Interview Preparation

1. MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON TIME for your interview, including telephone meeting(s).
2. Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name, the correct pronunciation and his/her title.
3. Attire: dark, business formal, conservative attire. Remember, you get one chance to make a first impression.
4. How is the position for which you are interviewing with my client an improvement over your current or past positions?
5. What are you looking for in your next position that you don't have right now?
6. Is there anything in your personal or professional life that would prevent you from resigning tomorrow and starting in a new position in two weeks?
7. Present each interviewer an errorless original copy of your resume.
8. Thoroughly research the company. The Internet and the company's web site are an excellent source of information. AE will provide web site address whenever possible. Company information is typically plentiful and very available.
9. Listen! It demonstrates courtesy, confidence, and learning style.
10. Ask good questions...which are by nature job and value focused and illustrate listening during the interview, good preparation, and a probing attitude relative to the company and opportunity. Below listed are a few questions, which we have found to work well.
    
    • What would a typical day be like (in the position being interviewed for)?
    • What are your expectations from this position (now - 6 months - 1 year)?
    • Why is the position available?
    • What is the culture of the company?
    • What types of people have done well in this position?
    • What is your company's growth plans?
    • If I am hired and do a great job, what might I expect from the standpoint of career progression?
    • Why do people leave your company?
    • If you could change something about your company, what would it be and why?
11. Be prepared for tough questions.
    
    • Why did you leave your last employer?
    • Why would you consider leaving your current employer?
    • What do you want to do next?
    • Why would you want to work for our company?
    • What do you want to be doing in five years?
    • What have been your top 3 successes over the last 3 years?
    • What have been your top 3 disappointments over the last few years?
    • What are your top 3 strengths?
    • What are your top 3 weaknesses?
    • Will you relocate?
12. Interview KILLERS.
    
    • Casual or inappropriate dress.
    • Overbearing, aggressive, "know it all" attitude.
    • Rambling, long aimless answers. Present your ideas concisely and directly. Stick to the point!
    • Appearing to be without purpose or goals.
    • Lack of interest and enthusiasm: passivity and indifference.
    • Low confidence or self-esteem.
    • Initiating discussion about compensation or benefits on the first interview.
    • Lack of tact, maturity, and courtesy.
    • Condemnation of past employers. Say nothing negative about a current or past employer.
    • Failure to look interviewer in the eye and engage with firm handshake.
    • Failure to ask good questions about the job.
    • Persistent attitude of "what can you do for me?"
    • Lack of preparation for the interview. Information is abundant.
    • Swearing, use of off-color language, or profanity.
    • Smoking during the interview, including at meals.
13. Always close the interview by enthusiastically ASKING FOR THE SALE! Asking for the Sale is defined as asking for what you want to have happen next (i.e., face-to-face interview, 2nd face-to-face interview, or a job offer). Make sure to ASK -ATTRACTIVELY. Do not be pushy or overbearing, but be direct and enthusiastic. An example of an outstanding close might be as follows. "Now that you have had a chance to review my resume and references, and meet with me in person -- is there additional information that you need from me to substantiate or confirm my qualifications and interest in this position with your company."
14. If relocation is involved make sure that you and your significant others have given careful consideration to the ramifications of a move.
15. The subject of counter-offer will be thoroughly discussed with you by this time by a member of our team. If accepting a counter-offer is a possibility on your part, then please let us know so we can reach resolution before moving on with the interview process. As we move forward in this process, I expect you to give me your "word of honor" that a decision on your part to accept an offer from my client is final. Accepting a counter-offer will be detrimental to your career and relationships for several reasons:
    
    • It would represent a very significant breach of faith between you and the recruiter, and place each of you in a very unprofessional light with the client.
    • It means either that the recruiter has done a poor job of probing relative to your reasons pursuing a career change, or you have not been forthright with him or her during the process - or both!
    • A counter-offer is typically financial, which does not address the typical reasons why most people consider leaving their job in the first place. If your reason for changing jobs is financial, ask your employer for more money now before taking a recruiter and potential employer's time - and running the risk of severely damaging your career and relationships.
    • Over 50% of those who accept counter-offers end up leaving their job within a 6 to 8 month timeframe for reasons totally unrelated to compensation - and in some cases the cause is involuntary.
    • Employers, especially bosses pressed for results, almost always view a subordinate's acceptance of a new position with another company, as an act of betrayal and things are never quite the same after acceptance of a counter-offer.
16. Write a well thought out 1 page follow-up letter to each interviewer. The letter should concisely cover the following points.
    • Open with a pleasant thank you.
    • Briefly present an overview of the position, as you know it.
    • State why you feel qualified for the position.
    • Always ask for the sale!
17. Contact your MRI contact person ASAP upon completion of your interview.

“People do not buy products, they buy benefits.
BENEFITS = VALUE

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