THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511110562
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LON WAGNER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
You're heading into an important job interview. You've managed to wipe off your sweaty palms, straighten your tie or check for runs in your hose, and you've made sure no food specks are stuck to your teeth.
Now comes the hard part, the interview itself. Richmond-based Career Management Group Inc., which has an office in Virginia Beach, says most people are unprepared for it.
Only five percent of job applicants research the company before an interview to find out who sits on its board of directors, how much money it earned - or lost - last year, or even to learn about the company's mission, CMG says.
CMG released four interviewing tips to go along with its new interactive ``career transition'' program, FASTRAK. The program is designed to help people who may be rusty at interviewing, but who need to sell themselves again due to a downsizing or reorganization.
In addition to researching a company before interviewing, CMG advises:
Dressing two levels higher than the job. The rule of thumb has always been to dress one level higher - if jacket and tie is appropriate, wear a business suit - but CMG's Paul R. O'Donnell said the company advises ``two levels higher'' to make the point.
``Quite a number of companies are five days a week, 50 weeks a year casual,'' O'Donnell said. ``The guidelines haven't changed for an interview - it's still a formal process.''
Presumably, if a business suit is standard, there's no need to go with a tuxedo.
Practicing a ``two-minute'' drill, which basically serves as a verbal resume, and makes the interviewee prepared to answer the longstanding question, ``So tell me a little bit about yourself.''
Maintain eye contact during 60 percent of the interview. Some people can make eye contact naturally, but others look nervous, insecure or don't know when to stop looking at the interviewer.
``You don't need to stare holes into someone,'' O'Donnell said. ``That's as bad as not doing it at all.'' ILLUSTRATION: JANET SHAUGHNESSY
The Virginian-Pilot
by CNB