Suzy Welch: 3 things you should always do in a job interview (and 1 mistake to avoid at all costs).

Regardless of how qualified you are for a job, saying or doing the wrong thing in an interview can easily hurt your chances.

Bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch says that to test you, employers "will try to get beyond the standard Q&A by using all sorts of 'techniques,'" in order to see if you're the perfect candidate.
Welch tells CNBC Make It that there are three things you should make sure to do before, during and after an interview — as well as one mistake you should make absolutely sure to avoid:

1. Dress appropriately for the environment:

While a suit and tie or high heels and a skirt may no longer be the traditional interview uniform, Welch says that doesn't mean you can totally relax your attire.
She suggests asking someone you know about the dress code at the company or doing a simple Google search to find images of current employees. Then, she says, you should pick out an appropriate outfit for the occasion that's comfortable, but not too flashy.

"At the end of the day, and interview, you want people talking about your ideas after you leave, not your outfit," says Welch. "Keep that front of mind, and you'll look just fine."

2. Be direct: Say you want the job

After you've discussed your background and accomplishments, Welch says you should end the meeting by telling the employer one thing: "I really want this job."
Doing this, she says, won't make you sound desperate. It will show hiring managers your sincerity, courage and humility.
"The person hearing it knows it's difficult to say," explains Welch. "They know it takes moxie, and they'll remember that."
She says that in the end, you must remember that your goal in an interview is to "make your case" and "give it your all."

3. Follow up promptly

Performing well during the interview is only half the battle. According to Welch, it's what you do after an interview that can "make or break your chances of getting an offer."
In addition to writing a personalized thank-you note that expands on at least one point of discussion from the interview, Welch says you should edit your social media accounts and connect with your interviewer on LinkedIn.
"After your interview, post intelligent tweets about your industry or the economy," she advises, "and please, avoid stupid Instagram pics."
She also warns that when sending a LinkedIn request you don't want to "just click a button." Instead, she says, "say something about how much you enjoyed meeting and discussing x, y or z." 

And one mistake to make sure you avoid

According to Welch, acting too casual or relaxed during a job interview is one of the biggest blunders you can make.
She recalls the time when she made this error as a recent Harvard University graduate who was interviewing for a reporting job with the Kansas City Times.
While riding to lunch with a group of editors from the paper she says she remembers asking, "So, what kinda food we getting?" as if they were old friends. She recalls meeting with the editor-in-chief later that day and asking him where he lived, as if she was scouting local real estate.
The next morning, she says, she got a call letting her know that she didn't get the job because she didn't "fit in." "The editor didn't have to explain himself," she says. "I was dumb, but not so dumb that I didn't know I had overstepped."
"Even if you think you're perfect for the job," she warns, you need to always remember, "they are the buyer, you are the seller."
"Do not," Welch says, "let down your guard."

The Code Words You’ll Hear During a Job Interview, and What They Really Mean.



Ever feel like a fish out of water? Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a situation where you were in so over your head that you barely had any idea what was going on. This feeling can occur at the most inopportune times, and a job interview is one example. You might lock up, allowing anxiety to take over. Suddenly, you don’t even know what the interviewer is asking. It’s like they’re speaking in another language. It’s all hieroglyphics — code words. Anxiety is one thing. But what about the feeling that there’s too much jargon floating around the room? It might not be you. There are a number of specially crafted words that are used to probe you. It’s like a sort of HR code used to throw interviewees out of their comfort zone. And those words typically work. The good news is you’ve probably heard most of them before and have at least an idea of what an interviewer is getting at when they use them. Here is a sampling of those code words and what an interviewer actually means when they pepper the conversation with them.

Overqualified: Depending on where you are in your career trajectory, the term “overqualified” might enter the discussion. It’s a tricky term, too. If you’re overqualified for a job, aren’t you, by definition, also qualified for it? The real issue is an employer might not want to meet your salary expectations given your experience and skills. Or they feel you’ll get bored with the job and gun for a higher-up position or leave after a short period of time. 

Reapply: At some point, you’ll have a job interview you feel went well. But you don’t end up getting the job. An employer or recruiter might tell you to reapply. That’s a confusing proposition, given that you’ve already applied and been interviewed. But in some cases, if there are multiple positions available, HR needs to put every candidate through the ringer for each position — even if they’re already been considered. So it might be basic protocol. It also might simply mean you’re a good candidate, but they found someone better. Of course, they could also be blowing you off. It can be hard to tell. If they do tell you to reapply, though, go ahead and do it if you’re still interested in the position. You might already have an advantage over other applicants. 

Weakness: It’s everyone’s favorite interview question: “What’s your biggest weakness?” The basic strategy here is to spin your weaknesses into a strength. Show your capacity for improvement. From an employer’s perspective, the term “weakness” is really a method of probing your background. They want to know whether there’s something they’re missing. Also, they want to see how you answer the question. Do you have a boilerplate response? Or can you be honest and creative? 

Strength: This is the inverse to the “greatest weakness” question. It is, fortunately, easier to talk about the things you’re good at than the things you’re bad at. But it’s still tricky. You don’t want to come off as cocky or arrogant. And you definitely don’t want your strongest attribute to come off as underwhelming. What they do want to hear is how you and your greatest asset are going to be able to help their organization and fill existing needs. Use that as a starting point, and explain how your particular talents and experience can be utilized in an advantageous way. 

Company culture: You might hear the word “culture” thrown around. It’s purposefully vague, and no one can really understand an organization’s culture unless they’ve operated within it. When you hear it in an interview, then, it can be tough to understand what an interviewer is getting at. If the topic does come up, they’re likely trying to gauge your personality. Will you clash or mesh with existing employees? Are you going to play the role of usurper or stay in your lane? If the topic of company culture does come up, you can use it as a springboard to ask plenty of questions of your own. You’ll want to, especially if you expect to start spending 40-plus hours per week working for them.

Fit: In conjunction with discussions about company culture, you might pick up on the use of the word “fit.” In this case, “fit” means exactly what you might suspect. They’re wondering whether you’re a cultural fit for the organization. There are a lot of variables at play, but whether you fit the role is pretty darn important, and it’s something you should give real consideration. If you’re not a good fit, you’re probably in for a miserable experience. For that reason, don’t brush off discussions of “fit” — take them to heart.

Prioritize: Something that is likely to come up during an overview of your experience is your ability to prioritize. This is somewhat straightforward. They’re trying to get a feel for your logic and decision-making processes. The way you answer the question is your opportunity to showcase those processes. This can say a lot of about your time-management abilities and leadership skills, too. 

Agree/disagree: The words “agree” or “disagree” might also rear their faces during an interview. An example might be: “Tell us about a time you disagreed with company policy.” This is yet another way an interviewer is trying to see whether you’re going to fall in line or rock the boat. Are you going to be a “yes man”? Or are you going to start causing problems? 

Passion: If you’ve ever come across a job posting that wanted applicants who were “passionate about accounting” or something similar, it more or less means exactly what it says. They want someone who cares about what they’re doing. When you act with passion, you’re probably going to do a better job and be more productive. The problem is there are relatively few people who are passionate about dish-washing, filing, etc. But some people are lucky enough to turn their passions into a career, and these are the people recruiters are overjoyed to find.

 

Potential: So they’re asking you about your “potential.” What does that mean? You might feel you have a lot of potential. But potential, on its own, isn’t enough. An employer wants to know what you’re going to do for them, not for yourself. You can have all the potential in the world, but if you can’t follow through, what good is it to an employer? When the concept of potential comes up, this is an interviewer asking: “What can you do for me, and how can you convince me?”

Discrepancy: Hearing the word “discrepancy” during the job search is bad. Most likely, an interviewer is going to be asking about some sort of mix-up between your testimony, your resume, and any fact checking they did on their own. It might be an innocent mistake. It might be that they’ve caught you in a lie — which you definitely should refrain from. Make sure you have your story straight, and make sure it’s truthful. For a lot of applicants, even a minor discrepancy (even if it’s innocent) is enough to send your resume into the wastebasket.

Accomplishments: An interview is your chance to sell yourself, talk about your conquests, and brag about your accomplishments. While doing so, you’ll want to keep one thing in mind: They want to know what you’ve done to propel the organizations you’ve worked for, not to propel your own career prospects.

If they ask you about your accomplishments, refrain from discussing personal conquests. You can weave them in, by all means. But focus on how you’ve managed to help your past employers while simultaneously progressing in your career.

Courtesy: The Cheat Sheet:

Some Very Tough Job Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them).

You’ve toiled for months, sending dozens of resumes and cover letters, and your hard work has finally paid off. You got the job interview and now it’s time to prepare for your big day. You have a killer suit picked out, your hair is perfect, and you know everything there is to know about the company. There’s some good news and bad news. The good news: You’re going to look really good and sound knowledgeable. The bad news: It’s not enough to look good and be able to recite company facts. Your interviewer is likely preparing some difficult interview questions in an effort to weed out the best from the worst. Career counselor Thomas J. Denham advises being prepared by practicing some common questions and answers beforehand. 

The purpose of an interviewer asking you questions is to evaluate: 1) How prepared and motivated you are for the job? and 2) How you would fit in with the company/department. Prepare a brief statement about yourself and say it over and over, so you get used to talking about your strengths in a succinct way. However, memorizing your answers will sound too “canned.” 

How can you demonstrate you’re the right person for the job? Here are some of the toughest interview questions you’ll face and tips for how to best answer them.

What is your greatest weakness: This is an interviewer favorite because your answer can help uncover flaws that may help the interviewer come to the conclusion you’re not the right person for the job. Career coach Mike Simpson refers to this as an “onion question” partly due to the question’s layers of complexity and the variety of ways it can be answered. An onion question is a question with multiple layers … just like, well … an onion! And like an onion it can make you cry, but only if you tackle it unprepared. First off, this isn’t a simple question you can rattle off a quick answer to or parrot back some easy-to-memorize statistics or facts and move on. It’s a question meant to make you think, and think hard.

Simpson advises resisting the urge to deny you have any weaknesses. He says this is a slick way to avoid answering the question, and interviewers will see right through this tactic. Instead, Simpson recommends mentioning a real weakness that you’ve learned to overcome and are working toward overcoming. However, make sure the weakness is minor enough not to raise red flags and that it’s a problem that actually has a solution. 

Why should we hire you: This question will likely catch you off guard. The key is to know exactly why you’re the best pick. Answering this question will require a delicate balance. The goal is to communicate confidence without sounding conceited. You also don’t want to appear to be begging for the job. “Every organization has a specific set of qualities that the potential hire needs to have in order to be successful in the position. It’s up to you to demonstrate that you have these qualities, and the most important place to do this is in your answers to the interview questions,” said Simpson. He continued: Chances are you are going up against a group of candidates that all have very similar skills and experience.  The trick is to set yourself apart, and you can do this by highlighting a unique trait that you have that will contribute positively to the position. For example, everyone who is competing for an administrative assistant role will have experience with answering phones, word processing and filing. But let’s say you also had some project management experience. You could really emphasize your elevated skill at maintaining schedules and calendars, delegating tasks, and making deadlines. This little emphasis could really set you apart from the other candidates and leave you as a front-runner for the position.

Tell me about yourself: Interviewing expert Laura DeCarlo said this question might also be phrased as “What should I know about you?” or “What would you like me to know about you?” This question gives you an opportunity to explain why you are the most qualified candidate. It will be important for you to take a close look at the job description so you can make sure you’re clearly demonstrating how your skills align with what the employer seeks. Review your resume and speak about past experiences that show you have the skills necessary for the position. 

“This is an opportunity to market yourself, presenting yourself as the solution (right candidate) for their problem (a job to fill),” said DeCarlo. “In the interview, tell them the things that emphasize how your accomplishments and experience make you an ideal candidate for the job you are seeking,” DeCarlo continued. 

Where do you see yourself in five years: Never say you don’t know where you see yourself in the future. This shows lack of planning and a general attitude of not caring about your career. Not having an answer also suggests you don’t plan to stay with the company very long if you’re hired. You should be able to communicate your career goals and how you plan to reach those goals. An employer wants to see how passionate you are, not only about the job, but also your chosen career. Such a question measures your commitment to your future career,” said Ball State University professor and internship coordinator Sheryl Swingley. She added: When you are hired, companies want to keep you as long as they can. It’s expensive to search for new talent … I know a newspaper editor who asks this question of every young journalist he interviews. If interviewees indicate they hope to go to law school or move into public relations or advertising/marketing in a few years, which a number of journalists do, he won’t hire them for a job — or an internship. He doesn’t want to waste his time training someone who doesn’t plan to stay in journalism — his chosen profession …Whoever is doing the hiring wants people who are committed to a lifelong career in their area of specialization. 

Why do you want to work in this industry: The answer to this question will reveal whether you’re just job hopping or if you’re truly invested in your career and working toward a specific goal. When answering this question, be able to explain your career path and what prompted you to continue along the particular path you chose. Lauren Crane, a sales recruiter at Betts Recruiting, said this answer will require you to be specific. “Taking experience from your previous position, or time at school, is an easy way to ground your answer. Knowing what type of environment you excel in can be a great reason as to why you are interested in an industry,” Crane told The Cheat Sheet. “Take the time before an interview to understand distinctly why you are interested in the position, the company, and the industry.” 

Why have you changed jobs so frequently: Switching jobs every few months doesn’t look so great on your resume. However, if you have a good answer, you’ll be able to navigate this potential interview question with ease. When it comes to answering this question, your best bet is to be honest. Perhaps the company culture was a bad fit, one or two companies shut down, or you received a better offer soon after starting another job. Whatever happened, describe the situation in a positive light. Another option would be to omit some of these jobs from your resume. If the start and end dates on these jobs are very close, there will be no noticeable gaps. 

Why is there a large gap in your experience: If there are large gaps in your work history, you’ll need a good answer. Your interviewer is likely to notice this right away. Take this time to explain how you filled those gap years. For example, if you went back to school or chose to take on a volunteer opportunity, talk about how that experience has strengthened you not only in your personal life but also as an employee. Make a connection showing how your time off has helped bolster your professional skills. 

Why did you leave your last job: Unless you were laid off, answering this questions isn’t always simple. You’ll have to think of an honest way to answer this question without placing blame on your employer or looking entitled. Cheryl E. Palmer, certified career coach and founder of Call to Career, says candidates should also be careful not to offer an answer that leads to more questions. The basic rule of thumb here is to never speak negatively about your previous employer. What you should say is that as human beings we all sometimes see the same situation differently, but you have learned from all the bosses that you have had. Even if you did not get along with your boss at all, you can still usually say something positive about what that person brought to the table.

Why are you interested in this position: You’ll need to be more creative than saying you wanted a change. Most job candidates want a change and that’s why they’re interviewing for a new job (unless they were fired or laid off). Instead, discuss the attributes of the organization that are important to you. Show that you did your research and tell your interviewer why you’re excited about working for the employer. 

Do you have any questions: This question sounds deceptively easy, but don’t be fooled. The worst thing you can do is say you don’t have any questions. The second-worst thing you can do is ask questions that show you’ve put very little thought into preparing for the interview or questions that are self-serving. Instead, ask questions about how you can contribute to the company’s success. 

Barry Maher, founder of Barry Maher and Associates, told The Cheat Sheet that a job candidate should make sure questions focus less on what the company can do for him or her and more on what the candidate can do for the company. “I was involved in an interview recently where the first three questions from the applicant were, in order: ‘How much vacation time do I get? How long do I have to be here before I’m eligible for a vacation? How long before I start to accrue additional weeks of vacation?'” Maher said. “What had looked like a great applicant now looked like someone who couldn’t wait to get out of work.”

Job Interview Tips: 5 Things Most Job Seekers Don’t Know.

The internet is brimming with interview tips — those for the seasoned job market vet, and those for the young men and women entering the workforce for the first time. By now, everyone knows the basics. You need to show up on time, for example, and run a comb through your hair. Practice keeping your body language in check, and have your resume and cover letter in tip-top shape. Everybody knows that stuff. Interviewers expect it. Show up late or look like a slob? You might not even get through the door for your scheduled meeting.

But what about some of the lesser-known tips and tricks? Are there some still scant talked-about job interview tips that you can use to gain an advantage over the toughest interviewer? There are, and you can see them on the following pages. Whether you’re in a powerful position with many employers swooning after you, or trying to gain the mental edge by figuring out when you should schedule an interview, these five tips should help you get that job. 

Everything is negotiable (sometimes): If you’re a top-caliber candidate, employers are going to want you — and that means that they may be willing to bend and twist to get you on the payroll. Remember that everything is negotiable, given you’re in a position of power. Typically, you will go back and forth over salary, and leave it at that. But you can start making all kinds of demands — additional vacation days, ability to work remotely, free bus pass, etc. — and see what you can get. Of course, if your skill set is a dime a dozen, you could be laughed out of the office. 

Opposition research goes both ways: You can bet that your interviewer is digging up the dirt on you, so you better be damn sure you’re researching them, as well. With so many resources available to you these days (Glassdoor, PayScale, etc.), there’s no reason you shouldn’t have some valuable intel going into an interview. You can look up the person you’re meeting with on LinkedIn, for starters. And check out the company’s background and common gripes from past employees. Take the time, and go in with a mental dossier prepared. 

Craft and use a narrative: “Tell me about yourself” is an invitation to take your interviewer on a journey. A journey they won’t forget, and that they’ll remember when it comes time to trim the list of candidates. Don’t just list off the things on your resume when an interviewer asks about your past. Use the chance to weave a narrative, or build yourself a story — a story about a guy or gal who is hungry, can pick up new skills, and who has many accomplishments under their belt. You don’t need to be Tolkien, but this is a method that will help you appear more confident and accomplished.

Take your nonverbal weaknesses seriously: You know that you need to dress to impress when you go in for an interview, but your nonverbal communication goes much deeper than what you’re wearing. Hiring managers are turned off by anxious, nervous candidates. Though you’re not going to be able to rid yourself completely of those feelings, the ability to manage and control yourself will get you a long way. Watch your body language, of course, and you can even take measures to help keep excess sweat at bay with certain articles of clothing. 

Timing is everything: There actually is a perfect time to schedule an interview, and though you’re going to be subject to the whims and schedule of your interviewer, try and aim for a specific day and time: Tuesday, around 10:30. Seriously, there’s scientific evidence to back this up. If you can’t make that work, then try for a time that you know you’ll be the most alert and ready to go. If you’re a morning person, try for an earlier appointment, for example. There are numerous ways to turn the table on a hiring manager, and using some of these tactics to the best of your ability can and will help you land the job. 

Courtesy: CheatSheet.