Job interviewing is a brief, but necessary process for selling yourself to a potential employer. It is your opportunity to show off your knowledge, skills and abilities and convince the interviewer that you are perfect for the position. You want the interview to walk away from your interview saying, “I have waited all my life for this person.”
I have had the pleasure of conducting hundreds of interviews over the past twenty years and have heard some amazing things. You can’t make this stuff up, so I want to help you nail the next interview.
Amazingly, on numerous occasions after the last question is answered the interviewee breathes a sigh of relief and goes on to share the joy and frustrations of interviewing for various jobs. What I hear most often is the anxiety of constantly meeting new people, hoping you say the right thing, hoping the interviewer will smile or nod to give you a cue that you are on the right track with an answer.
The stress can be overwhelming. So, let me share six tips that will make your next interview a breeze.
1. The night or day before the interview spend a little time doing some deep breathing exercises to help your body and your mind relax.
2. Research the position and the company you are interviewing for. There is nothing worse than being asked what research have you done about this position/company and you stare blankly at the interviewer. (Yes, I’ve seen that look).
3. Role play an interview with a trusted friend. Practice sitting up straight and rehearsing your response to a few basic questions. Be mindful of hand gestures and pause instead of saying “Amh”. Click on the following link for making a good first impression:
4. Dress appropriately — most companies adhere to the business casual attire. Make sure your clothing is clean, ironed and fits appropriately. Tight clothing with body parts appearing as if they are struggling to get out is not a good look for anyone. Cover your tattoos and remove facial jewelry. Fingernails and hair must be an appropriate length for the job you will perform.
5. Be Punctual — to be early is to be on time and to be on time is to be late. A company wants to hire someone that represents its brand and culture. Arriving late for an interview sends a message to the employer that this is your typical behavior when reporting to work. Timeliness is critical in selling yourself and letting the company know you are respectful of their time as well as yours.
6. Ask questions. Career decisions are big decisions for you as well as the employer. The last thing you want to do is leave a job for another job and it is not what you thought or hoped it was. Ask questions about the organization. Listen to the responses. You are not just trying to get a job you are planning for your future.
Remember interviewing is work, consider the interview as your first day on the job!
