INTERVIEW TIPS

A very smart, articulate, successful Senior Vice President with a witty and sometimes biting sense of humour was conducting a search for Regional Manager; the SVP interviewed numerous candidates and finally narrowed the search to two dynamic and very qualified candidates.

When asked why one candidate was chosen over the other, the SVP replied, “ I passed on the candidate with the dirty shoes!” The rational being, if the candidate did not pay enough attention to notice that his/her shoes were in need of being polished, how could that person be expected to pay attention to the details required to successfully run a large organization.

Message: the details, no matter how small they may seem are very always very important.

Candidates should always be aware that potential employers take note of the following features during the interview process:

Physical Appearance:

		Personal Grooming: Being clean-shaven or having a well-groomed beard or moustache is a must.
		Professional Appearance: Conservative attire is generally the safest bet.
		Fluent Conversation: RELAX! It helps.
		Positive Disposition: Get to the interview early, make sure you are not rushed or feeling stressed, leave all negativity outside the interview.
		Minimal perfume or cologne: Many individuals have allergies, and it would be unfortunate that someone may shorten the length of the interview, because they are unable to breathe, so do use minimal perfume / cologne, or better yet, refrain from using them when you are interviewing.
		Overall Presentation: Do keep in mind that you are not just interviewing for the position at hand, you are also making a presentation for a future promotion and long-term opportunities.

Personal Attributes:

		Be personable and interesting, your foot is inside the door, now make the most of it.
		Be confident, begin with your handshake, not too limp or too aggressive.
		Show that you are self-motivated; give specific examples.
		Be energetic, if you are feeling tired, then have some coffee, have a piece of chocolate, show the interviewers that you are excited to be there.
		There is no need to play the jester, but having a sense of humour goes a long way to set the tone and lighten the tension of an interview.

Technical Knowledge:

		Be prepared to be tested on whatever technical qualifications are stated on your resume.
		Stating that you are a good leader does not show that you have good leadership abilities, be prepared to give specific examples that will verify your claim.
		Education - Post Secondary Education, AIIC, FIIC – be prepared to show proof.
		Be prepared for a written test, both a technical and personality assessment.

Overall Industry Knowledge:

Do some research, show that you are interested in your potential employer and it’s not just another job interview.