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Getronics USA / Canada careers
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Tue., Jan. 06, 2009









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My Interviews

You can read this guide as a whole, or click any link below to jump to specific topics. This was prepared with content assistance from Seacoast Partners.

Table of Contents

 Job Agents: yeah, baby!
Getronics Job Search AgentFor an email you'll really like receiving, login and set up Job Agents. As new jobs are posted that match your search criteria, the Agent will email you. When you do a regular job search, on the results page you also have the option to save it as an Agent. It's free & no-risk: change, add or remove your Agents anytime!

Phone Screens / Telephone Interviews

When you have sent your first resume, especially in response to a Getronics job board posting, chances are good that your first contact with the hiring process may come in the form of a telephone call. Getronics often conducts a telephone interview before making a decision to proceed with a personal interview. A call should be considered as a positive indication.

Make sure that you have telephone coverage at all times for the number which you have identified. Do not allow a child to answer the phone, as so doing could result in a lost or inaccurate message. If you use an answering system in your absence, you should record a dignified and professional message on it. Do not try to be cute or funny. Record your message in a very business-like tone, but be friendly, speak clearly and slowly and, by all means, listen to what you have recorded. You may even ask a friend to listen to it and re-record it until you are satisfied. If you do not have an answering machine, call your telephone company to see if they offer voice mail. No matter what, you do not want to miss a call. You should have some means for allowing a caller to leave a message. If you have a cell phone, you should mention this fact in your message, along with your number, but always be prepared for that one call that may determine your future.

Many people have found it helpful to have a notebook of letters, which they have written, or calls that they have made near the telephone regarding positions to which they have applied. Likewise, a notebook or a file folder with any information you have gathered on the position is a good reference during a phone conversation.

You may even wish to prepare a list of generic or specific questions regarding the job for which you have applied. Also, it is usually a good idea to have a copy of your resume handy should the interviewer refer to it.

Be sure that you have a good understanding of the job and that the interviewer has a good understanding of what you have to offer. Be sure to answer the questions, but do not go into a lot of detail. Be brief and to the point. Only answer the question that has been asked of you. If the interviewer wants more information than you provided, he or she will ask for it. Let the interviewer control the interview and know when to stop asking the questions.

What kinds of questions are asked in a telephone interview? Let's look at them!

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Your Personal Interviews

Your resume makes potential hiring managers aware of your accomplishments, technical abilities, experience, and education. It leaves, however, questions about your personality, attitude, communication skills, general presentation, and so forth unanswered. In other words, the company needs to make sure that you would be an organizational fit. To make this determination, a personal interview is scheduled. The interviewer is looking for some of the following:
  • Job knowledge and expertise
  • Proactive versus passive behavior
  • Ability to learn
  • Decision-making skills
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and initiative
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Your ability to think under pressure
  • Why you left a previous employer
In the short duration of an interview, you must convince the interviewer(s) why you should be chosen above other candidates. Now is the time to sell yourself. No matter how impressive your background might be, you must convince the interviewer that you are the right person for the job. The best way to accomplish this goal is simply to be yourself and present your thoughts clearly and concisely. However, be careful that you do not oversell yourself or your background. Know when to stop talking.

At the time of the interview, you have the opportunity to gain important information about the position. Consequently, you should regard this process as a way for you and a potential employer to exchange information in a business conversation. Prepare yourself to answer a number of general and specific questions. You should also be prepared to ask some significant questions based on your research.
Now let's look at some ways to prepare for your first interview.

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Your Weaknesses

Here are some examples of how you may present a weakness.

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Sample Interview Questions

To market yourself successfully, you should be prepared for each and every interview that you accept. Review some questions you may be asked in an interview.

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Surviving and Excelling in Group Interviews

I had a group interview last week, and I am totally confused as to how it went. I didn't know which of the five people firing off questions was in charge. The questions were asked in a random manner. I didn’t think I did well but was called back for a second interview. I am still pretty confused by the whole experience. Why do companies have group interviews, and what's the best way to handle them?

Group Interviews: This is called a panel or 360-degree interview and typically includes anywhere from three to six people. The interviews are very intimidating and in many instances are designed to see how you perform under pressure.

Many times a team-based company will conduct such interviews, because they want the entire team to have a similar impression of the candidate. Many companies that are experiencing tremendous growth will conduct group interviews to move the process ahead quickly. It's much faster than conducting one-on-one interviews with various people in the company. But a group interview must be well orchestrated in order for the candidate to survive and excel in it.

In many instances those that survive the group interview setting will excel throughout the interview process, but don’t let your guard down. You may not have a clear picture as to who is the decision maker, so the proper way to handle is to relax, maintain your composure, provide solid eye contact, clearly and concisely articulate your answers to the group. If you look at the group interview as a means of being one step closer to the job then many times you will feel at ease during this process. Also remember, that this is not the group attacking you but merely a way of seeing how you conduct yourself under pressure.

In a well-prepared group interview, the interview panel will decide ahead of time who's responsible for what questions. For example, one person may focus on the candidate's education, another on the person's decision-making abilities and yet another on the job's technical aspects. The goal of the group is to make sure that it flows properly so that to get all the answers they may need to make an informed decision.

Let's take a look at how we can prepare for the group interview.

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Interview Review & Assessment

When you return from your Personal Interview, we suggest that you immediately sit down and evaluate your interview. There is not much you can do at this point, other than to write "thank you" letters to those with whom you interviewed. However, you can learn something from each and every interview.

Take a moment when you return and evaluate the interview. Think about what you said and how you presented yourself. Think about any mistakes you may have made and, by all means, remember the things you did correctly. How could you improve? In what areas did you feel comfortable? Also, write down a list of all the questions you were asked, so that you can review them before future interviews. Likewise, list all the questions you wish you had asked, but didn't. All of this information will help you prepare for future interviews.

Find out how to deal with an interview that's not going well.

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Preparing for the Interview

Click here for solid tips in the following topic areas:
  • Before the Interview
  • During the Interview
  • Concluding the Personal Interview
  • Questions to Ask
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Following Up on Your Interviews

Always, always, always send a follow up e-mail or letter immediately after the interview. If you can manage it, do so within 24 hours of the interview. It does not need to be an elaborate letter. Just the fact that you follow up is as important as what is in it.

Also, send a thank you to everyone that was involved in interviewing you. Click here for guidelines to what you should include.

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Closing the Job Offer

When you begin to go through the interview stages, you will undoubtedly feel like you are getting close to bringing this to closure. This is clearly not the time to take unnecessary risks or do anything foolish to compromise your chances of getting the job offer. Don't slip up now! Don't let your guard down at all. So many candidates were about to get job offers and then they dropped their guard. The offer never materialized and they were back to square one! Here are some basic guidelines to avoid problems.

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Dealing with Sensitive Issues

During the interview process you may be asked questions that are of a sensitive nature to you. The interviewer may in fact be probing for weaknesses during the interview and not all people involved in the interview process are in fact skilled at interviewing. In many instances, questions may be inappropriate and even illegal to ask. You need to be aware of this and have a general idea on what can and cannot be asked by the interviewer.

Most hiring managers are aware of what they can and cannot ask. Remember the operative word here is “most”. Not all are in fact aware of what the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Americans with Disabilities Act do to protect an individual. Keep in mind that if a question is asked it should be related to the job you are applying for in order for it to be a legal question. This is a rule of thumb and not set in stone! Here's a list of some inappropriate questions.

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Negotiating for Success

Congratulations! You have completed the process and have been offered a job. There are many issues to consider before accepting an offer. Is this the department in which you wish to work? Will the job be interesting and challenging? Is the salary consistent with your objective? Is where the job is located right for you? Does the position have long-term prospects?

In reality, you should be able to answer most of these questions before you actually receive the offer. At this point, you must fully address the issue of salary. Is the salary equitable? Is it acceptable? If the salary is at the point of or above your expectations, your decision may be easy. If the salary is substantially lower than your expectations, yet you are still interested in the position, then you should consider a negotiation. The key word here is CONSIDER. Click here for things to consider.

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Looking at the BIG Picture

Bringing a successful close to a job search campaign requires you to pay attention to the details. At this point on the process, it is critical to not allow for areas of importance to slip between the cracks. There are several critical "Success Factors" or components to bringing this to closure. Do not take risks in this area and remain focused on the ultimate goal of being hired. Too many times, candidates have allowed themselves to let down their guard and something they could have controlled allowed for the process to be delayed or even worse not move forward at all. There are several ways to keep your eye on the ball at this stage.

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Components of Compensation Plans

There are so many components to compensation plans: some cash-related, some not! Because of this, you need to focus your attention on the "Total" package. After going over the obvious benefits (salary, bonus, profit sharing, pension, 401k, etc.), there are many components that for the most part will play into the overall picture but never seem to get the attention of the candidate. These can play a significant role in your overall financial package and your day-to-day lifestyle. You can get the necessary information on the following items by contacting the Human Resources department. Perhaps there is a company benefits folder or brochure that will give you an overview of these areas, but you may also need to ask questions about these items in order to have a clearer picture of the overall package.
Here is a sampling of the items you will want to have reviewed.

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Preparing for Day One

Congratulations! You got the job! You are probably very excited about starting and want to insure that you start off on the right foot. If you do the following steps you will likely begin your new position with much enthusiasm. Again, close out all other searches and call all contacts made to inform them of your new position. Do not burn a bridge ever! Follow these steps to prepare for your first day.

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Successful Transitions

As you get ready to start your new position, pay close attention to identifying the company culture, building company alliances, aligning yourself with expectations and adding value early on. Having a strategy will allow you to make a smooth transition into your new position. Learn how to transition into your new position.

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Adding Value Early On

Everyone has the best intentions when they begin a new position. They plan on having an impact right away. Many times, however, that is not the case. When embarking on a new position, it's important to have a solid long term plan and a short-term strategy of getting there.

Don't try to be everything to everyone. In other words, don't spread yourself too thin. This is a set up for failure. You need to demonstrate that you can take responsibility and be effective. This will allow you to add value to your company and your position. Ask yourself: Which projects are the most important to undertake in my first year? Which are short-term projects and which are long term? Which project provides the most impact right away? Answering these questions will insure that you choose the path that provides you with the greatest opportunity to impact your department from the get-go!

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8 Ways to Successfully Transition Into Your New Job

Whether you change departments or stay at the same department but assume a new role, changing positions is never an easy process. It takes time and effort. Often times you can catch yourself feeling trapped.

The stress of a job transition can be enormous. However, perception is reality. The way you behave, talk, make a decision or dress is an impression that most people will remember you by until the last day on the job. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Below are a few tips to keep in mind when your new job comes through. These will help you make a smooth transition, and an overwhelmingly good impression! Making a smooth transition into your new job.

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Advice on Managing Your Work & Family Life

All of these people have a routine and it seems to work... Find yours and you can make it work as well!

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Getronics is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.


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