You landed the interview. Now it's time to land the job!
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Preparation is EVERYTHING.
Do your research. Bring your resume. Be on time. Seem basic?
It is! It’s so easy to do, and starts the interview off on a good note.
Before you attend the interview, look into the company. Find
out what they do, what the structure is, and where they’re heading. Think of a
few questions you have about what they do and jot those down. Excellent
specified questions to ask at the end of the interview!
Bring extra copies of your resume. You always want the
interviewer to be able to look at your resume while you’re interviewing, and
you don’t know for sure they will print out copies for everyone in the
interview.
Finally, be on time. You don’t want to have to start the
interview with an apology, and not too many companies are interested in hiring
an unreliable employee!
Don't make the top interviewing mistakes!
1.
Appearing Uninterested
Use first impressions to your
advantage. Lead with a smile and a firm handshake.
2.
Using your phone
This one should go without saying.
Turn your phone off, leave it on silent, or better yet, leave it in the car.
3.
Dressing Inappropriately
If the employer doesn't tell you the dress code for
the interview, call to ask about appropriate attire. Proper dress is usually Business Professional or Business Casual.
4.
Fumbling Questions
Be prepared for obvious
questions. “So, tell me about yourself” will invariably be the first question
an interviewer asks you. When they ask this, they don’t want to know that you
have three siblings and two cats! The employer is asking “what can you tell me
about your personality, interests, work habits, and background that will help
you excel in this position?” Additionally, spend some time looking up sample interview questions before the interview, and think of how you would answer
them. This will give you valuable practice answering questions on the spot.
5.
Talking negatively about current / previous
employers
If you speak negatively about your
previous or current employer, the interviewer will assume you will speak about
them in the same way.
6.
Talking too much or not enough
Know when to wrap it up. Make sure you are
conscious of how long you’ve been talking. When an interviewer isn’t responding
to what you’re saying, it is easy to just ramble on until you get some
acknowledgement. Don’t fall into the trap. Say what you have to say and then
stop talking.
7.
Poor body language
You should sit slightly angled in to appear
interested and engaged. Listen to what your interviewer is saying. You don’t
want to be caught off guard. Avoid smiling nervously, pursing your lips, or
touching your hair and face excessively.
8.
Not providing specific examples
Answer behavioral questions using
the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Actions You Took, and
Results of your actions. When you answer a question in this way, you make sure
to hit all the key points. Which on of these four is critical? Results! They are what an employer expects you to produce.
9.
Asking bad questions.
Inevitably, at the end of the interview, the
interviewer will ask if you have any questions for them. Saying you have no
questions is an immediate red flag! They’ll assume you don’t have real interest
in the position. Don’t ask self-serving questions such as “when is pay day?” or
“when can I get a promotion?” Instead, ask any of these great questions.
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| The STAR Technique |
The interview is over. What now?
Write a thank you note! If you want it to arrive quickly,
email is perfectly acceptable. If time is not a pressing factor, a handwritten
note is always nice. Thank you notes should be sent within 24-48 hours of your
interview.
Good luck interviewing!
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