To rock that job interview

The Set-up

You’ve sent your resume out a hundred times and finally someone has called you for an interview. Congratulations!  You’ve made it past hundreds of other applicants, but you’re not in the clear yet. An interview is your one shot at employment with that company and thus it’s important to prepare thoroughly and make the best impression you can.

First Impression

First and foremost, arrive 10-15 minutes early. On time for an interview is early. You might want to do a ‘dry run’ to make sure you’ll get to the location on time and without stress. By the same token, don’t arrive any earlier than this because the person (or people) interviewing you is probably very busy and they set your interview time for a reason – because that time works for them! If you arrive too early this could inconvenience them and leave a negative impression.

Upon meeting your interviewer, having a confident handshake, making eye contact and using a person’s name goes a long way in showing manners, confidence and maturity. Make a mental note of the person’s name so that you can use it again when you leave. This is a small gesture but it shows that you’re paying attention and that you care about the process. If more than one person is interviewing you, try to remember their names as well (this can be tricky, but do your best!). Names will also come in handy again with your follow-up email or phone call (more on this later).

What to wear

A lot of stress concerning that first interview involves what you should wear. After all, your first impression is visual. Dress for the job that you’re going for, and maybe even more formally than the position requires. For instance, if you want to be a waiter at a nice restaurant, a dress shirt (with a tie if you’re a guy) and nice pants with dress shoes would be appropriate.

You probably don’t want to wear a full suit to an interview at a movie-rental store, as it would be going a little overboard. Instead, pressed pants and a dress shirt show that you’re serious enough to handle any responsibilities associated with the position, but still welcoming.

If the job is in a more structured or corporate environment, definitely opt for a suit if you can.  It is always better to be over-dressed.

Jeans and t-shirts are generally considered no-nos. Unless you’re applying for a creative position where they want to see your personality, try to avoid really casual or everyday wear.

Note to girls: try not to over-accessorize. Lots of jewelry, bright make-up and nail polish can be distracting and give the impression of immaturity. Less is more when it comes to interview outfits.

What to Bring

You are going to want to bring with you (in a briefcase or portfolio):

-       Your resume

-       Past examples of your work (if it relates to the job)

-       The job posting

-       A small notepad

-       A pen

-       Your references and their contact information in case your interviewer asks for this on the spot.

That’s it. Don’t bring coffee, or a snack and make sure your cell phone and iPod are turned off. You don’t have a desk yet; so don’t bring stuff to fill it.

It goes without saying that you will be bathed, well-groomed and your clothes will be clean.

The Questions:

During the interview you could be asked many different questions, some easy and some not. Generally, the questions can be split into three different categories: Your Past Experience, Current Skills and Future With the Company. We’ve included five common questions from each Category with answer points here.

Remember to stay calm. The person interviewing you may seem a little scary, but they are a person too, and were in your shoes at one point. You may feel like you’re on trial…and to be honest…you kind of are. Think about it this way, if you are hired, it’s going to cost time and money to train you. An employer is taking a gamble when they choose to hire someone. Your interview is when you have to prove that you’re worth the risk and the money it will cost them – you are competent and will be a delight to work with but they don’t know that yet, so show them!

Take a deep breath, relax and answer everything clearly and concisely. You don’t need to tell your whole life story, but you do need to answer the question fully and make sure they know why you’re a good fit for the position.

Also, while you’re answering their questions be sure to make eye contact with the person (or people) interviewing you. There’s nothing worse than giving the best interview in the world to the wall or the floor. Eye contact shows confidence, trustworthiness, politeness and competence – And it’s easy, so do it!

AND ONE MORE THING…

As well as answering questions, there is one more thing you need to prepare for before an interview – asking questions! In most serious job interviews the interviewer will give you a chance to ask any questions at the end of the meeting. ALWAYS ask something. If you don’t have any questions at all, it will demonstrate a lack of interest or preparation. When you are researching the company, brainstorm a couple of things you’d like to know more about just in case.

Some good examples of general things to ask are:

How would you describe the office/workplace culture?

What is your management style like? Is it very hands-on or do things operate fairly independently?

Will there be opportunities for me to branch out into other departments from time to time to learn other aspects of the business?

Avoid asking about vacation days, salaries, raises, benefits etc in the first interview. You will have an opportunity to find these things out at a second interview or upon agreeing to take the position. You want to give the impression that you’re interested in the job regardless of these factors. After a second interview or upon being offered the job, you will have an opportunity to find out more about these important details.

The Lasting Impression:

Whew, it’s all over. You shook hands, politely said ‘thank you’ and walked out of the door. It’s all over and the ball is in their court now.

Nope!

You have one more chance to make sure your impression lasts – the ‘Thank You” email or phone call.

As it is your last chance, use it wisely. A generic ‘Thank you for the interview, Sally” will not do.

Instead be specific of your experience: “ Hi Sally, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to interview me earlier today. Your explanation of ______________ gave me a greater understanding of the role of _____________ and has left me with a very positive impression of______________ and my ability to perform successfully within the company.”

From this point on, cross your fingers.

Good Luck!