Job Interview Tips
To make a good impression on interview day, use these
tips:
Get there on time. Try to schedule several interviews
within the same area of town and time frame to avoid wasted
time in excessive travel. Get directions online or ask fro
directions from the receptionist to be sure you know how to
get to the interview and how long traveling to the interview
will take. Allow plenty of time for traffic or other
problems and plan on arriving for the interview 5 to 10
minutes early.
Check your appearance. Arrive early enough to slip into a
restroom and correct any grooming problems your travel may
have caused, such as wind-blown hair. You should be
surprised how many people go into the interview with
grooming problems such as messed-up hair or smudged lipstick
on their teeth. Use a breath mint or gum just to be on the
safe side. Do not spray on perfume, cologne, or hair spray
right before the interview because many people are sensitive
to chemicals and scents.
Use appropriate waiting-room behavior. As you wait for
the interview to begin, keep in mind that it's important to
relax and to look relaxed. Occupy yourself with something
businesslike. For example, you could review your notes on
questions you might like to ask in the interview, key skills
you want to present, or other interview details. Bring a
work-related magazine to read or pick one up in the
reception area. The waiting room may also have publications
from the organization itself that you may not have seen yet.
You could also use this time to update your daily schedule.
Be prepared if the interview is late. Hope that it
happens. If you arrive promptly but have to wait past the
appointed time, that puts the interviewer in a "Gee, I'm
sorry, I owe you one" frame of mind. If the interview is 15
minutes late, approach the office manager or administrative
assistant and say something like: "I have an appointment to
keep yet today. Do you think it will be much longer before
the interviewer will be free?" Be nice, but don't act as
though you can sit around all day, either. If you have to
wait more than 25 minutes beyond the scheduled time, you may
want to ask to reschedule the interview at a better time.
Say it is no problem for you and you understand things do
come up. Besides, you say, you want to be sure Mr. or Ms.
So-and-So doesn't feel rushed when he or she sees you.
Set up the new time, accept any apology with a smile, and be
on your way. When you do come back for your interview, the
odds are that the interviewer will apologize - and treat you
very well indeed.
Be particular about your dress and appearance. How you
dress and groom can create a big negative or positive
impression, especially during the first few seconds of an
interview. With so many options in styles, colors, and other
factors, determining the correct approach can get quite
complex. To avoid the complexity, follow this simple rule:
Dress and groom like the interviewer is likely to be dressed
and groomed, but just a bit better.
Give a firm handshake and maintain good eye contact. If
the employer offers his or her hand, give a firm (but not to
firm) handshake as you smile. As ridiculous as it sounds, a
little practice helps. Avoid staring, but do look at the
interview when either of you is speaking. It will help you
concentrate on what is being said and indicate to the
employer that you are listening closely and have good social
skills.
Act interested. When you are sitting, lean slightly
forward in your chair and keep your head up, looking
directly at the interviewer. This stance helps you look
interested and alert.
Eliminate annoying behaviors. Try to eliminate any
distracting movements or mannerisms. Listen to yourself and
you may notice that you say "aaahhh" or "ummmmm" frequently
or say "you know what I mean?" over and over again, or use
other repetitive words or phrases. You may hardly be aware
of doing this, but do watch for it. Ask friends or family
for help pinpointing these behaviors.
Pay attention to your voice. If you are naturally
soft-spoken, work on increasing your volume slightly. Listen
to news announcers and other professional speakers who are
good models for volume ,speed, and voice tone. I, for
example, have a fairly deep voice. I have learned to change
my intonation while doing presentations so that everyone
doesn't go to sleep. Your voice and delivery will improve as
you gain experience and conduct more interview.
Use the interviewer's formal name as often as possible.
Do this particularly in the early part of the interview and
again when you are ending it. Do not call the interviewer by
his or her first name unless the interviewer suggests
otherwise.
Play the chitchat game for awhile. Interviewers often
comment on the weather, ask if you had trouble getting
there, or make some other common opening. Be friendly and
make a few appropriate comments. Do not push your way into
the business of your visit too early because these informal
openings are standard measures of your socialization skills.
Smile. It's nonverbal, and people will respond more
favorably to you if you smile at them.
Comment on something personal in the interviewer's
office. "I love your office! Did you decorate it yourself?"
or "I noticed the sailboat. Do you sail?" or "Your office
manger is great! How long has he been here?" The idea here
is to express interest in something that interests the
employer and encourage her or him to speak about it. This
kind of interest is a compliment if your enthusiasm shows.
This tactic can also provide you the opportunity to share
something you have in common, so try to pick a topic you
know something about.
Ask some opening questions. As soon as you have completed
the necessary pleasant chitchat, be prepared to guide the
interview in the direction you wish it to go. This process
can happen within a minute of your first greeting, but is
more likely to take up to five minutes.
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