Civilian Force Development Corner<br>Interviews--first impressions count Published July 22, 2010 By John Lang and Debbie Sterling 81st Training Group KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Life comes at you fast, especially when you take control of your career. Are you ready for the next step? You have perhaps 30 seconds to make a first impression during a job interview. Competition for challenging assignments is keen. Here are a few common-sense tips to remember as you prepare for your next job opportunity. Dress professionally. When in doubt, dress up, not down. Dress should be comparable to that of the supervisor and others who might interview you. Take the time to do your homework and develop your self confidence. Get a copy of the core document (position description) and relate your experience, skills and knowledge to the job. Visualize yourself performing the job. Although some supervisors don't offer the core document, most will be impressed with your initiative and provide it if you care enough to ask. Develop confidence by anticipating questions and preparing your best responses. Go all out to "sell" yourself. Your goal is to enable interviewers to visualize you successfully performing challenging duties of the position. Don't assume you are entitled as the next in line for a job because you have "filled all the squares" and are the most experienced. Don't tell interviewers about your responsibilities. Instead, describe your accomplishments and results -- there's a huge difference. This concept also applies to your resumé. Describe accomplishments -- don't simply recite the list of duties in core documents. Convey energy and enthusiasm. Experience is important, but initiative and a vision of your contribution to the mission are vital. You want your future boss to see you as the proactive "Radar O'Reilly" who comes with signature-ready memos and solutions instead of problems. Volunteer for challenging tasks in your current position and, during the interview, capitalize on your reputation for getting things done. Listen to each question and answer it fully, but succinctly. Request clarification if needed, but you absolutely must answer each question. For example, if the interviewer asks for three examples, be sure to give three examples. Opinion questions must be answered. For example, if you're asked, "What do you think is the most important aspect of this job and why?", don't say, "I can't pick one" or describe several important aspects of the job. You must pick just one and explain why. Otherwise, the interviewer will note, "didn't answer the question," or "rambled without answering the question." Know when to stop -- don't ramble on. A brief but complete professional response will score more points than an incomplete, evasive or rambling response. Leadership could be the most important factor in your interview. It's probably not listed as a duty in the core document, but in today's environment, leaders are stretched thin and Air Force civilians have more leadership opportunities than ever before. Your future supervisor may conduct the interview. He or she will be looking for someone who can step in to fulfill their leadership and supervisory responsibilities. What experiences and professional education have prepared you for your future boss's level of responsibility? What would you do in an emergency? Anticipate the probable emergencies and know who you would call for help. And, after the crisis has been taken care of, remember to mention your all-important call or e-mail to back-brief your boss as soon as possible. What makes you special? Interviewers will want to know what you bring to the table that others might not. Think about your strengths before you walk in and try to weave them into each of your answers. Most of us have difficulty finding ways to showcase our strengths without sounding arrogant or overly confident. Be honest in your self assessment. Make a list of your strengths and how each would be beneficial to the specific job. If you aren't absolutely confident in an area, leave it out. Never wander into a discussion about an area of weakness; steer the discussion to your advantage. Convey a positive impression of your ability to excel in the job. Remember, the interview isn't about how your boss can accommodate you; it's about what you can do to help the boss accomplish the mission. Don't feel obligated to discuss personal issues such as health and family concerns. If such issues arise, be honest and forthright but don't dwell on them. Instead, turn the discussion to a positive note about how you have overcome such issues to achieve success. Take advantage of opportunities to describe your talents that weren't brought out by the interview questions. Be prepared when asked, "Do you have any questions you would like us to answer about the job?" or "Is there anything else you would like to tell us?" Use this moment to make a good final impression and direct the interview to shine upon your strengths. Don't sell yourself short by not applying for jobs. Give selecting officials the chance to interview and hire you. When in doubt, apply! You may be the best candidate for the job. It's up to selecting officials to decide. Do your homework and take advantage of occasions to interview. Build on lessons learned and hone your interview skills. Your skills will improve each time. Coming up soon are an interview skills seminar in September and mock selection panels in October. Watch for notices of dates and locations or call 377-5311 for information.