How to get an interview off on the right foot! 5 Definitely Do's
Interviews can be nerve racking, plain and simple. It can feel awkward to talk about yourself for 3 hours with complete strangers, and it can be extra stressful if you really need the job. I've pulled together a short list of "Definitely Do's" that are sure to get your interview off on the right foot. It doesn't matter if you're going for a CEO or a line cook position, these tactics work across the board!
Be early...don't be on time, be early. This will give you time to center yourself before the interview and also will protect you from any unforeseen issues like bad traffic or getting lost in a large building.
Bring a few questions about the company ready to go. This will show the interviewers that you've given serious thought to working at the company and will allow you to get to know them better; every interviewer is looking for at least 1-2 follow up questions. If you don't know what to ask, something as simple as, "what do you really like about working here?" will be a great jumping off point.
Everyone gets nervous, some of us more than others. Deep breathing exercises while you are sitting in the waiting room before your name is called will help lower your heart rate and center your mind. 5 count in through your nose, 5 count out through your mouth and repeat. You will be amazed at what 2 minutes of this will do before you walk into your next interview!
Eye contact is key when you are in an interview, try to avoid letting your eyes wander...sometimes it's hard to stay focused but in an interview you should always give the person you are speaking with your full attention. One trick is instead of looking directly at their eyes focus on their nose instead, it's less awkward than locking eyes and from the interviewer's perspective it will look the same!
Similar to #2 but a bit different, Ask ask ASK your recruiter or point of contact for the job any and all questions you have BEFORE you go onsite to interview. It's their job to prep you and get you set up for success, some recruiters are more thorough than others, but all should be willing to hop on a 5-10 minute call to walk you through what to expect and answer any questions you have. It not only will get you more prepared but it will show the recruiter/HR Manager that you have seriously thought about this position and want to be as prepared as possible.
What are some other Interview 101 tips that have worked for you in the past?
Be yourself, be calm, be respectful and remember always, this is not your house, the block, or the local club that you are visiting so attitude and language must be in check.
The person interviewing you is a professional and representing the company you want to work for, so do not prejudge or bring any old baggage to this conversation.
The interviewer wants to see if you know what you say you know, can do what they expect you to do, and if you can get along with their team in a responsible and respectful manner.
Be the vision of a potential leader, there to help the company, the team and yourself grow.
These are all so basic. If job seekers are don't already know these "tips", I find that amazing & hard to believe.
I take that to court and fight that
This is great Will! I always tell people to bring a pen and a notebook. You might not think it's needed but writing down important information that you can use at different stages of the interview process shows you're prepared and interested!
Employers are so tired of all the pat answers to their equally pat questions. Don't you know that they have heard all of this a thousand times? Get out of the box. Understand the culture. Here is an extreme example, but not necessarily my recommendation: My client was being interviewed for a job with a well-known oil drilling company. The interviewer was rude, abrasive, and adept at raw language. Then, my client told him, "If you speak that way to me again, I'm going to knock your teeth out." A moment of silence, then a laugh. He was hired immediately. What HR or recruiter is going to teach you that? Prior to your job interview, know the culture, and understand that every interview only has two or three questions: Who are you? (Not what) What do you offer? (Don't read your resume) Why should you be hired over others? (No BS) One time, I was asked this third question. My answer: "I will be committed to helping make you the most successful manager possible." I was hired. Right up front, when the interviewer says, "Tell me about yourself", that is your open door to answer the three questions above and win the job. Got it? Cheers !