Using Employer Literature for Successful Interviews
Simply being informed about an employer does not guarantee a successful interview unless you can effectively use the information.
Information about the employer's products, 财务数据, 机会, or how they impact society is only helpful if you know how to tactfully "weave" your new knowledge into the interview. This is no easy task and simply spouting facts or statistics --or prefacing a question with a lot of memorized information--is not the answer.
Most employers have literature and/or a web site describing their organization and 机会. Major employers provide annual reports. It is important for you to secure information on an employer before you interview.
Using Information in Answering Questions
Most of the questions you will be asked will not relate directly to the information in the literature. 有很多方法, 然而, to show how your skills and background meet the employer's needs using the information you gain. 一些例子:
- 问题:
'Why do you think you might want to work for this company? "
回应:
“就我对这份工作的理解而言, there's plenty of opportunity to be involved in both the planning of marketing strategies and the actual selling. Besides using my communications skills and knowledge of chemicals in direct selling, I believe I'm creative when it comes to marketing.
- 问题:
"I see you're involved with the Spanish Club. What were some of the benefits from that experience?"
回应:
”秘书, I was responsible for organizing a display on Spanish literature for the Cultural Fair we sponsored. Most of my correspondence with 出版 houses was done in Spanish and I feel this experience added a whole new business angle to my fluency. I would feel very confident communicating with your international customers."
- 问题:
“你最喜欢什么课程??"
回应:
"I enjoyed my Sociology of Learning class the most. During one in a series of field trips, I observed a rural daycare center. That confirmed for me that this type of setting is where I want to begin my career.
Using Information in Asking Questions
Next, it will be your turn to ask questions of the interviewer. It is to your advantage to ask questions which require the interviewer to expand on information you have learned from the employer's literature. Following are some excerpts from employer literature, paired with questions that could be formulated from the information given.
After about 12-15 months from the time you began, 如果你已经证明了你的能力, you'll be ready for promotion to Merchandising Manager. Your increased responsibility will include a larger sales volume and a number of sales associates reporting to you."
问题制定
"Could you talk about some methods by which trainees are evaluated?"
"What kinds of communication channels are there between the trainees and the supervisors?
"What would you say is the major quality or accomplishment which distinguishes those who are promoted from those who are not?"
"Today's large store manager usually has gained experience in district or regional staff work"
问题制定
"In viewing some of the background that your large store managers have, 提到了区域工作人员的工作. Could you describe some of the staff work responsibilities?"
“但这仍然不是重点. 从一开始, ABC公司有一个目标——一个愿景, if you will--of being the leader in communications. That's why we are into education, 出版, and software, among other things."
问题制定
“当公司展望未来时, it appears from the brochure that education, 出版, 软件是一些关键领域. What are some of the product areas now that might be less important in the future-that the company may be cutting back?"
糟糕问题的例子
1. 告诉我你们的培训计划." (Too general, shows you didn't do your homework.)
2. "At what salary level would I be if I progress to Step 3 in my second year with the company?" (Shows your concern is money as opposed to responsibility.)
3. "Could you explain your fringe benefits package?" (Standard, boring question-need to be more specific and ask about various aspects.)
审查雇主的准则
Asking and answering interview questions in a prepared and professional manner is the key to successful interviewing. Use the following list of EMPLOYER INFORMATION CRITERIA (Adapted from "Recruiting Literature: Is It Adequate? " ECPO) as a guideline for what you need to find out about an employer BEFORE you choose to interview.
- Details and Functional Descriptions of Positions
- 培训计划大纲
- Hiring Process (timing, evaluation criteria)
- 好处
- Requisite Qualifications for Entry-Level Positions
- 典型的职业道路
- Introduction to Employer Products/ Services
- 起薪 / Compensation Forms
- 员工审查/评估流程
- 出差/搬迁期望
- 一般聘用模式
- 地区生活方式/生活成本
- 组织结构图/架构