Schuman - The job interview phrase book: the things to say to get the job you want

H AVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT THE POINT OF A JOB INTERVIEW IS? T HE employer has your resume. Can't she just look at it to see whether you have the necessary skills and experience? All she should need to do is make a phone call or two to verify that information, right? While it is made up of information about your past experience, your resume doesn't give the employer a full picture of who you are. Your resume is only a summary of your skills, work experience, and educational background. With only your resume to rely on, the person interviewing you won't have any idea of the specific things about you that will set you apart from the other candidates.

After all, a resume is merely a piece of paper, and you are so much more than that. An interviewer can't learn about someone's personality by looking at a resume. She can't discover how a candidate developed some of his skills or which accomplishments meant the most to him. The interviewer can't find out how the candidate reacts to change or adversity by reading his resume.

The only way an interviewer can learn any of those things about a job candidate is by talking to him and asking questions. This will allow the candidate to paint a picture of himself that is much more elaborate than what can fit on one sheet of paper.

You will be asked a variety of questions on a job interview. These questions will pertain to your skills and abilities, accomplishments, education, and work history. You will also be asked questions about your strengths and weaknesses, your interests and hobbies, and your likes and dislikes, all of which will allow the employer to learn about your personal traits or characteristics.

In the chapters that follow, you will find answers and key phrases to use when responding to questions you might encounter on a job interview. Use them as a guideline. While you should not go into a job interview with a memorized script, you should have an idea of how you will answer most questions that will come your way. Chapter 9 gives you ideas for the types of questions you should ask the interviewer. Use these questions in the same way as a guideline to be adapted to your particular situation and the company and industry you are interviewing with.

Be Specific

On a job interview, you will be asked questions about your skills, for example. Of course, you know what skills you have, but can you discuss how you acquired them? What if you're asked about your accomplishments? You've no doubt accomplished a lot at work, but can you recall specifics? You need anecdotes that clearly back up your claims, so it is imperative that you prepare in advance and have some good examples of your strengths ready when the subject comes up.

Take Time to Rehearse

In preparing for job interviews it is important that you do some practice interviewing, both alone and with others. Rehearsing for interviews will allow you to work on any problems that may be viewed as negatives by the interviewer. Rehearsing will also allow you to become more comfortable with the interview process. By the time you go on an interview, you will have no problem confidently answering questions.

The first minute or two of any interview is the most crucial. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a great first impression, and this is when you want to do just that. Your goal is to wow the interviewer and make a favorable impression that will give you an edge over some of your rivals and open the door to an offer of employment.