Interview questions, is that it? What esle be ready for.

When you attend an interview your main goal is to impress your potential employer with appropriate answers and questions and preliminary preparation.

Preparing for a job interview comprises the following questions:

1. Collect information about the company which invited you;
2. Question your schedule and decide what to wear;
3. Choose appropriate communication style and questions for the interview;
4. Compile a list of questions which you can be asked;
5. Compile a list of questions which you should ask;
6. Decide what to do after the interview.


Collecting information about the company

Here is a list of questions about the company you are advised to find answers to:

* Which products or services does the company provide?
* Where does it sell its products, what is its target audience?
* How long does it exists?
* Is the company state or private?
* Does it provide season products?
* Is the position you‘re applying to temporary or stable?
* How often are top-managers changed?
* Is it developing any new projects currently?


You can find necessary answers on those questions at prospects and leaflets of the company, articles, broadcasts and telecasts, information in the office of the company, its official site, employees of the company.


Some important points to be considered when getting new job

Work out appropriate time-schedule, decide what means of transport you will use, consider the possibility of traffic jams. It’s better arrive to work a few minutes earlier than be late, besides, you can use this spare time to get accustomed to new job environment.

Question yourself, what clothes you going to wear and prepare them overnight. When choosing what to put on for the interview, you should depend on what is the place and the position you’re looking for, the closer your profession is to creative job, the less strict the rules are.


Style of communication and questions during job interview

If no one meets you at the entrance, knock on the door before entering, then introduce yourself, spell your name if necessary, be polite and smile. When your interviewer introduces himself/herself, try to remember the name, don’t be afraid to ask to repeat it if you are not sure that you heard it right, question the name if it wasn't given to you it’s better than to call the person with a wrong name.

Remember that politics, sex, racial problems and religion as well as your personal problems (family, debts) are not the best questions for discussion during job interview. Avoid also criticizing your former boss and colleagues.

When talking with interviewer don’t interrupt him or her with questions, it’s he/she who is expected to lead the discussion, so it is not the best decision to show your overwhelming knowledge, acting this way you risk to seem bore and arrogant.

There are answers which are repeated by every second applicant, for instance, if you apply to a sales manager position, you are sure to be asked questions about your feelings dealing with customers, in this case don’t apply to commonplaces like “I adore working with people”, you’d better describe how exactly you handle customers.

Be ready to answer personal questions about your marital status, children, hobbies, plans for the future, etc. If you are not willing to tell about something don’t be afraid to make a polite question how it is related to the position you are applying to.

The interviewer may ask you questions about salary and benefits you are expecting to get, in this case you are strongly recommended to give a real amount that corresponds to average on the market segment of your profession. In fact you can make such an assessment in advance, collecting some statistics on salaries in your field, so not to seem too modest or v.v. too insolent.

In case you are asked to fill in any forms, it’s advisable to take them home if possible, so to have an opportunity to make a draft version. Keep in mind that everything counts – good spelling, handwriting style, erasures and corrections. And don’t forget to give them back as soon as possible.

After the interview the employer is most likely to say that you’ll be contacted to inform you on the decision made, ask him/her a question when you can expect to get the decision. In case you were good enough and they invite you to take the position, you may ask for a couple of days to think over it.

And certainly you shouldn’t forget to thank the interviewer for the meeting.


Questions which you should ask

The following questions are appropriate:

* About the company’s history and activities;
* About a place of the position you’re applying to in the structure of the company;
* Which responsibilities it involves;
* What the ideal applicant should be like;
* Why a person who held the job before left;
* About working hours, company’s style,
* Rewards: salary and benefits.


What to do after the interview

Write down all necessary information and questions, which you get during the interview.

A couple of days later it’s advisable to send a short letter to the company, where you had the interview to thank them for the time spent with you, it’s also answers your question how to remind interviewer that you awaiting result of the interview.