Time was, that getting an interview with a company meant that you had a very good chance of getting the job. In todays economy though, with thousands of people applying for and recruiters and managers interviewing numerous people for each job, the interview has become more important than ever.
That means, that not only can you not afford to slip up in the interview, you have to ace it. In order to get the job, you have to blow the interviewer away. Here are a few simple tips that can take you from an also-ran, to the front-runner in the job race.
Before you even go to the interview, you have some work to do. It is never okay to just show up and wing it. The first thing you have to do, and hopefully already have done, is some research on the company you are interviewing with. Get as much information as you can... how they make money, corporate culture, industry, office locations, awards, etc. You need to know this.
It is very rare that someone can get hired without having done this type of research these days. Also, you need to mentally prepare for the questions that you will be asked. Many times, interview questions can be very similar between different people and companies. All of the questions are designed to do two things... showcase the good applicants and weed out the bad.
So, think through questions you have been asked in past interviews and figure out how to answer them for this interview. One other thing... think through how to explain the work you have done at previous jobs in a clear and concise manner.
First impressions count for a lot and if you ace the first impression, you are well on your way. It does not matter which job you are applying for, dress like the person that already has the job and is nicest dressed person in that job. Each job has their own attire (you would not wear a suit and tie if you are interviewing for a construction position), but make sure that you are on the high end for your specific industry.
Also, be sure to bring a few items with you. These items are your resume (three copies is good), something to write on (folio, notebook, or something suited to the position you are applying for) and a pen. Again, make sure that the pen fits the position you are applying for... do not bring something too fancy, or too simple. And most of all, smile. Smiles truly are contagious, and smiling makes people happy. Happy people want to hire the people that make them happy.
After getting high marks on the first impression, you are on your way to the interview. You are doing well so far, but you still have a long way to go to impress them enough to make them know for sure that you are the right person for the job.
If there is anyone else in the interview, make sure to introduce yourself and give them a firm handshake. After that, sit down comfortably and if you have not already done so, turn off your cell phone. If your cell phone rings (especially if you have an inappropriate ring tone), it is going to distract from the interview and the interviewers are going to get a negative impression.
After that, write down the names of the people interviewing you. It lets them know that you want to know who they are and in a pinch, will help you remember their names. Now it is time for the interview.
When the interviewers ask you questions, speak clearly, confidently and concisely. Everybody is going to use ummms and ahhhs when they are asked something they were not expecting, so try not to worry about that. Worry more about making sure the interviewer can understand your answer and that you do not ramble.
One tip that most people do not think about is breathing. Maintaining a normal breathing rate can help keep you from getting nervous, keep your heart rate low and keep your head clear. When they ask about your previous jobs, do not just tell them your job title and assume they know what you did... give them examples of your work and how your work benefited the company. This will also help you keep from talking too much... just quickly give a quick anecdote and then move on.
Most interviewers will ask you about how you think you will benefit their company. Do not talk about your skills in Excel or Word (a lot of people have those), or your cheery disposition, but rather focus on what makes you unique and provide an example of how that might be helpful in their work environment. Something like, I am fluent in Spanish, which might help when dealing with your operation in Spain, or I also have experience in developing corporate partnerships, which will help me fit right in with your new partnership with Company X are great examples. The research you have done earlier will help tremendously here.
Many people forget during the interview that it is important to take notes. Take notes about the questions they ask, and your answers. Take notes about which questions are asked by whom. Also, take notes about any questions you might think of during the interview. Taking notes lets the interviewer(s) know that you pay attention to detail and the notes might help you later.
After the interviewers are done with their questions, they will usually give you a chance to ask your own questions. If you do not ask any questions, you are doing yourself a disservice. Ask a few questions that you have already prepared during your research phase and one or two that have popped into your mind during the interview. Your notes should help you think of some questions.
Questions about the company should include things about corporate culture, ongoing training and development, and future career opportunities within the company. Make sure to ask at least one question related to the topic of how the company makes money. These things are very important to the company and should be very important to any applicant. When you ask these questions, feel free to say things like, Tell me more about your latest product, Product X, and how it is gaining traction in the market, or I noticed that you won an award for being one of the best companies to work for, what are some things that helped you win that award.
These types of questions point to your knowledge of the company and things the company takes pride in.
Finally, after the interview, thank the interviewer(s) for their time, shake their hand and let them know you hope to hear from them soon. You are not done yet. Be sure to follow up between 24 and 48 hours after the interview to again thank them for their time. This can be done with a simple e-mail (they are probably very busy, so a phone call is not necessarily appropriate) to let them know that you appreciate their time and hope to hear from them soon.
Some people send or deliver thank-you cards, which is a nice touch, but probably a bit of overkill. If you do go with a thank-you card, personalize it with a note about something discussed in the interview. If you hand-deliver the card, just deliver it to a receptionist. There is no need to deliver it face to face, again, they are probably very busy.
Congratulations on a great interview. You have done all the right things to win over the interviewer(s) and put yourself in position to be the lead candidate for the job. Hopefully, you will be hearing back shortly with a job offer and headed off to your new career.
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