Chapter 7 - Smile! You’re Going on Stage (The Interview)

What You Should Do Before the Interview
Prepare, prepare, and prepare! Have you researched the employer? Are you ready to answer difficult questions? Do you know what questions you intend to ask them? Are you ready to completely fill out an application?

The most common mistakes in interviews can be contributed to lack of preparation.

If you are prepared you can avoid anxiety and be more confident. The keys to preparation are to “know what you’re selling and who you are selling it to.” Practicing answering difficult questions will enable you to express that you “know what you’re selling.” Doing research on the employer will enable you to “know who you are selling to.”

Researching the Employer

Who are you selling too? You may have gathered information while networking. That is good, but still expand on it. The Internet may be your best resource for researching the employer. You could try the library or the local Chamber of Commerce for additional information.

Sometimes there is an overwhelming amount of information. What do you need to know? The answer is anything that could be relevant. Focus on the employers place in their market, past accomplishments and future goals. Many employers ask, “What do you know about our employer?” If you had not prepared by doing research, you would be in a very awkward position. If an employer is large you should concentrate your research on the group or division that you are applying to.

Be sure to know:

· What products or services do they provide?

· Who do they do business with?

· Why are they hiring?

· Have they just launched/released a new product/service?

· Who are you interviewing with? What is their position?

· How does your background fit into the employer?


Questions You Should Be Prepared to Answer

What are you selling? Yourself. You may or may not be asked these questions, but if you practice your answers before the interview, you will be better prepared to talk about yourself. Be sure to relate your answers to the employer and position that you are interviewing for.

Always be positive.

· Tell me about yourself. Tough question? Give a 1 to 2-minute response describing how your skills, education, and goals relate to the position. Explain how you could bring value to the employer.

· Tell me your greatest strengths. Give a confident response identifying personal strengths that relate to the position and could bring value.

· Tell me about your weaknesses. Identify a weakness that could be turned into a strength or a past weakness and what you have done to improve on it.

· What motivates you? Identify things that personally motivate you to do a good job. For example, completing a project ahead of schedule or with no errors, mentoring, or learning new skills. Avoid money, time off, recognition, or any other external motivators.

· What did you enjoy most about your last job? Be positive, this is a good time to bring up your accomplishments.

· What did you like least about your last job? Avoid speaking negatively of any person.

· What are your five-year career goals? Relate your answer to how your goals impact the employer's business plans.

· What are your short-term career goals? Again, relate it to the employer’s plans.

· How do you get along with your peers? As always be very positive and professional. This is not a time to express disappointment or to share after-hours gossip.

· Why do you want to change jobs? If you are unemployed, you should explain the circumstances without being emotional. If you are employed, then you should express the positive reasons that you would like to join the employer instead of focusing on any negative feelings regarding your current employer.

· Why do you want to work for this employer? Your research pays off here. Stress the positives about the employer and how you can make an impact.

· How do you work under pressure? Be positive and give an example from your past experience.

· How do you feel about working overtime? Watch out for this question. The best answer may be to express that “your top priority is to get the job done right and you intend to manage your time wisely.” Be careful not to indicate that some overtime would be a problem.

· Would you be willing to relocate? You need to be honest. If it is not out of the question then let them know that if the opportunity were right then you would consider it. Be sure you know your timeline when considering relocation.

· Would you be willing to travel? Again, be honest. You should never flat out say no. Most people are willing to travel at least once or twice a year. If you are not willing to travel on a regular basis you should indicate that you could only travel on a limited basis and define what you mean. If you are open to being a road warrior then you should let them know.

· What would your former employer say about you? Stress positive things about your job performance, attendance, and work habits. Be sure that what you say will be consistent during a reference check.

· Why do you want to work for this employer? Here is your chance to show off the research that you have done. Include how you could make an impact.

· What do you consider to be your outstanding accomplishments? Yep. Time to brag. Think this out so you don’t ramble. Think of a couple of outstanding achievements that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for. Be sure to relate them as to how you can impact this employer.

· Have you ever been fired? You’ve got to be honest. If you have been fired it is best to admit it and explain why. Don’t become emotional your assign blame.

· What was your last salary? You need to be honest and include the entire package. Many people have lumped their entire package into one sum. For example if their base was 53K and they had 7-10K in bonuses and profit sharing, they would answer low 60’s. This is a big mistake. If the employer asks for salary history during reference checks, your answer could come across as misleading. Be sure you break the total package down in their relative components when answering.

· What salary are you looking for? Always be ready to answer this one! Your best response is that “I am looking for the right opportunity and I will consider your best offer.” That won’t always be enough though. If they push you for a dollar figure then you need to go back to your research on the position. Give them a range such as low to mid 50’s, never give exact numbers. This way you can create the gray areas that you are willing to negotiate within.

· Tell me about a time that you set a goal and did not accomplish it. Weird question, right? It is common in behavior-based interviewing. They are looking for the steps you took in order to achieve your goal and how you handled the situation when you didn’t accomplish your goal.

· Tell me about a time when you felt something could be accomplished more effectively within your employer. Again, they are looking for how you handle situations. Were you able to influence others to see your perspective and some up with ways to implement come changes, or did you sit back and watch?

Once you can answer all of these questions effectively you are almost ready to interview. Almost you say? You still need to be prepared to ask the interviewer insightful questions. Many people are excluded from consideration because they have no questions for the interviewer. Unfortunately, if you don’t have any questions, you appear to be uninterested.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

The questions you ask during the interview are just as important as the answers you give. Your questions show the employer your knowledge and understanding of their company, your thought process when making an important decision, and also allows you to set the stage to direct the conversation so that you are able to show how you would impact the employer. For example, if you ask what are the short-term goals or most pressing needs for the position, you can use the information in their answers to tell them how you would accomplish the necessary tasks.

Here are some sample questions to get you started:

· What are the most critical issues facing your department?

· What are some of the objectives that you would like to accomplish in this position?

· What are your most pressing issues?

· What would you like to see accomplished in the next two or three weeks?

· What long-term objectives do you have for this position?

· What traits do your most successful employees possess?

· How would you describe your management style?

· When do you plan to make a decision?

· What career path options have you defined for this position?

Now you need to rehearse. Practice answering and asking all of these questions.
You should think of several (5 or more) special accomplishments that you are proud of. When have you gone beyond the call of duty? Did you save the employer money? Did you increase sales? Did you save time? Were you recognized for special achievements? Be sure you are able to bring these special accomplishments up smoothly during the conversation. The employer probably won’t ask you to list your major accomplishments; it is your responsibility to make them known. Being comfortable discussing your past successes is very important in your interviews.

Practice, practice, and practice! Prepare, prepare, and prepare!


Applications

Have you ever thought it was a waste of time to fill out an application? Well get that out of your mind. Your application does not get you a job but it can prevent you from getting one. Correctly completing an application is vital for your chances to get to the next step of the interview process.

Employers use your application for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, applications are used to build a record and file for you. They are also used to gain permission to check items in your background such as job history, credit history, driving background, legal convictions, and references. Frequently an application is used to quickly screen out candidates, it can be considered a test. Did you fill it out completely and correctly? Some employers even use applications to verify consistency within your resume.

When you go to a face-to-face interview, you should assume that you will be required to fill out an application. Therefore, you should have all necessary information quickly available for you to reference. If you put together a Self-Reference Guidebook (you will find instructions to Self-References Guidebooks next) you will be thoroughly prepared to fill out any application without mistakes.

When you are given an application to fill out, make sure you fill it out completely. Your resume never replaces an application! Completing your application is your first opportunity to show that you follow directions. So do so with diligence.

Tips for completing an application correctly:

· Read the application completely before starting to fill it out.

· Always bring a pen.

· Bring a Self-Reference Guidebook with all-important information.

· Be completely honest.

· Print your answers neatly.

· Spell everything correctly.

· Do not leave any blank spaces, if a question does not apply simply put N/A.

· Your job history should begin with your most recent position and then work backwards.

· Include exact addresses, phone numbers, and former supervisor’s contact information in your job history.

· Be concise with your answers.

· Additional information (like hobbies or organizations) should only include relevant and recent information.

· Avoid including anything that could be controversial, like religion or politics.

· When asked your desired salary, it is acceptable to print “negotiable.”

· Reference information should be complete with mailing addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.

· Proof read your completed application; verify that there are no mistakes.

· Sign and date the application before turning it in.

· Never fold or tear your application.


General Interviewing Tips

Smile, you’re on stage! Sound tough? Once you understand the keys to a successful interview, you can relax a little. There is only so much preparation you can do; hopefully, you have done it by now. If you know the proper etiquette and have rehearsed the questions you might be asked and that you intend to ask, you will be ahead of the game.

Check List:

· Dress better than you are required to.
· Bring your Self-Reference Guidebook and pen.
· Bring extra copies (2-5) of your resume, references, and letters of recommendation.
· Bring a notepad to takes notes.

Etiquette During the Interview
Common sense? Maybe, but frequently candidates make crucial mistakes that often cost them job offers.

Always:
· Show up 5 – 10 minutes early (only)
· Be friendly and respectful to everyone
· If given an application, fill it out thoroughly
· Be patient if you need to wait
· Offer a firm handshake
· Greet the interviewer with the name they introduce themselves with
· Maintain strong eye contact and a smile
· Use proper grammar
· Listen carefully
· Answer questions honestly and thoroughly, back up your answers with success stories
· Be interactive and engage in conversations
· Be enthusiastic and positive
· Sit up straight
· Ask for a business card
· Thank the interviewer
· Send thank you notes to everyone you met


Never:
· Wear excessive flashy jewelry
· Wear heavy cologne or perfume
· Wear heavy make-up
· Wear revealing or tight fitting clothing
· Bring a cell phone or pager into the interview
· Chew gum
· Smoke or drink alcohol
· Use negative body language like crossing your arms
· Slouch
· Use limiting terms such as “only”, “a little” or “just”
· Exaggerate your experience
· Look at your watch
· Appear bored
· Discuss controversial type topics such as, religion or politics
· Interrogate the interviewer
· Use curse words
· Talk negatively about you former employers



Presenting Your Skills and Achievements
It cannot be said too much, back everything up with a story. When you are presenting your skills, be sure you give details; how long you have had such skills, and how have you used them. When you are referring to skills that you do not have extensive experience with, NEVER use limiting terms such as “only”, “little” and “just.” You are prejudging whether or not your skills are strong enough and not allowing the employer to make that judgment. Instead simply state what you have done.

Of course, NEVER exaggerate your experience, but don’t underestimate it either. Simply state the facts.

If you do not have experience or a particular skill that an employer inquires about, either state what you know about it or how you would go about learning it. If you have never heard of the skill, ask the employer to give you more details, maybe you have heard of it, but by a different name. The important thing is to show the employer that you are able and willing to learn new skills.

Your personal qualities are just as important, if not more important, than your experience and skills. Everyone says, “I’m a fast learner,” “I’m great with people,” “I’m a team player,” or “I’m a great leader.” These are all noble qualities that you may posses. However, to stand out among all the others that posses these qualities, you need to prove them to the employer. You do this by backing your claims up with stories and examples.

Asking for the job is probably the most important thing you can do in the interview. Employers want to hire people who are excited and motivated.

There was a candidate who ended the interview without asking for the job as she was advised. She had other interviews lined up and wanted to evaluate all her options before asking for any offer. After she completed her interviews, she contacted the first employer to express interest. The HR representative apologized to her and explained that the position had been filled. The HR representative further explained that although the managers felt that she was the most qualified, the person who received the offer was more enthusiastic.

Remember, even if your leave the interview with questions or concerns, still ask for the job. You can get your questions answered after the interview, but you want to have a decision to make (should I accept the offer?) versus having the decision made for you (no offer).

Finally, ending the interview with “Thank you for your time and I am interested in this opportunity” is not the same as asking for the job. This is just a polite way to end the interview. Consider the times when the employer ended the interview by saying “you will be hearing from us” and you heard from them through a “thanks, but no thanks” letter. You need to show enthusiasm. Find a way that is comfortable for you to express your excitement about joining the employer and making an immediate impact.

Types of Interviews

What are you walking into? Are you concerned that you might be interrogated? If they take you to lunch, what should you order? Will you need to take a test?

Don’t panic! There are many types of interviews, our general interview tips will apply to all. However, you should be prepared for a variety of interview styles and techniques. By understanding the different types of interviews and the goals of each you won’t be caught off guard.

Below are some common interviewing styles:

Traditional interviews are generally straightforward. The questions are geared to cover your experience, your goals, and how you handle various situations. Many employers use traditional interview styles because they can prepare standard questions and predetermine answers that they consider acceptable.

Behavior based interviews are becoming more common. The theory of behavior based interviews is that your past behavior will/can predict your future behavior. With this style you are presented with scenarios or situations and asked to describe similar situations from your past and how you handled them. You may be asked to describe a goal that you had set and what steps you took to achieve it. You could be asked about a time that you failed to meet a deadline or goal. This style of interviewing is used to determine how you think, what you have learned from past experiences, as well as how you communicate.

Stress interviews are a style that some employers choose if they feel the position requires a person that is not easily unnerved. In a stress interview the interviewer deliberately attempts to rattle you. The interviewer may come across argumentative. They may challenge all of your responses. Typically they will purposely pause in between questions in order to cause long periods of silence. Relax and don’t take these techniques as a personal strike on you. The goal is to evaluate how you handle uncomfortable situations. When you answer questions, do it with confidence and back up your answers with examples. Do not try to fill in periods of silence. Remain calm and confident.

Unstructured Interviews are typically used when an employer is creating a position. They do not have any predetermined questions. You may be asked, “Tell me about yourself” or “What can you do for us?” This technique gives you a tremendous ability to present and sell yourself. You need to be prepared to convey the points you want to make. You should always attempt to build rapport. When an interviewer conducts an unstructured interview it is imperative that you engage them in conversation. By engaging them in conversations you may be able to determine what type of information they are looking for.

Below are some common interviewing techniques:

Most employers will use a combination of 2 or more of the following interview techniques.

Screening Interview are practiced by most employers. It can be conducted by phone or in person either by a recruiter, HR person, or an employer representative. The goal of this interview is to ensure that you possess the essential criteria for the position.

A screening interview is typically your first verbal contact with the employer. It is imperative to make a good impression. If you don’t do well in the screening interview you will not receive a second interview.

Since these interviews frequently occur without notice you need to keep your marketing efforts organized. If you do receive an unexpected call and need a moment to prepare, don’t hesitate to ask if you can call the person back in 5 to 10 minutes. You have just bought yourself a few minutes to review and prepare. During that time, read over your notes on the employer or look at their web site. Go to a quiet place, put on your game face and call them back.

Remember that it does not make any difference what the interviewer does for the employer; they have an imperative decision-making authority. You should be enthusiastic, sell yourself and screen yourself into the opportunity. You need to close the interview by asking for the next step or the face to face.

One-on-One Interviews are practiced by many employers at some point during the interview process. Any person in the interview process could conduct this type of interview. One-on-one interviews tend to be very traditional. The goal is to ask questions that engage you in conversations to see if your skill sets and personality will fit into the employer.

Typically you will be asked a series of predetermined open-ended questions that give you an opportunity to express yourself.

Your goal should be to present yourself in a positive manner, build rapport, and show how you will benefit the employer. You should always answer their questions to the best of your ability and back-up your answers with examples. Be careful that you do not ramble on and on.

Sometimes one-on-one interviews become very comfortable. You should be relaxed but always maintain professionalism. We have seen candidates feel so comfortable that they have slipped their shoes off in the interview – bad idea! Your interviewer might even put their feet on their desk. That is NOT an invitation for you to do so. Be careful not to mimic the interviewer (they already work there). Remember to maintain eye contact with the interviewer.

Usually you will be given an opportunity to ask questions. Your questions should engage the interviewer in the conversation. You should be careful not to interrogate the interviewer. Always point out examples that show the interviewer that you are the right person for the job. Inquire about the next step in the process. Remember to let each person know that you are confident in your abilities to perform this job and you feel that the employer offers the challenge you are looking for. Don’t forget to ask for the job.

Sequential interviews are designed for several employees to have a chance to participate in the interview. This type of interview is used if the position requires teamwork or cross-departmental efforts. You may interview with peer level employees from various departments as well as supervisors from various departments. You could meet with one person at a time or several at the same time. The goal of this technique is to allow the team to have input on who their teammates will be. It is an effective technique of interviewing for most employers because it empowers employees to make decisions. It also creates an environment where employees are committed to new hires.

A strong indicator that the interview will use a sequential interviewing technique is if you were told the interview might last more than 2 hours in one day. However, some employers do practice sequential interviews over multiple office visits.

When an employer practices sequential interviews, each interview is usually structured to discover different things about you. For example: The first interview may be designed to give you information about the employer and to ask you general information about your background. The second to evaluate your background and position related skills. Third could be to test your aptitude and evaluate your attitude. Fourth may be to inquire how you feel your background fits into the employer. And the final would be for questions and answers.

It is important to build rapport with the people you talk to. From the moment you walk in the door. An employer that practices sequential interviews empowers their employees, meaning that every person’s opinion is considered. If you need to wait for your interview to begin, make sure you are friendly to the receptionist, they may be asked or volunteer input.

You may notice different interview styles from each person that you interview with. Some may practice traditional interview techniques with predetermined questions while others may ask behavior based interview type questions.

As a rule, you need to always answer all questions thoroughly, honestly, and to the best of your ability. This rule is even more golden in sequential interviews because after the interviewers are finished they compare notes. If you were not consistent with your answers, you could be eliminated.

You should never ask any benefits or salary-related questions. Most of the people involved in sequential interviews do not have anything to do with benefits or your salary. You may be interviewing with peer level employees; your salary requirements may be different than their income. These questions are more appropriate when you are at the offer stage or if the employer brings them up first.

Sequential interviews can seem intimidating but actually they are beneficial to you. When you have several interviews back to back, with each one you should build confidence.
Even though the interviewers are targeting different information about you, you can learn valuable information from them. If you ask probing questions and listen to their answers, you will become more educated and prepared for the next interview. In a sequential interview you may meet with any number of people. You should always end a sequential interview by expressing what you can offer to the team. At the very least you need to make sure every one of them positively knows that you want to work with them and be a part of their team. Frequently people are eliminated because just one person in the process did not feel that they were excited or interested in the position.

Group interviews are most often practiced only after a candidate has been thoroughly pre-screened. A group interview is usually conducted by all of the individuals involved in the hiring decision. It could be a combination of peers, supervisors, and executives. The goal of a group interview is for each candidate to be asked similar questions as a means to be equally evaluated and for all of the interviewers to be able to consider all of the information received when making their decisions.

Group interviews may seem like an interrogation. You may feel like you have a light bulb over your head and the interrogation squad is firing questions at you. That feeling is common, but relax. You need to realize that if the employer has chosen to bring you in for a group interview they already have an interest in you. They would not dedicate the valuable time of several employees to an interview if there were not interested. Eye contact is important in a group interview. You should be conscious about talking to everyone when you answer questions, but your primary contact should be to the person that asked you the question.

You should always research an employer before interviewing, but it is even more vital in order to be prepared for a group interview. You may be asked, “Why would you be a good fit for our employer?” or “How could you make an immediate impact in our employer?” Those types of questions are common in all interviews but they can cause you to freeze (if you are not prepared) in a group setting.

If you are ever caught off guard in a group interview it is important for you to relax and regain composure and control. You should always answer questions to the best of your ability. If you do not understand a question do not hesitate to ask for clarification. If you do not know an answer, it is better to acknowledge that you do not know rather than to make up a wrong answer. Many people are eliminated from consideration for positions because they tried to fake knowledge by answering questions wrong and appearing confident in their wrong answers.

In a group interview when you are asked if you have any questions, it is acceptable to ask questions to the entire group or to individuals. If you have specific questions related to the position, you should address the person or people directly related to the job. If you have questions about the employer, you should address the entire group. As a rule you should never ask any benefits or salary related questions. Most of the people involved in a group interview do not have anything to do with benefits or your salary. You may be interviewing with peer level employees; your salary requirements may be different than their income.
Don’t forget to ask for the job! Conclude the interview by expressing your excitement about the employer and the opportunity. Let them know that you are positive that you could make an immediate impact and you feel that it would be a great career decision for you. Then specifically ask for an opportunity to join their employer.

Lunch interviews may be conducted for a variety of reasons. The employer may be conducting a confidential search. They may want to evaluate you in social settings. They could simply be pressed for time. In any case, lunch interviews are very common. They can be conducted by one person or by a group. Lunch interviews tend to be unstructured and informal.

Even though you are in a restaurant/public atmosphere you need to follow the same interview guidelines that you would in an office setting.

Once seated you should quickly decide on what you are ordering (if you ponder over the menu you could appear indecisive). Some interviewers will ask you to order first. You should order food that is easy to consume. Avoid specialty salads, sometimes they can be difficult to eat. You should not order something that may be messy, like ribs or spaghetti. Never order alcohol, even if the interviewers do. Do not smoke, even if the interviewers do. Even if you are not hungry, you should order something that you can eat. If you do not order/eat food you are putting the interviewers in an awkward position.

Although a lunch interview tends to be informal, you must remain professional. It is very easy to feel too comfortable. You must be aware of your body language, your table manners, etiquette, and your conversation topics. It is easy to forget that you are being carefully evaluated. Give yourself a quick review of table etiquette before going to a lunch interview.

It is common for a lunch interview to switch back and forth from friendly conversation to business topics. You want to build rapport and find common ground with the interviewers but you do not need to share too much personal information. In a meal setting the conversation will become personal, often without even noticing. If this happens you should share information that you feel comfortable with as long as it is positive. You should not discuss any personal problems or conflicts. If the interviewers are guiding the conversation to social or personal topics, you should attempt to guide it back to business. If it is not possible to turn it back to business then you should steer the conversation towards non-controversial type topics, like a recent sporting events, hobbies (especially if related to the job), industry events, books, movies, or music. You should avoid topics like religion, politics, dating, bars or clubs, past employment gossip, and jokes.

The interviewer usually pays for the entire meal, but as a polite gesture you should offer to pay for yourself. The most appropriate way to do so is, when the check arrives, simply ask if you can pay for your portion. When they say that won’t be necessary you should accept graciously and thank them for your meal.

While you are still sitting at the table make sure that you close the interview appropriately. Find out what the next step is; express your enthusiasm about the employer, position, and opportunity to work with them. Then ask for the job! You have just spent time with them in an informal setting you should feel comfortable enough to say something such as “I would like to join your team and work for you.

Phone interviews other than pre-screening are typically done if you are an out-of-town candidate or if the interviewer is out-of-town, travels, or just has a difficult schedule. A phone interview is difficult for both the interviewer and the person being interviewed. Typically a phone interview turns into a pre-screening type interview even if that is not the intended purpose. The interviewer usually has prepared standard questions and predetermined answers that they consider acceptable.

In order to prepare for a phone interview you should review the information about the employer. You should write down all questions that you have about the employer. You should also review common interview questions and document your responses. Practice your answers but do not have the written responses in front of you during the phone interview. You could have reminders about your answers in front of you but if you have the full written responses in front of you, you might end up reading them instead of answering the questions naturally.

Prior to your interview you should clear any distractions. Make sure that you have a quiet place to conduct your interview. Make sure that there are no distractions around, including children, spouses, roommates, or even pets. If you can block your phone from receiving any other calls you should do so.

Be prepared to receive the call up to 30 minutes prior or after the scheduled time.

This may seem like unusual advice but you should stand up while being interviewed on the phone. Your voice naturally comes across as more confident when you are standing. Also, if possible, stand in front of a mirror. This will help keep you from relaxing too much while you are on the phone. It is also your reminder that you are interviewing.

You should always be enthusiastic and sell your qualifications. In most circumstances, your goal should be to schedule a face-to-face interview.

Test taking interviews are practiced by many employers. Applicants may take a variety of tests. Tests are geared to measure many things: your skill sets, aptitude, ethics, personality, and even your ability to work in a team. Some employers that utilize tests avoid the word “test” – they may describe a test as an evaluation. They may even tell you that it is used only to measure your compatibility with different department managers. Employers avoid using the word test because unless a test is certified (legally certified to not discriminate) it may not be used as a screening tool. As a person being interviewed you should realize that most employers do use testing as a screening tool – otherwise, why would they bother?

Tests can be administered in many different ways. You may be asked to use specific equipment to test your skills and speed. (Such as a ten key or keyboard). You could be given a written or oral test. The most common testing method is by computer.

The key to taking a test during an interview is to relax. Many people freeze up and become flustered even when thinking about taking a test. If you relax you will be more productive. Either you know the information or you do not. If you calmly follow directions and take the test you are more likely to succeed than if you panic. Most test results take into consideration that you were in an interviewing situation. Remember that the other candidates being considered are also taking the same test.

Always read and clarify the directions on the test. Sometimes it is better to leave an answer blank if you are not sure; other times it is better to guess. If the test is verbal be sure to explain your answers thoroughly. If it is verbal and you do not know an answer but you know the resource in which you would find the answer be sure to explain that although you are not positive of the answer you know how to find the answer.

Note:
If you feel like you have been discriminated against based on specific test questions you should contact the EEOC for information and advice.

On the spot or impromptu interviews are common when you are networking. These interviews by their nature are never planned. When you encounter an impromptu interview you have the ability to set the stage.

Typically you have initiated a conversation with someone about his or her employer or industry and then discovered they have an interest. You should immediately find out what they are looking for in a candidate. If you listen to them, you can cater your desires or responses to reflect their common desires. In an impromptu interview you should be careful not to overly express your ideas. The interviewer may have a fantastic opportunity that would be great for you. If you give too much information about what you are looking for before listening to what they have to say, you could screen yourself out of a terrific opportunity. Be enthusiastic. Push for a formal interview. Don’t forget to get all of their contact information. Follow up in a timely manor.