Before The Interview

Create a plan about how you want to approach the issue of your felony. One important decision is whether to volunteer the information on your own, or wait until asked by the employer. It is probably better to volunteer the information, because it shows confidence, honesty, and lets you control the message more and put a positive spin on things.

In addition to planning your approach to the felony question, practice talking about it as much as you can. Ask friends to talk to play the role of interviewer and ask tough questions about your past. You will become more comfortable with each one. Also, research the employer and the industry of the job, and be able to show that you know and care about the field.

During The Interview

Take care to not give any physical red flags that might combine with your felony. Dress as well as you can, and groom yourself as clean-cut as possible. When speaking to the interviewer, especially when discussing your felony, maintain strong eye contact along with a confident attitude and body language.

Bring the conversation to points that show responsibility. When talking about your felony, include any jobs you maintained in prison or courses and other reading you completed. Mention volunteer work you might have recently done. Also, explain how hiring a felon can help the employer with things like the Federal Bonding program that insures the employer, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

After The Interview

For felons, it is especially important to follow up within a few days after the interview. A quick thank you message the same day is effective, but also follow up after a few days by mail, email, or phone to check the status of your application.

These follow ups show a responsible person who is ready for honest work. With attention to certain details like this, the interviewer will get the message that you plan ahead and follow through on things, and those are characteristics any employer wants.

Try some of these methods to get interview experiences under your belt.

• Get Help From An Agency. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has established WorkOne centers in all counties throughout the state. They offer various services to job seekers, including interview coaching. Set up an appointment and treat the visit like a real job interview.
• Find Your School’s Career Center. If you attended college or a technical school, there are often career services offered to graduates. Explain that you have been unable to find work with their degree and ask to meet with a counselor. You can discuss your search, and many counselors will be glad to do a mock interview for you.
• Ask a Friend To Interview You. This is particularly helpful if the friend or family member is working in the field you want a job in. Remember to keep it professional and stay in your roles as interviewer and applicant. Dress as you would for a real interview, and schedule it in an unfamiliar setting if possible.

To nail an interview, you need to be relaxed. To be relaxed, you need practice. A slow job search can get you out of practice, and that is when you need to make your own practice. These are some ideas to get you started, but feel free to share any other ways you use to get interview practice by leaving a comment below.

With so many others applying for the same job as you, how do you make yourself stand out in the interview, that you are the candidate that gets the callback?

The following tips will help you to cinch that all-important interview:

• Be prompt and have a firm handshake

When the hiring decision come down to two equally qualified candidates, a decision will be based on the little things, a firm hand shake, being prompt, a professional attitude.

• Dress for the interview

While a manufacturing interview does not require a suit, do dress to impress. Dress pants or khakis, a button down shirt tucked in and a belt. The assumption is that if you look neat and tidy, your work will also be neat and tidy.

• Be specific about your experience and what skills you have.

This is very important, especially in manufacturing. In manufacturing, experience is key. If you have experience for the exact job they are hiring for, that is good, but if you have a variety of experience, but less specific, you may still be a more valuable employee.

• Be enthusiastic and ask questions

Show them that you are truly interested in working for their company. Prepare some questions to ask, directly related to manufacturing, such as; “do you use lean manufacturing techniques?” or, “What is your safety record?” Remember to thank them for the interview.

Remember interviewers see numerous people with similar experience. Machine operators and assembly people are plentiful, so the decision on who to hire usually comes down to the details, which put some effort into the interview. The interview is your time to show them you are prepared, professional and that you are the employee that will go the extra mile.

Dressing for Job Interview Success

Does it really make a big difference how you dress up for a job interview? In almost all cases, it does. Dressing for job interview success – this is perhaps one of the most overused job-hunting phrases, but this is also one of the most ignored by many job seekers. In hunting for a job, first impressions really matter.

Keep in mind that in job hunting, you are marketing yourself as a product to your customer, your potential employer, and believe it or not, the first thing that the employer or the interviewer sees when you greet him or her is your attire; therefore, you must exert extra effort to have appear in the interview in the attire most appropriate for the job you are applying for. Now you might ask if dressing properly and appropriately would get you the job. Definitely not, but dressing the right way will surely give the competitive edge.

Will you be judged by your interviewer by what you wear on the interview? Perhaps not; however, the reality is you are actually judged. Throughout the process of seeking for a job, most employers like to shorten the process – it’s either rules of thumb or heuristics but almost all of them have one common thing in mind – save their time!

What’s this shortened process? Well, they simply look at the opening paragraph of the cover letters and give your qualification a quick scan. The same thing is done with resumes. They simply give the applicant’s accomplishments a quick scan and with the job interview, it is how the interviewee dressed that actually sets the overall tone and mood of the interviewer to proceed to the interview process.

However, maybe you don’t know how to do it or you are afraid you might make a mistake in the follow up process. Worry not because this article will give you advice for successful interview follow up.

After the Interview?

First advice for interview follow up is to do it right after either a phone or in-person interview. You should not forget to send a personal thank you letter either through FAX or email to your interviewer.

It’s a good idea to consider sending thank you note cards stating your appreciation for the time given to you and then this should be followed by a message saying you look forward to having a second interview with the person or getting the job offer.

When making a follow up, make sure to reiterate how much interested you are in the company and in the job and tell them things that would link your relevant skills. Do not forget to proofread your follow up letter to make sure it is free of mistakes.

Always remember, following up will take you one step higher from the interview stage you are in right now!

Thank You Letter

Another reason why an interview thank you letter helps is it gives you the second chance to include everything you forgot to mention during the interview. Moreover, it will help you confirm your understanding of issues and topics discussed; thus, any misunderstanding later will be avoided.

You can send a thank you letter through email or FAX to make sure that it reaches the interviewer in minutes. Do not forget to ask for contact info or business cards during your interviews.

Do not forget to write your interview thank you letter professionally. It should be in a business letter format and should be personalized and tailored for each interviewer. Now that you know the reasons why an interview thank you letter helps, you should never forget it next time you are called for an interview.

The first question asks you to tell something about yourself. Because this appears to be a general question, applicants often wonder how they could summarize their life story in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, experts point out that the best way to answer this question is to focus on your major achievements in your past jobs, how they demonstrate your strengths, and how you can apply these in the job that you are applying for.

The second question inquires as to the reason why you left your previous job. The problem is that you may have resigned because you did not like your boss, or you may have been laid off or fired. The best way to handle this question is to remain positive when describing your reason for leaving, such as the search for better opportunities. It is not the time to criticize your former company or boss.

The third question asks you about your biggest weakness. It is important to understand that the reason for this question is to find out how you respond to challenges. Therefore, the best response is to select a work-related weakness and then explain how you have overcome it.

The fourth question inquires if you want to ask some questions yourself. The best response is to try to ask something about the company but not about the salary and other benefits. You can ask the interviewer whether the job has chances of advancement. You can also ask him what he likes most about the company and why. It should be pointed out here that this should not be overdone but do not forget to ask for the job.

One of the most common job interview questions asks you to tell something about yourself. Because this is a general question, you may be momentarily stunned by it if you are not prepared. There are so many aspects of your life that you may soon find yourself hesitating. The key to answering job interview questions is to always relate them to the position that you are applying for and the company. Thus, you can focus on your strengths and your personality traits that you feel will add value to the company.

Another hard interview question asks you to state your greatest strength. This may seem easy at first but there is a temptation to fake it. However, it is advisable to be realistic in your answer to this question because the employer will soon find out if you are telling the truth assuming that you are hired. Focus should be made on your strengths that you can apply for tasks that will be required by the position.

Another difficult interview question is, of course, about your greatest weakness. Some applicants try to answer this question by disguising a positive as a negative trait. However, interviewers can easily recognize this strategy. It would be better to state a particular weakness and then describe how you have overcome it.

Tough Interview Questions

A great number of interviewers often incorporate a few offbeat questions when scrutinizing a possible hire. They may do this for various reasons: to see how well you respond to stress, think on your feet, or even challenge you. Some employers may simply enjoy watching an interviewee sweat. Because it is an off-tangent question, you probably were not able to prepare for it – these questions can tackle almost anything.

The basic thing to remember when encountering such a question is that you should not let it get to you. Do not freeze like the proverbial deer in front of oncoming headlights – just buy some time to give yourself an opportunity to think. Breathe deeply, smile, and ponder the question. Some dead air is preferable to just giving an answer off the top of your head. Do not try too hard to sound intellectual or be too flippant at the same time. The worst case is that you may not be able to think of an answer, so try and ask if you could address the query later on. You will still, at least, have points for grace under pressure. If the idea strikes you, attempt to turn your answer into one related to the job, although this is something that most interviewers may not expect.

Above all, keep in mind that one can only ‘forecast’ and prepare for the interview Q and A to a certain degree. There is no way to know about all the questions an interviewer can possibly ask. Simply knowing that the unexpected should be, well, expected will give you more confidence. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. Do not freak out, answer as calmly and as logically as you can, and this may give you the edge over other applicants and get you that coveted job.

How do you answer questions like “if you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?”  Much of answering these questions involves assessing your ability to think on your feet.  Be prepared to answer that without much thought.

You should choose your hero and explain why they are your hero.  It does not necessarily have to relate to the position, it will give an interviewer insight into your personality.  There is no wrong answer to that question.

One of the toughest and most common questions is “where do you see yourself in 5 years?”  You must always answer that question with respect to the company you’re interviewing with.  Be specific if possible.  Be careful not to threaten the person interviewing you.  Read that as “where do you want to be?”  Your answer may help you move through the ranks.

You must be honest.  Many people are comfortable in their role and don’t want more than that.  Employers also like that answer as they don’t want to have to fill a position every year or two.  There are lots of great resources available, check some out and be prepared.