cfs interview preparation worksheet

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Watch Your Body Language! The handshake: It’s your first encounter with the interviewer. He holds out his or her hand and receives a limp, damp hand in return -- not a very good beginning. Your handshake should be firm -- not bone-crushing -- and your hand should be dry and warm. Try running cold water on your hands when you first arrive at the interview site. Run warm water if your hands tend to be cold. The insides of your wrists are especially sensitive to temperature control. Your posture: Stand and sit erect. We’re not talking “ramrod” posture, but show some energy and enthusiasm. A slouching posture looks tired and uncaring. Check yourself out in a mirror or on videotape. Eye contact: Look the interviewer in the eye. You don’t want to stare, as this shows aggression. Occasionally, and nonchalantly, glance at the interviewer’s hand as he is speaking. By constantly looking around the room while you are talking, you convey a lack of confidence or discomfort with what is being discussed. Your hands: Gesturing or talking with your hands is very natural. Getting carried away with hand gestures can be distracting. Also, avoid touching your mouth while talking. Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the phone. Chances are you are probably using some of the same gestures in an interview. Don’t fidget: There is nothing worse than someone playing with his or her hair, clicking a pen top, tapping a foot or unconsciously touching parts of the body. Preparing what you have to say is important, but practicing how you will say it is imperative. The nonverbal message can speak louder than the verbal message you are sending. Important Things to Remember: Don’t read too much into the way an interviewer 1. responds to your answers – some people – especially HR professionals have great “poker faces”. Always act as if things are going excellent. Always project a “positive” image. Don’t talk negatively 2. about past employers or position responsibilities. You can justify your decisions without “bashing” anyone. Smile when responding – even if you have to force yourself 3. or think it’s silly – do it - it affects the tone and quality of your voice. Never ask about hours, compensation or benefits in the 4. interview. Fill out the worksheet on the next page this will help to 5. refresh your memory about your past accomplishments before you get asked the questions. You won’t have to appear to be “digging” for answers. 6. THE MONEY QUESTION – If you get asked about your current compensation – answer honestly and accurately – don’t hedge. Make sure to include all the things that make up your compensation – Base, Bonus, Vacation, 401K, Stock options. When they ask what your looking for in an offer – tell them you don’t have a “hard” number in mind but that you hope to improve on your current compensation and leave it at that…if you lock yourself into a number that is the number they will use for any offer or consideration when weighing candidates. Lastly – and this is 6. VERY IMPORTANT – please contact me immediately after you leave the interview. Please be prepared to answer the following questions: Why do you feel you can do this job? Why do you feel you want this job? What about the company/position is attractive to you? What red flags came up as a result of your interview? What questions do you still want answered? Do you want to continue the interviewing process for this position? Pre-Interview Test The Please review the Candidate Interview Guide prior to the meeting with your placement consultant. You and your recruiter will complete the following exercises during your interview. Creative Financial Staffing Managed by professional accounting firms © 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing. www.cfstaffing.com

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Page 1: CFS Interview Preparation Worksheet

Watch Your Body Language!The handshake: It’s your first encounter with the interviewer. He holds out his or her hand and receives a limp, damp hand in return -- not a very good beginning. Your handshake should be firm -- not bone-crushing -- and your hand should be dry and warm. Try running cold water on your hands when you first arrive at the interview site. Run warm water if your hands tend to be cold. The insides of your wrists are especially sensitive to temperature control.

Your posture: Stand and sit erect. We’re not talking “ramrod” posture, but show some energy and enthusiasm. A slouching posture looks tired and uncaring. Check yourself out in a mirror or on videotape.

Eye contact: Look the interviewer in the eye. You don’t want to stare, as this shows aggression. Occasionally, and nonchalantly, glance at the interviewer’s hand as he is speaking. By constantly looking around the room while you are talking, you convey a lack of confidence or discomfort with what is being discussed.

Your hands: Gesturing or talking with your hands is very natural. Getting carried away with hand gestures can be distracting. Also, avoid touching your mouth while talking. Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the phone. Chances are you are probably using some of the same gestures in an interview.

Don’t fidget: There is nothing worse than someone playing with his or her hair, clicking a pen top, tapping a foot or unconsciously touching parts of the body.

Preparing what you have to say is important, but practicing how you will say it is imperative. The nonverbal message can speak louder than the verbal message you are sending.

Important Things to Remember:Don’t read too much into the way an interviewer 1. responds to your answers – some people – especially HR professionals have great “poker faces”. Always act as if things are going excellent.Always project a “positive” image. Don’t talk negatively 2. about past employers or position responsibilities. You can justify your decisions without “bashing” anyone.Smile when responding – even if you have to force yourself 3. or think it’s silly – do it - it affects the tone and quality of your voice.Never ask about hours, compensation or benefits in the 4. interview.Fill out the worksheet on the next page this will help to 5. refresh your memory about your past accomplishments before you get asked the questions. You won’t have to appear to be “digging” for answers.

6. THE MONEY QUESTION – If you get asked about your current compensation – answer honestly and accurately – don’t hedge. Make sure to include all the things that make up your compensation – Base, Bonus, Vacation, 401K, Stock options. When they ask what your looking for in an offer – tell them you don’t have a “hard” number in mind but that you hope to improve on your current compensation and leave it at that…if you lock yourself into a number that is the number they will use for any offer or consideration when weighing candidates.Lastly – and this is 6. VERY IMPORTANT – please contact me immediately after you leave the interview. Please be prepared to answer the following questions:

Why do you feel you can do this job?• Why do you feel you want this job?• What about the company/position is attractive to • you?What red flags came up as a result of your interview?• What questions do you still want answered?• Do you want to continue the interviewing process for • this position?

Pre-Interview TestThePlease review the Candidate Interview Guide prior to the meeting with your placement consultant. You and your recruiter will complete the following exercises during your interview.

Creative Financial StaffingManaged by professional accounting firms

© 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing.www.cfstaffing.com

Page 2: CFS Interview Preparation Worksheet

Your Personal AchievementsReviewPlease complete the following section as it will help in our discussion.

© 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing.www.cfstaffing.com

REVIEWING YOUR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVMENTSStart with your most recent Employer – focus on the issues that will relate to this position.

Company: ___________________________________

List your Accomplishments/Achievements while working at this position : ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Position: ____________________________________

List the strategy, implementation, and processes you used to bring about these results:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Company: ___________________________________

List your Accomplishments/Achievements while working at this position : ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Position: ____________________________________

List the strategy, implementation, and processes you used to bring about these results:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Company: ___________________________________

List your Accomplishments/Achievements while working at this position : ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Position: ____________________________________

List the strategy, implementation, and processes you used to bring about these results:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Creative Financial StaffingManaged by professional accounting firms

Page 3: CFS Interview Preparation Worksheet

Be prepared to have answers to the following

questions:

Tell me about yourself.1. What do you know about our company?2. Why do you want to work here?3. Why are you looking to change positions?4. Tell me what you consider to be your strengths and what you 5. consider to be your weaknesses? How much money do you want?6. What do you like most about your current job (or manager)? 7. What do you like the least? Where do you see yourself in five years?8. What is the best thing that your boss will say about you? What 9. is the worst? Name five (5) adjectives that you would use to best describe 10. yourself?

Could you tell me about the growth plans for the company 1. (department)? What are the greatest challenges I will face in this position?2. What skills do you feel are important to be successful in this 3. position?

To reconfirm strengths: “That is very interesting. Let • me tell you about my background and what I have done as a professional that has prepared me so well for this position.”Overcoming a weakness: “How important is that skill to this • job?”

Tell me about your background; why did you join this 4. company?Is there anything in my background or experience to prevent 5. you from considering me as a viable candidate?“What else can I do to get an offer from your company?” (if a 6. single decision-maker); or “Are you personally comfortable recommending me for this position?” (when it is a committee decision).

Pre-Interview TestThe

© 2008 by Creative Financial Staffing.www.cfstaffing.com

Questions you should be asking during your

interview:

Creative Financial StaffingManaged by professional accounting firms