Successful interview techniques

SuccessfulInterviewTechniques
By:DanielM.LaNoue
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Soyourresumecaughttheirattention,yourcoverlettergotyouinthedoor,andnowcomesthehard
part:theinterview.Youknow,thepartwhereyoutryyourhardesttomakeagreatfirstimpressionona
personyoudon’tevenknowwhoholdsthekeystoajob
thatyoureally,reallywant.Isitanywonder
thenwhyeveryone,fromentrylevelworkerstoseasonedcareerpeople,findsjobinterviewsstressful?
There’snosuchthingasaperfectinterviewee,andthere’snothingyoucoulddo,inanygiveninterview,
thatwouldsomehowguaranteeyouthejob.But
therearewaysthatyoucaneliminateunnecessary
stressorsandroadblocks,givingyourselfthebestpossiblechanceatlandingthejobandmakingagreat
firstimpression.
DoYourHomework—Beforetheinterview,takesometimetoresearchandlearnaboutthecompanyor
workplacewhereyou’rehopingtogeta
job.Employersaren’tjustlookingforafive‐starresume;they
wanttohirepeoplewhohaveagenuineinterestintheirparticularorganizationandtheworkthatthey
do.So,showthatyoureallywantthejob—notjust“ajob,period”—byshowingtheemployerthatyou
knowwhatyou’llbe
gettinginto,andcan’twaittostart.
HaveanInquiringMind—Attheendofyourinterview,theemployerwillaskyouifyouhaveany
questionsforhim/her.Thefloorwillbeyours,soyoudon’twanttosquanderitbydrawingablankand
notknowingwhattoask.
Tomakethemostofthismoment,prepareforitbycomingupwithatleast5
questionsthedaybeforeyouhavetheinterview.Askingspecific,relevantquestionsinaninterview
showsyouremployerthatyouhavethoughtalotaboutthejobandaregenuinelyinterestedinit.
BeEarly,Not“OnTime”—Whenwalkingorcommutingtotheinte rviewplace,erronthesideofcaution
bygivingyourselfplentyoftimetogetthere.Forexample,sayyouhaveaninterviewscheduledfor
10:00am.Dependingonhowfarawayyouliveorworkfromtheinterview,you
maywanttoplanto
arrivethereat9:00amorevenearlier—useyourownjudgment.Eitherway,don’tplantobethereat

10.Why?Aslowtrainormorningtrafficcanpushyourarrivaltimebackto10:30or11!
DressthePart—Dressingappropriatelyaccomplishesthreethings: it
tellstheemployerthatyouare
seriousaboutwantingthejob,ittellstheemployertotakeyouseriouslyasaprofessional,anditshows
thatyoucanfitin.Likeshowingupearly,dressingappropriatelyforyourinterviewisasimplewayto
ensurethatyoumakeagoodfirst
impression.Fairorunfair,theplaintruthisthatpeoplemake
assumptionsaboutyoubasedonyourappearancethefirsttimetheyseeyou.Sodon’tleaveanything
tochance.
BeYourself—Aninterviewisapresentation,notaperformance.Inotherwords:whileyouwantto
makethebestfirst
impressionyoucanpossiblymake,youneedtofeelconfidentenoughinyourselfand
yourconvictionstoshowtheinterviewerwhoyoureallyare.Thatmeansansweringquestionsas
honestlyasyoucan,eventhetoughoneslike“WhatareyourWeaknesses?”and“WhyShouldWeHire
You?”Dressingsharplyisimportant,butifyoudon’tletyouridentityoutatallduringtheinterview,
you’rejustanotheremptysuit.
ThankYouNoteEtiquette—Someonetooktimeoutoftheir
daybecausetheywereinterestedinthe
ideaofgivingyouajob.Ifyoureallywanttostandoutamongtheothercandidates,gohomethat
afternoonandwritea“thankyou”emailtothepersonwhointerviewedyou.Inthenote,youshould
touchuponacoupleofthe
pointscoveredintheinterview.Then,writeatraditionalnote(onanote
card)thatremindstheinterviewerofyourparticularskillsorexperiences
,andsenditUSmailthesame
day.
KeepYourReferencesintheLoop—Makesureyourreferencesknowthattheyare,infact,your
references.Meaning:makesuretheyunderstandthatemployersmaycontactthemtoaskquestions
aboutyou.Youmayevenwanttohelppreparethemfor
thisbygivingthemtalkingpointsaboutyour
backgroundandtheparticularpositionsyou’reapplyingfor.

InterviewInventory—Jobsearchesmoreoftenthannottaketime,andyoumayendupgoingonmore
thanoneinterviewbeforeyougethired.Herearetwokeywaystokeepyourinfo rmationorganized

duringyourjobsearch.Keepwell‐ordered,meticulousnotesofyourinterviews,thepeopleyoucome
incontactwith,andparticularquestionsraisedortopicsdiscussedthatstoodoutinyourmind.Second,
keepdetailedrecordsofeachposition‐postingyouapplyfor.
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