Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve

Chapter 60. Interviewing: Psychology, Strategies, Tactics, and Practice

Once you've done your strategic networking, gotten some names and numbers, made some introductions, leveraged recruiters, and gotten referred to the right people in the right places, it's time to sit down and master the art of the interview. Let's start by looking at the phases of the interview process. In some cases, you'll actually be taken through all of these interview steps before a hiring decision will be made.

What follows is an outline of the different types of company interviews, how they work, and what you can expect during each of these interview situations. Then, we'll review the specific questions that you should be prepared to answer — and those you should be prepared to ask — to maximize your success at every step in the interviewing process.

Types of Interviews

• Informational: No specific job under discussion. Purpose is learning about industry, company, people, skills required, cultural fit, and perhaps generating additional avenues of research or more people for you to contact.

• Screening: This is the first serious step in the interviewing process. Consider this a "live ammo exercise." Used as the first step to narrow the field of candidates who are being considered for employment. Screening may be done by an outside recruiter or in-house human resources representative. Usually done over the phone.

• Hiring Manager: An in-depth look at an applicant to confirm desired requirements and/or technical abilities, ...