The Everything Job Interview Book
Second Edition
Dear Reader,
Congratulations! Whether youre just out of school, diploma in hand and thrilled at the prospect of finally starting your career, or youre a seasoned professional thinking of changing jobs or going back to work after a hiatus, picking up this book is the first important step toward a job. All the schooling, fine references, and awards you may have garnered will come to naught if you cant master the interview. You need an expert guide to lead you along the path to a job offer, from the preparation to the initial handshake to the tough questions to the goodbye and the follow-up. But take heart. Everything you need to know to get you to the place you want to be is right here.
As you read this book, remember that practice will greatly improve your interviewing skills. Rehearse by yourself or with a friend. Anticipating an interviewers questions and preparing yourself for a strong response takes you one step closer to getting the job offer.
Nowturn the page and begin.
Joy Darlington
Nancy Schuman
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THE
JOB INTERVIEW
BOOK
2nd Edition
All you need to make a great first impression
and land the perfect job
Joy Darlington and
Nancy Schuman, Certified Staffing Professional
Copyright 2008, 2001 by F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
An Everything Series Book.
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Published by Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-59869-636-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-636-3
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C B A
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Id like to thank Lisa Laing, my very wise and patient editor. Id also like to thank Bob Diforio, my agent, for recommending me for this project. Cheers!
JD
Top Ten Tips for a Winning Interview
Grab attention with a winning cover letter that will land you an interview.
Be prepared with your script and a resume by the phone for what may be the first round of your screening process.
Never go into an interview without researching the company, its competitors, and, if you can, the person who will be interviewing you.
Schedule your interview in the morning when your interviewer will be at his freshest (and you will, too!).
Present your most conservative, well-groomed, and attractive self to your interviewer and prospective employer.
Separate yourself from the job-seeking crowd with your knowledge of the company, its competitors, andyour smile.
Do your homework and be prepared for the tough questions and any traps or pitfalls the interviewer may spring on you.
Know the tough questions to ask to get the answers you need to see whether this job is the right one for you.
Let the interviewernot youbring up the question of salary. Save the discussion of benefits for after an offer has been extended.
. Even if you feel youre not right for this particular job, be gracious. You will make a positive impression on your interviewer, and you never knowit might lead to a more promising job.
Introduction
FOR ALL THE CONCENTRATION AND WORK that your resume, your cover letter, and every other aspect of the job game deserves, there is no disputing the fact that the job interview is the most important step in winning a job. Sure, a great resume will get you noticed, but it is your performance during an interview that will get you the job.
You can never be too prepared for a job interview. From researching the company to rehearsing your answers, the job interview is one case where practice definitely makes perfect. Whether youre out there looking for your very first job or are a seasoned professional, job interviews can be a nerve-wracking experienceand for good reason. It is during the interview that many otherwise qualified people lose their chance at employment.
It is important to know the rules of the job interview: what to wear, what to say, and what to do when its over. The goal of The EverythingJob Interview Book, 2nd Edition