So I got a letter in the mail today saying I didn't get the job I interviewed for on Tuesday. That was fast, they must have decided right away that they hated me I guess :confused: I really wanted this job so I am kind of depressed now. I really hope I didn't waste my time and money going to school to get my Bachelor's Degree. I thought it would help me get out of retail but maybe it won't. Maybe I am being a little dramatic but have you ever felt that way?

I'm thinking maybe I just don't interview well or something? What are you supposed to say when they ask you where you want to be in five years and what are some accomplishments you've had in the past two years? I don't have any great accomplishments to be honest. I've worked at JC Penney for the past two years, my GPA is nothing to scream about{for various reasons}, I don't volunteer anywhere or anything. I feel they want you to be this awesome person that's done it all but thats impossible. I tried to play up my postives, like that I was named a JC Penney All Star, but I guess thats not very impressive. Any tips for future interviews??

The main thing to do an interview is just be yourself.

Also, as much as everyone hates to hear this, appearance in the interview is very important.

If they did ask you where do you see yourself in 5 years.. think of this interview question and others similar to it, as a learning lesson and mock interview. Now is the time to think about where you see yourself in 5 years. Do you want to be a manager? Be a project leader?, etc etc. Then ask yourself why do you want what you want and what skills you have acquired from your past, and what skills you hope to acquire in the future, to be where you want to be in 5 years.

Truly ask yourself what you have accomplished in the last two years? Did you just graduate from school? If so, thats an accomplishment! Were you in an honor society/program at school that you completed? Did you have any leadership positions in a club at school?

Also, think about what you learned from your past jobs. Even a retail job can have benefits: learning how to be a team player (cite examples); learning how to deal with people (general public, other employees, etc); time management skills.

Also, does your resume need to be edited/updated?

HTHS!:D

After graduating and going to many interviews, i decided to do some research to figure out if it was my interviewing skills that were lacking. Sure enough, after researching and applying my new knowledge, i have landed 2 jobs on my own, with no connections. :)

Here's my research:
Part IV: The Interview
So after countless hours of researching and sending out your resume to prospective employers, you've finally landed the interview. What should you expect? What should you bring with you to the interview? Multiple questions are probably running through your mind. The most important thing you should do prior to an interview is research the company. Understand who you will be working for. However, there's more than that so let's begin.

Prepare for the Interview
1) Dress Appropriately: If you’re interviewing for a corporate-style position, you would want to wear a suit or jacket and appropriate bottoms. If you don’t have that, wear what you would on a daily basis to the job. If you’re interviewing for a construction position, you would wear your safety boots, clean and neat jeans or work pants, and an appropriate work shirt.
2) Come prepared: Bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter. You may also want to consider business cards to help the interviewers remember you. BE SURE to research the company and understand the company’s mission statement or basic workings of the company. You may also want to create and use a summary skill sheet that only you use only. You will want to use it to remind yourself of important points you want to include in the interview.
3) Be sure to be in the right mind set: Use calming techniques like deep breaths and visualization before the interview to keep your mind and body in tune. Put a smile on you face and in your voice. Your attitude will go a long way in getting you the job. And remember: you DID get the interview so you DO have the right qualifications!

Your objectives are:
1. Make a good impression
2. Determine if you were interested in pursuing the position further
3. Receive an invitation for a second interview (maybe)

The interviewer's objectives will be:
1. Obtain information to determine whether you have the skills and qualifications to do the job
2. Determine who to invite back for a second interview


Getting to the Interview
- Be sure you are EARLY to the interview. This will give you opportunities to get a feel of the company and also make a good impression that you are eager to get the job.
KsuMax: Don't be more than 15 minutes early.
- Know who you will be interviewing with. Again, this will show that you have researched and are one step ahead of them.

Possible Questions You May Encounter
You shouldn't come to an interview completely cold turkey so I've taken the liberty to research possible questions that you may be asked. Take the time to read through them and prepare possible answers to them.
- What's your biggest accomplishment so far? (Be ready with a specific example for this interview question.)
- Why should I hire you? (Good question. Tip - it's a great opportunity for you.)
- How do you handle a job that's very stressful?
- Why do you think you will fit in with the company culture? (Research the company, the position you're applying for, etc before the interviews.)
- How do you define success? Are you now successful?
- Why do you want a job here instead of with our competitor, XYZ Inc?
- Do you work better on your own or as part of a team?
- How do you handle it if your boss criticizes you about your work?
- Have you ever lost your job? Why?
- What will you do if you have a serious difference of opinion with your immediate superior?
- What have you accomplished in the last five years?
- Describe what you think this type of job entails and what you might like and dislike about the work.
- Describe a conflict you've had with other staff members and how you resolved it.
- Tell me about a time when you saw room for improvement in some area of your work environment or a process that could be more efficient. What did you do to change the status quo?"
- Describe an occasion when you had two bosses ask you to do conflicting tasks. How did you handle this dilemma?
- Describe a time when your supervisor or a co-worker asked you to help out and doing so required extra work outside your established responsibilities or staying later than you anticipated. What did you do, and how did you feel?
- Tell me about a time when your job required you to perform a task that you didn't know how to do. How did you respond?
- While at work, a co-worker complains to you about the office manager and some of the office policies and procedures, concluding with 'Don't you think so too?' How would you respond?

100 possible interview questions (some may be repeats from above)
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your strengths?
3. What are your weaknesses?
4. Who was your favorite manager and why?
5. What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
6. Why do you want this job?
7. Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
8. Tell me about your proudest achievement.
9. If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?
10. If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?
11. Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
12. How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
13. There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
14. How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
15. Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
16. What's your ideal company?
17. What attracted you to this company?
18. What are you most proud of?
19. What are you looking for in terms of career development?
20. What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?
21. What do you like to do?
22. Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.
23. What are your lifelong dreams?
24. What do you ultimately want to become?
25. How would you describe your work style?
26. What kind of car do you drive?
27. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.
28. What's the last book you read?
29. What magazines do you subscribe to?
30. What would be your ideal working situation?
31. Why should we hire you?
32. What did you like least about your last job?
33. What do you think of your previous boss?
34. How do you think I rate as an interviewer?
35. Do you have any questions for me?
36. When were you most satisfied in your job?
37. What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
38. What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
39. What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
40. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
41. What salary are you seeking?
42. What's your salary history?
43. Do you have plans to have children in the near future?
44. What were the responsibilities of your last position?
45. What do you know about this industry?
46. What do you know about our company?
47. How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
48. Are you willing to relocate?
49. What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?
50. What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
51. Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
52. What would you do if you won the lottery?
53. Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
54. Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
55. What is your personal mission statement?
56. Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?
57. What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
58. What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
59. What is your greatest fear?
60. Who has impacted you most in your career, and how?
61. What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
62. What's the most important thing you've learned in school?
63. What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
64. What will you miss about your present/last job?
65. If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
66. List five words that describe your character.
67. What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
68. Sell me this pencil.
69. If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
70. Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?
71. What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years?
72. What do you like to do for fun?
73. Why are you leaving your present job?
74. What do you do in your spare time?
75. How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
76. What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
77. What is your favorite memory from childhood?
78. Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
79. Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.
80. Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.
81. Why did your choose your major?
82. What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
83. What is your biggest regret, and why?
84. What are three positive character traits you don't have?
85. What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
86. If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
87. How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?
88. How would you weigh a plane without scales?
89. What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
90. If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?
91. If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
92. What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?
93. Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
94. What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
95. If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of, and why?
96. With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.
97. if you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
98. If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?
99. Who are your heroes?
100. Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.

Ways to Answer Some Interview Questions
Tell Me About Yourself
The interviewer is often trying to find out how you organize, your thinking, what you focus on, and how well you articulate your thoughts when you answer. Be sure to keep your answers concise and do not go off on tangents. Talk about more professional accomplishments and avoid personal topics.
Example: "Well, first of all, I'm pleased to be here meeting you because I've long been an admirer of your company and of the work you personally have done. I believe I have what you're looking for. I'm currently working with ABC Corporation where I head the accounts team. I have 8 years experience in accounts and internal audit with two Fortune 500 companies. In my performance appraisals, my bosses have remarked that I'm an effective manager and a good problem solver and that I have an excellent ability to create and implement office procedures and systems. I'd be happy to elaborate on any of these, if you'd like me to."
What Are Your Weaknesses?
Do not try to mention a strength and present is as a weakness! Trying to say that you're a workaholic or that you're a stickler for detail and using those as a weakness will make it seem that you are attempting to doge the question or over-glorify yourself. Talk about your weakness in content knowledge rather than a basic personal quality or skill because lack of content knowledge is much easier to fix than a personality trait. For example, saying that you are unfamiliar with a computer software rather than saying you have difficulty managing people. You should also mention what you are doing to remedy the weakness.
How Do You Prioritize Work?
This is often a difficult questions to answer (at least for me) because you are not physically working for the company. These are a few ways people have chosen to answer:
- Prioritize based on most important and not by who has seniority or who asked you first. For example: If you had a huge document to photocopy and collate for a meeting that was taking place in an hour and an urgent email to staff that needed to be sent right away and your boss wanted you to contact the travel agency and fix his tickets for this afternoon's flights. Which one would you do first and why?
- Review the length each assignment would take. For example, you have 3 projects and you know that 2 would take the least amount of time so you would knock those out first and then work on the 3rd project.
- If there are unequal factors, rank assignments by deadlines, time for each project, and seniority of person who requested the project.
Explaining Terminations
This is often a very uneasy topic to discuss, but the best thing you can do is be 100% honest about the situation and explain how you have fixed such behaviors (if it was your fault for being fired).
- Tardiness (a common one): Where you tardy due to transportation? Explain to the interviewer that your transportation situation has been taken care of because you now realize, too late but better than never, that promptness is as important for attendance as actually being at your desk for the day of work. Where you tardy because you needed before school child care? Explain to the interviewer that you do have appropriate child care for before school and that you do realize it should have been taken care of sooner. Where you tardy because you just couldn't get your butt out of bed? Explain to the interviewer that you didn't feel challenged any longer and, in your quest for locating another position, you left your house later than you should have in order to arrive to work on time. Go on to state that you are excited about this opportunity as it will offer you the challenges that you have wanted.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer.
It is always important to ask questions at the interview (often times at the end). You want to ask questions and find out their exact roles at the company, any significant achievements they have to their credit at the organization, samples of their work, etc. You can also ask names of future colleagues and supervisors.
The following is a brief list I have compiled. Again, pick and choose as needed.
- What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- What challenges might I encounter if I were to take this position?
- What are the first projects to be addressed? / What are the priorities you’d like addressed in the first six months to a year?
- What major issue(s) is the functional group facing right now?
- Are there any gaps or improvement opportunities in particular you are looking to address?
- What do you consider the five most important day-to-day responsibilities of this job? Why?
- What personality traits do you consider critical to success in this job?
- How is performance measured? Based on the individual or a team measurement?
- What might be a logical or natural career path/progression for someone in this role?
- Assuming I excelled in the position, what opportunities for growth and development might I expect?
- Do you have any concerns with my ability to do the job and fit in?
- How do my skills compare to those of other candidates you’re considering?
- What is the timetable for filling the position?
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
- Will you be contacting all candidates regardless of the outcome?
- What key results do you expect out of someone in this position?
- What are the main challenges this job entails?
- Why is this position open at this point in time?
- What results do you like someone in this position to achieve in six months?
- How many people have held this position over the past three years?
- How much independence would I have in making decisions?
- What options do I have for advancement?
- What key factors contribute to success in this job?
- Are there any major changes due to take place at the company in the near future?
- How would you like the new person to do things differently from the person who had this position earlier?
- What factors have been responsible for the company's success in the past?

Wrapping Up.
Before getting up and shaking their hand, you want to talk about some of the things you have learned about the company and the work you may be doing and then mention how much you look forward to working with them. Also, be sure to ask for a business card if they hadn't already given you one.

Mistakes to Avoid.
1. Do not go in with a job-hunter's mentality. Often times you have to ask yourself what the company is interviewing you for and then decide what sort of person would fit that description. Is it someone how is out "hunting for a job" or someone who sees themselves as part of the effort, a team player, who wants to make a difference? If you are the job hunter, it will show because you will often come across as self-centered and often use phrases such as "I want..." and "I'm looking for," etc. To avoid that, think from the viewpoint of the company and find out what they need and try to convey how you can fill that need.
2. Behaving in an overly careful manner. Interviewers commonly come across candidates like this. They sit erect in their chair, dutifully respond to the interviewer's questions and in general, try to get everything just right. By being stiff and overly formal, you reduce your chances of interview success. You won't connect with the interviewer, nor will you be able to exercise any control over the interview
3. Not doing any background research on the company. You cannot position yourself as a problem-solver if you don't know what the employer wants. And that takes some fact-finding.
4. Not listening. When the interviewer is speaking, do make an effort to understand what she's really saying. Listening is not just waiting for your turn to speak. Also, if you answer questions in a clinical, detached manner, you'll turn employers off.
5. Not paying attention to non-verbal language. Understand the interviewer's body language and personality style. That alone will take you a long way towards a job offer
6. Lying. This should be obvious, but many candidates lose sight of the fact that interviewers can cross-check on what you mention at the interview
7. Not following up after the interview. This is more than just sending thank you notes after the job interview. You need to keep in touch with the employer without becoming pushy

2nd Interview (or 3rd, or 4th)
Your objectives are to:
1. Obtain more information about the company and position to determine if you are interested in pursuing the job further
2. Impress the interviewer(s) and receive a job offer (not that you will necessarily accept it!)

The interviewer's objectives are to:
1. Introduce you to other people to see if there is a "fit" between you and the company
2. Probe further into any areas where they want more information (NOTE: You may actually go through 3, 4 or more rounds of interviews prior to receiving any job offer)

When you are asked back for a second interview it means that you are considered a viable candidate for the position and you are qualified to do the job. Second interviews vary with each company. Since you are going to meet with different people, you can expect to be asked some of the same questions, beginning with Tell me about yourself," or "Walk me through your resume."
They know you have the skills by now, and will be looking to see personality and cultural fit. You will be measured against other candidates who have applied for the same position. It is important that you leave the interviewer with something to make you remembered. Think of five strengths you have and pick the one that you feel differentiates you from the pack. An example would be a technical person who has great customer service skills.
Questions for the 2nd interview can also center around the particular challenges of the company(and, of course, you can talk about how you would proceed to assist in meeting their goals-be of benefit to them!)
The questions you ask will be determined by what was covered in the first interview. Information that you need to know, so that if you are offered the position, you can make a good choice for you, is:
- Exact specifications of the job -- what will you be doing? (Then ask yourself "IS that what I want to do?")
- The expectations the company has for the person they hire. (Then ask "Are they realistic?" and "Do I think I can (or want to) meet those expectations?")
You'll want to know more specifics about your supervisors, how your past experience fits in with the work position and opportunities for growth. Who will you be working with and how closely, what territories does the company cover, and does the company have plans for expansion are also things you will want to know about, in addition to whether you will be responsible for doing any of the development. What strategies have they used in the past, what worked and did not and any analysis about why would be especially useful now.
Other subjects may come up in this interview such as salary requirements and benefits. Prepare by doing some research on salary and some thinking about your benefits requirements. You cannot negotiate a salary until you have an offer, but you can prepare by knowing the "going rate" for your position -- salary.com. You should also do a budget sheet of your expenses and figure out what it costs you to live each month - your salary needs. You should know your "walk away" number, when you cannot afford to take the job.
Possible Questions to Ask
1. "Can you please tell me how your career has developed at Happy Corp. and would someone entering the company today have similar opportunities?"
2. "I read the career section and your recruiting literature, so I have some familiarity with career paths at Happy Corp. Based on the history of people you hired five years ago, if I work hard and prove my value to the firm, where might I be in five years?"
3. "I read in your literature that your training program is comprised of three (3) six month rotations. Does the employee have any input into where s/he will go at the end of each rotation? How do you evaluate the employee's performance during the training period?"
4. "I read in Business Week that a major competitor, Eager Corp., is increasing its market share in your main market. What plans does your firm have to regain its lost market share?"
5. "Can you describe for me what a work week is really like as a salesperson for Tasty Pops? For example, about how many sales calls do you make in a week, about how much time do you spend on paper work, and how far in advance do you set up your calendar?"
Tips
- The skills that helped you through the first interview (e.g. communication, confidence, and enthusiasm) will be looked for in the second interview.
- The interviewers will also look for increased interest on your part in the company and the position.
- You could be interviewed by many people on-site. Feel free to ask what the agenda will be before your second interview. Remember, the people you will interview with haven't met you yet so you need to impress them with your "Story."
- You may be asked similar questions to the first interview. Don't worry about repeating your answers. The second interviewer is hearing your answers for the first time.
- Your interviewers may be peers, supervisors or executives - each of whom has the task of determining your "fit" with the company.
- Make sure you get a card from each person you interview with for writing thank you letters.
- If you interviewed with Human Resources on-campus, be prepared to interview with hiring managers and people who work in the area you are interviewing for. The questions these people ask may be more technical.
- The interviews may be very similar or different and the styles may also differ. Be prepared for anything!
- You may be asked to take a test some kind (i.e. personality, drug, honesty, IQ, numerical, verbal reasoning, aptitude, physical). Some companies also conduct background checks.
- ASK FOR THE JOB!!! People do not get jobs unless they ask for them. Don't assume the interviewer knows that you want the job. Let him/her know that you want it.
- After the interview, determine whether this position is a “fit” for you. For example, ask yourself whether the people you met with represent the kinds of people you would like to work with. Does the organization seem dynamic and energized or do the employees seem lethargic? Has the organization met its obligations in terms of agreements and promises made during the interviewing process?

Interviewers’ Pet Peeves
1) Do NOT overdue the perfume/cologne!!
2) Don’t say too little!
3) Don’t ramble on!
4) Tie it all together: relating questions back to another one or asking clarifying or follow up questions
5) No eye contact. If you are too shy to look into their eyes, look at their third eye, which is above and between the person’s two eyes.
6) Slang or street speak.
7) Deception. Just don’t lie!


Part V: Thank You Letters
This is a very important aspect after your interview. This can sometimes make you stand out from all the other interviewee's. You want to send out a thank you letter as soon as you get back from the interview that day or no later than the following day. Now, after doing some research and asking on KCSR, it is acceptable to send an emailed thank you letter. However, you may want to consider a simple, hand-written, snail mail thank you note/card (something cheap from a drug store works fine).
Think of a thank you letter being more than just a thank you. It is your opportunity to reiterate your interest, sills, and what you can bring to the company.

Formatting a Thank You Letter.
Start out by formating it like any other letter.
Date
<space>
Name of interviewer
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip
<space>
Dear Mr./Ms. last name:
<space>
Use the first paragraph to thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Mention your interest in the job and how enthusiastic you are about it.
<space>
The second paragraph of your thank you letter should include the reasons why you are an excellent candidate for the job. List specific skills that relate to the job you interviewed for. The more detailed you are, the more the interviewer will know about your qualifications.
<space>
The third paragraph (optional) can be used to mention anything that you didn't bring up at the interview that you'd like the employer to know.
<space>
In your closing paragraph, reiterate your appreciation for being considered for the the job and let the interviewer know you are looking forward to hearing from him or her soon. You also may want to mention that if they need any additional information, you'll make it available. Conclude by saying you look forward to hearing from them soon.
<space>
Sincerely,
<4 spaces> (within these spaces, you will add you signed named)
Your name.

Formatting a Thank You Note.
This should be something simple and hand written. You want to thank them for their time and consideration and how much you like the company and you continue to be interested in the job following your meeting. Also, if the interview was pretty relaxed and the interviewer referred to themselves by first name, don't hesitate to start the note with: Dear [First Name]. Remember, you want this to be hand written and separate from the official letter you send out.

Lemme know if you want the rest of my "research." I've got about 13 pages worth on word. :p

Don't have any advice that hasn't already been given. But don't be too hard on yourself. I have gone through many job interviews and I was a definite shoe in for the job and got rejected. It could be that they could only hire 5 people and you were #6 out of the 20 they interviewed. Just keep on trying and you'll get a job in no time.

Everyone has given really good advice. I also agree with Mimi about being the reason why you might be rejected. I had an interview last week, and was supposed to be scheduled for a second interview, but was told they gave the job to someone else. I believe it was becase I interviewed late, and they had already interviewed a lot of people, and already had someone in mind before I could do a 2nd interview. HTH.

Those are all really good advice. My department has just gone through a round of interviewing and was critiquing the interviewees. Make sure you research the position you are applying for. Know what they do and what the industry is about. Also research their competitors as well as the company. The most important part is to sound and look very interested about the job, that you really want it. Also the way you communicate and how you think on your feet is important too. My coworker would often ask them a odd question just to see how they would answer, such as "How many elephants can you fit on a boeing 747?" There is no correct answer but they would like to see how you would analyze such a problem. Hope you get the next job!