FSS Newsletter :: February2002

Career Corner :: Employer Expectations in the Job Interview

By Liza Josephson,
Executive Director
Children's Hope Foundation

I ask candidates to send me a list of references with their resumes and call references before the interview. Previous employers have years of day-to-day experience with the candidates, and can tell me a lot more about their work experience and professionalism than I can learn in an interview. This process narrows the field a great deal. It also gives me an idea of areas to explore with candidates in whom I am interested.
When I am interviewing, I really go back to the basics.

1. Being on time is critical.
If you can't manage to be on time for an interview, you will be unable to be on time for work and meetings, and that will reflect badly on the organization. On those rare occasions when there is a real reason for being late, be appropriately apologetic, and call at the earliest possible moment to let me know you will be late.

2. Be prepared.
You should have thoroughly read the job description and taken the initiative to know something about my organization.

3. Make sure to have several questions prepared for the interviewer.
It is hard to appear interested if you can't come up with a single question. Questions that refer to specific items in the company's literature will be impressive and will demonstrate you have done the homework.

4. Be warm, friendly and direct, but maintain appropriate boundaries.
Your interviewer doesn't want to hear the sagas of your personal life. If you cross those boundaries, even the most laid-back of interviewers will be left with the impression that your personal life will interfere with your work.

5. Many employers are not good interviewers.
We ask simple questions, such as, "Do you have experience in doing X, Y or Z?" Take the initiative to make it a good interview. Don't just answer "yes." Give examples of times you've had to perform that particular task and why you were successful or had an impact. If the answer is "no," tell the interviewer about a transferable skill or experience, or how you will take the initiative and responsibility for gaining that experience or skill to prepare for the job because you want it so badly.