The Job Interview

by Mickey Mixon

The second step in getting a job is having an interview with a potential employer. The first step was sending your application and resume, and after careful review by the company, you may be seen as a candidate for the vacant position.

The employer gets applicants through ads placed in the newspaper, referred by someone in the company or a headhunter, or by a person who simply submitted an application via the company’s website.

The first impression employers always look at is your resume. Given the many that apply, this usually takes about 30 seconds and so with the limited words, one must be sure that the resume is well written and grammatically correct. A 1 page resume at this step in the process is always best. You want to qualify yourself for the job in your resume, so you will be selected for an interview.

During the interview, most employers want to know more about person since the resume only gives certain information such as the person’s name, age, address, contact number, social security number, past and current employment.

The employer will likely ask about work experience, lessons and accomplishments you have done and learned working for another employer. This will usually include how the person handled a situation in the company, the challenges of the job and the relationship with coworkers.

The employer will usually ask why the person applied in the company and where you would like to be in 5 to 10 years. Long term questions such as this will show if there is dedication for the job at hand and if the company can provide something beneficial for both the applicant and the employer.

Companies follow a certain budget in hiring qualified personnel which is why the interviewer will ask how much money you need, how much money you want, or how much money you expect to be paid. It is usually best not to give a specific answer, but to give a salary range like $10 an hour would be okay, $15 would be better and $20 an hour would be great. Remember, the salary is usually open to negotiation. And until you are actually offered the job, salary is a moot point.

After the employer asks questions, they usually ask the applicant if they have any questions. This is the best time to know a little bit more the company, so you can ask a question that is about the company specifically.

If there are no more questions, the interviewer will then end the meeting. They will usually call the applicant back over the next few days, if the person has passed the initial interview so that the next phase of the application process can begin.

About the Author - Mickey Mixon
Sugar Land Businessman Mickey Mixon is a Licensed Private Investigator, and a Talented Internet Marketer specializing in Affiliate Marketing. Mickey’s career includes a 15 year career in Houston Texas area retailing, owning stores in 5 malls until 1998. In 1997 he formed the PI firm American Information Bureau/American Investigation Brokers LLC. In 1996 he published his first book, Job Search Survival ,with an updated edition released on July 4, 2009. He is also Ministry Coordinator for the SCBC Job’s Ministry in Sugar Land TX. Contact Mickey at JobSearchSurvival@gmail.com http://www.JobSearchSurvival.com