DCA Professional Search

	Keys to Good Interviewing

The number of job candidates who disqualify themselves in interviews by their lack of basic professional etiquette is amazing. Most simply assume that the position is theirs for the taking. That kind of arrogant attitude is hard to miss and rarely ingratiating.

The most important strategy for interviewees to remember is that nothing should be taken for granted. Every meeting deserves thorough preparation and careful attention to detail, even if the position doesn't appear to be a close match. "Winging it" is seen for what it is: a waste of everyone's time. Prepare yourself prior to the meeting by doing your research on the company, principals and the interviewees. Find out if the company has a web page.

To increase your chances of making lasting impression that will lead to a job offer, remember to apply the following keys to good interviewing:

Always confirm your appointment and never be late. Calling the interviewer's secretary one day early to confirm time and place is more than just courteous, it's proper business behavior.
Arrive prepared. Learn as much as you can about the company's history, products, markets, competitors, direction, culture and problems. Your local library or the net should have much of this information. At appropriate times in the interview, interject a piece of information that reflects your preparation. It will be noted and remembered.
Dress appropriately. Find out how the company executives dress and, follow suit.
Never invite your spouse or a friend along on the interview. This sends out a signal that you cannot make decisions on your own.
Don't smoke unless invited and even then, it is best to decline.
Don't monopolize the conversation, even if the recruiter doesn't say much. Too many candidates see interviews as a sell, sell, sell. Instead, listen closely to how the interviewer defines each question before launching into an answer. Try also to get a feel for the interviewer's personality before asking questions so you know the best way to phrase them.
Show enthusiasm at every step of the process.
Don't offer solutions to the employer's apparent problems, you risk sounding arrogant and uninformed. If pressed for a new idea, you might respond by asking, "have you tried so-and-so or this idea?"
Never lie or overstate your past areas of responsibility. When references are checked out, little lies, exaggerations and embellishments will be uncovered.
Never accept a job offer at first interview. Even though you may fit the position perfectly and are excited by the challenge, talk it over with your family and sleep on it before accepting.
Don't play hard to get. Seldom does this tactic work. Aloofness is usually mistaken for a strong lack of interest.
Always write a follow-up "thank you" note the day after the interview. This sends out a signal of your interest and your follow-up skills. This is a good opportunity for a resell.

	Counter Offer

You have accepted an offer from a new employer and on giving notice to your present Company, a counter offer is made - you should consider the following:

Ask yourself if you were worth "X" dollars yesterday, why are they suddenly willing to now pay you "Y" dollars today when you were not anticipating a raise for sometime.
Business Week published a set of statistics that revealed that nine out of ten candidates who accepted a counter offer were back on the streets looking within six months.
You should know that statistics compiled by the National Employment Association confirm the fact that over 80% of those people who elect to accept a counter offer and stayed, are no longer with their company six months later.
Consider the fact that your present Employer could be merely "buying time" with this raise until he can locate a replacement. Suppose you were given an annual raise as a counter offer of $3000.00. When they find a replacement for you in, say 60 days, and then the actual cost to them is only $500.00.
The company will probably feel as though they have been "blackmailed" into giving you a raise when you announced your decision to leave.
Realize that you are now a marked person. The possibility of promotion is extremely limited for someone who has "given notice." The company is vulnerable, they know it and will not risk giving more responsibility to someone whom was previously committed to leave.
Is just more money going to change everything in your present job? Consider the new opportunity you will be giving up that looked so favorable when you accepted it.
When economic slow-downs occur, you could be one of the first to go. You indicated your intention to do so once before, so it is only natural that your position would be eliminated in a slack period.
Carefully review in your mind all the reasons you wanted to leave in the first place.