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Interviewing
Techniques
First you need
to get an Interview
- To be successful in your job hunt, you must first attempt to sell your
skill set.
- Gain as much exposure as possible. The more recruitment personnel see your
resume,
the better your odds are on getting an interview. One-way of gaining
that exposure is to
place your resume with our placement agency. You can apply
online or email a placement
coordinator, tell them what you’re looking for and attach your resume.
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Preparing
for the Interview
- Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer’s full
name, the correct pronunciation and his or her title.
- Learn pertinent facts about the office. Do they specialize in implants,
periodontics, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, etc?
- Find out why the dentist/office manager is
interested in your qualifications.
- Determine how the opportunity will impact your immediate and long-term
career development.
- An interview is a "two-way street." Know what questions to ask
during the interview. Your questions allow the dentist/office manager to evaluate
your professional and personal needs. Insightful questions help both of you
determine if your relationship will be mutually rewarding. Lastly, the
better you understand the opportunity, the more you will be able to
communicate your interest in the position.
Put your best foot forward. Always wear proper attire and greet your
interviewer with a firm handshake and an enthusiastic smile.
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The Interview
- For dentist/office managers, the "right match" means they have
identified individuals capable of performing the immediate challenges. More
importantly, they hope the individuals have the potential to be future
resources and assets to the office.
- The interviewer is the mechanism used to determine the "right
match."
- You are being interviewed be the dentist/office manager to determine whether you
have the qualifications necessary to do the job and whether a mutually
rewarding professional relationship can be formed.
- Similarly, you must determine whether you can be successful in the
available position and whether the dental office will give you the opportunity for
growth and development.
- Present yourself in the best possible light. However, be yourself;
everyone has the same goal- the "right match."
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Some "DOs" and "DON’Ts"
-
Do plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job
interviewer is never excusable.
-
If presented with an application, do fill it out neatly and completely.
Don’t rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you.
Interviewers will want you to speak for yourself.
-
Do greet the interviewer by last name if you are sure of the
pronunciation. If not, ask the employer to repeat it. Give the appearance of
energy as you walk. Smile! Shake hands firmly. Be genuinely glad to meet the
interviewer.
- Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright, look
alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good
communicator.
- Do look a prospective employer in the eye while speaking.
- Do follow the interviewer’s leads, but try to get the interviewer to
describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that
you can apply your background, skills and accomplishments to the position.
- Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a
factual, sincere manner. Stress achievements.
- Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are
discussing. Never close the door on opportunity.
- Do show enthusiasm. If you are interested in the opportunity, enthusiastic
feedback can enhance your chances of being further considered. If you are
not interested, your responsiveness will still demonstrate your
professionalism.
- Don’t forget to bring a copy of your resume! Keep several copies in your
briefcase if you are afraid you will forget.
- Don’t smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. Do
not chew gum.
- Don’t answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain
whenever possible. Describe those
things about yourself in which relate to the situation.
- Don’t Lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.
- Don’t make unnecessary derogatory remarks about your present or former
employers. Obviously, there were issues or else you would not have left a
prior dental office or be looking to leave a present employer. However, when
explaining your reasons for leaving, limit your comments to those necessary
to adequately communicate your rationale.
- Don’t over answer questions. And if the interviewer steers the
conversation into politics or controversial issues, try to do more listening
than speaking since this could be sensitive situation.
Don’t inquire about salary, bonuses, retirement, etc., on the initial
interview unless you are sure the employer is interested in hiring you. If
the interviewer asks what salary you want indicate what you’ve earned but
that you’re more interested in the opportunity than in a specific salary.
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Be Prepared to Answer Such Questions As
- Tell me about yourself?
- Tell me about your background, accomplishments?
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
- How would you describe your most recent job performances?
- What interests you about out office?
- How do you stay professionally current?
- What outside activities are most to your personal development?
- And be prepared to ASK questions, such as?
- What would I be expected to accomplish in this position?
- What are the greatest challenges in this position?
- How do you think I fit the position?
Remember a lack of questions may be mistaken as a lack of interest.
Not letting these kinds of subjects catch you off-guard is a key factor in
maintaining your composure during an interview. Rehearse these questions and
answers in your mind (or even out loud, if you can) in the days before the
interview.
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Negative Factors Evaluated by An Interviewer
- Personal appearance that is less than professional.
- Overbearing, overaggressive or egotistical behavior.
- No positive purpose.
- Lack of confidence and poise; nervousness.
- Over emphasis on compensation.
- Evasiveness; making excuses for unfavorable factors in work history.
- Lack of tact, maturity and courtesy.
- Condemnation of past employers, managers, or technologies.
- Inability to maintain a conversation.
- Lack of commitment to fill the position at hand.
- Failure to ask questions about the position.
- Persistent attitude of "What can you do for me"?
Lack of preparation for interview: failure to get information about the
company, resulting in inability to ask intelligent questions.
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Closing
the Interview
- If you are interested in the position, let the interviewer know. If you
feel the position is attractive and you want it, be a good salesperson and
say something like: "I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen here
today; your office, and the people I’ve met. I am confident
I could do an excellent job in the position you’ve described to me
"The interviewer will be impressed with your enthusiasm
- Don’t be too discouraged if no immediate commitment is made. The
interviewer will probably want to communicate with other people in the
company or possibility interview more candidates before making a decision.
- If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that
you have already rejected, don’t let your discouragement show. Once in a
while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem to
discourage you as a way of testing your reaction.
Thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration. If you have
answered the two questions "Why are you interested in this position?"
and "What can you offer?"— You have done all you can.
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To win an
offer
you must be able to do four
things well:
The purpose of interviewing techniques is to offer a powerful complement to
your arsenal of weapons in the career search battle. Now that you have the
resume (and hopefully a good cover letter) you need to be prepared for that
crucial conversation.
- Demonstrate your expertise
(using a consultant's style of
communicating).
- Create open and clear dialog
(you must effectively respond to open
ended questions, i.e. "tell me about yourself, what makes you stand out,
what are your greatest weaknesses?")
- Handle objections
(spoken and unspoken).
- Justify your salary requirements
(not just negotiate them).
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