You finally landed an interview! Hopefully you followed the previous blog about what you should do the night before your interview and you are ready to nail it. Here are a few tips to remember before you head toward the company.
1. Maintain a Professional Image
Maintaining a professional image means you are dressing and acting to impress! Dress professionally and conservatively and make sure you keep your perfume or cologne, your hair and your make-up minimal. Don’t chew gum and make sure your cell phone is OFF!
Maintain your Professional Image WHEN:
• Pulling into the facility
• Greeting the receptionist
• Filling out an application
• Taking an assessment
• Interviewing
• Leaving the premises
Why is this important? Well, if you pull into the facility with your music blaring loud, smoking a cigarette and talking on your cell phone loudly, you are not portraying a very good first image. You want to come in with a clean-cut, positive attitude that will impress the interviewer and everyone who works at the facility. A negative first image can kill your chances of landing a job before you even see the interviewer.
2. ALWAYS be on Time!
Punctuality is important, especially to employers seeking to hire a candidate. It costs a lot of money for the time and effort it takes to hire a new employee, so they certainly are not going to hire someone who is late for an interview.
• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination. If you are unfamiliar with the location, take a test drive prior to your interview to ensure you know the way.
• Check traffic reports so you know if you need to leave a little bit earlier than expected. It is better to know before you leave than finding out while you’re on your way.
• Do not arrive in the office more than fifteen minutes early. If you are earlier than that, sit in your car or go to a coffee shop to wait. It makes an interviewer uncomfortable because they might not be ready for you if you come earlier than that.
3. The ANATOMY of your Interview
There are some simple rules that you should follow every time you walk into an interview:
• Always firmly shake hands with the interviewer when you enter
• Begin by talking about neutral subjects. Never mention politics or personal topics
• Ask appropriate questions at the end of the interview (NEVER salary, benefits or vacation)
• Ask when you will be hearing from the interviewer regarding a hiring decision
• Request a business card
• Thank the interviewer and shake their hand before you leave
These are a few easy tips to follow for every interview. It will leave a lasting impression to the interviewer and will give you confidence from beginning to end.
4. Extra Tips
• SMILE!
Greeting an interviewer with a warm smile and a firm hand shake gives an immediate feeling of comfort between the interviewer and the interviewee. A smile shows confidence, it shows that you are comfortable and it shows that you are a pleasant person to be around.
• Make NEUTRAL Eye Contact
Do not stare at the interviewer…It can make them feel uncomfortable. Approximately 60% of eye contact is considered the best amount in the United States. More than this can make you seem too intense and any less might make you appear uninterested.
• Walk with Self-Assured Stride and Carry Items in the Left Hand
Walking with confidence shows that you are comfortable in your own skin and that you are excited to be interviewing for this position. It can show that you feel you have the qualifications necessary and that you are the right person for the job. Carrying your items in the left hand gives you the ability to give a firm hand shake with your right hand without shuffling items.
-JT
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