Everything may depend on the first ten minutes
of face-to-face dialogue.

Many a job opportunity is won—or lost—in the personal interview, the time in which you are sized up for qualities that do not surface on a performance test or in a resume. Everything depends on the thoroughness of your preparation and how intelligently you go about selling the most valuable commodity of all—YOU.

The three points that you must get across to your prospective employer are:

• Your background and experience are right for the job.
• Your personality and intelligence can make a positive contribution to the company.
• You have a sincere interest in the job and the company.

Write out questions that you will ask during the interview. Remember that an interview is a two-way street. The employer will try to determine through questioning if you have the qualifications necessary to do the job. You must determine through questioning whether the company will give you the opportunity for the growth and development you seek. Take your research notes and questions to the interview. Questions you plan to ask the interviewer might cover topics such as:

• A detailed description of the position.
• The reason the position is available.
• Anticipated indoctrination and training programs.
• Advanced training programs available for those who demonstrate outstanding ability.
• Earnings of successful people in their third or fifth year.
• Company growth plans.
• The next step in the selection process.

Determine in advance the four most important benefits that you can offer a company because of your education and experience. Since merely responding to an interviewer's questions may not allow you to express these benefits, YOU must be prepared to work them into the conversation on your own initiative. Many qualified individuals have not been offered the job they wanted only because the hiring official did not ask questions which brought out their best points. Remember, define the benefits you can offer a company and communicate them to the hiring official.

Since offers are extended to those candidates who appear to be best qualified, you must emphasize your strong points and minimize your weaker points. If your experience is limited, emphasize your education, interests, and desire to learn. If your experience does not directly fit the job, stress any related experience you have had.

Be concise, but give all highlights that relate to the job you are seeking. Avoid giving "yes" or "no" answers and illustrate with an example when possible. Instead of saying only "Yes, I am a leader, " add "I helped organize our local fraternity chapter and served as its first president." Or instead of "I am a good salesman," say "I placed second among twenty-five salesmen in our region in volume of new business developed last year." Don't hesitate to point out the positive aspects of your experience, but do make sure your statements are absolutely correct. Broad generalizations and exaggerations will minimize your chances for an offer. Finally, be clear on dates of employment, names of supervisors and companies, titles of positions you have held, and salaries. Be prepared to readily present this data.

Ten good answers to help you master even the most grueling employment interview

Most people make two devastating mistakes when they are being questioned in an interview. First, they fail to listen to the question. They proceed to annoy the interviewer either by answering a question that wasn't asked, or by giving out a lot of superfluous information.

Second, and more important, they attempt to answer questions with virtually no preparation. The glibbest person on earth, even the most skilled debater, cannot answer questions off the cuff without damaging his or her chances for success.

What follows are ten questions which various surveys have indicated are asked most often, regardless of the job classification. Study them carefully, develop strong responses, and your candidacy will receive prime consideration.

1. What can you tell me about yourself?
This is the most frequently asked question—handle this carefully. Respond by asking "Where do you want me to begin?" You will determine what is important to the interviewer and avoid providing unneeded information.

2. Why do you want to work here?
Because you have done your homework on the company, you know exactly why you want to work there. Just organize your reasons into several short, hard-hitting sentences like "You make the best product on the market today. Your management is farsighted enough to reinvest the company's profits so that you will soon be the leader in this category."

3. Why should I hire you?
The interviewer does not want a lengthy regurgitation of your resume. They do not want a barrage of facts and figures. They are interested in testing your poise and confidence. So give a short, generalized summary like "I have the qualifications to do this job and my track record proves it."

4. What interests you most about this position?
Give a truthful-but-brief answer like "the challenge," "the future," "the environment," or "the competitiveness." This response will force the interviewer to ask you to explain, giving you yet another opportunity to demonstrate your profound knowledge of the company.

5. Would you like to have your boss's job?
By all means, "Yes!" Ambitious, hungry people are always preferred over those who would settle for a safe routine. If you sense that this answer may threaten your interviewer's security, you might add "when I am judged qualified" or "should an opening develop in a few years."

6. What would you like to be doing five years from now?
To answer this question, make sure you know exactly what can or cannot be accomplished by the ideal candidate in your shoes. Too many job-hunters are tripped up by this question because they have not done their homework and have no idea where their career will lead them.

7. Why do you want to change jobs?
This is one of the first questions interviewers ask. Be sure you are ready to answer it satisfactorily. If you are currently in a dead-end position, locked out of advancement opportunities, explain this. The interviewer will understand.

8. Why were you out of work for so long?
If there is a time gap in your resume, be prepared to explain what you were doing during that time. If you don't satisfy the interviewer's curiosity, you won't get hired. Try to explain very positively what you learned or accomplished during that period.

9. Have you ever hired or fired anyone?
You are being asked this question for two very important reasons. First, to determine whether you are capable of performing these duties. Second, to determine if your previous experience was at a high enough level to include hiring/firing responsibilities. If you have no experience, you must convince the interviewer that you can perform in these areas.

10. How have you helped sales/profits/cost reductions?
Have your hero stories ready and be willing to prove that you have made significant contributions in one or more of these basic areas. Keep your explanations short and try to include specific dollar amounts.