• During the pre-interview stage the applicants should know themselves well, i.e., they should be aware of their career goals, their personal and professional needs and interests as well as of their abilities and accomplishments. Candidates should research the companies or organizations to which they are seeking employment using annual reports, brochures, news-letters, catalogs (some directories are indicated in the bibliography of this handbook) and, of course, they should prepare a resume, know about their field of interest-openings, salary ranges and possible jobs. (Refer to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, available in most libraries).
  
• In the next stage, or actual interview, the candidate should:
  • Be on time and dress neatly.
  • Relax. Allow the interviewer to start the interview.
  • Answer questions briefly but informatively. Focus on yourself. Highlight your accomplishments and positive features.
  • Be enthusiastic. Know what key points to present.
  • Don't be afraid to ask intelligent questions.
  • The candidate should avoid excessive body language.
  • Ask when and how the interviewees will be contacted.
  
  
• Once the interview is over, send the job seeker a thank you note. Use the interview as a learning experience, assessing problems, strengths and weaknesses.

Key to a Successful Interview During the interview the candidate will be asked various questions of a professional and related nature. S/he should answer all questions directly and truthfully and include as much pertinent information as may be necessary. The job seeker should also ask questions, and research the job and the company. Asking questions, like researching the company shows the employer that the candidate has a serious interest in the firm. Below are some questions the candidate can ask of the interviewer as well as those that can be asked by the latter.

Applicant Question Interviewer Question

• What will my job duties be?
• How will I be trained for this?
• What have you done that shows position? Initiative and performance?
• With whom will I be working?
• What do you hope to be doing in ten years?
• What hours will I be working?
• What are the opportunities for advancement?
• What have you learned from your past jobs?
• What is the method of employee Job?
• Why are you interested in this evaluation policy?
• Does this company have a promotion policy?
• What do you have to offer us ?
• What are your ideas about salary?
• Does this company reimburse educational expenses?
• What is important to you on a job ?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• May I see the area where I will be working?
• How do you feel about traveling, Relocation?
  
  

Company Information

Printed Resources

1) Directory of American Firms Operating in World Countries, 15th ed. 3 vols. New York: Uniworld Publications, 1999.
An excellent resource for global job hunters, these volumes provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the CEOs, World officers in charge of U.S. operations and Personnel Directors of more than 2,450 U.S. corporations with over 29,000 subsidiaries in over 190 countries, as well as valuable information about their principal products or services, numbers of employees, etc.

2) Directory of World Firms Operating in the U.S., 10th ed. New York: Uniworld Publications, 2000.
Like the aforementioned volumes, this one provides job seekers with the names, addresses of the 2,400 World firms from 75 countries with over 9,700 U.S. affiliates.

Electronic Resources

1) Research Guides of U.S. Corporations.

This guide provides a bibliography of various titles that deal with U.S. corporations, their products, sales, etc. Although dates are not provided, the titles themselves can be search through the Internet. This guide is an excellent resource for job seekers and should by candidates to find out more information about companies, especially for interview purposes.