Interviewing

I-Asking Questions During an Interview

At most interviews, you will be invited to ask questions of your interviewer.  This is an important opportunity for you to learn more about the employer, and for the interviewer to evaluate you as a job candidate. It requires some advance preparation on your part.  First, never ask a question that point to your own weakness.  Second, focus your questions to demonstrate to the interviewer that you prepared for the meeting and have insightful questions about the job and company.

Here are a few examples that can be asked:

II-The Company Office Visit

The company office visit is an important step in the candidate's interview process. It can be called "the plan trip" or "the site visit". It usually serves to help the company screen the last few candidates that remain for a high-level job after the initial interviews. At this stage, the interviewers already know that all the visitors will have the necessary skills and IQs. Now, they want to know whether their candidates' career goals match the job and whether their energy and willpower to fit in the culture of the company. On the other hand, it gives the candidate the opportunity to get the detailed view of the company, its employees, and its culture.

Several things to prepare for the company visit:

III- Don't Forget to Write a Thank You Note!

Writing a thank you note after an employment interview can be the key to getting a job offer. According to a recent survey, 94% of recruiters said that a thank you letter would increase the applicant's chances of getting the job, or at least help him/her stay in the running with other qualified candidates. Fifteen minutes of your time is a very inexpensive investment in your career. In most cases, it is appropriate to send thank you letters by email. Interviewers can receive your letter immediately, and in case the employer is making a quick decision, time is important.

In addition to thanking the interviewer for his or her time, you can reiterate some of the important things you have learned about the company during the interview. Summarize your qualifications including some key points that you forgot to mention in the interview.

The thank you note should be short. It needs be brief and to the point. And finally, remember to proofread - it's just as important in email as any other correspondence.

Last but not least, even if you were turned down for the job, use the thank you letter to express your appreciation for being considered and your interest in future opportunities.

IV-Effective Interviewing Is Critical To Getting A Great Job

Making a good impression in an interview is a critical step to getting a great job.  Following are a few important things to remember to ensure you are putting your best foot forward when meeting a prospective employer.

By follow these few simple guidelines you will improve the impression you make and increase your chances of getting the job you've always wanted

V- Staying Motivated With Mental Preparation

Finding a job is tough. However, setting goals and thinking positively will keep you motivated and will land you a job that you are happy with.

Once you prepare a plan, try to eliminate mental barriers that may hinder your job search.

Follow these guidelines to stay motivated and maximize your chances when looking for a job, and eventually you can find a job that you are happy with. As Joseph Campbell, the famous writer said, "Find work that you love, and you will never have to work another day in your life."

VI-How to Handle Salary Discussion during an Interview

Salary discussions during an interview usually center around what you have made in prior positions and/or what you are seeking to earn in your next position. The employer wants to find out how close is the salary likely to be offered to your expectations. Naturally, the closer you are to the employer's salary range, the more likely you will accept an offer, be happy and remain with the company.

Be prepared to disclose your salary history when asked. If your salary history differs significantly than your current expectations, you must be prepared to address these differences at the same time. Keep in mind that you need to consider the total compensation package including bonuses and benefits.

Remember, this is not a salary negotiation. You are simply answering the employer's interview question. However, it can help lay the foundation for negotiating the best salary later.

A significant difference in salary often occurs when making a change in career, industry, type or level of position, geographical area, or when starting a new career. Without knowing the appropriate salary range for the type of position you are seeking, you may not be able to address variances in your salary history. In this case, you need to conduct prior research as to salary ranges for someone with your experience and skills for the type of position in the industry and geographical area in which you are interviewing.

VII-Interview Types and How to Prepare

In most companies, interviews are the only or most important tool to make a hiring decision. As a job-seeker, you should always go to an interview with a fresh mind and clear objective of what you want to accomplish. There are several different types of interviews and you often will not know what kind of interview you'll encounter until you arrive. It is important to understand these different types of interviews and how to prepare for them.

Telephone Interview

Due to time constraints, telephone interviews are becoming more common. It is a typical way to make a preliminary assessment of a candidate's qualifications. Sometimes phone interviews are scheduled in advance; others are calls with no advance warning. If the time is inconvenient for you, it is acceptable for you to let the caller know and arrange an appointment another time.

How to prepare:

Group Interview

In Vietnam, only a few companies use group interviews. This type of interview is efficient to have several people interview you at one time instead of individually.

How to prepare:

Inexperienced (Reverse-role) Interview

If you are applying for a small company that doesn't have a recruiting program, you may meet an inexperienced interviewer. The inexperienced interviewer may not know how to take the lead and will let you take control the conversation. He/she may not ask the appropriate questions related to your skills or background.

How to prepare:

Behavioral Interview

The interviewer wants to know how your past performance can predict your future work. You will be asked about how you handled previous situations. Many people make mistake by not providing enough detail or examples.

How to prepare:

Make sure you include all of the following details:

Stress Interview

A stress interview is designed to put a candidate under stress to assess his or her reactions. One example is that the interviewer will bring up a controversial subject and disagree with you.

How to prepare:

Case Interview

If you are applying to a consulting firm or similar, it's likely that you will encounter this kind of interview. It helps the interviewer analyze your critical thinking skills. For example, the question may be "How many motorcycles are in Ho Chi Minh city?" The interviewer is interested to know the process you use to get to the answer.

How to prepare:

VIII-The Best and Bad Answers for Interview

Getting invitation for interview means you've been almost in the final round of the race. But this is also the hardest part though it usually lasts only half an hour or sometimes even 15 minutes. To win the grand prize, critical strategy is wise answers. There are some basic 'frequently asked questions' you should know and learning the sample 'best' responses to these questions can show you how close you are to the position you've wanted.

Q: Tell me about yourself

Answer 1: I have six years of marketing and sales experience, working in a variety of industries from retail to advertising. For the past two years, I have been working in the e-commerce industry. I have a solid grasp of the online marketplace and online publishing. I have strong analytical and computer skills. Furthermore, I'm a team player, and I thrive on challenge.

This is the best answer. By emphasizing specific examples of knowledge-based skills, transferable skills and personal traits, you give the interviewer a summary a snapshot of yourself. Note that this answer does not confine itself just to your technical abilities. It is also saying that you get on with people and are highly motivated.

Answer 2: I've always been good at, and liked, writing and public relations. I've worked for different companies in a variety of situations and have received excellent commissions and bonuses. I am a hard-worker, and I work well under pressure. I have pretty good communication skills and get along with almost everyone.

This is not the best answer. Most of the comments are vague and general. With more specifics, this answer could reveal a lot more of your experience, skills and personal traits. Try to speak the language of the industry.

Q: Why did you leave your last position?

Answer 1: I've set some goals for myself, and my career, but unfortunately, there are no advancement opportunities in my current company. I have begun to explore available options before I spend too much time in a job where I cannot advance. My goal is to continue to improve myself.

This is the best answer. This answer indicates planning and goal setting, which are important traits. By being proactive, you are in a better position to negotiate. Sometimes things happen in careers that are out of your control, but planning gives you more power over your future.

Answer 2: I'm not finding a job as interesting as I used to. There hasn't been any new product development in some time. I want to find a job that is stimulating, where I can grow and be challenged. I'm looking for job satisfaction, and I want to have more balance in my life by cutting back on my travel.

This is not the best answer and is somewhat negative. This answer isn't all bad but it has some negative points. First, saying that you're bored and are looking for a stimulating job could be a dangerous thing to say to an employer. They may think that you'll be too difficult to satisfy, or that you will leave them once you've mastered everything. Second, be careful with how you express your "more balance in my life" statements. If you're not careful you'll give the impression that you're unwilling to put in some extra work for the employer when it's required. There's a difference between saying that you can only work certain hours due to outside commitments and you're not willing to extra hours.

Q: What are your salary expectations?

Answer 1: I really need more information about the job before we start to discuss salary. I'd like to postpone that discussion until later. Maybe you could tell me what is budgeted for the position and how your commission structure works.

This is the best answer. Postpone the discussion about salary until you have all the facts and also until you've had the opportunity to highlight your strengths. You need all the information possible before making a decision. Not only the base salary but other factors that would be important to you like stock options, flexible employment conditions and other benefits.

Answer 2: I'm sure whatever you offer will be a fair amount for a person with my qualifications. Salary is not the most important factor to me. I'm looking for opportunity.

This is not the best answer. This answer gives all the power to the employer. Don't you want to be paid what you're worth? It is important that you research the worth of a similar position before going to the interview.

IX-Getting To The Interview Stage, But Not Proceeding Further?

If you are getting invited to interview you can safely assume that, on paper, employers consider you capable of doing the jobs for which you have applied.

There are two areas to consider here – are you able to back up and substantiate in person the messages you have given in your applications, and are you presenting a professional, confident image at interview?

The most valuable information to obtain at this stage would be feedback from companies that have interviewed you. Try phoning them when you have received a rejection letter – often people are more willing to provide feedback over the phone than in writing. They may say no, but you will not lose anything by politely approaching them. If they are open to a discussion then ask them if they could tell you why you were rejected and what you could do to be a more impressive candidate next time.

You can also think about doing a personal review of your interview performance. Identify the questions that you were less certain about answering and plan how you could answer them better. During the interview, consider the comments you made. Ask yourself with hindsight whether you could have done better.

Obviously once you have thought about your past interviews you will want to start looking forward to gaining more interviews and making sure that your performance improves. Don’t feel too disheartened as each interview that you do will make a contribution to improving your performance and confidence at the next interview.

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