1. Arrive at the interview location at least 15 minutes early. Late arrival for an interview is incredibly damaging to your chances of landing the job. If an unexpected situation arises (i.e. car trouble, road closure, inclement weather, sudden illness) contact the interviewer immediately, explain your situation clearly yet concisely, and offer to re-schedule at their convenience.
2. Turn off your cell phone, pager, and any other communication device before entering building.
3. If you’re presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely, even though you have a resume with you. And don’t rely on your resume to do the selling for you, no matter how good it is.
4. Greet the interviewer formally (i.e. Mr. Smith, Ms. Glover), provided you’ve done your homework and are certain of the pronunciation. Be sure to offer a firm handshake and a bright smile, and emanate a good amount of energy and enthusiasm at all times.
5. Once you reach the interviewer’s office or conference room, don’t sit until you are offered a chair. Do your best not to slouch in your seat, and don’t ever rest your head on your hand, as it can make you look tired and uninterested.
6. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer, especially while speaking. When the interviewer is speaking, stay focused on what is being said, rather than what you’d like to say next. It’s ok to take a moment to prepare an answer to a question. Give detailed answers when it makes sense, but don’t ramble. If the interviewer wants more info on a particular point, they’ll ask.
7. Let the interviewer lead the conversation, but look for the opportunity to ask them to detail the available position early in the interview. This way you’ll be able to better apply your experience, skills, and accomplishments in a pertinent fashion.
8. Be prepared to communicate your accomplishments and experience in a positive manner. Don’t be afraid to be proud of your background, but avoid being boastful. Highlight pertinent achievements when you get the chance, such as sales records, processes developed, savings achieved, projects designed, etc.
9. Maintain your enthusiasm throughout the interview, even if it seems that things aren’t going as planned. Sometimes interviewers will be difficult on purpose to see how you respond under pressure.
10. Don’t chew gum. If you need a breath mint, pop one in your mouth before entering the building, but be sure it’s gone before you enter the interview.
11. Try not to answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Elaborate in a clear and concise manner whenever possible, citing talents and accomplishments that pertain to the situation.
12. Never lie. And avoid the urge to embellish.
13. Be professional, polite, and courteous when speaking about your present or former employers, no matter how ghastly they may be. Obviously, there are issues or you wouldn’t be there, sitting in that interview. You’ll likely be asked why you’re looking to make a change, so be prepared with an honest answer that briefly highlights your reason(s) without sounding angry or vindictive.
14. If the interviewer asks you what level of salary you’re looking for, let them know what you’re currently earning, but convey the point that you're more interested in the opportunity than in a specific dollar amount. You want them to know that you’re concerned with more than just a paycheck.
QUESTIONS YOU'RE LIKELY TO HEAR DURING THE INTERVIEW
Here are some basic interview questions that you’ll probably be asked at some point during the meeting. Prepare in advance by writing down and rehearsing answers for each in the following list:
- Tell me about yourself. (Stick to the basics: Are you married? Where do you live? Kids? Spouse’s career? No need to get too in-depth)
- Tell me about your background and accomplishments. (short, sweet, and right to the point. School, degree, 2-3 significant career accomplishments, display passion for position/industry)
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses? (The weaknesses are the key, because most people are naturally prepared to talk about their strengths. Pick 1-3 strong attributes and 1 weakness that’s sincere but not damaging. Avoid obvious cheap ploys, like “I’m a workaholic”.)
- How would you describe your most recent job performance? (this is a good chance to talk about your growth within your current position, and accomplishments. Again, be confident, but not cocky.)
- What interests you about our company? (if you’ve done your homework, you should be able to knock ‘em dead with this one.)
- How do you stay professionally current? (if you don’t, you should be. Trade publications, industry websites, seminars, etc.)
- What outside activities are most significant to your personal development? (Church? Coaching kids sports teams? Playing guitar in a mariachi band? This question helps to showcase you as a person, but don’t overdo it.)
- Why do you think that you’d be a good fit for this particular company/position? (By doing your homework in advance, you should be able to cite a few compelling reasons here.)
Do yourself a big favor and steer around these pitfalls at all costs.
- Displaying anything less than a professional personal appearance. A wrinkled suit and rumpled hair can torpedo even the most qualified resume.
- Displaying an overbearing or egotistical demeanor. Energy and enthusiasm are good. Over-aggressiveness is scary.
- Displaying a decided lack of interest and enthusiasm, with a passive, indifferent air. Do you WANT the job, or don’t you?
- Lack of confidence and poise; nervousness. Sure, it’s not uncommon to feel tense when walking into an interview.
But prior preparation can go a long way towards poise and self-assurance. - Focusing too much on the compensation package. You know you’ll get paid if you do get the job, so at least ACT like you’re sincere about wanting to work for this particular company.
- Making evasive excuses for unfavorable factors in work history (aka “it’s not my fault”). Nobody is perfect, so be honest and let the interviewer know the circumstances behind any past issues, in as positive and concise a manner as possible.
- Displaying a clear lack of tact, maturity, and/or courtesy. You don’t want to be seen as THAT guy, do you?
- Harsh criticism of past employers, supervisors, or companies. Be polite and courteous when talking about even the most heinous past employers, and always take the high road. It’s the classy thing to do.
- Overdoing the "What can you do for me?" attitude. Sure, you should position yourself as a desirable candidate, but asking what YOU can do for the company will gain you a whole lot more brownie points.
- Showing up unprepared for your interview and “winging it”. This is why doing your homework in the days before the interview is so vital. Or, to put it another way, why would a prospective employer trust you to research and prepare for major company projects when you can’t even be bothered to research and prepare for your interview?
STAGE 3: The Closing Moments »« STAGE 1: Before the Interview
