It's a familiar lament echoed by many a job hunter in today's tight job market. "I get the interviews, but not the job." The problem is, you look good on your resume, but not so good in person.
Keep in mind that the purpose of the interview is to get more information about you, to see how you respond when difficult questions are thrown your way. Interviewers want to get a better feel for your skills, talents, and your value to the company. They also want to see how well you'll fit into the company's corporate culture, and to see if you'll get along with your co-workers and immediate supervisor.
Particularly for an administrative position, you should make it a point to thoroughly research the company, the culture, their product or service, and even their strategy. Don't hesitate to use social media outlets like LinkedIn to find out more about the company and its culture.
Remember, too, that first impressions are critical, so always wear your best outfit. Go on the company's website and see if you can find any photos of employees to see how they dress. Then dress one step up for the interview.
Be ready to answer the most common interview questions. Don't ramble or sound robotic by simply repeating what's on your resume. Maintain good eye contact and appropriate body language. Listen carefully and answer all questions with specifics. And never disparage former colleagues or employers. If you are shuttled around the office, try to remember the names of people you are introduced to. Doing so is very impressive when you return to the interviewer's office.
Finally, interviewing is a skill that takes practice. So do a lot of mock interviews with friends and associates.
For some sage advice , check out Gerry Fusco's paperback, Landing Your Ideal Job and Landing It Faster. It includes inspiring testimonials from Administrative Assistants to CEO's.
For more information on administrative jobs, check out:
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!