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The job interview
Interviews can be very formal and structured. Most of the questions will be formulated to uncover your past behavioral patterns and will be rather rapid in pace. On the other hand, they can be informal and conversational such that the pieces of your background will be uncovered in a more random way. Let the interviewer set the tone and match your style with theirs, in accordance with your individual personality. Although there is not one way of interviewing, there are standard steps that apply to every interview process.
First contact
Your initial contact may be with a Human Resources employee who will likely instruct you on how to proceed with your interviewers and provide you with a preview of what to expect. Alternatively, you may meet directly with an official of the department offering the job. In both cases your greeting should include a firm handshake, an enthusiastic hello, and lots of eye contact followed by an introduction of yourself.
The ice breaker
In every interview, there is a short interval before getting down to business, which is filled with small talk. Respond with enthusiastic and pleasant answers to remarks and questions.
The interview
  • Follow the interviewer’s leads, but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview process. This way, you may be able to apply your background, skills and accomplishments to the position.
  • Establish rapport with the interviewer. People want to hire those they feel most comfortable with.
  • Make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Stress achievements. For example: sales records, processes developed, savings achieved, systems installed, etc.
  • If you have any hesitations or concerns about the company or the position, hold them for your Dunhill consultant. We will qualify them for you.
  • Don’t say, "No, I haven’t." Do say: "I have done something similar and I was successful at it." OR "That sounds interesting, and I’m sure I can do an excellent job at it."
  • Respond to questions being asked as they relate to the position, or the company’s needs. If asked about your background, be specific and only talk about those aspects that relate to the particular position in question.
  • If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, do not let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem to discourage you as a way of testing your reaction.
  • Avoid discussing salary at the first interview. If pressed, respond: "I would seriously consider any reasonable offer you care to make."
  • Make sure you talk about why you are interested in this position and what you can offer the company.
Closing the interview
The closing phase is the most important part of the interview for making a lasting impression that can place you above other competitors for the same position.
  • Let the interviewer know how excited you are about the position
  • Find out what the next step is.
  • Make a statement that indicates that you can do the job, and that you would like to receive an offer. Always ask for the offer.
  • Finally, as you are preparing to leave, tell the employer how much you would enjoy working with him or her personally.
At this point, you should expect to be dismissed or taken to another interviewer. All interviews should be handled in the same fashion. You must convince all parties in the interview process that you are the right person for the job. The candidate that shows the most enthusiasm for the job, the opportunity and the company is usually the one that gets the offer.