Don't Blow the Interview How to Prepare, What

Whether you get the job or not is determined in the interview. . . . The job interview isthesingle most crucial step in the whole application process. Learn about: -How to secure the interview, from résumé preparation to query letters and more -Ways to dress, walk, and talk for interview success -Common interview questions--and how to answer them! -How to deal with illegal questions about age, sexual orientation, family status, etc. -And lots more!

“It’s amazing how everything that is needed to succeed with the interview process is so clearly presented in the book. Don’t Blow the Interview provides an excellent understanding of what the interviewer is looking for and how you can deliver the goods.”
—Lou Cona, vice president and publisher, The New Yorker

Preface

How This Book Is Structured

xiii

Introduction: Interviewing Logic and Rationale

1

(1)

Understanding the Interview Process

1

(2)

Maximize Your Expense and Effort

3

(1)

The Competitive Edge

4

(3)

Part 1: Six Steps to Interview Success

7

(44)

Preparing a Resume

9

(8)

What to Include

9

(3)

Appeal

12

(1)

Design

13

(1)

Action

14

(1)

Forwarding a Resume

14

(3)

Obtaining an Interview

17

(5)

Options

17

(1)

Know Yourself

18

(1)

Be Proactive

19

(1)

Build and Maintain a Contact List

20

(2)

What to Do After Scheduling the Interview

22

(2)

Preparing for the Interview

24

(8)

Have a Strategy

24

(1)

Types of Interviews

25

(1)

Become Informed

26

(1)

Know What the Interviewer Is Looking For

27

(1)

Know What You Want to Say

28

(2)

Anticipate the Interviewer's Questions

30

(2)

The Interview

32

(13)

The Initial Impression

32

(1)

Grooming Suggestions

33

(2)

Creating a Great First Impression

35

(2)

Arriving for the Interview

37

(1)

The Initial Portion of the Interview

38

(1)

The Middle Portion of the Interview: Evaluation Points

39

(1)

The Middle Portion of the Interview: Conversation

40

(2)

The Wrap-up

42

(1)

Exit Formalities

42

(1)

Interview in a Restaurant

43

(2)

Post-Interview Follow-up

45

(5)

Initial Follow-up Letter

45

(1)

Second Follow-up Letter

46

(1)

Job Offer Follow-up Letter

47

(1)

Job Rejection Follow-up Letter

48

(1)

Letter for Withdrawal or Declining an Offer

48

(1)

Who to Copy on Letters

49

(1)

Summary

50

(1)

Part 2: Sample Resumes

51

(42)

Types of Resumes

53

(2)

Chronological

53

(1)

Functional

53

(1)

Chronological/Functional

53

(2)

Resumes Checklist

55

(1)

Sample Resumes

56

(32)

College Freshman Seeking Internship

57

(2)

College Sophomore Seeking Internship

59

(2)

College Junior Seeking Internship

61

(4)

College Senior Preparing for Full-Time Job Search

65

(4)

College Graduate Pursuing First Full-Time Job

69

(4)

Master's Degree Individual Pursuing Next Job

73

(4)

Employed Individual Seeking a Job Change (Chronological/Functional)

77

(2)

Employed Individual Seeking a Job Change (Chronological)

79

(2)

Employed Individual Seeking a Career Change

81

(4)

Previously Employed Individual Re-entering the Job Market

85

(3)

Differences Between Traditional and Scanned Resume Formats

88

(5)

Sample Resume: ``Traditional'' Format

89

(2)

Sample Resume: ``Scanned'' Format

91

(2)

Part 3: Sample Letters

93

(22)

Types of Letters

93

(2)

Suggested Paragraph-by-Paragraph Contents

95

(2)

Letter Structure

95

(2)

Sample Cover Letters (with Resume)

97

(7)

Initial Internship

97

(1)

Second or Third Internship

98

(1)

Advertised Position

99

(1)

Direct Contact (Cold Call)

100

(1)

Networking Lead

101

(1)

Re-entering the Work Force

102

(1)

Thank-you After Scheduling an Initial Interview, but Before the Actual Interview

103

(1)

Sample Letters (Without Resume)

104

(11)

Informational Interview

104

(1)

Thank-you After Scheduling an Informational Interview, but Before the Actual Interview

105

(1)

Thank-you to Informational Interviewer

106

(1)

Follow-up to Initial Interview

107

(1)

Second Follow-up to Initial Interview

108

(1)

Thank-you to Networking Referral Person

109

(1)

Follow-up to Job Acceptance (More Formal)

110

(1)

Follow-up to Job Acceptance (Less Formal)

111

(1)

Follow-up to Job Rejection

112

(1)

Job Withdrawal

113

(1)

Declining a Job Offer

114

(1)

Part 4: Interview Questions and Answers

115

(24)

Types of Interview Questions

115

(2)

Standard/Traditional Questions and Answers

117

(6)

Behavioral Questions and Answers

123

(7)

Logic Questions and Answers

130

(4)

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

134

(2)

Questions That Are Illegal for Interviewers to Ask

136

(3)

Part 5: Targeting the Right Employer

139

(16)

Sample Employer Survey

141

(2)

Background

141

(1)

Consumer Questionnaire

142

(1)

Businesses and Positions Within Specific Industry Categories

143

(12)

Acknowledgments

155

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Don't Blow the Interview How to Prepare, What to Expect, and How to React

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials