Atrium's Guide to Getting Hired - Interview Prep

just landing an interview is an accomplishment in itself. How you present your story and how well you
communicate your experiences, however, is what will differentiate you from other equally-qualified
candidates. We've put together some of our most valuable tips to help you take the right steps before, during,
and after a job interview to maximize your chance of landing the job.

preparing for your interview.
First, print out the job description of
the position you are interviewing for.
Next to each of the responsibilities, jot
down specific examples of how you’ve
performed each task. You won’t
necessarily have to recite each
one, but you never know which
expectations of the role (and
your experience) are
going to be discussed.
1. 2.
On your resume next to each job, list the following:
Skills you developed in the position
What you loved most about it
A successful project you completed that you’re
most proud
A difficult project or near miss that you’d love
another shot at
3.
Make note of why you transitioned from one job to the next.
More money is not a good enough reason, so highlight a skill
you were hoping to gain or enhance through the new role.

preparing for your interview.
Have at least 3 questions prepared to ask the interviewer about the role and their company. Be sure to ask
questions that can help you learn more about the position, make you look informed and give you a better idea of
where you stand with the interviewer. Here are some questions you could consider asking:
What is the biggest challenge that someone in this role will face?
What are the primary goals you would want this person to accomplish in the next 6
months to a year?
Do you have any reservations about my background or ability to do this job well that I
can address or further clarify?
4.
5.
List one major reason why you want to work for the company, aside from
the actual position itself. This job fits within a very specific organization,
with its own identity and culture. Hiring managers want to recruit people
who aren’t just “capable” of doing the job, but who really want to work
for the organization. Do enough research about the company to be able
to answer the question, “Why do you want to work here?”
3-5 copies of your resume
Portfolio of sample work
Pen and notepad
Prep notes

1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses?
3. Why are you interested in working for [insert company name
here]?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
5. Why are you looking for a new job?
6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date]
and [insert date]?
7. What can you offer us that someone else can not?
8. What are three things your former manager would like you to
improve on?
9. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
10. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
11. How did you hear about this position?
12. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60
days/90 days on the job?
BE
PREPARED
TO ANSWER
THESE QUESTIONS.
13. Describe yourself.
14. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.
15. Why should we hire you?
16. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
17. Give a time when you went above and beyond the
requirements for a project.
18. Who are our competitors?
19. What motivates you?
20. How do you handle pressure?
21. What are your career goals?
22. What would your direct reports say about you?
23. What are some of your leadership experiences?
24. What do you like the most and least about working in this
industry?
25. What questions do you have for me?

PLEASURE MEETING YOU!!!
Dear Samantha,
Thank you for the opportunity to interview with [insert company
name] yesterday. The details you shared about the Financial Analyst
role and how this position fits into the greater organization were
invaluable. I was equally impressed by the way you built out the
finance department and by your strategic vision for the group.
During our interview, you mentioned that you are seeking someone
who is highly analytical. Throughout the course of my career, I’ve
frequently performed budget vs. actual analysis and presented my
findings to senior management, reinforcing that I am both
detail-oriented and analytical. I am a team player who consistently
delivers work accurately and in a timely manner. My education,
coupled with my work experience and passion for nonprofits will
enable me to be a success in this role.
I would like to reiterate that our meeting reinforced my sincere
interest in the position and I look forward to hearing more about the
next steps in the hiring process.
Sincerely,
Leonardo DiCaprio
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
ldicaprio@myemail.com
a proper
thank you
A follow-up letter is more than a courtesy, it's imperative. Before you
shake hands and say goodbye, be sure to request the interviewer’s
business card so that you have their correct contact information.
When writing your thank you letter, here are a few points to consider:
Don’t Use Filler Words: Keep the conversation specific and
professional. Brevity is key, so don't fill your letter with fluff.
Every Interviewer Gets a Note: Each person you meet with should
receive an individual note that includes something unique from your
conversation.
Email or Hand-Written: Depending on the hiring pace, a hand-written
thank you might not arrive until the position has been filled. In most
industries, a well-crafted email version is more than appropriate. If
you are adamant about sending a hand-written note, send both.
The Greeting: Many candidates will use “Hi Mr. XXX or Mrs. XXX” as
their intro. You wouldn't call your boss Mr. or Mrs., so address the
interviewer by their first name. Also, “Hi” is too casual. so always
start with “Dear XXX….”

Marketing, Creative, Fashion &
Post-Production
Finance, Accounting, Legal, Real
Estate & Scientific
Manufacturing & Logistics Administrative Support and
Human Resources
Your Recruiter is here for you as a resource for further insight into the company culture, who you’re meeting with, and what to wear. We’ll
gladly answer any last minute questions you may have.
Want more career advice? Visit our blog at atriumstaff.com/category/career-column
ABOUT ATRIUM
remember...
First and foremost, we’re Applicant-Centric. For more than 20 years, we’ve approached staffing from the job seeker’s perspective. Our
mission is to find people jobs they love and create custom solutions for our clients’ toughest business challenges. We remain dedicated to
our founding Applicant-Centric philosophy, the personalized service we offer to every client and the importance of hiring talented,
hard-working internal staff who embody our core values every day.
STAFFING SPECIALTIES
ATRIUM CREATE ATRIUM PRO ATRIUM SKILLED ATRIUM SUPPORT

Atrium's Guide to Getting Hired - Interview Prep

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