So right when you walk in that door you should be smiling. “I’m happy to meet you.” (Look the interview in the eye and shake their hand firmly) It’s been shown that majority of people are uncomfortable with looking strangers in the eye and a firm handshake demonstrates your confidence and security. Show that you mean BUSINESS, your not here to waste their time, your there to DELIVER!
Make sure you walk into the interview with concrete goals in planning for your future and how this position brings you to your career goals. There is nothing worse then a candidate with no goals and uncertainty.
Know the ins and outs of the firm. Knowledge about the industry, employer and possible position. This also comes in handy when its your turn to ask the questions. You will stand out amongst the pack if you have thoughtful questions that display your prior research. (Prepare questions that apply to the company and questions that apply to the employer.)
Dress the part, make sure you understand the difference between casual, business causal and business attire. If you can, get a sense of the office style off their website.
Bring Multiple copies of your Resume and Cover Letter
Make sure you get business cards from everyone you interviewed with!
Follow-up with a thank you email or note which will restate your interest in the position. Make sure when you send these thank emails, that none are alike. Trust me they will compare, especially females.
*** Make sure you arrive AT LEAST 10 minutes early! Early is on time and to be on time is late! You never know if you'll have to fill out paper work and it makes you seem punctual.
Don’t make negative comments about previous employers or professors. No matter how much you might have hated your previous job experience, walk in having a concrete reason of why you left without putting anyone down. Trust, talking negatively about other people says a lot about your character.
Don’t act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment. Yes, times are tough but you have to demonstrate the passion for why this company stood out to you over the rest!
Don’t be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks foolish.
Don’t sit with a “too cool for school” attitude (leaning back, one leg crosses over the other, one arm thrown over the back of the chair.) Sit up and forward in your chair. Lean toward your interviewer. This demonstrates your dying attention, interest and professionalism.
Don’t wear offensive amount of body scent (perfume or cologne). You don’t want to wear anything that might be distracting.
Don’t be too confident. It’s important to show your securities with your talents but nerves are normal. You don’t want to come off arrogant or so confident that it might seem that you not taking the interview seriously.
Don’t answer questions with “Yes” or “No.” Remember the most intelligent people support their answers with facts.
Don’t rely only on your resume or cover letter. Make sure you reiterate aspects on your resume that are perfect for the position and explain them more in detail.
Don’t lie! Its really easy to lie during an interview because you’ll do just about anything to get the position but even if you don’t know how to do something make sure you example and demonstrate your ability to adjust and learn the task at hand.
Don’t say you have a weakness. Many interviewers will ask you what is your weakness but you don’t have one. Whatever you answer maybe, turn it around into a positive. I’ve used as a weakness that I’m a perfectionist or workaholic.
Coming Up: Dressing the Part
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