About Us
Who are we?

Home
Return to the main page.

Enjoying Your Interview

DMR has been involved with scheduling and monitoring the results of thousands of face-to-face interviews the past decade. Some conclusions to help you:

Consider the interview an adventure to be enjoyed rather than something to dread; that can change the entire chemistry; hiring managers are much more likely to react positively -- and more likely to extend an offer. Focusing on the appealing aspects of a new situation will bring your eagerness and enthusiasm to the surface. That gets a hiring manager thinking about what a positive addition you would be to his team. When interviewing, concentrate on the new and exciting features of a job and not on the situation you’ll be leaving behind. Listing job "pros and cons" is important -- but don’t do it during an interview. Managers are looking for "givers" who want to make a contribution rather than "takers" in search of what a company can do for them.

Remember These Six Steps

1. Be Prepared ... Preparation is key to your being confident, overcoming interview anxiety and selling yourself and your qualifications. Obtain a complete job description from your search consultant along with a list of interviewers and their respective job titles. Ask about their impact on the opportunity being offered and types of questions they will likely ask. Inventory your current duties and successes. Discuss salary related questions with your search consultant in advance.
   

   ---

2. Researching The Company ... Spend time on the Internet or in a library learning about the company, its products, locations, sales volume and more.
   
   Try Standard & Poor’s, Dun and Bradstreet or Moody’s reference materials.
   

   ---

3. Answering Questions ... Questions should be answered in terms of how your background and credentials relate to the job being filled.
   
   Project eagerness and energy.
   
   Use the mini-story technique: state the problem, describe your solution and emphasize positive results.
   
   "Tell me about yourself" means "tell me about your qualifications"; plan a 5 to 10 minute answer describing your education and summarizing job experiences in terms of past accomplishments.
   
   Personality questions such as "What kind of a supervisor are you?" determine if you have the qualities being sought; answer them with obvious responses based on your past or present experiences.
   
   Motive questions such as "what do you enjoy most/least about your current position?" seek to discover whether you would enjoy the job so be specific and emphatic.
   
   Salary questions. When asked what your income requirements are say, "I am presently earning $________". Discuss the handling of this topic with your search consultant prior to the interview. If possible, avoid answering them until an offer is made.
   
   Don’t let tough questions catch you off-guard: write out and memorize your answers on past performance and why you left your last job. Address any red flag area's in the same fashion.

   ---

4. Asking Questions ... You display enthusiasm by the questions you ask; the fact is employers like to be interviewed, too.
   
   Ask questions requiring an explanation and focus on the company, its people, products and services.
   
   Ask for the job: "I can do what you want done, and I want the job!"
   
   Hold questions on salary, fringes, vacations and retirement until the job is offered.
   
   Conclude with a "what happens next" summary; be prepared to accept an offer on the spot if interested.
   

   ---

5. Proper Dress ... First appearances leave a lasting impression so attend to attire.
   
   Men should wear a conservative suit, white shirt, contrasting tie, shoes shined and socks that reach over the calf.
   
   Women should wear a skirted suit or dress with matching jacket, neutral colored hose, simple pumps and minimum make-up. After The Interview ... Contact your DMR search consultant immediately and discuss the interviewing process.
   

   ---

6. After the interview...
   
   Contact your search consultant immediately to discuss the interview.
   
   If the position interests you, your search consultant will help you get it.
   
   A brief thank-you note to each of the company’s interviewers is your final chance to express your interest in a position, reinforce your credentials and show your enthusiasm.