you are asked a difficult or unpredicted question like “if you were a fruit, what type of fruit would you be and why?” Many interviewers like to throw these types of questions at you to see how you might handle stress or the unexpected. Taking your time will allow your senses to get over the initial shock so you can think of a creative response to the question. Ask the remaining questions from your prepared list. Stay away from salary and benefits talk. Most interviewers will bring it up themselves but if they don’t, make sure it is not among your first questions. End the interview with a firm handshake and request a business card. Make sure you ask how soon it will be before you can expect a response.

Follow up the interview with a thank you card or letter. In the letter, you should tie in any information you may have left out during the interview that might enhance your qualifications and recap significant points of discussion to demonstrate that you were listening. It helps to throw in a personal tidbit using any small talk that may have been offered up by the interviewer. For instance, the interviewer may have mentioned that his wife is expecting. You could say something like, “Congratulations on joining the ranks of fatherhood.” The interviewer will be flattered by the sentiment and more apt to remember your name.

Interviews can be difficult but with the proper preparation, you can set yourself ahead of the competition. Be as sincere, courteous and professional as possible. Remember, skills and qualifications are only a fraction of the screening process. Most companies hire based on who it was they liked the most rather than who was the most qualified.

By: Niquenya Fulbright, PLC

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