There are so many different aspects of interviewing for a job that can be covered; so many so that there are literally hundreds of books that have been written on the subject. In actuality it is does not need to be that complex, and I am wholeheartedly 100% against the interviewing books that teach people how to answer questions the way they think we want to hear it. It’s so easy to spot the rehearsed answers and B.S. If you want to be the ‘fake” candidate, then by all means use the canned and pre-packaged responses. If you want to actually impress, be genuine by being yourself, and by answering questions honestly.
I will be devoting more time to interviewing in later posts, but for now I wanted to talk about some of the DO’s and DON’Ts that come to mind. Every interview of course should be approached as a professional meeting, so treat it that way.
Let’s start with some DON’Ts:
Whatever you do, DO NOT bad mouth your current company or boss………EVER. This is the quickest way to disqualify yourself from a job. If you do it to someone else, what will stop you from doing it to them in the future.
DO NOT ask questions about salary and benefits – let them bring it up. You can refer to why this is so in a previous post, but let’s just say it shows a genuine interest in the scope of the job, not just the pay.
DO NOT chew gum, eat candy, or bring a drink with a straw. It’s annoying.
DON’T flirt. This may work if you’re looking to work at Hooters, but the majority of places will not look upon it favorably.
DON’T talk too much. It’s great that you talk about yourself, but dominating the conversation sends the wrong message. Use your listening skills and genuinely pay attention to what the interviewer has to say.
Now for the DO’S:
Study up on the organization you are interviewing with. Nothing is more impressive than interviewing a candidate who has actually done her/his homework. Conversely, nothing shows you could care less when not even knowing the company’s full name.
Focus on positives, not negatives. Nobody wants to hear about all of the bad experience in previous positions. Talk about the positive ones instead.
Use good body language and posture. This will show an interest in the position, and what the interviewer has to say.
Dress for the part, and dress appropriately. You probably shouldn’t be wearing a tux or evening gown, but for high-level professional jobs, a suit and tie for guys and a dress or women’s suit for gals fits the part. Some interviews may be less stringent, with business casual being the way to go. There usually are no circumstances were halter tops, mini-skirts, flip flops, t-shirts, or shorts are appropriate, Use your best judgment, and take some time to investigate the company if you are unsure.
Be on time. If you can’t make it to the interview on time, the very first impression you are giving them of you, then how can you expect them to believe you would be punctual if hired?
Turn your cell phone OFF. As much as this seems like it should be common sense, I’m still surprised how many people forget to do it. Even worse are the few people who have answered a call. It’s happened twice, and both times I ended the interview right then and there.
Bring a couple of copies of your resume. It’s always nice to have some just in case you end up interviewing with multiple people, or if the interviewer forgets his/her copy.
Most importantly – prior to your interview, be prepared with 4 or 5 professional achievements in mind. You will be surprised how you can use your accomplishments in almost any interview question. We want to know about you in an interview, and relaying personal examples is by far the best way to do it.
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