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THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW

Interviewing can be intimidating and uncomfortable. It's not something you do every day. However, we actively participate in the hiring process all the time and have learned a few do's and don't's over the years.

Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind when interviewing:

Factual Attitude

The interview is a sales process. You are no longer a Programmer, DBA or Manager, etc. but are temporarily a sales person trying to sell your services and skills. Genuine selling is not hype, small talk or hot air. Rather, it is an enthusiastic and factual illustration of your abilities, skills and accomplishments explained in a way to showcase your potential value to a company. Remember, a job interview is one of the few times where etiquette permits and encourages the blowing of one's own horn. Above all else, be honest. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know, but here is where I would look" if you don't know an answer. Most interviewers can spot a "tap dance" within seconds. This is an automatic show-stopper and has derailed many potentially successful interviews. [ Return to top ]

Prepare well

Prepare for the interview. Learn about the company, its products, services, etc. Get on the Internet, find its Web Site or go to a business library at a college or university for additional research. [ Return to top ]

Dress Appropriately

Dress for an interview. Even if a company has a casual work environment, make the right first impression with interview-appropriate attire. The only time to go casual is if the interviewing company requests that you do so. [ Return to top ]

Interview the Company

Interview the company. Ask questions. You alone are responsible to determine whether or not any given job is right for you. Don't rely completely on the recommendations of Colleagues, family, friends or even the referring recruiter. Listen to their counsel, but remember, the final decision rests with you. You not only have to discover whether the job is right or not, but also how well you fit the company's culture. Here are some possible questions to ask on an interview:

What are the major challenges facing this company? Where does IT or technology fit in to the picture to meet these challenges? Why is this job available? Is it new, or is the vacancy caused by turnover? If the latter is the case, why did the last person leave? How long did they have this job? What would the first 6 months to 1 year on this job be like? What kind of problems and issues would I have to expect if you hired me? What will you be expecting me to accomplish in my first year, if you hire me? How will you communicate this to me? How and when will you you give me feedback? May I talk with possible peers and customers/users? [ Return to top ]

The Interview Process

As your interviewers answer these questions, you must quickly assimilate and be able to respond with situational input. For example, the interviewer may discuss a certain problem with a major development project. You have to relate that to your experience and jump back in by saying, "At XYZ Widgets, our team faced a similar problem and this is how we approached it...." This is an excellent way to showcase your skills and expertise along with your ability to size up a problem quickly.

If you meet with multiple people serially at one interview, ask each of them these same questions, take notes and compare their answers later. Look for inconsistencies to clarify on a second interview. Share these concerns with your recruiter. Avoid asking any questions about compensation, benefits, vacation,etc. Inquiries like this are always construed as a "what's in it for me?" attitude when a company is shopping for a team player looking to make a contribution. When asked about salary desired, be flexible and general. It's best to answer by saying "I anticipate accepting a position in the $75,000 range", or "I am really more concerned about the opportunity and feel that if the job is right, the money will be right." One of the best deal-killers here is to say "I must have at least....." If the company was going to offer $500 less, you'll never know; and frankly, would you turn down the right opportunity for $500 or $1,000 less than you wanted?

Keep in mind, you can be overpaid for what you do. Companies do this to retain mission-critical technical people and then lay them off when a project is completed. Ask yourself, is this too good to be true? If the dollars are unusually high, it may indicate a high-risk job. If you're overpaid and unemployed later, you may lose all the gains.

If you have any questions or comments, please share your ideas.
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