Interview tips from a professional interviewer

Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
HOUSTON, TX — Tom Vangen works as a national recruiter for the IRS. He’s pretty much seen it all when it comes to interviews. Here are a few tips from he has to offer:

Come prepared. Know the basic information about the organization and the position. Wear business attire, preferably a suit. Have specific examples ready. Vangen said many interview questions regard behavior, such as how a person handles conflict. Think of examples beforehand and be ready to explain them. Vangen suggests using the acronym CAR: describe the Challenge; explain your Actions; describe the Resolution.
Use ‘I’ statements. Starting sentences with ‘we’ doesn’t tell a potential employer much about you. Convey confidence. Potential employers want to see people who are sure of themselves and confident that they can handle the job.
Don’t ask questions that are either basic or aimed at the wrong person. The person hiring you for the job knows about the job and the company, but probably not the ins and outs of the organization’s benefit plan. Save these for HR. Lastly, Don’t make employers prod you for information. Listen to the interview questions. If you don’t understand, ask for a clarification. Then give as complete an answer as possible.
Article abridged from Houston Chronicle, and reprinted from TheCareerNews.com. Get the latest breaking News, Tips and Tools for your job search, Free!