HOW TO PERFORM SUCCESSFULLY
IN AN INTERVIEW

Content:

1. Some General Comments

2. The Application Form

3. Things to avoid at all cost

4. Things that spell "S U C C E S S"

1. SOME GENERAL COMMENTS

Pitfalls:

There are 1001 ways to destroy one's chances in an interview. Believe us; we know. Employers notice indiscretions and they will definitely count against you. Your conduct prior to, during and after the interview is part of the interviewing process. Consider yourself under a magnifying glass.

On the other hand, if you follow our advice you can sidestep the most-common errors. We guarantee it.

The purpose of the Interview:

The ONLY purpose for an interview is to receive a job offer. Not the job, mind you, because after careful consideration you may not want the job. However, if you do not receive the job offer, the decision has been made for you. In order to achieve your goal (the job offer) you must be in total selling mode.

The purpose of a Phone Interview:

Phone interviews as well have only one purpose: To get an invitation for a personal interview. To this aim you perform in the same manner as described below.

Be prepared:

Research the prospective employer. Visit the company's website. Look at news items. Understand the product line. Be prepared, and don't be afraid, to ask questions.

Attire:

Regardless of whether you are visiting a manufacturing plant, a HQ's location or an R&D Center, always dress in suit and tie. The emphasis is on being professionally and conservatively dressed and impeccably groomed.

Punctuality:

Interviews begin before you get there. Always arrive 10-15 minutes early. If you are unavoidably delayed phone ahead and explain. While you are waiting to be ushered in use reading material provided in the reception area. Look at product samples if they are displayed. Anything that shows your interest in the company.

Calls of Nature:

Follow them before you enter the interviewer's office. Many companies have rest rooms off the reception area. Better yet, stop at a restaurant, diner or gas station for a quick "station break" prior to entering the employer's building.

2. THE APPLICATION FORM

The truth is all:

Usually interviews begin in HR with the application form. Fill it outcompletely and truthfully. It is imperative that your work and academic history is what you say it is and that the information stands up to scrutiny. Employers check on EVERYTHING, including College Degrees regardless of how long ago you attended college. It only takes one phone call to the registrar to verify academic credentials and if you did misstate your credentials immediate dismissal or withdrawal of the offer is the result. There are no exceptions! It's all about credibility!

Minimum does not exist:

In the box "Salary Desired" write "To be discussed". If you enter a number you (and we) are stuck with it. It could be too high or too low and you have taken away the opportunty for your Recruiter to negotiate on your behalf. There will come a time in the process to discuss your salary requirements, but this is not the moment. The employer is asking for information, not negotiating.

3. THINGS TO AVOID AT ALL  COST

Travel & Overnight Stays:

Employers will always pay for travel and overnight expenses (air fare, hotel, meals, rental cars) incurred by candidates from out of town. A word of caution: Remain conservative with your expenditures. Don’t incur unusual expenses and don't splurge. Treat the employer's money with the same care as your own. Be frugal.

•  Fly coach. Rent an economy car. Cover extra insurance through your own car insurance. Clear overnight stays with the employer ahead of time.

•  Have meals in a moderate price range. Don’t charge for an excessive number of meals. Buy the type of meal you would if you had to pay for with your own money. If your wife is with you, pay for her meals yourself unless you have been invited to charge them to the employer.

• There must be absolutely NO bar bill, except one drink or glass of wine with dinner. If you have an after-dinner drink at the bar, room   service, mini-bar or movies, DO NOT charge them to the employer.

Do not speak ill:

No matter how disenchanted you are with your current or previous employer (s) do not make any disparaging remarks. There are no exceptions to this rule!

Don’t take the bait:

Be aware of the question “Tell me about your weaknesses”. Such a question MUST NEVER BE ANSWERED with a recitation of what you believe your “weak points” may be. We all have them, even the interviewer, but you have no business incriminating yourself and thus weakening your chances of being offered the position. Besides, you probably already have taken steps to improve areas that needed improvement. You might deal with the subject as follows:

• You should always acknowledge that we all have weaknesses, but then point out that you are good  at what you do and have always received excellent performance review.
• Talk about self-improvement and coursework you have completed to become more effective at your job and overcome weaknesses. Talking  about continuous self-improvement is not the same as “confessing” to a “weakness”.
• Talk about something that could just as easily be a strength, rather than a weakness.

The point is that you NEVER, under ANY circumstances, become a witnessagainst yourself. Prior to an interview, prepare in your mind an answer to such a question, and then stick with it.

No end-runs:

If you are working with one of our recruiting specialists, please DO NOT EVER, under any circumstances, directly contact any representative of the prospective employer without checking with us first. This holds true even if you have been invited to “call with any questions that you may have”, and no matter how well you got along with the interviewer. The simple rule is:

DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CLEARING IT WITH YOUR RECRUITER FIRST!

4. THE THINGS THAT SPELL "S U C C E S S"

The most successful way to interview:

The most successful way to perform in an interview is to ask many informed questions. Doing so displays your knowledge of and insight into problems and issues connected with getting the job at hand done. Think of yourself as a Consultant who has come to ascertain the problems and issues to be solved and ask questions that come to mind if you were in that position. Have a list ready and don't be shy. The only questions you are NOT to ask are about money and benefits. That comes later.

Leave the Odyssey to Homer:
Beware of the question: “Tell me about yourself”. Don’t become longwinded. Give a brief, concise recitation of you education and experience and get off it. Don’t get stuck in details. Don’t try to impress. If you are longer than a minute, you have been too long.

During the interview:
Display technical competency.
Display job knowledge.
Display industry and product knowledge.
Display process and GMP knowledge.
Demonstrate people skills.
Demonstrate how you either saved or made money for your employer.
Be animated during the interview, smile, react. Make a personal connection.And remember: Ask a lot of informed questions!!!

Your Demeanor:
Be animated, but let the interviewer do the chit-chat. React, but do not become anecdotal at any time. Do not become too comfortable. Never lower your level of alertness. You are selling. You are there to get that job offer!

Stay on firm ground:
Talk shop. The employer has a problem. He needs someone with a certain set of skills and experience. He wants to know what you know and whether what you know can solve his problem. So try to ascertain what the problem is (what the job requires) and then tell how you have handled and solved similar problems before. Make sure you’re having a conversation. If you do all the talking, you’ve lost the interviewer and your interview has gone sour. You just don’t know it yet.

How to get what you want:
NEVER bring up salary yourself. If the employer asks, state the income you earned (are earning) in your last (current) position and add: "Ideally, I am looking to improve my earnings". The word ideally in this context connotes some flexibility. If pressed for a specific number, then state: Ideally, I am looking for xx. Again, "ideally, will connote some flexibility. Let the employer take it from there.

Reasons for seeking new employment:

Reasons for looking for new employment should be positive. Acceptable reasons are strategic decisions such as "Looking for growth/advancement/the next step" or something specifically attractive in the new employer/industry/product line/cutting edge technology. Family relocation or life-style choices are also a acceptable reasons.

If you are seeking new employment because your last job was lost, the reason is pretty obvious, but you can improve on that by pointing out reasons for being specifically interested in the employer you are interviewing with.

It’s not baseball:
Contrary to Yogi Berra, interviews are over when they're over. Watch for clues that the interviewer wants to end the interview. Don’t linger. Get up, shake hands, express your interest in the position, the hope that you might hear from them soon… and make a graceful exit.

Keep the “thank you” brief:
A brief letter thanking each interviewer for their time and expressing interest in the position is all that’s required. In some cases emails are acceptable.

Unless you have specifically been invited to write a lengthy, detailed letter, DON’T do it. If you had a successful interview, it’s unnecessary; if your interview was unsuccessful it’s superfluous. (Four sentences expressing the following sentiments will suffice: Thank you for your time. I am very interested in the position. I believe I have the required experience and education and can be an asset. I look forward to hearing from you. Very truly yours.)

Hiatus:
This is the hardest part. Waiting for a decision. If you are working with a recruiting firm, you might be able to learn about your chances. Otherwise you are left to reading tealeaves. Just be patient and let the employer do his due diligence. Keep yourself busy with other interviews. However, if you haven’t heard after 2 weeks, you are allowed to inquire with the HR group. Hiring managers, generally, don't prefer to be called at this stage in the process. Unless you have been specifically invited to do so, don't call them.

If you are working with a recruiter make no direct contact with anyone at the prospective employer without the recruiters explicit approval and consent.

We stand ready with additional information and advice.

Please contact us at 212 685 1400 x 202