Interview Techniques that Help You Stand Out From the Crowd

How Your Research and Experienced Recruiters Help You Interview Well
Knowledge is power. Where have you heard that before? Preparing for an important job interview is a perfect example of this truism. If you use the resources of the Internet and expert recruiters, you will be prepared and confident as you meet your interviewer.

The Internet can give you volumes of information about companies that you might be able to work for. Start with the company website. Even though the company website is essentially an advertisement for the organization, you can learn important information that can help you ace an interview. Look at the pictures, read the text, and examine their products and services. Are they impressive? Mediocre? Do the staff and management pictures indicate anything to you?

If its a public company, examine its operating results (Income Statement), Cash Flow Statement, and financial position (Balance Sheet). Is it trending up? Down? Status quo? Can you tell how the department for which you’ll interview is progressing? Is it doing well? Is it stable?

Visit a competitor’s website. How does their site and company appear to match up with your potential employer? Examine some third party comments about the company you're considering. Are they favorable? Unfavorable? Neutral?

Experienced recruiting firms like Kelly Services can also offer valuable information to help you interview well. As experienced employment professionals, they have accumulated a wealth of information about the interview process and can offer suggestions to help you stand out. Furthermore, they know their employer clients and the type of candidates they're looking for quite well. You might also learn some valuable “insider” information about the company that will make you better prepared to make a great impression at your interview. Use this valuable knowledge to separate you from your competition.

Here are some interview techniques that will help you stand out, regardless of your prospective position or the company or industry you're considering.

Some Interview Techniques That Help You Stand Out
First, understand that there are three usual components to a meaningful employment interview:

1. First impression. You will leave a good (or not so good) first impression with your interviewer and any staff you might meet in 15 seconds or less. Your interviewer will make conscious and sub-conscious judgments and decisions as soon as you meet.
   
   
2. Questions from your interviewer. The company representative wants to learn as much about you, your qualifications, and your professional behavior as possible by asking meaningful questions.
   
   
3. Questions from you. You should prepare some questions that display your expertise and knowledge about the company. By performing research and learning the kind of information your recruiter can provide, you can construct thoughtful questions to emphasize your qualifications and research.

These components are important – and can be critical – to your interviewer's decision. Interviewers must decide to invite you back for additional meetings, eliminate you from consideration, or make an offer of employment. Here are some specific tips for you:

• Be on time. Don’t take any chances of being late. Start early, have a map handy or your GPS working, and plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early. This gives you time to find your interview location, quickly meet one or more staff members, visit the restroom to “polish” yourself, and get a bit more comfortable.
  
  
• Dress appropriately. Even if you know that this company has turned casual Friday into casual Monday through Friday, dress in traditional business attire. Never deviate from this plan unless the company or your recruiter specifically tells you that a business casual look is acceptable.
  
  
• Know in advance the general and, if possible, specific job duties and responsibilities desired by this employer. This helps you to prepare your questions and provide intelligent responses to interviewer questions.
  
  
• Project confidence and self-assurance. You might not feel this way, but try to act in this manner to reassure the interviewer of your expertise.
  
  
• Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer that displays your knowledge of the job and the company. Don’t just prepare one or two, as these might be answered earlier in the meeting, which would leave you without any meaningful questions to ask. Prepare as many as you can to make sure that you’ll have at least a few good questions.

You will probably only have 45 minutes to an hour to display your qualifications, personality, and “suitability” for the job and the company. Making a great first impression can set a positive tone for the rest of the interview. Your research and preparation should give you the self-assurance to continue to stand out from your competition for the position.