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Packaging Horizons
Successful Interviews Lay the Foundation For Successful Careers
In the ever-changing job market, the most critical part of your career happens before it begins.
The thought of an interview can make strong legs shake, make adrenaline pump or the most confident candidate twitch. How you present yourself and your skills can make the difference between an open door leading to new opportunities or a closed one sending you back to square one. The harsh reality of it is that the adage, “You can’t get there from here,” may end up keeping you in the starting gate if you lack good interviewing skills. So, how do you combat the nerves and put your best foot forward?
Be prepared. Experts agree that preparation is the differential between mediocre job candidates and great ones. Because you can so easily research potential employers today, there is no excuse for not being prepared to the max for an interview. Look on the company’s web site to learn about them before your appointment. “Always have a list of 10 questions to ask the interviewer about the company, the position you’re applying for, the product/service, the potential for growth, etc.,” advises Renee Reyes, plastics packaging recruiter at Management Recruiters of Columbia, Maryland. “Well-thought out questions will provide you with valuable information about employers as you consider the merits of working with them.”
Verne Johnson, owner/manager at Verne Johnson Associates in Rochester, New York, confirms that the interview is a two-way street. “Each person should be contributing. I have found that intelligent questions and comments from a candidate rate high with interviewers.”
Being prepared is not limited to the questions you ask or the topics you want to cover, however. You must prepare yourself as well. Show up early. Have extra copies of your resume and references. Show enthusiasm for the job. Role play with a peer or mentor before the interview to gain confidence with your responses.
Get your communication skills in top shape. Ultimately, the most important link in the flow of the interview is the way you communicate. If you haven’t conveyed your skills and talents well in your resume (written communication), you won’t get a phone interview. If you don’t express yourself well on the phone, (verbal communication) you won’t get the appointment. If you don’t handle yourself well at the appointment, (non-verbal communication) you won’t get the offer. Make sure you sell your talents and skills with confidence. Don’t be led astray in the interview by open-ended questions that allow you to ramble. Be concise and demonstrative. “Behavioral based interviewing is a new interviewing technique that allows the interviewer to find out more about the candidates, their behavior and how they communicate. By asking the candidate to describe a specific work-related experience, the interviewer can ascertain the candidate’s response, behavior and communication style with the response to that one question,” reports Walter Ellis, president at Packstaff, LLC in Oostburg, Wisconsin.
Be a thorough professional. These four words cover a lot of territory. A lot of this is basic and can be gleaned from Robert Fulghum’s book, “All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” but don’t sell it short. Pay attention to the pleasantries. Dress for the interview, not the job. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive early and collect your thoughts. Shake hands firmly and make eye contact.
Ask for the job. Reyes, Johnson and Ellis all agree that if you are still interested in the job at the end of the interview, let the employer know that you are enthusiastic, qualified and available. Don’t expect that interviewers will sense your interest. Tell them! These elements of the interview are simplistic and basic, but so often we concentrate so much on the intricacies of an interview that we miss the obvious: Be prepared, act professionally and communicate your message well.
Walter Ellis at PackStaff, LLC, can be reached by e-mail at walt@packstaff.com, phone 800-732-1007 or web site www.packstaff.com.
Verne Johnson at Verne Johnson Associates can be reached by e-mail at vjsearch@frontiernet.net or phone 716-249-5044.
Renee Reyes at Management Recruiters of Columbia can be reached by e-mail at jobs@plasticjobsource.com, phone 800-267-1226 or web site www.plasticjobsource.com.
Recruiters Tell You What It Takes to IMPRESS THEM
by “The Corr (Corrugated) Team” at Management Recruiters/Sales Consultants of Cincinnati/Sharonville, Inc.
1. Be Professional
How you work with a recruiter is a direct correlation of how you will work with your boss, your colleagues and your vendors. It is a window into who you really are. A good recruiter will always measure this as part of your qualifications and convey his or her impressions to the prospective hiring company.
2. Be Honest
Be up-front about the extent of your job-searching efforts and results. Your recruiter has a vested interest in placing you in a career that could potentially change your life. You will gain nothing from being dishonest with your recruiter.
3. Be Forthright
Tell your recruiter all of your requirements and preferences, for example, in regard to salary or relocation. When an interview is completed, you should give the recruiter your feedback — good, bad or indifferent. This is the only way we can facilitate the process. We must talk with you before we get back in touch with the hiring manager. We’ll want to know what was discussed, how the manager left the interview with you, whether you’re still interested in the position and whether you want to proceed to the next step. If you aren’t interested in proceeding, then let us know why not. This will help us in screening other opportunities for you.
4. Be Committed
Don’t be casual with what you agree or commit to. Your attention to commitment will not go unnoticed. Know what you want, say what you mean and do what you say.
5. Be Proactive
Get to know recruiters who specialize in your industry. Place a call to them and get familiar with them. Be sure to send them your resume. It’s good for them to have your resume on file. You never know when they might have the ideal job opportunity for you.
6. Be Inquisitive
You will likely have questions about housing costs, insurance, relocation, etc. Ask your recruiter. We want to make sure all these questions are answered before the interview. ‘Do I want to work here?’ and ‘Do I want to work with these people?’ are the only questions left for the final interview.
7. Be Prepared
Prepare for the interview by reading the materials that your recruiter has sent you and by doing research on the company.
8. Be Cooperative
Don’t play games. Regardless of any past experiences you have had with recruiters, take your current recruiter seriously. If you are not comfortable with your recruiter, then find another one who can help you.
9. Be Patient
A smart recruiter knows how frustrating it can be to search for a job. Be patient. We’ve got your best interests in mind, and we’ll call you as soon as we can.
10. Be Enthusiastic
Professional recruiters and hiring authorities truly get excited about marketable candidates and like to see enthusiasm in the candidate.
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