Interviewing Tips

What Customers Look For In An Interview

The following is optional information provided to you by CCI to help you better prepare for client interviews. The tips provided below have been gathered from clients over time following various interviews. The goal is for all of us to be successful in this interview process. If you have any additional questions or comments please contact your Account Manager. Thank you!

Even with the "on the job" dress being business casual in most companies, it is recommended to dress more formal for an interview. For men, a suit or sport jacket and business slacks, white shirt, and conservative tie is appropriate. Men should also be clean-shaven. For women a suit is also recommended. We suggest that make-up and jewelry remain modest. We also suggest that cologne and perfume be kept to a minimum. Remember not to chew gum during an interview and remember always turn off your cell phone and/or pager. There is nothing worse for a client to be in the middle of an interview, whey your cell phone unexpectedly goes off.

We suggest you bring copies of recommendation letters along with copies of any certificates you have earned. For instance, if you are a networking professional you may want to include a copy of the diagram of the network you built. Or, if you are a technical writer, you should bring writing samples. Bringing samples of your work will help to show the interest and passion you have for your work.

Bringing a notepad or portfolio with 5 to 10 written questions will demonstrate your organizational skills and professionalism. This will also help you remember to ask any questions that are important to you. Most clients are looking for employees with high energy and enthusiasm. Asking questions during your interview will show your ambition. It is recommended that you take some notes during your interview if important information is given. This will also show the interviewer that you feel what they say is important.

Body language is also very important in an interview. For instance, during your interview feel free to move from time to time. A candidate that does not move at all for 15 minutes or longer appears nervous. Slouching and poor posture is inappropriate. Remember to make direct eye contact with the interviewer. Speak clearly when answering the interviewers questions. Do not mumble and if you do not understand a question, ask them to repeat the question. Strong communication skills are very important during an interview. Do not use slang and try to avoid nervous habits such as “um” or “like”. Of course, always remember a firm handshake!

The two major areas interviewers will be evaluating are 1.) Your ability/skill level and 2.) Your interest in the opportunity. Questions about compensation, overtime, pager duty, travel etc…should not be asked during your interview. They will be handled through your specific CCI Account Manger. Asking questions with regards to the above-mentioned topics will not be helpful in portraying your ability and will not show your interest and are therefore inappropriate during the first interview.

Preparing for your interview will result in success. Prior to any client interview you should try to freshen up on any technologies or skills that you know the client will be interested in. During the interview, if you are not ready for a question, asking for more specific details may result in having the right answer. Also, when responding to a question, make sure that you give the right amount of detail and answer completely. Being too brief or going on too long or digressing, can leave the interviewer with a poor impression. To make sure their questions are being addressed, try following with "Did I answer your question with enough detail?" or "Would you like me to go in to greater depth?" When describing experience or specific projects, certain key points can be explained in detail (ex. project goals, technologies utilized, length of project, size of team, specific responsibilities, what you learned and what you would have done differently, etc…)

It is highly recommended to “close” at the end of your interview. Use your own words, but one example includes "I am very interested in this position. What are your thoughts of my background in relation to your position?" or "Do you have any concerns about my background?" This allows you to confirm your interest and let the client know that you would like to come on board. If there are any concerns that the client does address at this point you will then have the opportunity to give further information and clarify any points of contention prior to leaving. Once you have left the room, there is a good chance the client will have made their decision on the next step.