Page 16 - HIWT Spring 2011 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

ASK THE RECRUITER: KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL

INTERVIEW

„ Composure – Stay calm, do not fidget. It is important to
look and act like you are comfortable and relaxed.
By Anne Kutscher, „ Be prepared – Research the company, what they do, how
SPHR they do it. Arrive at the interview with questions for the
Recruiter, Cianbro interviewer that show that you prepared for the interview.
www.cianbro.com „ Go alone - Do not take children, friends or pets. The
company is looking to hire you. Bringing anybody
other than yourself is distracting and can raise questions
I am graduating soon and about a number of things, such as your ability to provide
will begin my job search reliable transportation.
in earnest. I have never „ Make frequent eye contact – Eye contact lets the
interviewed and was interviewer know that you are being honest and engaged
wondering what I should in the conversation.
expect during an interview. „ Listen carefully to the questions asked - If confused,
ask for the question to be restated. You do not want
to interrupt the interviewer before they finish their
Interviews are an important step to get your foot in the door statement.
with a company. Think of an interview as a first date with a „ Use examples of how your skills and abilities would
future employer. You are going to be asked questions about fit the job – Spend time reading the job description
where you went to school, why you chose that career field, prior to the interview and be sure to highlight how your
what kind of work you have done, why you are looking to find experience makes you a perfect candidate for the job.
new employment and what you want to do in the future. Just „ Practice interviewing – Find frequently asked questions
like on any first date both parties are expected to ask questions on-line and write out the answers to them. Then enlist the
to get to know one another. Be prepared for the interviewer help of friends and family to practice interviewing for a
to ask you if you have any questions (and you should always job. Doing so will allow you to be more relaxed, which
have a few!). This exchange of information allows you and will let the answers flow more smoothly and confidently.
the interviewer to determine if you want to have a second date „ Be yourself! – Do not spend time trying to be someone
(will be hired). It’s your time to shine and show the company you are not. Your discomfort will come through, and the
that you are the one they want to hire. interviewer might think it is because you are not being
honest about your experience.
Below are a few tips to keep in mind as you get ready for your „ Show up early – 15 minutes is a good rule of thumb.
next interview. You do not want to be hanging around in the parking lot
more than that. If you have never been to their offices
„ Appearance – Dress for the job you want. Even if you before, either take a trial drive a few days ahead of time
are applying for an entry level trade role, you should look or leave earlier and find an adjacent parking lot to wait in.
well groomed with a clean shirt, pants that are not torn or You never know if the interviewer’s window overlooks
frayed and clean shoes. Avoid wearing a hat of any kind. the parking lot.
Like mom always says “First impressions matter.” Be „ Bring copies of your resume and a list of references
sure you leave the impression you want. – Few employers hire people on the spot these days.
„ Be concise and speak to relevant information – Your If you bring a copy of your resume for the interviewer
answers should not ramble or contain information not and a list of references you can hand over at the end of
relevant to the job you are seeking. The interviewer does the interview, it shows that you are forward thinking,
not want to know what you had for breakfast. organized and prepared. What employer wouldn’t want
„ Don’t be afraid to stop and think of an answer - Let those skills?
the interviewer know that you need a minute. Silences
are not necessarily a bad thing; use them to collect your Anne Kutscher is a Recruiter at Cianbro, a heavy civil and industrial
construction company in the Northeast. She works out of their
thoughts. Southern New England Regional offi ce in Bloomfi eld, Connecticut
„ Be enthusiastic – Employers are looking for individuals hiring individuals to work on any number of projects in sixteen states.
who look at things in a positive light. Be sure to be You can reach her at 860-761-6267; akutscher@cianbro.com; www.
upbeat and positive. cianbro.com. Students and graduates looking to submit a question
should contact Anne directly or contact Marty Baker, Editor of The
World of Welding, at Marty.Baker@welding.org or (937) 332-5603.

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