Spectrum Group, LLC

Employers hire people they like. Therefore, first and foremost, create a good first impression and allow your personality to surface easily. Candidates get hired for personal skills as well as experience. Rarely does experience alone get a person a new opportunity. Personality, energy, drive and enthusiasm are the intangibles that make the difference in a hiring decision.

How can you be expected to make a great impression and determine if the career opportunity is right for you? Be prepared. Know what to expect from the interview, and know how to handle it if things do not go quite as you had planned. Your recruiter will help prepare you. These subtle advantages not only make the difference in receiving a job offer, but also will influence starting compensation.

	Research the company. Your recruiter is a great resource and can offer valuable independent resources.
	Have your recruiter tell you as much about the interviewer's background as possible.
	Know if the format of the interview is a screening interview, a stress interview or a behavioral interview.
	Know what you are looking for in a position before you interview so that you have a benchmark upon which to judge the opportunity.
	Be able to express, specifically, the technical and personal attributes that you have to offer the organization.
	Be prepared for the standard interview questions and know your answers to them.
	Know how to deal with illegal questions tactfully during the interview.
	Prepare questions about the company and the role - only ask questions you can't find answers to yourself.
	Be prepared to talk about your research so that the employer knows you have done your homework.
	Line up your references in advance. Your recruiter can determine if they are appropriate.

	Ask your recruiter how to dress appropriately for the organization. Dress on the conservative side.
	Give yourself plenty of time so that you arrive early. Spend any extra time going over notes and present yourself five to ten minutes before the interview.
	Bring extra resumes, notepad, pen.
	Be sure you know how to pronounce your interviewer's name correctly.
	Be polite to everyone you meet there. The receptionist's opinion is often times highly valued
	Be personable as well as professional.
	Do not chew gum, smoke, swear or use slang.
	Be aware of body language, vibes, reactions - use your instincts to react properly.
	Do not assume that your interviewer knows how to elicit the information he/she is looking for. Volunteer important experiences that are relevant to the role.
	Take your time to answer the question. Use real life examples versus generalities.
	Answer all questions honestly, but in the best, most positive light.
	Do not speak poorly of old employers.

	Take notes about the interview after you leave.
	Send a thank you letter ASAP to each interviewer.
	Be sure to spell all names correctly and to know the correct titles.

immediately after the interview contact your recruiter to present feedback on the interview while the experience is still fresh.