After the layoffs, it's back to the interrogation chamber

Selling yourself again:
The job interview revisited

With Ann Humphries, ETICON

First in a two-part series: This week, the job applicant's concerns. Next week, the view from the other side of the desk.

(CNN) -- "If you were a squirrel, which commodity would you inventory first -- the nuts or the berries?"

May you never encounter that question in a job interview.

But the knee-knocking trial of it all, the sleepless nights leading up to it, the 18 cups of coffee before you get there, the sudden feeling that your resumé belongs to someone else and your clothes do, too, for that matter ... it's all here again for a lot of people. Some may have thought they wouldn't be facing this particular ordeal again soon, if ever.

It's a job interview. And with the wake of layoffs widening -- nearly 300,000 in the United States in the first quarter of this year, according to data from Randstad North America and Roper Starch Worldwide -- a lot of people are finding themselves back in that very hot seat.

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	How well do you handle job interviews? I'm good at them. In fact, I enjoy them. I can get by, but they're no fun. I really have to psych up. And sometimes I tank. I'm hopeless. I fall apart as soon as I say, "Hello." View Results

CNN: So we applied ourselves to ETICON'S Ann Humphries, asking her to tell us what's important to know from the business etiquette standpoint, what to do when it's time to grip 'n' grin. And before we give you Ann, any squirrel knows the answer is berries, inventory them first -- nuts have longer shelf life.

Ann Humphries: Well, hold your handshake, let's back up a little.

•  You will have started by packaging yourself carefully. You don't "wing it." You consider how your resumé and cover letter represent you. In my business, I've received resumés that were faded, crooked, stuffed badly into envelopes -- and they want me to pay attention? The assembly-line process of putting together these mailings can really trip you up.

•  You also will have personalized your early communications with the company you'd like to work for. If you knew a contact's name, you used it -- and you checked to be sure you had the right spelling and the proper gender of the person you were addressing.

•   If you don't know who you're talking to, you will have used non-sexist terminology. I still get "Dear Sir" on some of these., It's "Dear Human Resources Manager." If you're referring to the company by name, spell that name correctly.

•   Research the company. Find them on the Net. Technical inquiries will come later -- vacation, benefits. For now, your focus should be on making them know you have a unique skill or talent they need.

•   Spell your name correctly on your cover letter, too. Believe it or not, it happens.

•  Before you left for your interview, you will have learned how to pronounce that company name -- and the names of anybody you could tell ahead that you might meet. Homework. Not "winging it."

•   When invited to an interview, get good directions. Be on time. An office park may have four buildings -- make sure you know where you're going so you don't have to waste "capital" with your interviewer by apologizing for being late.

•   Pull yourself together in the parking lot. If you're a woman, put your face on in the car. You'd be amazed how many times you'll run into the person who's about to interview you, on the way in. Be ready.

•   Have several copies of your resumé. Carry them (and anything else) in your left hand, so you're ready to shake hands with your right. Enter with energy. Presence. Stay on your feet until you find an upright chair -- try to avoid the low, soft chair. If you have to wait, spend the time reviewing your dates, your previous work.

•   Shift the conversation. Get your interviewer talking. You can't be cagey, you have to reveal your knowledge of the field. But this equalizes the relationship and makes it a two-way conversation. You're bringing things they want to the table.

•   In some ways, the interview process is humiliating. But once you get your stuff onto paper, it's easier. At least you can see that you've done things -- that helps build confidence. Remember, it's the "What can I do for you?" attitude you want. "How can I be of service?"

NO INTERVIEW REQUIRED
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•   Profanity is out, of course. But also watch for colloquialisms in your speech -- "yep," "nope," "no problem." Don't ramble. Watch out for nervous humor. Don't preface a question with, "May I ask you a question?"

•   Don't forget to ask for the job. It's fair to ask, "Where do we go from here? May I call you in a few days?" Don't grovel. But make it clear you anticipate follow-up. You'll be following, yourself, with a thank-you note. E-mail is perfectly acceptable these days, but do make it soon after the interview to give it the most impact, the sooner the better.

•   Finally, remember that they want you to be good. They want to find a good person. They want someone who's going to take a burden off their shoulders and handle things -- someone who'll make them look good. You're that person. And you're there so they can figure that out.

Next week: Interviewing from the viewpoint of the interviewer.

South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges has just named Ann Humphries, founder and president of ETICON Inc., one of seven South Carolina Women of Achievement. Humphries, who's based in Columbia, is a Certified Professional Consultant to Management. Her clients have included several Fortune 500 companies. She's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Money, and on CNN, CBS and Lifetime TV. You can contact her at www.eticon.com.

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April 17, 2001
Job cuts circle the globe
April 17, 2001
A drama-free workplace: Keep your cool
April 13, 2001
When your buddy becomes your boss
April 9, 2001
Saying the unsayable to your co-worker
March 26, 2001
Meeting morass: Time to adjourn
March 1, 2001
Medical manners: The cure is killing you
February 22, 2001
You want service? Take a number
February 15, 2001
Road etiquette: Careerists at large
February 8, 2001
Colleagues and cultures: Mark your calendar
February 2, 2001
Listen to your co-workers
January 25, 2001
When bad things happen to co-workers
January 18, 2001
Surviving the sick-outs, and managing your cold
January 11, 2001
Write your thank-you notes
January 4, 2001
Working your way into the real millennium: Out with the old
December 28, 2000
Charitable solicitations at work: 'I gave at the office' -- and gave and gave
December 21, 2000
Gift exchanges in the workplace: The business of gifts
December 14, 2000
What not to do at the business party: Survive it with your career intact
December 7, 2000
What to do at the business party: Working the room
December 1, 2000
How to handle the business RSVP
November 23, 2000
Who are you covering for today? Playing hooky
November 15, 2000
Get a grip: Electoral etiquette at work
November 9, 2000
Cellular phones in the workplace: We've got your number
November 6, 2000
We've got your number
November 6, 2000
Or my name isn't ...
October 26, 2000
The job interview: Being on the mark when you're on the spot
October 24, 2000
What not to say in an interview
October 24, 2000
The halls are alive
October 19, 2000
Debatable
October 12, 2000
'A.M.' does not stand for 'ambush'
October 5, 2000
E-mail for careerists: Care enough to send the very best
September 29, 2000

ETICON

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