Interview Tips
What to do the day of the interview
The big day of the interview has arrived, so what do you do at an interview? How do you handle yourself and how do you interact with the process and the people that you'll meet?
Now we've all had some experience with meeting new people and many have even had interviews before, but there's a lot riding on your ability to convey confidence, compatibility, and capability through your communication.
Follow these tips for interviewing and your day will not only pass without negative incident, you'll fly through the interview with great success!
Be prepared
Well, you're here looking for help and interviewing tips, so I presume you are preparing yourself for an interview--GREAT JOB! Study questions and answers (this site has plenty of both), complete your interview paperwork properly, and hone your presentation skills.
Don't be late
This is a no-brainer, 10 minutes early is not too early and is about the amount of time that people are generally late. If something does come up at the last minute, 10 minutes is a lot of time to fix it, allowing you to arrive on time.
Be thoughtful
Not something that comes naturally to everyone, but something we can strive to do for an hour at least. Watch what's happening, think about what you're doing, what are you forgetting, remember names, think about process, remember your answers, be logical...BE ON THE BALL! Don't space out and forget stuff, that leads to bad impressions.
Be upbeat
No one likes a sad Sally, moping around with a monotone voice, barely audible to human hearing. Show you are motivated and can do the job, show that you are someone that people WANT to be around.
Be confident
You can ask questions to clarify meaning or
some procedural thing. Don't be shy, step up and introduce
yourself with a firm handshake. Women need to consider the
handshake just as men do. Having met my share of both male and
female job candidates, I am left with an impression of the
person after the handshake and often if it is weak and barely
there at all, it affects me negatively.
Build trust and rapport.
Be composed
No reason to get rattled, do what you have to so you are calm and relaxed (but not too much). Sometimes people don't consider the anxiety they feel and although they are calm walking in, the realization that the interview is happening throws them into a panic. Understand the reality and prepare yourself. Tell yourself this is just a step in the path of getting the job; you'll do you best, but you're not going to freak out over it.
Be honest
Dishonesty in your answers will lead to trouble, no doubt. But you should be honest in your interviewing as well. What I mean is, that you should communicate to the interviewers how much you appreciate the opportunity and if you are nervous, you can tell them. That way you can relax a little, knowing they know you're nervous. The interviewers will try to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.
Be thankful
After the interview, look at each interviewer
and thank them. At this point many candidates just want to
bolt for the door, barely looking at the interviewers on their
way out, almost to suggest that they have somewhere else they
need to be. Pausing and saying thank you for the interview
is a great way to end, because the interviewers will likely
remember the beginning and the end of the interview the most.
Send a thank you note,
regardless of how you think you did.