Yes, it most certainly is, and that means that the best etiquette possible is going to be required.

Now, by lunch interview etiquette, we don’t mean which spoons to use with the soup and if you can cut your chicken with a fork and knife…what we mean is simple – how do you conduct yourself in order to make the right impression.

For example, do you order anything you want or limit it to a dish that is not too expensive? Obviously, if you have been invited to this meal it is going to be something that is paid for by the company. This indicates that you want to keep expenses to a minimum without being too obvious. Our recommendation? Pick something from the identified specials that is not too messy or too large.

So, you understand that the “meal” is more about the conversation than the food…right? That’s another major issue to keep in mind. You may be meeting for a bite to eat, but what the boss or manager is really doing is trying to “get a feel” for you as an everyday person. When you meet someone in the formal setting of an office it can often be quite an impediment to seeing them as they really are, but when seated across a dining table, things have a way of losing their rigidity and formality.

This also means that the conversation is bound to be radically different. This is a time to keep a firm hold on your tongue. However, because this might be the moment when you botch things by falling into a conversation about “taboo” issues. What do we mean? Well, just as you will want to keep political views off of your professional networking sites (unless you work in politics) you don’t want a luncheon conversation to turn into a personal platform or “soapbox” moment.

Instead, spend a bit of time in advance of the luncheon thinking about the subjects that will help to move the conversation along comfortably. If you can find topics that relate to professional experiences or interesting facts about your work history…all the better!

Never apologize for your decision to stay at home with your children. Indeed, it a point of pride as it shows you are able to juggle multiple responsibilities successfully. Explain with confidence that your decision to remain at home served the best interests of your particular family situation but you are now excited by the prospect of returning to work.

What follows are five interview tips for return-to work mom

Build confidence

To be successful with job interviews you will need to project confidence about your skills, abilities and past accomplishments. Take refresher courses if needed in the latest computer and office technology.  If you have a specific industry in mind, perform online and print research to become knowledgeable about any changes since you left.  You don’t want to be caught off-guard at the interview should be asked your opinion of current trends.

Dress to impress

You also want to dress to impress so visit the Web site of any company you will be interviewing with to get a sense of dress code. While the people pictured may not necessarily be employees of the company, their dress will be representative of company preferences.

Tap into your network

Get in touch with all contacts that may be able to help with your job search. If you awkward calling them at their jobs, you can easily search for them via one of the social media sites, such as Facebook Twitter, or LinkedIn. Send a quick note letting them know of your job search and asking about industry changes in your absence and how you should approach your job search. Refrain from asking for a job directly as this can make the person uncomfortable if they have no leads. Successful networking is reciprocal in nature so be ready to exchange something of value, such as an article they will find interesting, tickets to an event, or invitation to lunch.

Pre-Interview steps

• Before you schedule interviews, make a list of your most important skills, knowledge and accomplishments as related to the career you seek.

• Make notes on the company research you have performed and prepare a list of 3 to 5 questions based on these notes
• In addition to company-wide research, call the company to clarify the names of  interviewers you will be meeting with and search for them on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and Twitter.
• Role-play the interview will family or friends and prepare index cards with short answers that you can easily memorize.
• Conduct a trial commute to the building so you know how long it will take to get there from your home, about parking options, the correct entrance to use, sign-in procedures to the building, etc.

Interview Etiquette

• Dress to impress. Even if the company culture is causal, you want to wear business attire to the interview. You will understand dress code from the company research you have performed. Another option is to call the recruiter to ask about dress code.
• Arrive no more than 15 minutes before you interview appointment in order to complete any need paperwork, such as a job application.
• Turn off your cell phone, don’t switch to vibrate as the vibration can be heard in a relatively quiet room
• If provided an application, fill it out legibly and completely. Don’t place the words “See resume” in the Education and Work History sections.
• At the start of most first-round interviews, the interviewers(s) will provide information on company background and describe the job responsibilities. They will also ask about your work history and past accomplishments.
• When discussing prior experience keep your answers short and to the point. Provide relevant examples that highlight the contribution you can make to this job.
• Sit upright, leaning forward just slightly to indicate interest. Smile often as this suggests a warm and friendly nature
• Modulate the tone and pace of your voice so you are not speaking too loudly or quickly. Take a deep breath before each question as this will serve to calm your nerves.  Having prepared answers from your role-play will also help calm your nerves.
• Be sure to ask questions of your own as this indicates interest in the position. Your questions should be based on four areas: 1) job responsibilities, 2) reporting structure, 3) training provided, 4) planned company initiatives
• At the end of the interviews be sure to ask about next steps. If a second interview is required, ask if that could be set up before you leave that day. Successful interviewing necessitates a proactive orientation
• Send a thank you note to each interviewer within 24 hours of the interview. Be brief and reiterate some points you made during the meeting and that you would value the opportunity to further discuss your qualifications.

©Copyright 2012 Lisa Ann Burke. All rights reserved.

Pre-interview tasks

• Research the company and the job itself. Most of your research can be completed online using such sources as Dun and Bradstreet and Moody’s Investor Service. You can also search for the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. Also ask for a copy of the latest annual report which will provide financial information.

• Perform logistical-based research so you know how to get to the office via car or public transportation and how long the commute will be.

• Conduct mock interviews with friends or colleagues and write down appropriate responses on index cards.  Make your notes succinct with only three or four keywords so the points are easy to remember.

• Select interview attire appropriate to culture of the company, including jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Ensure that all clothing is neatly pressed and check for any rips and tears

Day of Interview

• Arrive 15 minutes early to complete any applications and other paperwork

• Greet the receptionist with courtesy and smile as you walk to his/her desk. Do not war sunglasses when walking into the office

• Complete any application and other paperwork neatly and make sure your handwriting is legible. Be sure to answer every question on the application and do NOT place the words “see Resume” in the boxes for education and work experience

• Bring along extra copies of your resume in the event you meet with more than one person

• Turn off your cell phone

• Greet the interviewer(s) with a warm smile, shake hands and address each by name,

• Don’t sit until offered a chair. Be aware of your body language and sit upright, don’t cross your legs, smile, and maintain eye contact and lean forward just slightly to indicate interest.

• Speak with a confident voice and avoid using slang language (such as “uh huh”, “you know,”’ “awesome” “ain’t,” etc.)

• Most interviews start with some small talk but veer away from controversial topics

• Answer all questions succinctly but in a way that ensures that your skills, abilities, and accomplishments are clearly stated and provide specific examples,where appropriate.

• Avoid saying anything negative about past employers, supervisors, or colleagues

• Indicate the research you have performed on the company when given the opportunity. A great question to use strategy is when the interviewer asks “Why do you wish to work for our company?”

• Give a short pause before answering questions if you need to collect your thoughts but don’t pause too long.  You can also repeat the question back to the interviewers to buy some additional time.

• Highlight the value you bring to the company rather than what the company can do for you.

• Don’t ask about salary, benefits, promotional opportunities, etc. during first interviews which are often exploratory in nature to test the fit on each end in terms of both technical skill set and work style.

• Ask well-thought-out questions about position responsibilities, management style, company vision. Employers like questions as they indicate interest on the part of  candidates.

• Close the interview by indicating your interest in the job (if it is genuine) and by asking about next steps. If a second interview is required, ask to schedule that meeting before leaving rather than wait for a call back.

• Request business cards from each interviewer so that you may send follow-up thank you letters to each within 24 hours of the interview date.

©Copyright 2012 Lisa Ann Burke. All rights fully reserved.

A cover letter is usually formatted using three paragraphs.  The first paragraph should tell the employer the position you are applying for, where you learned about the opportunity, and ask that they consider your enclosed/attached resume to be considered for the opportunity.

The second paragraph should provide a brief summary of your skills as they relate to the position you’re applying.  In this paragraph, it is important that you match your skills and qualifications to those that the employer requires and/or prefers as described in their advertisement.  For example, if the employer seeks someone with a Bachelors degree in Accounting, five years of experience in the accounting field and prefers that you possess experience with QuickBooks and Peachtree Accounting systems, you should highlight this information in this paragraph if you possess these skills, experience and/or level of education.  You may also want to tell the employer why you’re applying to their company specifically and use information obtained from your research to let the employer know what impresses you about the products and/or services they provide.  Perhaps you learned that they were recently awarded with a special award or participated in a community event that you support as well.

Finally, in the third paragraph, take the time to thank the employer for considering you for an interview and provide them with information about how they may best contact you.  Be sure you don’t forget to sign the letter.

The focus of this article is the redemption of that plummeting interview. After all, many people wonder if they can possibly save an interview after making an inappropriate comment or simply making a fool of themselves in some other way.

The answer is that you can redeem the interview, but only if you own up to the mistake in the first place. For instance, let’s say that your interviewer asks you a question about your former boss or employer. Let’s also say that you have been getting more and more comfortable with this interviewer as the time passes. When they ask this question about the former job, why you left, etc., you may inadvertently say something wildly inappropriate.

For our example, we’ll say that you roll your eyes and say “because the guy was a total idiot!” Now, that is a huge mistake, and you probably realize it even before you finish saying the sentence. Can you save this situation? Yes…but it means you need to admit the mistake and then clarify in a far less emotional manner. For example, “Sorry…so, sorry! That was a totally irresponsible comment! What I should say is that I found my experience there to be frustrating. I don’t feel that my opinion is an accurate description of the company or even my former manager, but I do feel justified about leaving and have no regrets over the choice.”

That is the best you can do when such a thing slips out, but a responsible reaction to an irresponsible comment does demonstrate that you are mature enough to own up to mistakes and then correct the situation. THAT leaves a very favorable impression.

Of course, if you feel that the interview is plummeting because it is going nowhere, you can take control of the situation. Remember that any professional interview is a two-way street and that you have the right to ask questions too. Show an interest in the company, have some valuable questions in mind before you enter the interview, and then be prepared to use them if things take a turn for the worst!

Because of the importance of other factors in long-term job retention, it is important to carefully evaluate each employer with regard to these “intangible” factors before accepting a job offer. When you understand how to evaluate a company during the hiring process, you will be well-positioned to ask relevant questions that can help you make an educated decision based on your career goals.

Below we outline five such intangible factors to help with your research.

1. Company size. The size of the company is an important consideration since it affects salary ranges, scope of benefit package, work culture, as well as management style. While larger companies are able to offer higher salaries and more comprehensive benefits, the benefit of working for a smaller firm is that you will be exposed to many areas of operation. What this means is that you will be eligible for faster promotions than employees in larger firms who are limited to advancement within their particular vertical.
2. Company History. An important consideration is how long the company has been in business as this indicates how secure your job will be. While large companies do offer a greater degree of security, they also tend to be more hierarchical in nature with a rigid management style.
3. Whether the company is private or publicly owned. Publicly owned companies will be easier to research since they must publish quarterly and annual performance reports for the benefit of shareholders. Before accepting any offer of employment be sure to research the firm’s financial viability, market reputation, planned initiatives over the next 2 to 5 years, staff changes (especially at the management level), and industry trends over the next few years (you don’t want to be in an industry which is expected to experience a downturn). Information on many public and private companies can be found on such Web sites as Dunn and Bradstreet and Hoovers Online. Another option is to “Google” the name of the company for current news and press releases, along with visiting the company Web site and LinkedIn profile.
4. Career growth opportunities. Both large and small firms offer opportunities for career advancement. However, there are also firms that promise the world in terms of promotional opportunities and professional development during the interview process, only to fall far short once you actually start working with the firm. Best to speak with current employees of the firm to determine the extent to which the company does foster a promote-from-within policy. For those employers that do offer such opportunities, try to find out if you will receive a salary increase or bonus upon program completion and whether the firm offers tuition reimbursement.
5. Company culture and management style. Company culture can refer to dress code and range from casual (think blue jeans) to conservative (think Brooks Brothers). Company culture also involves the management style and can vary from rigid and autocratic with limited opportunity for input on the part of employees to transparent and supportive management that values employee contributions. Another component of culture involves the degree to which the company fosters a team environment as opposed to one which is overly competitive.

©Copyright 2012 Lisa Ann Burke. All rights fully reserved

So, the first thing to know is the “level” of expertise required for the work. Many firms make the mistake of slapping on a descriptor as basic as “entry”, “junior” or “senior” level. What does this mean? The true meaning of entry level is “just out of school”, and so someone recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy is as entry level as someone who graduated last week from high school! It means that you have little to no experience. The junior level descriptions imply that you have high levels of proficiency but no management (usually five years of work experience), and the senior levels imply that you have done administrative and management work.

Now, the definitions of experience are not just described by levels but also in terms of your proficiency or working knowledge. Thus, you can expect to see those words: proficient, experienced, knowledgeable, etc. Be sure that you closely read these terms because they can apply differently even in the same paragraph. For instance, you may see that you have to have a “working knowledge of” medical software but a mastery of specific treatments. Thus, you would need only the most basic skills with the computer program but require the highest levels of skill with the medical treatments described.

Finally, understand the personality types that a job description is seeking to explain. For instance, if you see “motivated”, you know the work is challenging, if you see “team player,” you need to understand you are not in a leadership position; “task oriented” usually indicates a lot of deadlines.

You can use the descriptions above to begin to get a far more accurate image of the sort of candidate most ideally suited for a job. A lot of employers do not realize how much time they are wasting by casting too wide of a net in terms of potential employees. When you narrow down their meanings you can easily see if you have the skills, experiences and desire to apply or not.

• Practice!  Review commonly asked interview questions and practice your responses to those questions.  Ask a friend or family member to help you.  Or, take advantage of your college’s career services staff and/or local workforce development agencies that will be able to help prepare you by completing a mock interview with you.

• Know your skills and reflect on experiences where you’ve applied them.  It won’t be enough to simply tell the employer what skills you have.  You’ll need to describe how you’ve applied those skills in other jobs and/or other experiences, such as school, volunteer work, etc.

• Research!  Research the company’s history, products and services, culture, market position, community involvement, etc.  You will be asked what you know about the company you are interviewing with and failure to know something will create a very bad impression for the employer.

• Dress professionally.  This means that pretty much everything about how you look on the day of the interview should be conservative.  Your clothing, make-up, jewelry, hair, perfume/cologne, etc. should be professional, conservative and simple.

• Arrive ten minutes early.   This is the perfect amount of time to arrive to the interview.  Arriving any sooner presents some potential problems that may arise merely out of perception on the employer’s part.  If you arrive too early (20-30 minutes) it may appear that you are desperate for the position.  Also, the employer may feel rushed when they are notified that you have arrived for the interview extra early.

• Be sure to greet the receptionist or person greeting you just as you would if you were greeting the person interviewing you for the job.  Receptionists have a lot of power!  Often, they are a key decision maker in the interview process.  Furthermore, be courteous to everyone you meet.  Your first impression is not only with the person interviewing you; it is with the very first person you come into contact with when you arrive for your interview and each person you meet during the interview process.  Be polite and courteous and be sure to make friendly small talk as you wait for your interview to begin.

• Be sure to bring a folder with a pad of paper, three to five copies of your resume and references, letters of recommendation, and a pen to take notes. Even if you never use this information in the interview, it will show the employers that you are prepared and professional.  On your pad of paper, you should write three to five questions you’d like to ask of the employer toward the end of the interview.

• Observe your surroundings as you’re waiting for the interviewer to come out to the lobby and greet you.  Read any company signage, brochures or displays and/or observe the interactions between the office staff.  Remember, this is your chance to find out if they’re the right fit for you too.  Also, you may discover another question to ask during the interview based on what you learned from your simple observations.

When you take the time to prepare for the interview, you will be much more confident in your ability to interview effectively and make a positive impression.

Look Professional

Before the interview even begins, your potential employer will have taken in your appearance and will have already developed an impression of you.  For this reason, it is important that you arrive to the interview well-dressed.  This means dressing one level above what your potential co-workers are wearing.  For example, if working individuals wear jeans and a t-shirt, you should go to your interview wearing dress pants and a button-up shirt.  Remember to also dress modestly and groom your hair.  It is also a good idea to avoid wearing any scented products like perfume or smoking before your interview, in case the interviewer has allergies.

Act Professional

Arriving late to your interview looks unprofessional and can put your interview off to a bad start.  Be sure to determine how long it will take for you to get to the interview location and arrive at least five minutes prior to your interview.  Arrive with a copy of your resume and list of references in case your interviewer asks for this.  Also be sure to bring a notepad and pen, and take notes while the interviewer is discussing the position with you. This shows that you are listening and are serious about the job.  Be sure to do your research about the company before the interview so that you are prepared.  Send a short thank-you note promptly after the interview.

Speak Up

An interview should be a conversation, and both parties should ask questions.  Ask any questions you have about the company or the job responsibilities.  Bring up your personal career goals and give examples of skills relevant to the position. Take your time and choose your words carefully. Of course, there are some times when you should keep your mouth closed.  Don’t badmouth or gossip about past co-workers or superiors.  This reflects poorly on you, and your potential employer may worry that you will speak similarly about them.  Try to speak positively instead of negatively. Also be careful when asking about sensitive information, such as salary information.  Unless the interviewer brings this topic up, discuss salary after you have been offered the position.

In this brief discussion, we are going to consider the things you need to do and the necessary steps required in order to get that opportunity presented to you in the first place.

This means you have to ask yourself one essential question: Is this temp work actually an opening to a full time position within this firm? Will they be interested in taking me on full-time?

Only you can know if the company is going to consider the creation of a full-time position, and this is something that you have to get clear before you begin communicating your interest.

If the answer to the question is yes, you can then proceed to make some action plans. Usually, the first thing you are going to have to do is to ask a manager or supervisor if you can “interview” for the work. This is a good way of clarifying if there is actually room in the company’s budget for another full time employee, and without putting the manager in an uncomfortable spot.

If they indicate that it would be acceptable to apply for the full time job, be sure that you have “networked” properly with the necessary people in the firm, and then ask them if you can use them as a reference during the process.

For example, you were a temp brought into the marketing office. You interacted with others doing similar tasks, but you found yourself constantly being partnered with an artist or employee with an authoritative position in the office. Be sure that you have already laid the groundwork that shows you are interested in working full time. Mention the fact that you are about to interview for the post, and then inquire if they would be comfortable serving as a reference.

Finally, you must be prepared to do the “legwork”. If you truly want the job, be sure that you approach the right people and then be even more prepared to follow up with an interview appointment, submitting the right documentation, and meeting all of the requirements for the process. Treat yourself as if you didn’t already have experience in the firm (because no one is a “shoe in” for any position), and this is likely to help you create a sense of thoroughness and sincerity.