Guide to Job Interviewing

How to interview for job search success

By Lea Terry, Freelance Journalist / Copywriter

1. Planning responses to the employer's questions
2. Preparing your own questions for the job interview
3. Knowing what an employer can and cannot ask
4. Being polite and using basic manners
5. Communicating through body language
6. Dressing appropriately

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know which interview questions the employer might ask

You can't anticipate every question the interviewer will ask, but you can research the most common interview job questions and determine what kind of responses most employers are looking for.

I recommend: At Job-Interview.net, search the interview question bank by job skills, knowledges and abilities. The interview question database at Quintessential Careers includes 150 questions and sample answers.

Know which interview questions to ask

Many employers place as much importance on what kinds of questions you ask as on how you answer their questions. The standard, 'So, do you have any questions?' section at the end of the interview isn't solely for your benefit; it's also a way for the employer to evaluate how prepared you are, how inquisitive you are, and what you're looking for in a job.

I recommend: At the Virginia Tech Career Services site, find sample questions and tips on asking interview questions. Read the questions most commonly asked by job applicants at GradView.

Research the law about job interview questions

Some interview questions are illegal, and you have the right to tell an employer that information is off-limits. If an employer asks an illegal question, that could be an indicator that's not the kind of place you'd want to work. Even if you are asking this person for a job, you still have a right to your privacy.

I recommend: Find out what an employer cannot ask you at FindLaw, JobBank USA and WorkTree.com.

Master the art of answering interview questions over the phone

Phone interviews are gaining popularity, and require a different set of skills than in-person interviews. You can't see the interviewer's body language or facial expressions, making it difficult to gauge their reaction, and you can't use body language to make a good impression--all you have is your voice.

I recommend: Prepare for your next phone interview with advice from Job Interview Questions, WorkTree.com, Monster or Interview Tips.

Find interviewing tips just for recent grads

Someone just out of college will need to prepare much differently than a C-level executive with years of experience. You may not have much on-the-job experience to demonstrate why you're a good fit for the position, so you need to know how to translate your academic performance, internships and even volunteer experience into skills that apply to the position you're seeking.

I recommend: Websites like CollegeGrad.com and WetFeet.com feature interviewing tips specifically for people just starting their careers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Job interview skills extend far beyond knowing how to answer an employer's questions; they also include knowing how to negotiate salary and benefits, dressing appropriately and understanding how and when to follow-up.
• •  Send a thank-you card to the interviewers after you meet with them. This keeps you at the front of their minds while they're making their final decision, and suggests to them that you'll show equal consideration to co-workers, customers and clients if you're hired.