HR Corner: Interviewing

-- Rebecca Haven

After learning how to create a résumé that gets them a phone call, many job seekers are unprepared for what comes next: the interview.

Many companies now start with a short phone interview just to make sure you have the skills they are looking for and to find out if you are personable enough to meet.

Don't blow these calls off. Even a short phone call can make a lasting impression and could prompt the Human Resource representative to call you back and inform you they have hired someone else.

Make sure that you are not short on the phone and you are in a place that you can hear and they can hear you. Talking with a potential employer while you are in the car with the windows down is not the greatest idea; if this is the case, ask the HR rep if you can call them back in a few minutes, pull over to a quiet parking lot and call them back, or better yet, wait until you get home.

Also make sure you call them back in a timely manner or it may seem as if you are uninterested. They are lining up interviews—you want to make sure you get a spot.

The last important thing to remember is that this is your first contact, make sure you sound friendly, and as silly as it sounds, smile. People can sense the tone in your voice even if they cannot see you.

If you made it through the phone call and are lucky enough to get some time with the interviewer, the following are some important rules of thumb:

Be on time: In fact, be early. It makes a very negative impression on the interviewer if you are late. Sometimes you can't help it if you are lost, but make sure to call and let your interviewer know that. Better yet: Leave enough travel time to get lost and still get there on time, especially if you are going to an unfamiliar area.

HR reps look at how you behave at the interview as how you will behave when you are an employee, only they are aware people are usually on their best behavior at an interview. So what does being late say? That you will be late every day you work for them.

The other part of the problem is, especially with large companies, you may not be able to complete your interview if you are late. Many companies block out a half-hour to an hour per candidate. If you arrive at 2:15 and their next scheduled interview is at 2:30, they may just ask you to leave.

Dress appropriately: If need be, ask the HR rep you talk with on the phone what the dress code is. If you don't know, always dress up and dress professionally. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed. You want to look like you are trying to make a good impression, not that you just rolled out of bed or are ready to go to the club.

Ask questions: HR reps realize that interviewing is a two way street. Not only are they trying to decide if you are right for the job and the company, but they know you need to decide if their company is right for you.

Ask about what would be expected of you in the position. Ask if there are any other duties you might be responsible for, and if there is potential to move up in the company.

Ask about the benefits and the pay. Wait a minute, you may be saying, "ask about the pay?" Absolutely. The rules are different in today’s workplace and companies realize that people can’t work for free. If the pay range they are offering doesn’t work for you, it allows you to stop the process and continue your job search. It also allows the company to rule out a candidate that may not want the job if it is offered to them.

Act confident and smile: Make sure your resume is easy to read. Don't use odd fonts. Don't use ten-point font. Don't use all of your margins. Make sure that when your resume is printed it is easy to read. Include lists that are bulleted. Make the information easy to follow. Use headers and differentiate!

You're there to sell the product you know the most about: you. Even the most qualified candidate will be overlooked if they are slumped over, answer with one word answers and don't smile. Companies want people that are charismatic and will enrich their workplaces. Show them the well rounded, friendly person that you are and nine times out of 10, you’ll get an offer.

Next month’s edition of HR Corner: starting a new job.

Rebecca Haven is a working Human Resources professional, and dedicated Metropolitan State University student.