+- Madison Motorsports (https://forum.mmsports.org)
+-- Forum: Madison Motorsports (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Lounge (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=6)
+--- Thread: Job Interview Tips (/showthread.php?tid=5350)
Job Interview Tips - Ginger - 01-22-2007
I've got a very important job interview tomorrow.
Background: the position was announced November 28, 2006, so I think they could be a little anxious to fill it. While not tailored for the position the way an intern might have been, I believe I carry a very good background for the work required. I had a very short call/phone interview today which I feel I kind of bunked on - no prep time meant that I was stuttering while I was looking for answers. The recruiter immediately scheduled a real interview with me tomorrow, though, so I couldn't have been all bad.
So - what do I need to know? This is what I consider to be the first big step in my career, and I really want this paritcular job, so what do I need to do well?
Go.
- mrbaggio - 01-22-2007
Don't bleed on the interviewer. I did that once. I didn't get that job.
Sit up straight. Don't use slang. Firm hand shake.
- ScottyB - 01-22-2007
i got a few things pounded into my head when i was interviewing alot since my dad does the hiring at his company. most notable...some are very important, others just help:
- be 15 minutes early
- dress like you took time and care. don't look like you just got off your bike in your suit :lol:
- firm handshake, eye contact, proper titles.
- make sure to convey that you are willing, able, and enthusiastic to learn. nobody is totally perfect for a position, everyone adapts. they have to be sure you'll adapt quickly
- don't emphasize the "team" thing or "people person" thing too much. everyone these days practically HAS to be a team player people person. just make sure you make it clear that you are seeking to be a part of a successful organization where your skills can best affect the company in a positive way.
- smile. relax. they can smell your fear.
no seriously, be cool.- follow up immediately with a courteous thank you letter, preferably a snail-mail letter.
that's it off the top of my head. some people may disagree with some but they've done well for me
- JohnC - 01-22-2007
ScottyB Wrote:i got a few things pounded into my head when i was interviewing alot since my dad does the hiring at his company. most notable...some are very important, others just help:
- be 15 minutes early
- dress like you took time and care. don't look like you just got off your bike in your suit :lol:
- firm handshake, eye contact, proper titles.
- make sure to convey that you are willing, able, and enthusiastic to learn. nobody is totally perfect for a position, everyone adapts. they have to be sure you'll adapt quickly
- don't emphasize the "team" thing or "people person" thing too much. everyone these days practically HAS to be a team player people person. just make sure you make it clear that you are seeking to be a part of a successful organization where your skills can best affect the company in a positive way.
- smile. relax. they can smell your fear.
- follow up immediately with a courteous thank you letter, preferably a snail-mail letter.
that's it off the top of my head. some people may disagree with some but they've done well for me
I disagree completely.
- be 15 minutes late. You're not some slack-ass who has nothing better to do than sit around for 15 minutes - you're a go-getter with a packed schedule of important things to do! They'll be impressed just to get an interview with you.
- don't dress. You're a go-getter, remember?!?! Naked is much more efficient.
- firm backhand. Un-flenching, non-blinking eye contact (make them feel as if their souls have been laid bare and found wanting). Make up a disparaging nickname for everyone as you meet them, and use it frequently throughout the rest of the interview. The mere fact that they've invited you in for an interview means that they are slackers who can't handle the work and need "help". If you want the job, you had better prop up that weak corporate mentality immediately with some assertive behavior, menacing stares, and plenty of cussing!
- make sure to convey that you have nothing left to learn. You are perfect for the position, why should they waste their time on someone who has to take a couple of weeks to "fit in" and "learn the ropes". If the step before this hasn't convinced them not to ask stupid questions about how perfect you are, now is definitely the time for some more backhands.
- don't emphasize the "team" thing or "people person" thing at all. You're not a "team" player, or a "people person". You will bend the company to your iron will, and they should be under no illusions that you will accept anything less than ultimate power.
- do not smile. Smiling is a sign of weakness in primates. Show dominance by urinating on their desks and mating with their females.
- follow up immediately with the severed head of the their nearest competitor's CEO. This display of corporate political savvy is sure to tilt the scales in your favor.
Good luck - hope you get the job!
- HAULN-SS - 01-22-2007
haha...one thing I can definately recommend is to remember everyone's name that you talk to. I have to write it down usually...so to my next point - take a current copy of your resume, and a nice looking notebook/portfolio you can take notes in.
- ViPER1313 - 01-22-2007
That was awesome John - I haven't laughed that hard in a while :lol:
- Evan - 01-22-2007
confidence, know about the company, ask some questions (intelligent questions based on the specific job and things that came up in the interview, not braindead prewritten general questions about the company or something)
Ive been in the position several times where after my interview, the company thought I was much better than I am. Which wouldnt be too much of a problem if it werent for the fact that Im way to lazy to work hard and get to be as good as they think I am.
- ScottyB - 01-22-2007
JohnC Wrote:- firm backhand. Un-flenching, non-blinking eye contact (make them feel as if their souls have been laid bare and found wanting). Make up a disparaging nickname for everyone as you meet them, and use it frequently throughout the rest of the interview.
this is one of the best things i've read in months
- JohnC - 01-22-2007
I get bitter sometimes, especially when I'm working late...
- Feersty - 01-22-2007
Be prepared to answer the question of where you want to be in 5 years.
- .RJ - 01-22-2007
Feersty Wrote:Be prepared to answer the question of where you want to be in 5 years.
I have NEVER been asked that.
Maybe they just think you have no direction.
- Ginger - 01-22-2007
California?
Seriously, thanks for the answers. I feel pretty prepared for this, as prepared as I'm going to get, I think.
I'll post about how it goes, what worked and what didn't, so forth.
- Evan - 01-22-2007
.RJ Wrote:Ive been asked that several times. They just want to see if you want to be an underling worker bee for the rest of your life, or want to work your way into management/sales/etcFeersty Wrote:Be prepared to answer the question of where you want to be in 5 years.
I have NEVER been asked that.
Maybe they just think you have no direction.
There are some good articles on Monster that go over the common interview questions. Even if none of those exact questions come up, its still good to go over them because it gets your mind thinking in the right direction.
- ViPER1313 - 01-23-2007
Someone asked my mom why manhole covers were round.... :?:
- mrbaggio - 01-23-2007
ViPER1313 Wrote:Someone asked my mom why manhole covers were round.... :?:
So they can't fall back through the hole.
- Mike - 01-23-2007
dress well, be confident, sarcasm can bite you, be early, HAVE GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK THEM.
- .paul - 01-23-2007
yeah what mike said - questions for them is very important, I always like to ask the inverviewer what they think of the company - how long they have been there, what type of environment is it, what kind of advancement possibilities are.
questions for htem show you are intrigued and actually want it.
good luck andrew.
- John - 01-23-2007
Mike Wrote:dress well, be confident, sarcasm can bite you, be early, HAVE GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK THEM.
I've actually had a great deal of success with sarcasm, but of course you have to be mindful of your interview environment have a good read on the interviewers.
Otherwise, everybody has summed it up pretty well with the exception of one thing: have fun. Interviewing can be extremely stressful, so try and find an avenue of pleasure in it and the interviewer should pick up on it. It'll show that you're energetic, open, and fun to be around. If they don't pick up on it or consider it to be a non-issue, then perhaps it's not a work environment conducive for you.
- Apoc - 01-23-2007
.RJ Wrote:Feersty Wrote:Be prepared to answer the question of where you want to be in 5 years.
I have NEVER been asked that.
Maybe they just think you have no direction.
I've been asked plenty. Maybe they think they know where you won't be... still at their company... based on your resume.
- ScottyB - 01-23-2007
Feersty Wrote:Be prepared to wait patiently for your review.
fixed that for ya :lol: