I think you will find this guest post written by Angela Martin a very informative read. When you’re done with this article, be sure to check out an earlier post entitled I Got An Interview – Now What? to be sure you’re truly ready for anything. *Patricia
Here you go…
Whether you are fresh out of college or you’ve recently lost a 20-year job and you don’t remember the interview process, it pays to learn what to expect in the modern job interview. Here we will discuss five things to look out for as you begin sitting for interviews.
1.) Be prepared for open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are the kind that cannot be easily answered with a simple yes or no. Interviewers ask these types of questions for a reason—to find out as much about you as they can in a short amount of time and to determine if you are a good communicator. An economy blogger for the Christian Science Monitor recently put together an excellent list of 25 common job interview questions. Interviewers will ask you to tell them about yourself, what type of worker you are, why you are interested in the job, and why you would be the best fit for the position.
2.) You may be asked to demonstrate your skills on the spot. After the interviewer has finished asking the questions, don’t be surprised if you are asked to back up the skills you’ve described on your resume. Have a portfolio of your work handy and brush up on old skills if possible. For example, if you are interviewing for a position as a copy editor, you may be provided with an article containing errors and asked to identify those errors as part of your interview. If you are applying for a management position, you may be asked to role-play how you would respond to an angry customer.
3.) The person interviewing you might be the CEO. Some high-ranking executives like to step in for the HR manager from time to time during the interview process, especially for top-level positions. This is why it’s important to dress better for an interview than you actually would if you had the job. You never know who might be sitting across the desk from you.
4.) You may be interviewed by a panel. Don’t be surprised if your next interview feels more like an inquisition. It is becoming more common for team members who have a stake in the position to sit in on and participate in interviews so they can give a nod to the best candidates.
Interviewing can be daunting especially if you’re not prepared. Fortunately there are very affordable interview coaching options available to you. Don’t go it alone and don’t go to your next interview unprepared! *Patricia
5.) You may be offered a job on the spot. While this may seem like every job seeker’s dream, you do not have to accept the job right away just because it’s offered to you. You may want to go home and think over the decision, or compare the offer to other opportunities.
By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Angela Martin, who writes on the topics of Career Salaries. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angela.martin77@gmail.com.
Patricia Erickson is a seasoned career management expert and certified professional resume writer with over twelve years of executive recruiting and coaching experience. She works with career changers and job seekers to design strategies that transform careers. Patricia has been instrumental in navigating clients toward their true career aspirations as well as finding purpose and personal fulfillment.