Most applicants are required to have an interview prior to being offered a job. Whether the interview is on the telephone or in person, check out these useful tips.
Typical Interview Questions
Many of the employers listed require interviews, so it is wise to do some preparation in advance. Millions of people are have job interviews every year, but for all those interviews, there are several general questions that occur over and over again:
- Why do you want to work for us?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Do you have any questions about us or the job?
- Why did you quit your last job?
- Summarize your work experience.
- What are your hobbies?
- What attracts you to (our company/the general industry)?
- Do you have any special skills or talents that will help you with this job?
Be prepared to answer all of these questions. When talking with the interviewer, maintain good eye contact. When talking on the phone, try to smile - it really does make your voice sound better. Maintain good posture and answer all questions in a clear, confident voice. It is also good to ask a few questions to demonstrate your interest in the job and your knowledge about the industry. If the employer has a website, be sure to read it before the interview.
Personal Appearance
In the event you have an in-person interview, keep the following in mind. Dress should be rather conservative, though you can wear something that will make them remember you - just don't over-do it! Men should wear a jacket and tie; women should wear either a business suit or dress.
Both men and women should be well groomed, and women should avoid too much make-up and perfume. Clothes should be well-fitting. Try to remember that most parks and resorts are very family-oriented, so employers typically want to hire people who will project a safe, wholesome image for the company.
After the Interview
When applying for a highly competitive position, there is one secret that sets those who get jobs apart from those who don't - thank you notes. These notes should be brief and addressed specifically to the person who interviewed you (be sure to remember their name). Small cards with some kind of art on one side make an especially good impression. Do not leave the interview or hang up the phone without knowing the name of the person who interviewed you and how it is spelled!
If you don't hear from the company within two weeks, make a follow-up telephone call to politely inquire about the status of your application. If a company gets lots of good applicants, the person they hear from the most usually gets the job, but don't pester the hiring manager. Once a week is the most you should call to follow-up.
