How to Survive a Final Job Interview

Now that you’ve made it to the final interview stage, there are a few things you should know to increase your success in landing the job. While previous interviews evaluated your experience and skills against job requirements and probed your resume for details and clarification, the final interview will zero in on your suitability and fit. To maximize this opportunity, use these tips and strategies to prepare for a final job interview.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Final Job Interview
• Situational Interviewing Briefing
• Career Journal
• Time for preparation

1. Prepare to take center stage in this interview. Most likely you will be interviewed by more than one person including various people throughout the company who are very knowledgeable about the job. The interviewer(s) will look for chemistry, “How will you fit into the work unit and company? Do you think and act in ways that are compatible with the company’s values?”

2. Match your skills and experience to the job specifications one more time and address any concerns or problems that surfaced during previous interviews. Interviewers will probe all questionable areas.

3. Become familiar with a variety of techniques that may be used to choose the final candidate. Here are some of the most common ones:
   
   a) Informal Meal Discussions – These are final opportunities to observe your social graces and see if your personality is a fit. Breakfast or lunch discussions are usually held to get acquainted, assess your communication ability, observe how comfortable you appear to be in such settings, and to see how you interact with people on various levels within the company.
   
   b) Situational Interviewing – The interviewer will describe a typical situation that is faced by someone who performs the job. You will be asked to explain what you would do and the steps you would take to solve any problems. The interviewer will be evaluating HOW you arrive at decisions as well as WHAT you would do.

4. Expect to spend from several hours to several days in the final interview. Remember, this is your last opportunity to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job.

5. When the final interview is concluded, thank all interviewers and re-state your interest in getting the job. After you return home, send emails or letters to each interviewer and thank them one final time.

Resources

• 5 Things That Irritate Job Seekers

[heatherschulte]

on 7/10/2008 Very accurate and well written. *****

[heatherschulte]

on 7/10/2008 Very accurate and well written. *****