INTERVIEW

CHECKLIST

Dreams become reality one choice at a time.

PRE-JOB SEARCH CHECKLIST

Develop Your Job Search Plan And Strategy: Start your job search plan with the basics of what you

want — the kind(s) of job, the type of employer, the kind of corporate culture you want, and the

geographic location of where you want to live.

Grad? Use Your College Career Center: Your career center can help you get focused. They will help

you with career fairs, resume services, and interviewing assistance.

Have the Right Expectations: Don’t think of your first job as your forever job. Realistically, your first

job isn't going to make your life dreams come true. It's a transition between school and your career.

Be Proactive: Now is not the time to sit back and take a casual approach to looking for a job.

Create a Wide Network: Getting interviews are easier if you start interacting with people who are

already in the workforce. Your network can be a big as you can make it.

Get Your Resume in Order: Your resume is your marketing tool. You’ll need to create a solid resume

to highlight your skills even though you may not have much work experience. It’s your ticket to the

interview.

Have a prepared reference page of about three to five references, which include name, title, place of

employment, address, email and phone.

Build A Positive Online Brand: Before you start your job search, do your research. I’m not talking

about the company. I’m talking about on yourself! Because first impressions are no longer made in

person. First impressions are made online. Clean up your social media sites.

Do you have a professional email address and professional voice mail?

Jan Johnston Osburn

Career Coach | Author | Speaker

JanJohnstonOsburn.COM

Do you have a complete LinkedIn profile?

Is your LinkedIn profile keyword optimized and formatted for recruiter searches? Besides a photo,

make sure your title, summary, and work history are written in a way that is easy for a recruiter to scan.

Be sure to use keywords that match the jobs you are targeting.

Get Familiar with Common Interview Questions: Understand what common interview questions you

might be asked.

Do you have well-crafted answers for all of the common questions?

Do you know how to write attention-grabbing cover letters?

Do you have proper interview attire?

Do you have a friend to help you conduct a mock interview?

Have you prepared good questions to ask an employer during an interview?

Do you know your target salary range? Have you done research on this?

Does your resume include all relevant keywords for each position to which you apply? (One resume may

not be suitable for every job to which you apply.)

Read more information on my website:

Click on this link to read about the “6 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU START A JOB SEARCH.”

Click on this link to read about "How to set up your LinkedIn Profile."

PHONE INTERVIEW CHECKLIST

Prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular in-person interview. Do your homework

and prepare great questions to ask. Never use this as an opportunity to ask about their process, start dates,

salary, benefits or anything else they can do for you.

Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical questions.

Rehearse answers to common phone interview questions.

Use a quiet and private space with no distractions so you can focus on the interview.

Do not do this while you are driving. The noise is unbearable for recruiters.

Listen carefully to the interviewer and don't start speaking until the interviewer finishes the question. If

you have something you want to say, jot it down on your note pad and mention it when it's your turn to

talk.

Keep your resume in clear view so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.

Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review.

Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.

Turn call-waiting off so your call isn't interrupted.

If you have an old-fashioned landline, use that instead of your cell phone. That way, you'll eliminate the

possibility of poor reception or dropped calls.

Don't smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink. Minimize any noise level.

Keep a glass of water handy, in case you need a quick drink.

Smile. Yes, smile. Smiling actually projects a positive tone to your voice. Do speak slowly and

enunciate clearly.

Be prepared to explain every job transition that you’ve had.

Understand your red flags and learn to overcome them. You may have to deal with issues employment

gaps or frequent job-hopping.

At the end of your conversation, thank the interviewer, and ask about the next steps.

Send a thank you note to the interviewer expressing your interest in the position. Ask for an interview.

PREPARE FOR THE IN-PERSON INTERVIEW

Research the company. Learn about its products, services, recent accomplishments and mission

statement.

Research the industry. Be comfortable using industry-specific jargon and terms.

Research the position. Read the job posting, but check other sources as well to learn more about the type

of work you might be asked to do.

Figure out the logistics of the interview, including the location of the office, the best place to park, what

paperwork will be required, what attire is most appropriate, and what type of interview will be conducted.

Get your documents in order. Make sure that you have all documents before leaving.

Have a few copies of your resumes, just in case you need it

Any documents required by the company

Writing instruments

Your ID (some companies require a security check to enter the premises)

Print out a map of the location. Yes, a map. Sometimes SIRI is wrong.

Allow plenty of time to get there. Plan to be there at least 10 minutes ahead of time. No excuses.

Know how your qualifications match the job description. Have a list of your qualifications and skills and

be able to illustrate “stories” about each one.

Think about possible interview questions. Write out your responses. Be sure they are detailed and include

quantifiable measures of success wherever possible.

Understand how to answer your questions using the STAR method.

Enlist a friend to conduct a mock interview so you can practice giving responses and answering follow-

up questions.

Don’t overdo it on the cologne or perfume. Actually, don’t wear cologne or perfume. It bothers many

people.

PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY

Pack an emergency kit that might include: a small sewing kit, extra tie, tissues, a comb, hairpins, touchup

makeup, spot removing wipes, an umbrella, breath mints, your career portfolio and extra copies of your

resume.

Plan enough time to arrive at the interview location fifteen to twenty minutes early so you can use the

restroom and freshen your appearance.

If, despite all your preparations you are running late, call the company as soon as possible to notify them.

PREPARE FOR SUCCESS

Be pleasant and respectful to everyone - the receptionist, assistant, interviewer and anyone else you

interact with. Greet each person with a smile and a firm handshake, calling them by name.

Once you are offered a chair, sit up straight, look alert and interested and don’t fidget. Make eye contact

with the interviewer frequently.

Speak with confidence, but don’t be cocky or overly aggressive. Use a strong voice and clear

enunciation. Mirror the conversational tone of the interviewer, always being slightly more formal than

they are. Avoid pause words such as “like”, “um” and “you know”, and don’t use slang or poor grammar.

Keep your responses positive, focusing on your abilities and what you can contribute to the company.

Don’t talk trash about former employers or coworkers, or complain about the job search process.

At the end of the interview, thank your interviewer for his/her time and ask for a business card with

contact information. Write a thank you to all interviewers within 24 hours.

AFTER INTERVIEW CHECKLIST

Company Name:

Interviewers Name(s):

Date:

TO BE FILLED OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER INTERVIEW

This is a crucial step. After each interview, write down what happened, your impressions, the questions you were asked, and

your general feelings. Try to do this as soon as you can after the interview. Reflect carefully on these because it will be a

“lessons learned” so that you can use this to improve the next go round. Think about where you excelled and where you didn’t

do so great. When you write your thank you, use this reflection to help you overcome any areas of weakness that you may

have had in your interview.

Did you arrive on time?

Did you introduce yourself to the interviewer?

What qualifications did you discuss during your interview?

Did you go through the resume with the interviewer? Did they seem concerned about any one area?

Did he/she discuss anything from your personal background? If so, what?

Did the employer comment on any of your skills? If so, what was said?

What was the employer’s general impression of your resume?

Did the interviewer discuss any special problems you may have? If yes, what was discussed?

Did you look at the interviewer when you spoke to him/her?

Did they ask you what you knew about the company? Were you able to answer it?

Did you state your desire for work and interest in the company?

Were you able to show how your background and qualifications were a good match?

What was discussed the most?

Was there anything the employer seemed to dislike? If so, what?

What did he/she seem particularly interested in?

When did you say you would call back?

Where did you do well that you would keep for future interviews?

Where do you need to improve in other interviews?

THIS IS HOW I’M GOING TO DO IT!

What are 3 – 4 things I want the

interviewer to remember about me? What

are my strengths?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

How will you answer the “Tell me about yourself” question?

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ELEVATOR SPEECH KEY POINTS I WANT TO MAKE

What are a few examples of

the things I’ve done well that

will relate to this role?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What are my weaknesses?

1.

2.

WHAT QUESTIONS DO I HAVE FOR THEM?

1.

2.

3.

JOB SEARCH COMPANY TRACKING

You’ll find that you have to send out a lot of resumes just to get one interview.

Set up a company tracking list to help you stay organized.

Use the below as an example.

Company

Website

Position description on file?

Location?

Resume sent?

Application sent

Phone Interview

Sent thank you

Interview 1

Sent thank you

Interview 2

Sent thank you

COMMON INTERVIEW

QUESTIONS

COMMON QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED IN A PHONE

INTERVIEW

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What interests you about the position? Why did you apply?

3. What do you know about our company?

4. Why did you leave your last job? Or why are looking to make a move now?

5. Tell me about your experience at ______ (Fill in job / company)

6. What experience do you have doing ____? (Fill in the major responsibilities of the job)

7. Tell me about your strengths / Tell me about your weaknesses.

8. Tell me about a time when… (Fill in with situations relevant to the position.)

9. What type of corporate culture are you looking for?

10. What salary range are you looking for?

11. What questions do you have for me?

50 MOST COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Glassdoor has compiled a list of the 50 most common interview questions. If you are not familiar with

Glassdoor, it's a website where employees and former employees anonymously review companies and

their management. They also provide insight into the interview process of organizations. From that,

they have compiled their most common interview questions.

I don’t like the questions but we won’t debate the relevancy of these questions and how it ties into

making the best hiring decisions. This is merely a quick reference guide so you know the likely questions

that will be thrown at you.

The best way to get ready is to practice, practice, practice and be ready to answer these questions with

confidence and enthusiasm.

Most Common Interview Questions

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

Why do you want to leave your current company?

Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?

What can you offer us that someone else cannot?

What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?

Are you willing to relocate?

Are you willing to travel?

Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

What is your dream job?

How did you hear about this position?

What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?

Discuss your resume.

Discuss your educational background.

Describe yourself.

Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.

Why should we hire you?

Why are you looking for a new job?

Would you work holidays/weekends?

How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?

What are your salary requirements? (Hint: if you’re not sure what’s a fair salary range and

compensation package, research the job title and/or company on Glassdoor.)

Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.

Who are our competitors?

What was your biggest failure?

What motivates you?

What’s your availability?

Who’s your mentor?

Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.

How do you handle pressure?

What is the name of our CEO?

What are your career goals?

What gets you up in the morning?

What would your direct reports say about you?

What were your bosses’ strengths/weaknesses?

If I called your boss right now and asked him what is an area that you could improve on, what

would he say?

Are you a leader or a follower?

What was the last book you’ve read for fun?

What are your co-worker pet peeves?

What are your hobbies?

What is your favorite website?

What makes you uncomfortable?

What are some of your leadership experiences?

How would you fire someone?

What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?

Would you work 40+ hours a week?

What questions haven’t I asked you?

What questions do you have for me?

ANSWERING COMMON INTERVIEW

QUESTIONS

“DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?”

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. . .

Mission almost complete. You’re nearing the end of the interview. You’re almost to the point where you

can relax a bit. But there’s usually one final question -- “Do you have any questions for us?”

If you are new to interviewing and just starting out in your career, this is a good guide to help you with

that question.

There is power behind this question.

Why? Because time and time again, hiring managers say “She/he didn’t ask any questions.” They really

dislike that. They don’t expect the answer to be “no” and it shouldn’t be unless you’ve already decided

there’s no way you’d accept the position.

Many questions will flow naturally through the course of the interview but saying “no” is not what they

want to hear. Interviewers may misread it for lack of interest on your part.

This question is a great question for a number of reasons. First of all, it will leave the hiring manager

with a lasting (favorable) impression of you but perhaps even more crucial than that is that you owe it to

yourself to ask questions.

The interview is not a one-way street.

You own part of this decision. You have to decide if this is the right move for you. Don’t be afraid to ask

questions that provide you with insight about what it would be like to work there.

Asking questions is critical for your personal assessment of the organization.

A good interview is more than just answering questions. It’s a conversation.

Some Questions to Consider

Here are a list of questions you can consider asking in your job interview. These will help you get a better

sense of the role and the company.

Don’t bombard your interviewer.

Pick and ask the ones that mean the most to you.

To Help You Get a Better Feel for the Role

What does a normal day look like?

What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?

How will I be trained? How will my performance be reviewed?

What are the performance expectations of this position over the next 12 months?

What defines success?

What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed?

How does this position fit in with the rest of the company/organization?

Is this a new position? (If so, what made you decide to create it? / If not, why is it open?)

Who would I work with most closely on a day-to-day basis?

What are the most challenging facets of the position?

Understand How a Company Views New Hires

What do you consider as the most challenging aspect of this position for someone who is new to

your organization?

What competencies are you looking for in your new hires?

What are your expectations for new hires?

How long do you anticipate that it will take to get a person up to speed?

Get a Feel for the Culture

How would you describe the company’s management style?

How would you describe the company culture?

What would you say employees like most about working here?

Is there anything employees would say they like least?

Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?

Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?

What are the career paths in this department/company?

Understand What the Future Might Look Like

What would a successful employee make happen for you?

What kinds of things would you expect of me to enable me to advance within the company?

What kinds of advancement opportunities are there for someone in this position?

Where do you see this company in the next few years?

Where do you see this department / company going over the next year?

What can you tell me about plans for growth?

What training programs are available to your employees?

Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?

How do you encourage your employees to keep current with professional developments in the field?

What are the opportunities for personal growth?

What is the retention rate of people in the position for which I am interviewing?

Is it organizational policy to promote from within? What is the work history of your top

management?

To Develop More Rapport

If I may ask, how long have you worked here? What do you like most about it?

How long have you been with the company?

Why did you come to this company?

What’s your favorite part about working here?

The Not for the Faint of Heart Questions

Do you see any gaps in my qualifications that I need to fill?

Do you see any reasons I’m not fully qualified for this position?

Now that you’ve had a chance to meet and interview me, what reservations would you have in

putting me in this position?

Wrapping it Up

What are the next steps in the interview process?

Is there anything else I can provide you with that would be helpful?

Is there anything else that I can tell you about myself to help you in your decision?

What can I expect as far as next steps?

Not All Questions Are Good Ones (AKA, Don’t ask these at the interview stage.)

The general guideline is not to ask about benefits, pay, time off, etc. You can ask those later upon

receiving an offer.

Examples of questions not to ask at the interview phase:

How much time off would I have?

What do your benefits look like?

Where would I sit?

Do I have an office or a cubicle?

Don’t ask filler questions. If it’s simple and you have found the answer online, don’t ask it.

At the end of the interview, make sure you get a business card with the email address and phone number

of your interviewer(s) and send them a thank-you email that same day.

MOCK INTERVIEW PRACTICE The best way to be prepared for the typical interview is by role playing and thinking about your response.

Don’t worry if you mess up in the mock interview, you will be much better prepared for the real thing if

you practice.

Practice using the S.T.A.R. METHOD to answer questions that require more detail. You’ll likely be

asked to expand upon your experience. The S.T.A.R. method is: Situation, Task, Action and Result.

First, present a specific situation you faced. Secondly, explain the task you had to accomplish and what

action you took to address the issue. Finally, describe the results of your efforts. This last step is

wrapping it up by explaining what you learned from the experience and how you will bring those lessons

to the work that you will be doing for the organization.

Think about prior work experiences and craft a story to describe your accomplishments or to show how

you dealt with a tough situation. Having a repository of career experience stories written down before an

interview will make it easier to recall during the interview.

How to Answer Six of the Most Common Questions:

“Tell me about yourself.”

This may very well be the first question (although not really a question) that you will get. Be ready

because this will set the stage for the rest of the interview. This is your chance to take control and

showcase who you are and what you’d bring to the role. You want to paint a picture or tell the story to

help the hiring manager see how you would be a good fit.

Don’t give your life history. Be brief. You want to be ready with about a one- to- two minute answer that

summarizes your career with a focus on how your background matches the company’s needs.

Use a present, past, and future formula. Start with what you do now, then segue into the past, and top it

off with the future and why you are excited about this opportunity.

List three to four key strengths you have that are pertinent to this job (experiences, traits, skills, etc.).

Talk about your strengths and abilities and remember to focus on the experiences and skills that are going

to be most relevant for the hiring manager. It’s okay to tell a story or anecdote if it helps to relay the story

to help them know a little more about you.

For Example:

Prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey. Begin by talking about past

experiences and proven success:

"I have been in the sales industry for the past five years taking inbound sales phone calls. My most recent

experience has been handling calls in the high tech industry. In my last job, I formed some significant

selling skills based upon relationship building which resulted in a 35% increase in sales in a matter of

months."

Next, mention your strengths and abilities:

"My real strength is my understanding customer needs and then being able to help them see how my

service and product can positively impact their life. It works because my sales numbers are great.”

Conclude with a statement about your current situation will tie into the job you are seeking:

"What I am looking for now is a sales training job in a company that values customer relations. I would

like to take my sales knowledge and join a strong team so that I can have a positive impact on customer

retention and sales by training others how to do it."

“Why are you leaving your current job?”

The reason why you are asked this question is because recruiters or hiring managers want to know your

motivation for wanting to leave your current job. Is your boss a jerk? Do you want more money? Is your

company culture a joke? One or all of those things may be the reason why you are looking but when you

answer the question, be positive. You’ll want to discuss the positives that came out of your most recent

job with a focus on why you think this new position is a great new career for you.

Never disparage your prior boss, co-workers, or the company. Are you looking to be challenged? That’s

great. If the time has come to seek out a new opportunity, to expand your skills and knowledge, or to find

a company in which you can grow, there’s nothing wrong with that. Those are positive reasons to seek

out a new career. You rarely go wrong when talking about self-improvement. Interviewers love it when

candidates are interested in bettering themselves. It’s a trait that indicates you could be someone who

wants to grow with the organization.

Negativity never goes over well in an interview. You can always turn a negative into a positive and that’s

the best rule of thumb for an interview.

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

Taking about strengths is an easy one. So, let’s focus on the weakness. The reason why a manager asks

this question is to see if they are missing anything if they were to hire you. It’s also designed to test your

character and mental awareness. Who’s perfect? Nobody. They want to see how you have identified what

you need to work on.

Be sincere. Don’t just select a weakness just because it sounds good. Pick a weakness that is acceptable

for the job in which you are interviewing. Don’t mention a weakness related to any of the required skills

or desired qualities. For example, if you are a sales person, don’t mention that you have hard time

meeting new people or by saying that you are too reserved.

Pick a weakness that is relatively minor and correctable. By correctable, that means something you can

improve through work, motivation, or training. If you say “It’s hard to speak in front of large groups of

people.” That can be overcome and if it’s not germane to the role, it won’t matter to the hiring manager.

“What are your salary requirements?”

All companies have a budget and recruiters ask this question to make sure that everyone is on the same

page. You will want to do your homework on this one. Know what you are worth and know what the

same type of positions pay. There is enough information online that you can get a pretty good idea.

Know your “walk away” point.

Know what you want and what you expect. Speak in ranges when giving figures. After you answer be

comfortable with the silence that may come follow. Consider a statement like this: “I’m currently making

$X, and I’m looking to make 10% to 15% more.

“Why should I hire you?”

Often times, this comes at the end of an interview. This is another great opportunity to seal the deal. By

this time, you’ve heard about the position and should have a good idea of how you can contribute to the

bottom line.

Stay focused on why your background makes you an ideal candidate. Tell them how you are going to

contribute to the department and the company. Hiring managers love it when they think their job will be

easier.

Tell them or explain how you will:

Do the work and deliver extraordinary results

Fit in well with the corporate culture

Bring a combination of skills and experience that make you stand out from the crowd

Make their life easier

This is an opportunity to reiterate your most impressive strengths and to describe your most memorable

selling points.

Happy interviewing and ask questions so you know if it’s right for you.

Please follow my business blogs for all of the latest interview assistance. If you would like

individualized coaching or resume re-writes, please contact me at Jan@JanJohnstonOsburn.com or visit

my website at JanJohnstonOsburn.com.