Interview Overview
Sunday, November 5th, 2006
A typical first interview will last anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. There are a few major sections that you should expect: 1) an introduction (getting to know you) section, 2) the more in-depth interview questions (usually what we call substance or direction questions), 3) your questions, and last 4) your “closing”.
THE INTRODUCTION (approx. 5 minutes)
The first few minutes of an interview are crucial. Most people form an opinion about a new acquaintance almost immediately, and then spend the rest of the interview confirming or overcoming that initial feeling. Bottom line is no one will hire you if they don’t like you. When you meet someone for the first time you must have an impact on that person. You can do this by:
1) Greeting them with a big smile and firm handshake.
2) Maintaining a poised, relaxed, and confident manner, rather than a stiff and so-called “professional” manner.
3) Maintaining good eye contact.
4) Demonstrating spontaneity throughout the interview.
One of the first questions you may be asked will be the classic ice-breaker we call “Tell Me About Yourself.” It has several purposes. First, it is a way of starting the interview in a somewhat informal way and allows both parties to begin talking in a relaxed manner. Secondly, it gives you the opportunity to share some of your successes and get the conversation started in a direction that you desire. Your answer should be a brief outline of both your experiences (i.e. skills that relate to the job) as well as some of your accomplishments (outline improvements you have made in past jobs). Your answer should not exceed 2 minutes so as to not overwhelm the interviewer. It is important to have some structure to your answer, but by no means should this become memorized or rote. It must take the form of easy conversation with the punch of a few accomplishments from your background thrown in.
THE INDEPTH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (15 to 30 minutes)
During the main part of an interview, you will get questions that usually fall into one of two categories; “substance” questions and “direction” questions.
Substance Questions: Telling someone about your accomplishments is often an uncomfortable prospect for most military officers because they equate selling themselves with bragging. The difference between bragging and selling yourself is in the facts that are presented. When someone brags there are no facts to back up the statements. It is obnoxious and full of “fluff.” Selling yourself uses specific facts and stories from your past that will validate and prove the statements you have made about your ability to make an impact on this company. You don’t have to tell someone you are good, but you do have to be able to tell them the good things you have done.Some commonly asked “substance” type questions:
1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
2. What is the best new idea or innovation you’ve come up with?
3. Describe a time when you motivated a group of people.
4. Describe something you did that no one asked you to do.
5. Describe a time when you successfully worked with a team.
6. Give me an example of a time you solved a problem.
Direction Questions: Most companies are interested what you have done as well as why you have done it. Most military people think that these are questions designed to trip you up catch you saying something damaging. The reality is that interviewers are just trying to find out what makes you tick, what you like, what you dislike, what your goals are (or have been), etc. The reason they are interested in these issues is to make sure that what you like and want to do can be satisfied by their initial and future jobs.
Some commonly asked direction type questions:
1. Why were you interested in the military?
2. What type of job are you looking for? Why?
3. What are your salary expectations?
4. What was your favorite job / aspect in the military?
5. Why are you leaving the service, and when did you make that decision?
YOUR QUESTIONS (5 to 15 minutes)
You must be prepared to ask questions of the interviewer. Companies have two reasons they want you to ask questions. First to see if you have interest in the position (i.e. if you don’t ask any questions, then they assume you don’t have any interest). Second to see if you can ask questions that are in-depth enough to indicate that you understand the position (i.e. if your can’t formulate any reasonable questions it indicates you have very little understanding of the position). Your questions should be job related and about the issues YOU will deal with…not issues the CEO will deal with. A good acid test is to ask questions you would ask your commanding officer when they assigned you a new job.
1. What do you see are the critical skills that are necessary to be effective in this position?
2. What aspects of the job are most challenging and rewarding?
3. What do you find most exciting about working at XYZ Corporation?
4. What expectations will you have of me? How will I be evaluated?
5. What do you suggest I focus on to make sure I “hit the ground running??? my first 3-6 months on the job?
6. The people that have been most successful in this type of position, what commonalities have you seen in them that has led to their strong performance?
7. Have you hired military officers for this type of position before? How have they done? What things have they done real well? What areas have they had trouble adapting to?
8. What factors have you found that are critical to the success of the organization (use this type of question to set yourself up to sell by letting them know about your experience in the areas they identify)?
9. How much will I be interacting with other organizations within the company as well as outside vendors and customers? In what ways will I be expected to support them? What skills to you see as vital in being able to excel in this capacity?
CLOSING
An interview is a sales presentation. After you have effectively sold yourself with good substance and likeable personality you must indicate to them you are interested. On the first interview it is too early to ask for the job but it is appropriate to let the interviewers know you liked what you saw and are very interested in seeing more ( i.e. have further interviews). For example, “Bob, I am impressed with the opportunity you have presented, I would like to learn more, what is the next step in your interview process?”